Windshield for an odd-shaped mic

M

myriadeyes

Member
I know when using a fur windshield that you want an area of "dead air" around the mic inside the windshield. I'm just starting out and would prefer to use the CAD variable pattern mic I already have - are there any fur windshields made for this shape of mic?

EM_CAD-M-179.gif


If not, would it be worth altering one to make it fit, or is the interior air space pretty essential for reducing wind noise?
 
Haha yes, or other objects... Its a Cad M179. I suppose I'd be using it's hypercardioid pattern the most. Is this a horrendous idea for some reason?
 
its not the best idea. i mean i guess it CAN work. but they aren't meant for subjects that are going to be about 18" away, which is riding the frame line pretty tight with an experienced boom op. so adding any more distance is going to greatly diminish the sound quality. and even with a blimp on it those mics are still going to get wind noise. you'd be much better hittin up trew audio, which is in nashville and renting a shotgun for any exterior use.
 
Another major concern is weight. When you're swinging a boom, every ounce matters on the other end. Mics this big and weighty are going to cause huge issues for the person holding the pole.

Not to mention the fact that, while hypers are great indoors, they aren't as reliable outdoors (though preferred on reflective surfaces like playgrounds, tarmacs, basketball courts, etc.) as a shotgun mic will be in most situations. Also, condensers are generally vulnerable to moisture, and LDC mics like this CAD are not well protected as they are not intended to be used the way you want.

Rent a shotgun from Trew. Or buy an NTG-2 kit if you can.
 
Nothing I'll be doing anytime soon will be worth renting for, I'll just be learning the art as I go. I'll have to go do some experimentation to confirm that I'm getting poor audio quality when it's hovering around 2 ft away.

Interesting - why would one of these pick up more wind noise in a blimp than another hypercardioid?

Thanks for the words, I'll certainly be letting them mingle in the mind.
 
I didn't think about weight.. It is a decently hefty mic. I suppose the windshield might help some with moisture, and it could be used to reduce boom movement noise when indoors, but overall you guys are killing me :D
 
myriadeyes said:
Interesting - why would one of these pick up more wind noise in a blimp than another hypercardioid?
Click to expand...

Not sure that's exactly true. You aren't going to find a blimp to fit this mic. Windscreening on these mics isn't meant for wind, only breath. And being a large diaphragm condenser (as opposed to the small diaphragm "pencil" mics that are preferred for on-cam dialog), it has more surface area that is much more exposed in a larger cage.
 
Yeah, that makes good sense. That rode kit looks like an ideal starting point but it'll take some time for me to get there monetarily.

It really is difficult to let go of an idea that seemed good..I appreciate the reality check :)
 
myriadeyes said:
It really is difficult to let go of an idea that seemed good..I appreciate the reality check :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I completely understand. Especially when you've already invested in something, it's hard to accept that you don't have the right tools.

Just remember that there is no "magic bullet" microphone that is going to do everything. Different mics are made for different purposes, and while there is a tiny bit of wiggle room for creative solutions, there are limits to what each mic can do.
 
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