Topic: AT853's and wind...

[TheJez]

I've been using cardiod mics all my recording-life, as I like how they help reducing crowd noise and reverb from the venue. Since last year I've got myself a pair of AT853's with cardiod capsules and am very pleased with my recordings with them. All have been indoor gigs. However, in a couple of weeks, I'll be taping at an open-air festival. I understand that apparently cardiods are more susceptible for wind noise than omni's, so I am a bit worried now.
I got my self a pair of Bubblebee Twin Windbubbles Black 4 (see picture) to prevent wind noise, but I'm not sure if that will keep me out of trouble.
I'd like to hear about your experience with AT853's and outdoor recording. Would you recommend using omni capsules instead, or go with the cardiod capsules anyway? I guess I'll have to use the Bubblebees anyway.
Thanks for sharing your opinion and experiences!

[Pieteker]

I've been using cardiod mics all my recording-life, as I like how they help reducing crowd noise and reverb from the venue. Since last year I've got myself a pair of AT853's with cardiod capsules and am very pleased with my recordings with them. All have been indoor gigs. However, in a couple of weeks, I'll be taping at an open-air festival. I understand that apparently cardiods are more susceptible for wind noise than omni's, so I am a bit worried now.
I got my self a pair of Bubblebee Twin Windbubbles Black 4 (see picture) to prevent wind noise, but I'm not sure if that will keep me out of trouble.
I'd like to hear about your experience with AT853's and outdoor recording. Would you recommend using omni capsules instead, or go with the cardiod capsules anyway? I guess I'll have to use the Bubblebees anyway.
Thanks for sharing your opinion and experiences!

In my experience, the AT853 cardioids work perfectly fine outdoors as long as they're worn inside a hat with proper foam windscreens. I've used them at outdoor festivals without any issues in light to moderate wind. I'd say they're good up to around 20 km/h. Above that, especially with gusty winds, you'll likely start to notice some wind rumble regardless of the capsule type.

Your Bubblebee Windbubbles should work well. If you can wear the mics inside a Kangol or similar hat, that's even better—it adds another layer of wind protection.

For reference, these are the foam windscreens I used when I was still running AT853s:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT8153--audio-technica-at8153

[nulldogmas]

I've also used AT853 cards outdoors plenty, with simple windscreens (the SH-PREM-WS sold by Sound Pros), and never had any problems with wind noise. (See the Breeders show I just posted to DIME, for example.) I'll usually shoulder-mount them under a light shirt, which also helps protect from wind.

Depending on where you're recording from, though, you might want to use omni caps anyway. As you say, one of the main advantages of cards is that they reduce venue reverb — and no walls means no reverb off walls. So as long as you'll be close enough that the PA sound should be louder than crowd chatter, omnis can be a good choice.

[Gutbucket]

How much wind protection you'll need obviously depends on how windy it is, but generally you'll need more wind protection if running open - say clamped or up on a stand - than if wearing the microphones.

Some windscreen basics that always apply:

• The size of the microphone does not matter, a very small microphone needs as much wind protection as a larger microphone of similar specs.
• Pickup pattern does matter, the more directional the microphone (closer to fig-8, farther from omnidirectional) the more susceptible to wind noise.
• The microphone's low frequency response makes a difference.  Mics with less low frequency extension are less susceptible to wind noise.
• The key to wind-noise reduction is creating sufficient "still", "dead-air" space around the microphone.
• A foam windscreen of sufficient diameter does a very good job of providing a uniform, still, "bubble" of air.
• A fur cover over a smaller foam screen can increase its effectiveness in conditions where the foam alone is insufficient.
• A fur cover alone (without something underneath such as foam or an open blimp-style cage creating sufficient air space around the microphone) will not be as effective.
• Make sure that the openings of whatever windscreen is used seal tightly around the mic-body or mic-cable. Air leaks make the windscreen less effective. Make sure the fur is unmatted, fluffy and loose)

If using the fur cover, best to use a small foam windscreen that fits the microphone well underneath of it.. and if its not that windy you can just skip the fur.   Alternately, instead of adding the fur cover you might switch to a larger foam windscreen.

The more substantial the wind-screening, the more high-frequency attenuation it will impart.  The shape of that attenuation curve is determined by the particulars of the windscreen. If the resulting recording sounds a bit dull you can compensate with high-shelf EQ, and may find yourself using a bit more of it when using a fur cover.

[Gutbucket]

All that said, those Bubblebee furs look to be nice and fluffy, and might prove sufficient on their own without a foam underneath.  When furry covers get matted, dreadlocked and crushed down they're not so good.

[lpmaskman]

I bought cheapass foam windscreens from Temu and they worked so good in windy weather a few weeks ago.

[Gutbucket]

Grab a few extras, the tiny ones have a tendency to disappear or get torn up.

[lpmaskman]

Grab a few extras, the tiny ones have a tendency to disappear or get torn up.

They sell it as 16pcs packs, so I bought one pack.

[beroti_music]

When i use them outdoors, I always put the locking windscreens and church audio dead rats. Works all the time

[TheJez]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences and thoughts! You have been very helpful.
It seems I should not be too scared for wind noise with my AT853 cardioids combined with the Bubblebee's.
Just in case, I've order a pair of omni capsules from Ted anyway as a fallback. Once I have these, and there is some substantial wind, I'll try to make some field recordings of 'something reasonably loud' with both sets of capsules to see how they handle the wind.

Now for the next challenge: The two gigs I was planning to tape at the outdoor festival seem to be scheduled back-to-back, with 0 minutes in between, at two different stages! Arghh... Anybody else planning to tape at the Venlo Zomerparkfeest too??

@nulldogmas: Your Breeders recording on Dime sounds nice indeed, thanks for sharing!

[robgronotte]

When i use them outdoors, I always put the locking windscreens and church audio dead rats. Works all the time

Where can you get locking wind screens for these mics?

[beroti_music]

https://soundprofessionals.com/product/sh-prem-ws-one-pair-premium-locking-windscreens-for-sp-cmc-4-and-sp-cmc-4u-microphones/?srsltid=AfmBOoqPyZHko5rXAOG9b39JETuiAgHISLWaBn2nH3CQ2hzU8OAE9beF