Topic: Windscreens for small diameter condenser microphones?

[Gutbucket]

Have you considered the AT8117? Perhaps a hair large for the 4098?
[snip]
AT8117: 3" long, 2" diameter, mic opening 5/16", mic insertion depth 2 1/2"

That could be a good option, thanks.

Speaking of mesh-basket type, how do Rycote Baby Ball windscreens with Rycote Windjammers compare with the BIG Shure's for small diaphragm condensers???

Good question.  I've wondered the same.
5 years ago I made some DIY baby balls using plastic mesh snap-together embroidery balls.  Found I didn't really need them for the omnis I was using them on and didn't bother developing it further with fur covers, etc.  The primary problem I had was figuring a way of keeping the ball centered around the mic, with the mic element at the center of the ball.  How is that done with the Rycote Baby Ball? Does it simply rely on the stiffness of the rubber grommet collar around the mic body or is there an elastic suspension inside?

The DIY version-












Funny, I mentioned plastic hair culers in the same thread and forgot about that.  Probably still have a package of them in the bottom of the recording junk box.

[Chuck]

Hmmm... I still have a pair of (ball gag type) MBHO MB 115 No. 99-8055 http://www.mbho.de/pdf/accessories.pdf (bottom right of the page). I used to use them with my Josephson mics back in the early 90's They don't quite fit on any of the mics I have now, so I haven't used them in a while. But, with a little sanding on the ID of those things, I may be able to make them work with my current mics. I remember they used to work really well when I did use them back in the day.

[tgakidis]

Here is my DIY Blimp from a few years back.  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=110851.msg1480061#msg1480061

[DigiGal]

How is that done with the Rycote Baby Ball? Does it simply rely on the stiffness of the rubber grommet collar around the mic body or is there an elastic suspension inside?

From these images it looks like Rycote relies entirely on the stiffness of the rubber grommet for sdc's...

 

[DigiGal]

Here is my DIY Blimp from a few years back.  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=110851.msg1480061#msg1480061

Thanks Ted, are you still using them and how well did they work compared to Big Shure's?

[tgakidis]

Here is my DIY Blimp from a few years back.  http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=110851.msg1480061#msg1480061

Thanks Ted, are you still using them and how well did they work compared to Big Shure's?

I used them once along time ago with good results.  I should dust them off for next festival season.

[flipp]

Funny, I mentioned plastic hair culers in the same thread and forgot about that.  Probably still have a package of them in the bottom of the recording junk box.

I recalled someone had mentioned curlers before but couldn't recall who and I'm too lazy to spend much/any time searching. Glad  the mention rang a bell.

I do miss the old days of lots of folks doing DIY and especially the pictorial documentation/tutorials that often accompanied the various projects. While I've attempted a few DIY projects I never took pics, which is probably a good thing as most were either outright failures or very crude, if effective, contraptions.

[DigiGal]

I do miss the old days of lots of folks doing DIY and especially the pictorial documentation/tutorials that often accompanied the various projects. While I've attempted a few DIY projects I never took pics, which is probably a good thing as most were either outright failures or very crude, if effective, contraptions.

flipp, In case you missed it take a look a Chucks recent DIY...

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=164894.0

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=2457.msg2062065#msg2062065

http://www.timebetweenthenotes.com/review_shockmount.html

[adrianf74]

Bumping thread for picture of the big Shure's in the Portabrace CP Pouch.

I think I paid $15.00 for mine a couple of years ago so deals are out there if you are patient. 

Here is a photo of my Big Shure Windscreens with the tbrown dead muppets on them as in the CP Clip On Divider Pouch to demonstrate the fit.

Running out of room in my Nova 4 (now that I'm adding PFA Actives and a 60D into the mix).   Would this Divider Pouch work properly with DPA UA0896's with dead rats on?  I actually need room for four -- unless somebody can suggest another idea.  TIA.

[F.O.Bean]

Adrian, I use the 1980s hip huggers[cant recall the geeky name for them] and each one holds [2] BAS! And I have them tied to the handles of my gear bags!

[Gutbucket]

Forgot to report back on the results of quick DPA 4098 windscreen search I was on a couple months back. 

I ended up going the hair-curler route, but used open-cell foam ones instead of adapting the basket type with a furry cover.  In the bottom of my recording junk box I found an unopened package of 8 of them I had bought at the Dollar Tree discount store that were the perfect size, removed the plastic clips from them and found that they slipped perfectly over the 1-1/2" long interference tubes of the mics. 

Did a quick recording test listening for response differences and satisfied with that, I sprayed a few of them with silicone water repellent I bought to treat my camping gear, which doesn't make them water-proof but does help keep rain mist or other moisture from saturating them as easily as it would an untreated foam windscreen. I cut a small plug of foam from another one to fill the hole in the open end.  Quick, easy and effective, and a steal at 8 for a dollar (well, make that 7 for a dollar since one got sacrificed for fashioning small foam end plugs).  I may make some dead animal covers that I can slip over these for when the wind is more severe, but they did the job nicely.  The diameter of the hole in these would probably also work well on DPA 406x, Countryman B3, or other similar diameter small mics, if one needed something a bit larger than the typical mini omni foams.

In the photos below, the foam curler windscreens are the barrel shaped things on the end of the shorter arms.  The small screens at the end of the long arms are actual DPA 406x foam screens for the omnis, and although those windscreens are much smaller, the omnis are a great deal less wind noise susceptible and those are usually sufficient in the conditions in which I'm recording.

[John Willett]

How is that done with the Rycote Baby Ball? Does it simply rely on the stiffness of the rubber grommet collar around the mic body or is there an elastic suspension inside?

From these images it looks like Rycote relies entirely on the stiffness of the rubber grommet for sdc's...

 

Yes - but it's rather more than a "rubber grommet".

It is extended inside the baby ball gag to minimise it twisting off axis.

I have one for my Soundfield SPS200.

[Gutbucket]

Thanks John, I can see that now.   Do you know how its fitted to smaller diameter microphone bodies?  Is there an adapter of some sort or is the ball itself offered with few different diameter openings?  I've wondered about one for the Tetramic, but its smaller than the SPS2000, with a body that is maybe 3/8" in diameter or so.  I also wonder about using it side-address and if the solid snap-together interfacing surface of each half of the basket which together bisect the ball right at the horizontal equator is any concern in that orientation.

[John Willett]

Thanks John, I can see that now.   Do you know how its fitted to smaller diameter microphone bodies?  Is there an adapter of some sort or is the ball itself offered with few different diameter openings?  I've wondered about one for the Tetramic, but its smaller than the SPS2000, with a body that is maybe 3/8" in diameter or so.  I also wonder about using it side-address and if the solid snap-together interfacing surface of each half of the basket which together bisect the ball right at the horizontal equator is any concern in that orientation.

There are several versions of the Baby Ball Gag - for 19/21mm, 22/23mm and 25mm diameter mics.  The Soundfield SPS200 one was a special for SOundfield.

However, I think the Tetramic body is so thin that you would need something to make it larger.

Talk to Rycote in person - they are very helpful and would be able to do you a special if it's at al possible.

[F.O.Bean]

I would LOVE to have a ball gag, but since I run just my capsules/actives on my stand, it would never work. Not enough room on the capsules BUT, I have been using BigAss Shures for almost 15 years, and I have only had wind ruin MAYBE 2 recordings Some phasing, yes, but certainly not wind noise. And the phasing is only audible between songs I wish Rycote made an "active" version so tapers like me could use the ball gag!!!