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Re: wind protection options - any firm data?

Subject: Re: wind protection options - any firm data?
From: "Robin" escalation746
Date: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:31 am ((PST))
Thanks David for an extensive reply. I should perhaps have been more defini=
tive in stating that I am not looking for an ultimate wind suppression kit,=
 but rather one that does a "good enough" job without overly sacrificing ot=
her frequencies. Subjective I know! I don't mind being able to hear the win=
d in the recording, if it is in fact windy. But what I don't want (who woul=
d) is the LF overload of the mic cap.

The other requirement is that it be as compact as possible, which I underst=
and (more now) is a contradiction, since it is the air gap around the mic c=
apsule which does a good deal of the work, preventing turbulence. By "compa=
ct" I mean not so much in actual use, since a stand with a bar, two mics, a=
ccompanying cables etc. is not exactly tiny, but rather compact for travel =
so it all still fits in my rucksack (wishful thinking).

Given how many geeks there are out there, I find it odd only the Danish sit=
e had frequency and amplitude attenuation graphs. The written claims in the=
 product literature vary wildly and are not even self-consistent.

> 16KHz is 21 mm and
> inversely pro rata. Perfection is thickness at 1/10 of the
> wavelength (including diagonal angles), but false fur still
> lets a lot of HF through and greatly reduces turbulence.

Great info!

> 4) Frequency response. An effective gag material will cause
> reflections and a layer each side will create standing
> waves. You won't notice these as much on-axis but to the
> side they can be quite audible. You won't find any side
> angle response curves of directional mics as they are often
> very lumpy and get worse with a cylindrical windgag.

I will be using omnis for my main stereo setup, processing through a Blumle=
in "shuffling" system to restore soundstage. My initial experiments using a=
 plugin of my own devising are encouraging. However, my understanding is th=
at any alteration to the difference (Side) signal is going to adversely eff=
ect this, perhaps even more than in other recording setups. So I will need =
to be particularly attentive to any off-axis colouration induced by a wind =
shield.

> Almost forgot - try putting the windgag on the ground. It
> often sounds OK and there's a lot less wind down there. If it dosn't
> work at least you've tried it. :-)

Indeed. I often set my tripod quite low. If in long grass the sound of the =
grass itself (in the wind) can be very nice. Downside: with morning dew, mi=
st, fog, etc. it tends to get damp down there!

-- robin parmar







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