Topic: Best Windscreen for Schoeps MK4 + Nbob Actives

[MLKLuke]

subject says it all. will use this setup only in hat in stealth mode

are Schoeps B1 or B1D the ones to go with or there's something else I should look for?

thanks in advance

[robeti]

I have the same question.

[acidjack]

Honestly, I never use windscreens in a hat... isn't that what the hat is for? I suppose if I were outdoors, I might try something like the cheap Audio-Technica windscreens. Schoeps' material says of the B1D: "It is as effective as the distinctly larger B 5 D, but as one might expect, it also has slightly more of an effect on sound quality."

For that reason, in Schoeps screens, I'd go B5.

[Sebastian]

Honestly, I never use windscreens in a hat... isn't that what the hat is for?

I have taped many shows with the hat outdoors in the past (although with the MBHOs and not yet with the MK4s). Most of the time it was fine, but every now and then, wind was clearly audible (just listen to the first few seconds of this).

Therefore, I've basically been asking myself the same question as I have some unique outdoor shows coming up this summer (Gilmour, McCartney) that I don't want to get messed up by wind.

I thought about giving the B5 screens a shot, but didn't order them yet.

[thunderbolt]

I would get B5D over B5.  The D is a bit bigger, but the 5 just isn't going to provide decent wind protection outside.  It's meant for studio work.  I have D and works well outside.

[Sebastian]

I would get B5D over B5.  The D is a bit bigger, but the 5 just isn't going to provide decent wind protection outside.  It's meant for studio work.  I have D and works well outside.

Yeah, but will it fit inside a hat?

[acidjack]

I would get B5D over B5.  The D is a bit bigger, but the 5 just isn't going to provide decent wind protection outside.  It's meant for studio work.  I have D and works well outside.

Yeah, but will it fit inside a hat?

Not very well, I wouldn't think

[MLKLuke]

I would get B5D over B5.  The D is a bit bigger, but the 5 just isn't going to provide decent wind protection outside.  It's meant for studio work.  I have D and works well outside.

Yeah, but will it fit inside a hat?

Exactly...that's why I thought about the smaller b1 or b1d

[Sebastian]

Exactly...that's why I thought about the smaller b1 or b1d

I don't think the B1 will be of any help as it was primarily designed to protect the capsule from rosin dust when mic'ing a string instrument. The B1D could potentially work on light winds. But my guess is that a cheaper foam-type windscreen like the B5 could be sufficient when used inside a hat (because the hat already provides some wind protection).

[blg]

Honestly, I never use windscreens in a hat... isn't that what the hat is for? I suppose if I were outdoors, I might try something like the cheap Audio-Technica windscreens. Schoeps' material says of the B1D: "It is as effective as the distinctly larger B 5 D, but as one might expect, it also has slightly more of an effect on sound quality."

For that reason, in Schoeps screens, I'd go B5.

I've picked up wind at certain outdoor shows. 

I bought a pair of AT windscreens acidjack recommended a few years ago and cut the tops off.  Have used them in a hat several times at outdoor shows without an issue.

[perks]

B5 - but its not pretty - scrunch it up. My experience is non foam cloth provides no real wind protection. If there is wind outside put on the screens or you will hear it.

[Sebastian]

Got myself a pair of B5's yesterday and cut the ends off. This fits inside my hat. It's a bit more visible than the bare mic, but I don't think anybody will notice it.

It's not pretty, but I think it'll get the job done...

[robeti]

I would get B5D over B5.  The D is a bit bigger, but the 5 just isn't going to provide decent wind protection outside.  It's meant for studio work.  I have D and works well outside.

Yeah, but will it fit inside a hat?

Not very well, I wouldn't think

I have B5D.
Fits in the hat.

[DSatz]

Schoeps' windscreens have product names that start with "W" (= wind; same word in German and English), not "B" (= Besprechung, German for "speaking at or into" a microphone), and they're designed quite differently. I think that a lot of users haven't caught on to this difference, though. The "B" products are pop screens and have most of the protection in front of the capsule; you use them only when that's the expected source of any disturbance.

The B 5 D is especially that way. It's wonderful for a desk or podium mike; I use it that way all the time. It was designed for "The Three Tenors" -- close-miked singing voices on a semi-outdoor stage with yes, some mild wind from time to time--but the main concern was breath noise and "popping" on consonants such as "p" and "b". Those vocal mikes were "spot" mikes, though; the Decca engineers probably cut their signals very sharply below 80 Hz or so, and rolled off the remaining bass to counteract proximity effect. Both types of filtering help a lot to prevent wind noise from getting into a recording, but neither you nor Decca would want to do that to your main microphone signals, I'm sure.

If you're dealing with indoor air currents that are fairly constant and that generally flow in the direction of your microphone diaphragms (e.g. air conditioning), then the B 5 D might make sense; otherwise not so much. With directional capsules the moving air has to be kept away from all sides of the capsule with equal importance. Unfortunately there's no magic way to make a windscreen for directional capsules both unobtrusive and highly effective at the same time, since the capsules have acoustical openings on both sides of the diaphragm, and they respond to the instantaneous difference between the energy arriving through the front vs. the rear/side openings.

If you can possibly use omni capsules instead, you'll be much better off if wind occurs--like maybe 20 dB better as a wild-ass general estimate. Even wide cardioids are noticeably less wind-sensitive than cardioids or supercardioids, and figure-8s are the most vulnerable (pure pressure-gradient transducers).

--best regards

[robeti]

Still, the b5d's worked perfectly.
Used them in an open air situation in the hat. Recording came out great.