Does anyone have experience of mic blimps either diy or ready made versions?
I need to make one to house an Audio Technica AT835B shotgun mic and as always the internet has conflicting opinions about the materials to use.
A common theme is to use a wire mesh bird feeder or waste bin to form the tubular section of the blimp. Others say that no metal should be used as it can interfere with the operation of the microphone and plastic should be used instead.
What are your opinions on this considering the microphone has a metal housing?
John
I need to make one to house an Audio Technica AT835B shotgun mic and as always the internet has conflicting opinions about the materials to use.
A common theme is to use a wire mesh bird feeder or waste bin to form the tubular section of the blimp. Others say that no metal should be used as it can interfere with the operation of the microphone and plastic should be used instead.
What are your opinions on this considering the microphone has a metal housing?
John
I seem to be ignorant of this.
Is this UK slang or an official term? To me a blimp is a helium filled gas bag aircraft. And a microphone at 3000 feet altitude doesn;t come up often in ym experience.
What is a mic blimp?
Is this UK slang or an official term? To me a blimp is a helium filled gas bag aircraft. And a microphone at 3000 feet altitude doesn;t come up often in ym experience.
What is a mic blimp?
Hi Enzo.
Sorry I should have explained more clearly.
A blimp is the wind proof torpedo or zeppelin shaped microphone housing you see on boom microphones used for outside broadcast or recording. Often they have a fuzzy grey cover over them known as a "dead cat" or "dead wombat" for a large one.
This is a Rode blimp RØDE Microphones - Blimp and costs around £130 hence my desire to make my own.
John
Sorry I should have explained more clearly.
A blimp is the wind proof torpedo or zeppelin shaped microphone housing you see on boom microphones used for outside broadcast or recording. Often they have a fuzzy grey cover over them known as a "dead cat" or "dead wombat" for a large one.
This is a Rode blimp RØDE Microphones - Blimp and costs around £130 hence my desire to make my own.
John
OK. I left the road a long time ago, but in my day we just called such things wind balls or wind covers.
COnsidering the one you linked has metal in the audio path, I don;t know that I;d agree with the metal opposers.
COnsidering the one you linked has metal in the audio path, I don;t know that I;d agree with the metal opposers.
Windscreens - another name for them.
I think the metal housing is for the physical protection of the expensive mic from getting bumped against walls, overhead fans, lights, etc.
I don't see how another metal cage can interfere with the mic's electrical operation. The condenser is already protected inside by it's own mesh housing. Plastic is just "cheaper" to manufacture... probably easier to break too. A metal wire will be physically stronger than a thick plastic part, and less likely to interfere with the mic's cardioid pattern.
I think the metal housing is for the physical protection of the expensive mic from getting bumped against walls, overhead fans, lights, etc.
I don't see how another metal cage can interfere with the mic's electrical operation. The condenser is already protected inside by it's own mesh housing. Plastic is just "cheaper" to manufacture... probably easier to break too. A metal wire will be physically stronger than a thick plastic part, and less likely to interfere with the mic's cardioid pattern.
I'm building one with plastic mesh. But it was hard to find the plastic with a large percentage of open area. Metal is easier for that. I remember the Sennheiser blimps at work were mostly plastic. For weight, most likely.
Will you be doing the dead cat over it?
Will you be doing the dead cat over it?
Hi All.
I have found a genuine Rode dead wombat on a website at good money, if it stays low I will be buying that for it. That way I only have the body to deal with and a fixed dimension to work to rather than ending up with something bigger than it needs to be. The UK weather being what it is wind and rain protection are essential for a lot of the time.
It seems the diy fur of choice for the dead cat is this stuff Super Luxury Faux Fur Fabric Material - LONG PILE PURPLE & BLACK | eBay but maybe not in dayglow pink. And I was thinking of using this as the mesh Gutter-Clear Mesh 5m x 110mm | Plastic Guttering Accessories | Screwfix.com Have you come up with anything to attach the removable end cap?
I couldn't see how a screened mic could be affected by a small amount of metal near it but thought it better to check before wasting any time on a false start to the project.
John
I have found a genuine Rode dead wombat on a website at good money, if it stays low I will be buying that for it. That way I only have the body to deal with and a fixed dimension to work to rather than ending up with something bigger than it needs to be. The UK weather being what it is wind and rain protection are essential for a lot of the time.
It seems the diy fur of choice for the dead cat is this stuff Super Luxury Faux Fur Fabric Material - LONG PILE PURPLE & BLACK | eBay but maybe not in dayglow pink. And I was thinking of using this as the mesh Gutter-Clear Mesh 5m x 110mm | Plastic Guttering Accessories | Screwfix.com Have you come up with anything to attach the removable end cap?
I couldn't see how a screened mic could be affected by a small amount of metal near it but thought it better to check before wasting any time on a false start to the project.
John
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