I have seen the Sennheiser ones as well. A friend has one, and his is
as broken and cracked as any old Rycote, for my eyes, didn't look
'that' much more durable. But I don't know how long he's had his, or
how well he takes care of it. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but
isn't the 'mesh' fabric on the outside on a Sennheiser zep? My
friend's had lots of tears in that fabric, it seems like it would
tend to get snagged much easier than the Rycote, where its' on the
inside.
There used to be a fourth, but I don't think they're in business
anymore. Whatever happened to Lightwave? They made nice looking black
suspensions with black windjammers, although not sure they ever made
anything for a stereo rig. Also there's K-Tek, which makes a very
nice suspension, that is compatible I believe with the Rycote zep.
Not sure if they're making their own zep, but their stuff is well
engineered (from what I can tell) and reasonably priced.
But agree, no zep can take much weight, they're designed to be
lightweight and sonically transparent. I'm told by the Rycote folks
that within the last couple years, they've starting using a new
forumla of plastic, that they claim should be much less susceptible
to cracking. And they're now using some high tech fiberglass type
stuff for the hoops, instead of metal, so it's a bit lighter than the
old ones too. I can say that all the recent ones I've bought, they
seem more 'flexible' and not quite as rigid as my old ones. So maybe
there's hope.
I keep all my mics in their Rycotes with fur on too, and have pelican
cases to move them around. I've also wired in XLR connectors into the
handle (which is one thing I think Rycote did better than the Senn
kit, the handle), so that I can quickly disconnect the mics. Then I
wrap a tennis grip around the handle, which keeps the XLR in place,
and makes a nice comfortable grip.
The one problem with leaving the fur on, it will tend to get matted
down. My first one, I never brushed it, and by the time I realized
how matted it had become, it was no good trying to untangle it, I had
to buy a new windjammer. I now brush them quite frequently to keep
the pile loose. So whichever you buy, brush the thing if you want it
to last.
So whatever you buy, treat it well (cause you're also going to pay
through the nose for any of them).
On Mar 19, 2007, at 8:42 AM, Walter Knapp wrote:
> Posted by: "evs"
>
> > so, any of the windpack users here can tell me if the windpack is as
> > robust as the rycote, and you can grapple it in a bag without it
> > getting damaged, or use it the way i told i want to use it?
> > and is it really bigger than a rycote?
>
> There is actually a third choice, that's the Sennheiser system. It's
> similar in shape to the rycote, but much, much more robust. Rycote
> zeppelins are pretty delicate and used ones often have cracks in them.
> I keep my M/S (all three setups I normally have along) in a plastic
> bin,
> normally all made up with even the fur cover on. I may use them
> without
> the fur, but it's pretty rare I take them out of the zeppelin. That
> bin
> has been all over the country in my truck like that.
>
> For air travel it would be necessary to break them down farther to
> limit
> the bulk.
>
> I don't own a windpack, but have at least looked at one. It depends on
> the tight fabric for the stability of it's frame. I would think it
> would
> not last near as long as the Sennheiser setups if carted around all
> made
> up like I do. It is bigger too.
>
> Note that no wind system can stand having bulky or heavy items
> packed on
> top of it. You need to stuff zeppelins with clothes or such like
> for air
> travel to keep them from being crushed. Or do like I do and have a
> dedicated carry bin for them that protects them.
>
> Walt
>
>
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