Topic: condoms

[Jhurlbs81]

I've heard people mention they put condoms over the mics for rain protection.  Can anyone speak to this?  Do you acutally roll it right over the mic, or is it more to protect connections? If it does cover the cap, what effects does it have on frequency response?  I'd think you'd lose the high end, but my rationing may be off.

 Do you think the cashier will believe me when I tell her the "extra snug" condoms are not for me? 

[MarkF]

I used condoms for my 460's last year at a festival (Nedfest).  I pulled the condoms over the ends and twist tied them closed covering the XLR's.  They were definitley protected, but the sound was muffled/distorted to the point of not keeping the recording. 

[Brian Skalinder]

I used condoms for my 460's last year at a festival (Nedfest).  I pulled the condoms over the ends and twist tied them closed covering the XLR's.  They were definitley protected, but the sound was muffled/distorted to the point of not keeping the recording. 

How tight were they pulled across the front of the cap?  Remember this from a similar thread...

The condom trick if done properly works really well.  The ENG/broadcasting/movie people use this all the time.  The trick is getting rubber to stretch across the front of the cap real tight.  The best solution I have found is using really thin finger cots used in electronics labs.  These are the "old man" condoms found at Spensers at the mall.  These are so small that when stretched accross the cap they are extreamly thin and don't interfere with the frequency response or air pressure too much...  A dead rat will make your recordings sound much worse than a tightly stretched condom.

[Jhurlbs81]

Thanks Brian.
Jesse

[zman]

They do need to be stretched. I tried this at summer camp as the wind was bad on the upper stage one day. You do lose sound pressure, no question. Had to crank up the V2. I believe Jeff Frank had trouble with his, then again, he tried it with used condoms!

[rokpunk]

one word....
unlubricated.

[OOK]

I know John Merin has used this method, give him a pm..

[TNJazz]

one word....
unlubricated.

what about ribbed?   

[gratefulphish]

Do different flavors make a difference? 

[dunebug81]

I hear rough riders work best. 

[Stagger]

They do need to be stretched. I tried this at summer camp as the wind was bad on the upper stage one day. You do lose sound pressure, no question. Had to crank up the V2. I believe Jeff Frank had trouble with his, then again, he tried it with used condoms!

Yea but who did he get the used condoms from is the question? 

[nameloc01]

glow in the dark style may be something to look into.

[balou2]

I tried it once and got horrible results.  In retrospect, I could assume they weren't stretched tight enough.  Then again, the extra large may be thicker. 

[F0CKER]

I always buy ribbed for her pleasure, but I'm selfish so I turn them inside out.

[Sean Gallemore]

is this recommended for outdoor S-word recordings?