Topic: Help! Wind protection, on a budget, need by Saturday!

[Scuba Jeremy]

I have a gig that I need to record on Saturday night, on Navy Pier in Chicago. I'm going to be taping as a professional archivist (well, semi-pro, I guess), and will have access to a board mix as well as on stage mics to pick up applause and ambiance. One aspect of ambiance that I would like to miss out on is that Windy City trademark sure to ruin my recording attempts down by the lake. Hoping to catch the fireworks in the recording, though.

I am working on a budget, so I can't just run out to Guitar Center and drop $80 on some Neumann screens, but what should I expect to spend to protect my MC012s on the lip of the stage? Suggestions on what to buy, where to shop, etc? Thanks!

[bhtoque]

Go to radio shack. They sell screens designed for vocal mics, about $4 each. They fit perfectly on the oktavas when used on top of the stock oktava screens. The air space trapped between the two layers will give you a decent amount of protection, but not near what a good set of shure's or the like will give.

JAson

[Sanjay]

Go to radio shack. They sell screens designed for vocal mics, about $4 each. They fit perfectly on the oktavas when used on top of the stock oktava screens. The air space trapped between the two layers will give you a decent amount of protection, but not near what a good set of shure's or the like will give.

JAson

and then go to a craft store and buy fake fur, and sew a cover of fake fur over the rat shack ones to further protect you.  Search "dead rats" for pictures

[Brian Skalinder]

You're welcome to borrow my big-ass Shure w/s (A81WS), if you wish.

[Scuba Jeremy]

Thanks guys, T's all around, I'll see if I can construct some Dead Rats before I head out, otherwise the Radio Shack option sounds good too. If any Chicago folks are feeling bored tomorrow night, head out to the Bud Light stage on the pier! Great taping experience.

[eman]

I did some "Dead Rat" testing with a room fan, and I found that the amount of high end attenuation if you wrap all the way around is unacceptable. So I leave an opening towards the front and still get most of the wind blockage. Probably 90% of the side and rear wind noise gets eliminated. I never get the overwhelming volume spikes that I get using just DPA screens in the windy state of Colorado.

[F.O.Bean]

also, just tightly wrap a pair of wool socks over a pair of stock screens, and tie down with something like a rubber band or nylon tie tightly over the capsule

[Scuba Jeremy]

Made some Dead Rats out of some really bright green/blue/yellow fabric today. Looks like a Muppett, it's great. I'll have to post some pics after the show tomorrow. I did leave an opening on the front, so it's more like a big fuzzy tube, looks like it will work pretty well.

[eman]

I don't know, I'm a cymbal/ high hat freak and I have a hard time dealing with any high end attenuation. I'll stick (for now) with pattern disruption over high end losses.

Re: Food for thought- the DPA screen creates a space around the mic, I'll have to give some thought about how wrapping asymmetrically will affect the sound waves as they pass by. Pressure gradient= 1st derivative of sound pressure dp/dx,  180 deg out of phase from p(x) (in vector form)? Or does that mean more of a delta P- the difference between the pressure in the front of the diaphragm and pressure behind?

I am trying to make the mental connections between mic patterns and sounds and I haven't gotten that far beyond the most obvious. I haven't advanced much beyond using tighter patterns for noiser venues and wider for more attentive audiences/ higher SPL's. But that's why I'm here reading.