Topic: The RODE Blimp is here

[digifish_music]

Finally after a long wait...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNxAjjKH3M

http://www.rodemic.com/accessory.php?product=Blimp







Download Blimp Manual Here (4 Meg).

Compatible Microphones

    * RODE : NTG-1, NTG-2, NTG-3, NT-4
    * AKG : C568EB, C568B, C480B CK61/62/63
    * Audio Technica : AT4073a, AT875R, AT897, BP4029, AT 835ST
    * Azden : SGM-1000, SGM-1X, SGM-2X (short barrel only)
    * Beyer : MC 836, MCE 86 II, MCE 86 S II
    * DPA : 4017
    * Edirol/Roland : CS-50
    * Neumann : KMR81I, RSM191
    * Sanken : CS1, CS3, CSS55
    * Schoeps : CMD 2U, CMIT 5U
    * Sennheiser : MKH 20 P48, MKH 30 P48, MKH 40 P48, MKH 50, P48, MKH 60-1, MKH 416, P48, MKH 418 S, ME60, ME62, ME64, ME66
    * Sony : ECM-678, ECM-673, ECM-674 ,ECM-680S, ECM-670, ECM-672

To TopSpecifications

    * Weight : 755g (with tail cable installed)
    * Length : 490mm
    * Diameter : ∅125mm
    * Shipping weight : 1.2kg
    * Shipping dimensions : 500mm (L) x 230mm (W) x 175mm (H)

US Retail Price:$399, @ B&H seems to be ~$400 USD.  This will probably settle at $199-230 with discounting.

For comparison I can get it in Australia for ~$190 USD, & $180 USD @ eBay

Bargain!

A thread with comments from a few users who have one can be seen here, here and here.

digifish

[John Willett]

You will have trouble if you use it like this!

[digifish_music]

You will have trouble if you use it like this!

It's not my picture

...but can you define 'trouble'? I can see two things there :

1. The cable from the mic to the grommet where it exits the basket needs some slack (more of an S shape) to allow movement.
2. Some vibrations could be transmitted from the grommet to the mic-cable. OTOH it is made of rubber and the transmission will be very small.

digifish

[John Willett]

You will have trouble if you use it like this!

It's not my picture

...but can you define 'trouble'? I can see two things there :

1. The cable from the mic to the grommet where it exits the basket needs some slack (more of an S shape) to allow movement.
2. Some vibrations could be transmitted from the grommet to the mic-cable. OTOH it is made of rubber and the transmission will be very small.

1 mainly - the cable is very tight with no room for movement - handling noise will be transmitted straight up the cable to the mic.

The cable also looks a bit stiff - I like to use a slim and flexible cable from a mic. through the cable grip on a mic. in a suspension as it decouples the mic. from the main cable.

That's why Rycote do the microphone tails and ConnBoxes.

[digifish_music]

That's why Rycote do the microphone tails and ConnBoxes.

Yes and they want $340 for the ConnBox, more than the whole Rode blimp! 

I think hope this Rode Blimp will give the industry a bit of a shake-up. It needs one.

digifish

[Colin Liston]

Do you think you could mount to DPA 402x series inside that one blimp?

[digifish_music]

Do you think you could mount to DPA 402x series inside that one blimp?

two 402X? I don't see why not, you would need to (probably) mod some kind of suspension out of the parts included plus rubber-bands and blu-tack

The Rode blimp comes with 4 clip sizes - 21/22 mm (round), 24/25 mm (square), 24/25 mm (round), 30 mm (round).

digifish

[anechoic]

looks nice - score one for Røde!
now Behringer needs to make a SD MP-2 and MixPre knock-off!
also, don't forget Cavision products which are also decent for the money
http://www.cavision.com/Sound/Boom%20Pole.htm

[John Willett]

That's why Rycote do the microphone tails and ConnBoxes.

Yes and they want $340 for the ConnBox, more than the whole Rode blimp! 

Bl**dy Hell!  -  In the UK the original ConnBox sells for only £67 (that's $116) - the one you linked to is actually the expensive stereo one with the expensive Lemo connectors for Schoeps mics in the Stereo Ball Gag; and even tha's only £158 in the UK ($274) and those mics would not go into a Røde blimp, anyway!

BUT - Rycote are now including a ConnBox with every basket windshield kit at no extra charge.  Now they have moved over to the wonderful "Lyre" suspensions (which are much better than elastic suspensions) which are cheaper to make, they now include a Mk.II ConnBox with the kit at no extra charge.

Personally I would rather use a Rycote S-series than the Røde.

[digifish_music]

Bl**dy Hell!  -  In the UK the original ConnBox sells for only £67 (that's $116) - the one you linked to is actually the expensive stereo one with the expensive Lemo connectors for Schoeps mics in the Stereo Ball Gag; and even tha's only £158 in the UK ($274) and those mics would not go into a Røde blimp, anyway!

