lav wind protection? at DVinfo.net

Philip Fass · August 28th, 2008, 07:19 AM

I'm considering either a couple of Rycote Windjammers or the Sticky/Overcover system to reduce wind noise. Most of the people I'd attach them to would be wearing t-shirts, so there's not a lot of hiding options.

Anyone know how resistant the stickies are to being yanked off accidentally? Or which choice would provide better audio?

Thanks.

Nick Flowers · August 28th, 2008, 12:35 PM

The Rycote Furries work well. Depending on what the people you are filming are doing, I'd recommend putting the lav in a Furry and sticking it under the T shirt - unless they are going to be doing something strenuous which might imply cothes rustle. If your lav has a reasonably large pop shield, like the Tram, it can go straight into the Furry. If not (eg COS 11) they supply a foam insert to bulk the mic out and provide more airspace within. I've found three colours of Furry (black, white and grey) if you have to put them above clothing. But underneath protects them more against the wind and the Furry also helps to reduce normal clothes rustle. Rycote say you shouldn't put them under clothing, but I've had nothing but good results doing this.
Nick F.

Jeffery Magat · August 28th, 2008, 12:52 PM

I've never actually used or seen a Rycote Furry in person, but it looks massive from the pictures I've seen. Not sure how you would hide it unless the person was wearing a really loose t-shirt.

The Rycote Overcovers can hold pretty well if applied correctly. The Rycote stickies are as good as any double-sided tape.

Philip Fass · August 28th, 2008, 01:34 PM

I'm not too concerned about hiding it, but I don't want it to look silly.

Nick, I'm guessing/hoping those Windjammers aren't more than an inch in diameter - preferably less?

Dean Sensui · August 28th, 2008, 01:47 PM

My wife made small slip covers out of felt that go over my lav mics.

It provides a little wind protection when placed under a t-shirt, and the texture generally resists rubbing noise.

I either clip them to the t-shirt collar or tape them inside the shirt. It's also possible to tape it to the skin under the shirt with medical tape but for people with hairy chests that's not practical.

For sweaty, active people I'll clip it to the shirt collar and tape part of the wire to the shirt as well. I use paper medical tape over the mic on the inside so the hardware doesn't irritate the talent or guest.

Rick Reineke · August 28th, 2008, 01:49 PM

They are not as large as they appear in the pictures, but bigger than a foam.

Jeffery Magat · August 28th, 2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip Fass

I'm not too concerned about hiding it, but I don't want it to look silly.

Nick, I'm guessing/hoping those Windjammers aren't more than an inch in diameter - preferably less?

They're likely not to look very awkward since they are a commonly used item (although I have never used one. ;) ). To add to your list of choices, Remote Audio - Micro-cat

John M. McCloskey · August 28th, 2008, 03:00 PM

We struggled with wind noise for years and tried the rycote softies, stickys, wrapping them in silk, and nothing seemed to work as well as changing Lav Mic completely from Countryman and Lectrosonics to the Tram TR-50. The Tram eliminated a huge percent of clothing noise and also wind noise was knocked down tremendously. Nothing but great things to say about the Tram.

Nick Flowers · August 28th, 2008, 03:39 PM

The Furries are about an inch in diameter, but it is all fluff. When under a T-shirt they flatten down - you can see the lump, sure: but it isn't too bad. And Trams work VERY well with them. Windjammers, BTW, are Rycote's name for their full-sized long fibre cover that goes over the rigid zeppelin. AKA Dead Cats, or Dougals (strictly in countries where The Magic Roundabout has been shown!).

Philip Fass · August 29th, 2008, 12:40 PM

I can see why Remote Audio calls them Micro-cat. They must have a factory of cats coughing up these furballs.

Phil Bambridge · September 5th, 2008, 10:12 PM

I haven't got a framegrab to hand, but they seem to use- if not Rycotes then something very similar- them on Mythbusters frequently. Pinned up at the neck of a t-shirt they're not very noticeable, especially using the white ones on a white t-shirt, on the blacks on a black t-shirt.

I have a pair, and they really do make an incredible difference, and compared with some Rycote kit, they're not an utterly ludicrous price.

Philip Fass · September 6th, 2008, 05:40 AM

I ordered two Rycotes -- a gray and a black, because I don't especially like shooting white shirts. Tomorrow I'll be seeing what the can do.

Nick Wilson · September 6th, 2008, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Bambridge

I have a pair, and they really do make an incredible difference, and compared with some Rycote kit, they're not an utterly ludicrous price.

I would agree with this - I have used Rycote fluffies on Sennheiser ME102s at sea and on mountain tops and they just work. Well worth a try.

Nick

Philip Fass · September 6th, 2008, 08:29 AM

So it's possible they'd work even in a wind that could blow a hat off your head?

Phil Bambridge · September 11th, 2008, 11:22 PM

Here's some shots of the presenters of Mythbusters wearing, if not the Rycotes, then something that looks identical to me.

