Cabling a Rycote blimp

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
I just picked up an older style Rycote blimp (with the rubber band suspension) and it doesn't have a conn box. I am currently running a pretty thick XLR cable out the back and through the pistol grip and I'm detecting some cable noise. I know there is a better way of doing this -- does anyone know the proper way of cabling this setup (on a budget)?

Thanks
 
I have a short link cable (about 1ft.) from the top of the boom though the Zeppelin cable access port to the mic. I use high quality 4.8mm OD Canare L2E5 mini cable that isolates boom/cable noise well. $0.48/ft. at Markertek.com and the Neutrik XLR connectors won't break the bank either. Total price/time: about $10 and 10 min. If you can't make your own cables, Markertek and the usual suspects, ( Gotham, Dale or Pro Sound in Manhattan) can make them for you. Rycote and K-Tek make their own very good link cables as well but they're expensive. I don't know what kind of cable they use.
 
With the older style Rycotes, it was common to use a short (2ft) XLR cable with a cloth outer jacket. The female end plugs into the mic, the cable runs out the hole in the bottom of the blimp and threads through the slot in the pistol grip, and the male end fits up in the recess at the bottom of the grip. The cloth cable is very quiet and that, coupled with the physical connection of the male xlr in the grip and the longer xlr cable in (or around) the pole, should provide better isolation.

Cloth XLR "shorties" can be found at most dealers of that type of gear.
 
Just an update: Gotham Sound here in NYC made me an 18" short XLR for $15.99. It looks of quality and they used Neutrik connectors and Canare cable (like you suggested, Mike) so hopefully it will be a good performer...
 
scorsesefan said:
I just picked up an older style Rycote blimp (with the rubber band suspension) and it doesn't have a conn box. I am currently running a pretty thick XLR cable out the back and through the pistol grip and I'm detecting some cable noise. I know there is a better way of doing this -- does anyone know the proper way of cabling this setup (on a budget)?
Click to expand...

First - go to Rycote and get a set of the new Lyre mounts.

Rycote do this update for old systems and this update is very inexpensive.

Then akso get the Rycote S-series XLR tail or the flexible XLR tail - Rycite will advise which is best - this will go from the mic. to the handle and decouple the mic. from the thick cable.

You may also be able to get the new inexpensive ConnBox, but I'm not sure if it will fit to the earlier suspension - again, Rycote will advise.
 
Okay, thanks. I've shot once with the original "rubber band" mounts and they sounded pretty good -- is there a noticeable difference in the upgrade to these?
 
scorsesefan said:
Okay, thanks. I've shot once with the original "rubber band" mounts and they sounded pretty good -- is there a noticeable difference in the upgrade to these?
Click to expand...

Yes - the rubber bands and O-rings were OK in their day, but the Lyre mounts are considerably better.

Rubber bands and O-rings can bounce and droop and can stretch and break, needing replacement. The Lyre does none of this and is extremely rugged.

I redesigned my stereo mount for the Lyre after understanding how much better they are (which Rycote now use as their standard stereo kit now).

You can read all about the differences between the Lyre and other suspension methods here:- Keeping Microphones Quiet.
 
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