BUT - Rycote are now including a ConnBox with every basket windshield kit at no extra charge.  Now they have moved over to the wonderful "Lyre" suspensions (which are much better than elastic suspensions) which are cheaper to make, they now include a Mk.II ConnBox with the kit at no extra charge.

Personally I would rather use a Rycote S-series than the Røde.

Ok the mono one is $195 still a blind rip

I am just glad to see Rode getting into this market, all good. I have no doubt it will do the job well.

digifish

[Colin Liston]

Do you think you could mount to DPA 402x series inside that one blimp?

two 402X? I don't see why not, you would need to (probably) mod some kind of suspension out of the parts included plus rubber-bands and blu-tack

The Rode blimp comes with 4 clip sizes - 21/22 mm (round), 24/25 mm (square), 24/25 mm (round), 30 mm (round).

digifish

Yes, sorry about the spelling, two DPA's.  I'd love to be able to get two inside that thing.  Thanks for the tip!

[John Willett]

Ok the mono one is $195 still a blind rip

That's the Mk.1 - and I don't know why it's so expensive in the USA compared to the UK - makes a nice change though, normally we pay double in the UK - whatever the Dollar price is in the USA we normally pay in Sterling. 

The new Mk.II ConnBox that comes as standard with new windshields is much cheaper, though.

[digifish_music]

Do you think you could mount to DPA 402x series inside that one blimp?

What sort of stereo arrangement do you have in mind? With two omnis I could imagine one facing front and rear in the basket. XY up front for cards...?

digifish

[John Willett]

The new Mk.II ConnBox that comes as standard with new windshields is much cheaper, though.

Just heard from Rycote - the UK price of the ConnBox 1 Mk.II is £35 +VAT retail - less than half the price of the original.

[Colin Liston]

Do you think you could mount to DPA 402x series inside that one blimp?

What sort of stereo arrangement do you have in mind? With two omnis I could imagine one facing front and rear in the basket. XY up front for cards...?

digifish

I was thinking xy cards, as I don't own omnis.  Might be able to run ortf with the blimb facing sideways.

[digifish_music]

I picked one up last week, video here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNxAjjKH3M

FWIW: I paid $168 (USD), finally some advantage to living in Australia

EDIT:

Two more...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xRnhJ8xoQk

and here he is just showing off

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RgekePffTQ

digifish

[John Willett]

I picked one up last week, video here...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyasl9qm1ug

Watched the video Digi - without sound.

A few of points:-

If you leave the cable as in the video you are likely to get handling noise transmitted to the mic. by the cable.  Leave a loose loop and anchor it to the mount inside the blimp before you exit it.

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

With the mic. *don't* use a foam windshield inside the blimp - this makes the wind protection worse, not better.

Hope this is useful.

[rastasean]

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

Is that real advice or are you making that up? I can just see grown harry men combing their Wombats, rats, and muffs trying to get the best hairdo going on.

[digifish_music]

I picked one up last week, video here...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyasl9qm1ug

Watched the video Digi - without sound.

A few of points:-

If you leave the cable as in the video you are likely to get handling noise transmitted to the mic. by the cable.  Leave a loose loop and anchor it to the mount inside the blimp before you exit it.

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

With the mic. *don't* use a foam windshield inside the blimp - this makes the wind protection worse, not better.

Hope this is useful.

Thanks for the advice...

I am aware about ruffing it up for windy conditions. I left the foam windshield on to show how much space was around the mic, and indeed one layer of HF filtering is enough, about the cable, it's pinched in a rubber grommet in a notch and seems to be effective I have been waggling it about violently and can't hear anything other than then I thump on the cage.

digifish

[digifish_music]

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

Is that real advise or are you making that up? I can just see grown harry men coming their Wombats, rats, and muffs trying to get the best hairdo going on.

It's real I have been thinking of some joke to make...I think Rode did pretty well in the manual...

""Brush the Dead Wombat from front to back to lift the hair and prevent matting. This greatly assists in wind noise protection as well as extends the life of the Dead Wombat."

That's just wierd!

[John Willett]

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

Is that real advise or are you making that up?

It's real advice for getting the best results. 

[John Willett]

Windcover - after you have brushed the hair forwards to get it nice - lightly brush it backwards so the hair stands up - this makes it more effective.

Is that real advise or are you making that up? I can just see grown harry men coming their Wombats, rats, and muffs trying to get the best hairdo going on.

It's real I have been thinking of some joke to make...I think Rode did pretty well in the manual...

""Brush the Dead Wombat from front to back to lift the hair and prevent matting. This greatly assists in wind noise protection as well as extends the life of the Dead Wombat."

That's just wierd!

But you have to brush it forwards first (with the "grain") - this gets rid of any tangles and smooths it out.

*Then* brush it genly backwards to make the hairs stand up.

After use, brush it forwards again to minimise tangles before putting it away.

[digifish_music]

This guy does a nice job reviewing it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xRnhJ8xoQk

and here he is just showing off

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RgekePffTQ