As for what wind they'd protect in, all I can say, not owning an anemometer is that the branches of medium sized trees were swaying a little, and I was getting occasional hits of that typical mic-disturbed-by-wind noise in my own ears. And nothing came through on the recorded sound.

August 28th, 2008, 07:19 AM	#1
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	lav wind protection? I'm considering either a couple of Rycote Windjammers or the Sticky/Overcover system to reduce wind noise. Most of the people I'd attach them to would be wearing t-shirts, so there's not a lot of hiding options. Anyone know how resistant the stickies are to being yanked off accidentally? Or which choice would provide better audio? Thanks.

August 28th, 2008, 12:35 PM	#2
Nick Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chichester UK Posts: 167	Furries The Rycote Furries work well. Depending on what the people you are filming are doing, I'd recommend putting the lav in a Furry and sticking it under the T shirt - unless they are going to be doing something strenuous which might imply cothes rustle. If your lav has a reasonably large pop shield, like the Tram, it can go straight into the Furry. If not (eg COS 11) they supply a foam insert to bulk the mic out and provide more airspace within. I've found three colours of Furry (black, white and grey) if you have to put them above clothing. But underneath protects them more against the wind and the Furry also helps to reduce normal clothes rustle. Rycote say you shouldn't put them under clothing, but I've had nothing but good results doing this. Nick F.

August 28th, 2008, 01:47 PM	#5
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	My wife made small slip covers out of felt that go over my lav mics. It provides a little wind protection when placed under a t-shirt, and the texture generally resists rubbing noise. I either clip them to the t-shirt collar or tape them inside the shirt. It's also possible to tape it to the skin under the shirt with medical tape but for people with hairy chests that's not practical. For sweaty, active people I'll clip it to the shirt collar and tape part of the wire to the shirt as well. I use paper medical tape over the mic on the inside so the hardware doesn't irritate the talent or guest. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

August 28th, 2008, 03:39 PM	#9
Nick Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chichester UK Posts: 167	Furries The Furries are about an inch in diameter, but it is all fluff. When under a T-shirt they flatten down - you can see the lump, sure: but it isn't too bad. And Trams work VERY well with them. Windjammers, BTW, are Rycote's name for their full-sized long fibre cover that goes over the rigid zeppelin. AKA Dead Cats, or Dougals (strictly in countries where The Magic Roundabout has been shown!).

September 11th, 2008, 11:22 PM	#15
Phil Bambridge Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 78	Here's some shots of the presenters of Mythbusters wearing, if not the Rycotes, then something that looks identical to me. As for what wind they'd protect in, all I can say, not owning an anemometer is that the branches of medium sized trees were swaying a little, and I was getting occasional hits of that typical mic-disturbed-by-wind noise in my own ears. And nothing came through on the recorded sound. Attached Thumbnails

August 28th, 2008, 12:52 PM	#3
Jeffery Magat Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 186	I've never actually used or seen a Rycote Furry in person, but it looks massive from the pictures I've seen. Not sure how you would hide it unless the person was wearing a really loose t-shirt. The Rycote Overcovers can hold pretty well if applied correctly. The Rycote stickies are as good as any double-sided tape.

August 28th, 2008, 01:34 PM	#4
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	I'm not too concerned about hiding it, but I don't want it to look silly. Nick, I'm guessing/hoping those Windjammers aren't more than an inch in diameter - preferably less?

August 28th, 2008, 01:49 PM	#6
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	They are not as large as they appear in the pictures, but bigger than a foam.

August 28th, 2008, 03:00 PM	#8
John M. McCloskey Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Point, MS Posts: 313	We struggled with wind noise for years and tried the rycote softies, stickys, wrapping them in silk, and nothing seemed to work as well as changing Lav Mic completely from Countryman and Lectrosonics to the Tram TR-50. The Tram eliminated a huge percent of clothing noise and also wind noise was knocked down tremendously. Nothing but great things to say about the Tram.

August 29th, 2008, 12:40 PM	#10
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	I can see why Remote Audio calls them Micro-cat. They must have a factory of cats coughing up these furballs.

September 5th, 2008, 10:12 PM	#11
Phil Bambridge Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 78	I haven't got a framegrab to hand, but they seem to use- if not Rycotes then something very similar- them on Mythbusters frequently. Pinned up at the neck of a t-shirt they're not very noticeable, especially using the white ones on a white t-shirt, on the blacks on a black t-shirt. I have a pair, and they really do make an incredible difference, and compared with some Rycote kit, they're not an utterly ludicrous price.

September 6th, 2008, 05:40 AM	#12
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	I ordered two Rycotes -- a gray and a black, because I don't especially like shooting white shirts. Tomorrow I'll be seeing what the can do.

September 6th, 2008, 08:29 AM	#14
Philip Fass Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Charlotte, VT Posts: 397	So it's possible they'd work even in a wind that could blow a hat off your head?