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Outdoor (maybe rainy) recording

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vanillablue:
Hi,

I'm planning to do some recording at the Treefort music fest this week. My rig is SP-CMC-4U-->SP-SPSB-11-->PCM-A10. I've been taping for several years (I post on Dime as huskerdu1972) but mostly do clubs and small theaters in the SF Bay area. Don't usually do outdoor recordings, so I had a couple of questions:
- I had ordered some Sound Professionals windscreens, but unfortunately it looks like they won't arrive in time). What would you all recommend for homemade windscreens?
- the forecast calls for rain on Saturday and there's at least one band I want to tape outdoors. Assuming the show goes on, any tips for getting a decent recording in (hopefully light) rain?

Thanks much!

Gutbucket:
Safest to use more wind-screening than you might think.  May need none, but wind noise ruins otherwise good recordings. You can order Movo WS50 for ~$16 each and have them tomorrow.  You will need to figure a way to fit your small mics to the Movo windscreens, sealing any air leaks completely around the mic cable passing through the rear opening, but if you will be recording outside regularly this may be the best way to go.  I use even smaller mics in those same windscreens, centered using foam inserts from a set of dollar store hair curlers, sealed with gaff-tape. Alternately use foam windscreens from larger mics and wire-tie it snug around the mic cable exit.  Lacking that, raid a cushion for the open cell foam inside, cut out chunks of sufficient size, slit, insert mic, and wire-tie the opening closed.  Worked for Hendrix on Maui- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFfnlYbFEiE

Some will say to sew up some dead rats using faux fur, however I find foam works more effectively in most cases with less potential sonic degradation than DIY fur covers, and is easier to manage than less than acoustically optimized cheapo matted fur.

Wind-noise reduction is all about creating sufficient non-moving dead air space around each mic.  It has everything to do with the microphones directional pattern (the more directional the pattern, the more susceptible to wind noise - if really windy or if lacking sufficient windscreening, run omnis) and has nothing at all to do with the size of the microphone itself.  Small mics need just as much windscreening as large mics.

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Rain is best avoided. If you want to brave it and keep recording there are steps you can take.  But be aware that it will often audibly impose itself on the recording anyway.  A couple options for the mics: Keep a plastic bag ready to throw over the mics - you will hear the droplets impact and the bag will rustle if there is wind.  Rig up a small umbrella over the mics and throw a small towel over the umbrella to minimize the droplet impact sound, or better a piece of non-woven filter material the same size as the umbrella that will break up the energy of the droplets without becoming saturated.  The umbrella can be deployed before the rain arrives so you needn't sit there wondering when to do something once it does, eliminating stress.  A baby stroller parasol works well.

Place your gear bag on a stool, hook it to the mic your stand, or otherwise support it off of the ground. Bring a thick garbage bag into which the recording bag and whatever else you need to keep dry will easily fit.  When the rain comes, you can put everything into the bag, seal it up, and needn't stop recording. When you do that, make sure the mic cables running into the bag form a loop that hangs down lower than their entry point into the bag.  That forms a "drip loop" preventing water running down the cables from entering the bag.

nulldogmas:
Are you running card or omni caps? Cards will pick up about 10,000x as much wind noise. (All figures estimates.)

rocksuitcase:
You did not say if you are hand holding or running a stand.
If on a stand, I agree with gutbucket, go find a small stroller parasol. (clamps also helpful)

Gutbucket:
My reply above indeed assumes mics on a stand.  If you are the mic stand, good windscreening will be much less critical. Dealing with rain may be easier or harder, depending, but all the same basic concerns apply.  If you can get away with using one an umbrella beats a rain hat, which in turn beats a hood.

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