Topic: Foam mic windscreens are made of black cocaine!

[Javier Cinakowski]

Here is an email I sent to AT today.  I am shocked by the amount of "black powder" that is falling from this foam, it just doens't stop....

Hello,
I purchased one of your AT8137 windscreens for my AT4050ST microphone.  Upon opening the windscreen package from B+H Photo/Video I noticed black dust sized particles falling off of the windscreen.  If you hold the screen over a white piece of paper and tap it, thousands of the particles will appear on the paper.  Obviously this windscreen dust would be just as problematic to the microphone capsules as environmental dust.  I have seen this happen with really old windscreens, but this one appears factory fresh.  I would assume with the volume of sales B+H does, this windscreen should be relatively new.  I have pictures of the packaging and dust I can email.

Is this typical of your windscreens?  I would really hate to think that any of your customers would be placing this dust on their 40 series microphones.  I am very happy I caught this before I attempted to use it.

I have an outdoor gig this weekend and really need to use this windscreen, however, not if it continues to release the dust.  I thought of hand washing the screen in hopes of dislodging the loose particles.  I am not sure if that will do the trick.  After tapping on the windscreen many times, particles are still shedding from it.  The coating of black particles on my mixing desk is remarkable.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Mike

[datbrad]

Try rinsing it out in the sink with warm water, squeezing it out and letting it soak up water again, just like a sponge. These could just be some sort of production crumbs and as long as you don't see signs the foam is crumbling, it should be fine.

[Shadow_7]

try rubbing it to see if that creates new dust.  If not then get what you can via tapping + air.  If you have any fish tank tube around make a straw of sorts and use that to blow some fast air at it.  Once you've got that down to as good as you can get, then wash it.  Once you wash it, you glue the dust to it.  Until it dries out again.  If it is that old, or part of a bad batch, you'll always be getting said dust.  Washing it will probably dissolve it.  Like baking a cake without egg whites and then trying to frost it with a butter knife.

[groovon]

I've had that from Wind Tech screens too. I think maybe it's foam 'sawdust' from when they cut the shape with a fine saw blade(?) or whatever they use. Try washing them several times, as someone said, and/or blow them out with compressed air.

[Church-Audio]

Here is an email I sent to AT today.  I am shocked by the amount of "black powder" that is falling from this foam, it just doens't stop....

Hello,
I purchased one of your AT8137 windscreens for my AT4050ST microphone.  Upon opening the windscreen package from B+H Photo/Video I noticed black dust sized particles falling off of the windscreen.  If you hold the screen over a white piece of paper and tap it, thousands of the particles will appear on the paper.  Obviously this windscreen dust would be just as problematic to the microphone capsules as environmental dust.  I have seen this happen with really old windscreens, but this one appears factory fresh.  I would assume with the volume of sales B+H does, this windscreen should be relatively new.  I have pictures of the packaging and dust I can email.

Is this typical of your windscreens?  I would really hate to think that any of your customers would be placing this dust on their 40 series microphones.  I am very happy I caught this before I attempted to use it.

I have an outdoor gig this weekend and really need to use this windscreen, however, not if it continues to release the dust.  I thought of hand washing the screen in hopes of dislodging the loose particles.  I am not sure if that will do the trick.  After tapping on the windscreen many times, particles are still shedding from it.  The coating of black particles on my mixing desk is remarkable.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Mike

Sounds like you got some NOS windscreens where the foam is actually starting to break down. Foam when its new should not do this. I would take them back.

[Church-Audio]

I've had that from Wind Tech screens too. I think maybe it's foam 'sawdust' from when they cut the shape with a fine saw blade(?) or whatever they use. Try washing them several times, as someone said, and/or blow them out with compressed air.

As far as I know windtech is the only company to use a solid block of foam to make windscreens from and then shape it with a lathe... All of the others including my self use a molded windscreen.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Where to start....

First, I think windtech screens are garbage.

Second, windscreen foam breaks down over time.  The dust is a symptom old foam.  Mic guru Klaus Heyne says the dust test (over a piece of paper) is essential to detect old foam. If you're getting dust, they should be tossed.  That dust can get inside your capsules and stick to the diaphragm due to the electric charge.  For vocal mics, saliva can cause the dust to turn into a nasty goo.  The screens don't last forever, especially if exposed to ozone or UV light.

