Looks like Rode are about to launch a blimp, and knowing them, it will be sensibly priced...
http://www.designawards.com.au/application_detail.jsp?status=3&applicationID=3521
Product Description and Principal Function(s)The RØDE Blimp is a protective windshield and shock-mounting accessory for directional shotgun microphones, which are particularly vulnerable to wind noise. The product is designed to be used outdoors on location for film, radio and television recording & broadcasting. The lightweight moulded basket with integral wind-stopping fabric provides excellent suppression of wind noise. It is able to accommodate any shotgun microphone up to 425mm long, and provides effective shock mounting to eliminate low-frequency handling noises. The pistol grip allows the RØDE Blimp to be hand held or mounted on a boom pole, and includes mechanisms to allow quick adjustment.
Why does the product represent design excellence and why do you believe it deserves an Australian International Design Award?The RØDE Blimp Microphone Windshield system is designed to improve the quality of on-location sound recording by eliminating intrusive wind and handling noise in outdoor environments. It provides excellent wind suppression, and also provides unmatched reduction in handling noise as well as introducing new adjustment functionality on the pistol-grip handle and easy access to the microphone- features ignored by other solutions currently available.
The highlight of the design is the single-piece injection-moulded mesh cylinder and domes that are heat-bonded with custom wind-stopping fabric. The geodesic domes offer unparalleled robustness and physical protection for the internally-mounted microphones, which are sensitive and expensive devices that are easily damaged at media scrums and during transport. The distinctive aesthetic of this shape perfectly conveys this intrinsic strength and is well-suited to this application. The geometry is based on a 10-frequency geodesic dome, with a triangular cross-section that allows the part to be injection-moulded in one piece, and creates a high open-area ratio which improves the acoustic transparency of the system. The domes can be easily removed by twisting off, allowing access to the microphone. The oversize thread allows simple re-attachment of the domes, avoiding clip systems that are fiddly, difficult to use and vulnerable.
Another outstanding design feature of the RØDE Blimp is the pistol grip which offers easy and fast adjustment of the handle position plus integrated cable management. The quick-release lever and cone clutch mechanism allows fast and precise angle adjustment. The horizontal position of the handle can also be adjusted via a clamping plate which allows the user to optimise the centre-of-balance for microphones of varying length. The ability to easily adjust these parameters is an important consideration since the product is often used for long periods in broadcast situations such as film production and sporting events. The other innovative feature greatly improving functional performance is the integration of cable-management into the handle: the XLR plug is tightly contained within the rear rubberized handle grip which can be removed when the cable needs replacing. This arrangement securely holds the plug in place, and prevents it from banging against adjacent surfaces or boom pole which would disturb the recording.
During the design and development of the product, the highest priority was achieving the best possible audio performance. However, consideration was also given to the overall aesthetic appeal. Even though these professional devices are rarely seen on camera during film production, they are highly visible during television media events and RØDE wanted to create a unique identity for this accessory and we think we’ve achieved this objective.
The environmental impact and safety of factory assembly personnel was also taken into account during the design stage. The custom heat-bonding of the fabric onto the plastic mesh parts reduces the amount of glue required to assemble the product. The handle and suspension parts were designed to be easily disassembled and repaired by the end-user, and spare parts for all components will be available for retail sale, thus reducing the amount of products that are needlessly discarded.
Topic: Rode Blimp (Read 10294 times)