mic foam

egproductions

egproductions

Veteran
I get what the foam is used for, but what is the downside to using it rather? Does it muffle the highs enough to warrant not using when possible? I am using an MKH 416 but thi question relates to any mic. thanks!
 
All serious mic designers incorporate a proprietary foam cover accessory, designed not to affect the performance of their mic.
It is for protection from light wind movement and importantly, keeps airborne micro dust out of the mic capsule.

Enough dust over a period will degrade the mics performance, so the foam cover should be cleaned approx. once a year
by washing it in warm water with a tiny drop of mild washing liquid. Rinse it out in clean water a few times, press dry with a clean towel
then let it airdry overnight.

When you put the mic away, put a sachet of fresh silicagel in with the case.
 
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I figured it was for light wind purposes at the expense of slight performance decrease (much like a deadcat). I never considered it was for dust protection but that is certainly a good reason to use it.

I did notice, however, that the foam on my mkh416 is so tight that sliding it on and off actually rubbs a little bit of the foam off and it gets trapped in the slits in the side of the mic. Should I be concerned about this?
 
Most foam will eventually 'break down' and turn to dust. I would avoid getting this crap inside mic body or the ports.
Olsen/Windtech makes quality replacements for less $$ than the 'original'.
 
The physics that make open cell foam useful for sound treatment work equally as well when used as a windshield. Stick on a foam windshield and it reduces wind noise enough to be useful or even essential. It attenuates the troublesome frequencies pretty well - obviously attenuating the wanted sound too. My own test of HF is simply to rub my fingers together in front of a mic, which can be heard clearly. Do it with a foam windshield on, and it's much fainter.
 
Not sure how it's going to keep dust out since it's open cel? Dust and humidity can be an issue for mics. Few people actually get around to sending them in for cleaning, though I know a recordist that sends their Schoeps back to Germany every year or so for a cleaning and check up.

Foam will roll off the highs to a slight extent but it will also greatly reduce slight wind noise. Depending on your mic "slight wind" noise may be a really big deal or not so much.
 
I've got microphones that are over 30 years old and the ones that would be affected by dust have micro filters inside. I've never considered external foam shields as anything other than wind/spit shields or the place to brand the station.
 
I wouldn't let our guys go out on location with any mic, especially the shotguns, without the foam filters on, house rule.

The Neumann agent in Oz, runs a mic cleaning service and we used to send some of ours in about every 2 years, even though they were mainly used in air conditioned studios and carefully stored away.

The mic capsules of the U89i, TLM170i and the KM series are constructed so that the total surface is connected to 0 volt.
These mics are extremely insensitive to dirt and should not be cleaned.

But when the capsules are constructed in such a way that the areas between the electrodes can be dirtied up, eg: U67,u87Ai, SM69fet, USM69i U47fet,
then after a long period in use, noise voltages may result.

Cheers.
 
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