Which blimp to get?

I

IronFilm

Veteran
Would the Rode Blimp be the best Blimp to go for on a budget? Or is it worth spending a little more? (I'll be using it with a NTG2)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1056426-REG/rode_blimp_windsheild_rycote_lyre_suspension.html

Is the K-TEC better than the RODE Blimp perhaps?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/458958-REG/K_Tek_K_ZEPP_M_Zeppelin_with_Suspension.html
Or the Rycote?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044548-REG/rycote_010321_super_shield_kit_medium.html
Which to pick!! So many options!!
 
I've always used Rycote. I have no experience with the Rode or K-Tec.
I've read the cheapo ones (on eBay) do not work very well and are flimsy.
 
I'm going to answer your questions with more questions....

Why a Rode NTG2? that mic has a very low output level compared to other mics do you need a low output level for some reason?

What are you recording on to?

Do you need a 'full' blimp? Are your shoots going to be in a VERY high wind location?

Would a 'softie' cover be better for you. I've been doing broadcast TV audio for 35+ years and only ever run blimps on outside broadcasts with mics exposed to the severe weather (high on camera scaffolds etc).
I have never run full blimps on my location kits.
 
OK...I have been using my "Softie" for about a month now - and I'm not entirely convinced.

I've had 3 instances where just a brief moment of the wind kicking up was enough to put a spot of overload distortion right over a piece of voice. Yikes!
But a full blimp WILL muffle the recording a bit more than the Softie. That's unavoidable by design really.

Someone here said "Use a blimp but take the front cover off of the tip". So I tried that. Very interesting.
You just have to be using a mic short enough that it sits well behind the rim of the opening so it's not out in the breeze.
Now, you of course have to put the tip back on if you're pointing it into the wind.
This is probably going to be my main setup now.

Oh, using the Rycote.
Sold my Rode.
 
OzGizmo said:
I'm going to answer your questions with more questions....

Why a Rode NTG2? that mic has a very low output level compared to other mics do you need a low output level for some reason?

What are you recording on to?

Do you need a 'full' blimp? Are your shoots going to be in a VERY high wind location?

Would a 'softie' cover be better for you. I've been doing broadcast TV audio for 35+ years and only ever run blimps on outside broadcasts with mics exposed to the severe weather (high on camera scaffolds etc).
I have never run full blimps on my location kits.
Click to expand...

I need to be able to record in all conditions. I've often found a blimp to be essential.

I bought the NTG2 because way back when I purchased my Tascam DR60D mk1 it came with a really great combo deal to buy a NTG2 with it as well.

But recently I upgraded to a Sound Devices 552 which is what I'll be recording to.
 
If I were you I would go for Rycote. The Rode will probably work ok, but I don't see any reasons why you should go for it over the Rycote alternative. Steer clear of the cheap eBay blimps.

The Rycote Super-Shield series is very good value for money. They come in 3 different sizes, small, medium and large. If you down the road need a smaller/larger blimp you can purchase a new front pod and windjammer instead of having to buy another complete blimp.

The large blimp will fit microphones 250-300mm in lenght. If you want to use your NTG2 in the medium sized one, which fits microphones 200-250mm in length, the connector will be very close to the rear pod when the microphone is positioned correctly. It should work fine, but make sure to make a 180 degree loop (as small as possible) where the cable comes out from the connector, and then secure it to the connector itself using a rubber band or zip tie. This is so the cable will not touch the inside of the rear pod and create unwanted noise.

Also, I'm not sure if you're familiar with this, but note the correct positioning of the microphone inside the blimp. There should be roughly a 5cm gap between the front of the blimp and the front of the mic.


- Alex
 
I would upgrade the mic rather than throw $$$ at a blimp, an NTG3 or a sennheiser 416 will perform better with a softie than a NTG2 in a blimp!
 
Really Gary?? I'd have thought under higher wind conditions an entry level mic with good wind protection would do heaps better than a mid range mic with minimal wind protection?
 
Agree with you Gary, I would take a NTG3 or 416 in a softie over an NTG2 in ANY windshield or blimp ever invented.
 
Interesting.... but I think when I'm starting out from the absolute bottom, a person is more likely to not hire me for not having a blimp at all (I live where the weather can change in a blink of the eye) as a deal breaker than for not having a NTG3 / 416
 
If you need the wind protection that a blimp offers, get a blimp. It will do more for your audio quality then an expensive microphone with insufficient wind protection. That said, a Rycote Classic-Softie may be enough protection in many cases. But it depends.

I also live where the weather can turn on a dime, and the blimp is my preferred tool whenever outdoors (which is most of the time). My softies doesn't come out much other then for on-camera use, or if I need a less obtrusive solution on the boom or a stand and wind is not a big issue.

Tip: When using a Classic-Softie, be aware that wind noise can enter through other places then the front of the mic where it's covered. Therefore it can be a good idea to tape over any buttons on the mic and around the xlr connection.
 
I only tend to have blimps on my mic's for sports events these days mostly to protect them from the rain and being hit by the ball.

ENG and hand held tends to be a softie or change the mic to an RE50 with wind gag for in vision work.

I had an NTG1 a few years and got rid of it as it sounded pretty dreadful and was not very good in wind even with a blimp or softie.

We were receiving a feed of the Dublin memorial service last weekend and the camera OP had a 416 and a sennheiser ME66 both with softies in the same location.

The 416 was fine but the electret ME66 suffered terrible wind noise.
 
Lower cost mics usually are more susceptible to wind noise.
It can be a good idea to tape over any buttons on the mic and around the xlr connection.
+1 .. For sure.
I can't remember a client asking what kind of gear I had and didn't have, except maybe for specifying they needed TC.
 
Rick R said:
I can't remember a client asking what kind of gear I had and didn't have, except maybe for specifying they needed TC.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think this is more a problem at the very low end, where they want to be confident you at least have the basics covered.

While once you get properly established as a pro, that then doesn't become an issue, as they assume of course you know what you're doing and have everything you need.
 
The Rode blimp arrived last week, and I used it on this weekend's job. It was entirely indoors, so I just used the shock mount without the blimp shield, instead with only a softie over the NTG2.

I was massively impressed with the Rycote Lyre suspension, *HUGELY* better than the shock mount I was using before. Before I had to be fairly careful indeed with my boom to avoid handling noise, but now with the Rycote Lyre suspension it is much much harder to create bad handling noise.
 
IronFilm said:
The Rode blimp arrived last week, and I used it on this weekend's job. It was entirely indoors, so I just used the shock mount without the blimp shield, instead with only a softie over the NTG2.

I was massively impressed with the Rycote Lyre suspension, *HUGELY* better than the shock mount I was using before. Before I had to be fairly careful indeed with my boom to avoid handling noise, but now with the Rycote Lyre suspension it is much much harder to create bad handling noise.
Click to expand...


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