Topic: windscreen options

[Brian Skalinder]

WINDSCREENS

Summer taping!  Better make sure you have a pair of good windscreens.  If you do any outdoor taping, they're well worth the investment - you'll be glad you have them, sorry if you don't.  Smaller windscreens like the DPA UA0896 are also very effective indoors - and reasonably low profile - for dealing with the breeze from ventilation systems.  For serious outdoor use, the Shure A81WS are tough to beat.

DPA  (http://www.dpamicrophones.com)
UA0896
Fit ~19mm diameter mics, which is most small condenser mics we use for field recording.  The mm diameter doesn't have to be exact, as long as its close they'll fit.  Nice windscreens and some of the most popular out there, with good reason: relatively inexpensive and effective.  FWIW, I use these indoors to deal with the breeze from ventilation systems.  Outdoors, I've tried both the DPA UA0896 and Shure A81WS and found the Shure better (but more expensive).  I prefer the Shure A81WS, but I don't think you can go wrong with the DPA UA0896 windscreens.  ~$40/pair.

Shure  (http://www.shure.com)
A81WS
Fit ~20mm diameter mics, which is most small condensor mics we use for field recording.  The mm diameter doesn't have to be exact, as long as its close they'll fit.  Great windscreens, and big mamas!  Probably the most effective for outdoors without spending an arm and a leg.  Outdoors, I've tried both the DPA UA0896 and Shure A81WS and found the Shure better (but more expensive).  ~$60/pair.

Olsen Audio (http://www.olsenaudio.com)
1200 Series
19 mm inner diameter will fit most small condenser mics.  Huge selection of colors, and other size windscreens available.  The mm diameter doesn't have to be exact, as long as its close they'll fit.  

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I've been doing some research and found a few things:

I have LD ADKs (A-51S) which is about the same size as the Neumann U89/U87 mics.

The OlsenAudio site has "special app" 'screens for the U87/U89 (the 20/421 series) that also fits several others kinds of mics including the Shure KSM27.

So, perhaps before you spend $30+ on a pair of Neumann WS87 or WS89 'screens, you might want to check out Shure's A32WS, which is about $13 per...

http://www.shure.com/accessories/a32ws.asp

Now, if you told me that the Neumann 'screen was that much better than the Shure 'screen, I might believe you...

I'm doing more research into this...

Terry Watts

[shroominhumpy]

There have been a few posts about AKG C1000 windscreens, most coming to no conclusion as to what to use.

I would suggest using the Windtech 600 series for most applications. They are cheap and can be found at B&H. In really windy situtations I would suggest using the Windtechs and the dead rat sock.

Jason

[dennisrtyler]

Anyone have any idea at what wind speed the shure A81WS needs further protection with a dead rat cover?

i *think* 20mph