Blimp for Shotgun mic

Tracey Lee

Tracey Lee

Well-known member
I have been looking at some DIY stuff and regular blimps...they all have a mesh type material covering the side before you put on your dead cat.

Is there any reason why the shotgun mic can't be kept in a solid tube?
 
The slits on the side of your shotgun are not decorative, they are a critical part of the interference tube design that makes the shotgun more directional.
 
I am actually referring to the material to use for the blimp and not the actual tube of the shotgun mic itself.
 
What I'm saying is that you need to let sound waves get to the mic from all directions. So the answer to your question is: No, you shouldn't use a solid tube.
 
Okay...good to know...I am just having a hard time finding a sturdy mesh or something for the sides of my blimp.
 
I've heard of people modifying birdfeeders made of plastic mesh to make DIY blimps. You can probably get by to start with just a softie instead of a full blimp. Suitable fake fur isn't too hard to find if you want to build your own.
 
I've fooled around with making a blimp. There isn't anything particularly magic about the mesh. It is quite similar to those pop filters they use in studios between the singer and the microphone.

popfilter1.jpg


DIY versions just use the kind of double-knit material they make stockings or pantyhose from. You could use the same material for your diy blimp. For that matter the kind of really cheap polyester double-knit you find at the fabric shop would likely do great. We use it for speaker grille and other coverings that need to be acoustically transparent.

Probably the easiest way to apply the mesh to the blimp frame is the same way we did it for speaker cabinets. Sew up a "sock" that stretches over the shape. The poly double-knit is available in dozens of colors and patterns and is dirt-cheap.
 
Tracey Lee said:
Okay...good to know...I am just having a hard time finding a sturdy mesh or something for the sides of my blimp.
Click to expand...

Why reinvent the wheel? Isn't the dollar value of your time it's going to take to make one going to be more expensive than the purchase price of a properly made commercial mount and blimp kit?
 
Steve House said:
Why reinvent the wheel? Isn't the dollar value of your time it's going to take to make one going to be more expensive than the purchase price of a properly made commercial mount and blimp kit?
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Yes - put it all in perspective - how much did you pay for the microphone? - how much did you pay for the camera? - etc.....

A Rycote S-series windshield complete (which has the best shock protection on the market), including a flexible XLR mic. tail to de-couple the cable, retails for only £165.76 +VAT (all lengths same price) in the UK - Rycote reduced the price for the S-series from today. :thumbsup::D
 
Richard Crowley said:
I've fooled around with making a blimp. There isn't anything particularly magic about the mesh. It is quite similar to those pop filters they use in studios between the singer and the microphone.
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He's talking about the structural part that the material is fused to (in most but not all) Zeppelins.

To the OP.

You can get plastic mesh for keeping leaves out of gutters. It works well and you can even heat mold it if your adventurous. The cost benefit trade off has a LOT to do with ready cash, how much time you have, how much you like doing these things and how good your shop is. I have made a number of zeps over the years. You can make one every bit as good as what you can buy. You can make one that looks professional and you can make exactly what you need. But and it's a BIG BUT, it is not cost effective unless your totally broke or love doing it. For somewhere between $200 - $300 you should be able to get a commercial one. To make one from scratch that is as good will cost you maybe $50 in parts BUT you need a decent metal shop and a decent wood shop and a lot of time. Oh and you need a sewing machine. You can get by with less and have an effective zep but it will scream "homemade" and that will kill real work faster than wearing a hearing aid.

Now if you really like to do this stuff and you have a reputation OR have a bunch of professional equipment then the "homemade" transforms into "custom" and it's cool rather than amateur, though to do that it does have to look well made. I made my first one because I didn't have the $800 for a real one (prices have come down a lot). I made the last one because I wanted something specific for a special situation. And I like to do this kind of thing and have a nice little shop.
 
Noiz2 said:
He's talking about the structural part that the material is fused to (in most but not all) Zeppelins..
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Understood, but there is nothing magical about the fact that the fabric is fused to the plastic mesh. It just happens to be a convenient (and/or traditional) method of construction. Elastic poly double-knit is pretty handy stuff, particularly at the price.
 
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