I think windtech screens are garbage because the foam cells are not very open.  Windscreen foam may look like other foam, but the cells are supposed to be open, not blocked.   The openness needs to be uniform and consistent.  It isn't just "foam".  The foam in the big Shure screens, for example, is exceptionally open.  One way to tell is to blow through the foam.

[ashevillain]

There is no way I would've done anything other than immediately return the windscreen to B&H.

[mattmiller]

Damn -- I'm glad I saw this thread.  I just checked my screens and they're doing the same thing.  I just placed an order for some new UA0896's and some A81WS's.  Is there anything I should do to check out my mics (KM140s)?  Or, if they seem to be functioning properly, just toss the screens in the garbage and don't worry about it?

[Javier Cinakowski]

Got a very nice response from AT.  This is not typical of their screens and they are sending a replacement.  They didn't say what was wrong with this "dusty" screen, but offered a few suggestions so I could use it until the new one arrives.  A vacume cleaner and afterward rinsing with water did improve the situation.  I only get a few particles using the paper test now.  It was a quick, effective and courteous response from AT.  I just hope the new one is dust free.  I noticed when searching google on this topic someone else had the same problem with this windscreen.  They wrote some shitty reviews on several websites.  I personally don't think the issue is AT, but the foam material in general.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Klaus on windscreen deterioration, etc.   He rebuilds and modifies a lot of rare old mics.  The thread where he mentions the gunk is a different one, but this is a good read:

http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/t/415/0/

[soundpro]

Hello:

I am not an expert on windscreens, but from what I understand, cheap (often imported) windscreens are formed with a heat process, essentially melting the foam into shape. This is easy to do, results in little or no "foam dust" but also seals many of the cells, which will ultimately attenuate high frequencies. Not a good way to make a windscreen.

Windtech (and I assume other high quality foam windscreens) are made by grinding the foam into shape, which costs much more to do, but results in open foam cells, which will not attenuate high frequencies.

Just my 2 cents....

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Best Regards,

Chris Carfagno
sales@soundprofessionals.com
www.soundprofessionals.com
The Sound Professionals, Inc.
3444 Sylon Blvd
Hainesport NJ, 08036
800-213-3021
609-267-4400
609-267-0054 fax

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Windtech (and I assume other high quality foam windscreens) are made by grinding the foam into shape, which costs much more to do, but results in open foam cells, which will not attenuate high frequencies.

I found my windtechs to be very "blocked" compared to my shures.  I've always considered the windtech's low quality, though the price is decent.

[Shadow_7]

Round and round I go.  I started with windtech wind foams(2114) + rycote wind jammers for lavaliers.  Hardly effective in wind.  But better than nothing.  Beefed that up with a few DIY layers of fake fur.  3x + that other stuff just to compensate for local winds.  Further shooting myself in the foot all along.  But invulnerable to wind, even a good one.  Upon comments of my tracks sounding dull I stripped down the layers to 1x plus that other stuff.  Noticeably better, but vulnerable to wind.  Upon comments here about closed foam, I took the windtech and rycote out of the picture.  Ending up with just 2x layers of DIY fake fur and WOW!!!!  The low end that I thought didn't exist for my mics, exists.  That otherwise DULL sound that so many commented on, mostly gone.  I still have relatively high noise floor mics.  But this past weekend I recorded what I'd call my best capture to date.  With just 2x layers of DIY fake fur.  If my fake fur was longer than 1/2", I'd probably only need 1 layer.  2x layers might be pushing my luck for my region, but it's been kind this year.  Anyways, loving my new approach on wind protection.  I think I'll opt for stitching in pipe filters for structure before using foam again.  What a difference.

[Javier Cinakowski]

I got my replacement from AT.  I took it out of the bag (it was not in oem packaging), did the white paper test and still had many black particles.  It wasn't nearly as many as the original, but still unacceptable imo...  I don't think I am going to bring this up again with AT, it is a waste of my time.  They obviously know this is a probelm and don't give a shit, based upon the replacement. 

love their mics though...