Rode Blimp Unboxing
 

Thought I'd share the excitement to those who haven't received their blimp yet. Gotta love the guys at Rode .... everything about them is classy.

Images attached. Enjoy.

Andrew

Of course, I'm yet to use mine. Has anyone else received theirs yet and what are your thoughts?

Andrew

I have yet to use mine in anger, but I did a test at the weekend in very windy conditions in my garden - with the on-cam mic in a rycote softie in channel 1 and the NTG-2 in a Blimp on channel 2.

It's verrrrry good. You would hardly know the wind was blowing at all - in fact, the only wind noise I got was the wind whistling through the garden gate.

The blimp does seem to be suffering from hair-loss though. I hope it can be treated!

I guess all you need now is a big furry for the gate? Quick, start collecting those stray hairs! :-P

Andrew

Mike .. RODE research shows the dead Wombat will shed hair a bit, then it settles down.

Did you guys get some spare grommets in the package?

Cheers.

Yes, a spare set of 8 rings and a bunch of mic holder doovies for the other microphone sizes. Really impressed with Rode pro-actively sending the extra bits with the initial box. It will be a long time before you have to contact them for replacement parts.

Actually, I was recently told a story where someone called Rode about a mic that had failed. The Rode response was "Gee. That shouldn't happen." and replaced the mic ... even though the mic in question was well out of warranty. (Disclaimer: Your mileage may vary)

These guys are unbelievable.

Andrew

Can't wait to get mines. If you don't mind i'll post pictures in this thread. I just ordered my Rode NTG-3 yesterday from Zzounds at an incredible low price. So low I'm scared to even post the price here. Great pictures and I'll be testing mines soon as well.


Nicole

Yup, a whole back of spare bits and pieces in the end of the box.

Good to hear the hair loss won't last forever. It will save me trying hair spray and then scanning the small ads for hair loss remedies!

First reaction: this thing is huge. It's MUCH bigger than it looks in the pictures, and you need a strong boom pole to hold it up with.

Gave it a good brushing the other day and comb ended up looking like I just groomed a dog. It fluffed up afterwards and doesn't seem to shed quite as much after that.

Really easy claim process on the RODE website for the blimp, it came like a week after I submitted the claim.

I haven'd had the chance to use it yet, but so far it looks like a nice product, especially for the $0.86USD I paid for it!

Yeah, it's kinda huge. And I've already perfected my James Bond stance with this thing.

Andrew

Their prices are exactly the same as B&H, far as I can tell. Unless you're talking about refurbs or open-box demos, and even then B&H is less for some items.

(Maybe I'm missing something. Meaning no disrespect to you or your vendor, but I got all excited and was then disappointed to find their prices aren't any different from the trusted sponsor from whom I usually buy...)

Hi Adam, but the point is, currently the NTG-3 offer includes the $1 Blimp.

A couple of folk here have PMd asking me if I intend marketing the Blimp case.
There'd be no point, the freight cost would eat the profits. And it's easy to make, you don't have to put the fancy bit on the front cap. Keep the Wombat folded up in a cotton pillow case at the back of the main barrel to avoid static electricity build up with the PVC.

But whatever you do keep it in dust free storage. Cheers.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ode-blimp.html

Yes, of course you're right, but as that deal is the same no matter where you buy it, I thought the point was that Nicole's vendor offered significantly better pricing than elsewhere, and was disappointed to find it wasn't so. As I said, I probably misinterpreted her point.

And of course the $1 offer is an incredible deal only if you really need the NTG-3. You could buy an NTG-2 and pay full street price for the blimp and it would still be less than the NTG-3 alone...

Adam-I didn't pay $699 for mines. I got a brand new one and I have the receipt here to prove it. They beat a competitor's price with no problem. I got the Rode NTG-3 for $535.00 Just in case you think I'm lying I have attached a copy of my invoice. Enjoy!!!



Thanks
Nicole

p.s. Zoom in to see the price I paid for it.

That IS good. Can you share how one would get a price like that? There's no indication of it on their website.

That is how. Find someone else selling it low click on the SEEN IT FOR A LOWER PRICE. Fill out the form and they will respond within 24 hours and offer you the item at a very low price.


Nicole

I bought one from DVestore for $699 + free k-tek 110cc boompole ($225 or more). If you need a boompole this offer is far better

I've had one for about six months. That little cable-quieter gasket in the back will get lost...wish there was a better solution/design. Also not a fan of the acrobatics of getting the internal cabling outta there when I want to use a stereo mic with its requisite 5-pin XLR. Guy a a pro audio shop sneered when I said I picked one up.

Despite its failings, I've used it at a beach in 25mph winds (I have a hand-held weather gauge with readings for wind speed) and it rendered the wind utterly silent. It's not broken, bent, or failed me other than the weirdnesses mentioned above. The suspension system isn't the most high tech and it can be fallible...but for wind, specifically, I've had great results.

If the "cable-quieter gasket" is what I am thinking of, there is a spare in the bag of extra suspension rings and adapters that come with the blimp.

Andrew

You mean he sneered at the Rode blimp?

Well, I suppose it's cheaper and less profit for him. But I wouldn't pay double the price just to get a sneer-free life.

On the other hand, my "dead wombat" blimp cover is in danger of being abducted by a friend who thinks it is "so cute" and was thinking of wearing it as a fashion accessory.

Doing video is an interesting business.

Andrew

Or better, get the Rycote S-series. The suspension on the Rycote is much better than the Blimp (and patented so it can't be copied).

No, you pay the extra for a technically much superior product.

And the Rycote cover can be used as a handy paint roller if you're in a bit of a pinch and can't make it back to the hardware store. That's gotta be worth a few extra dollars.

Andrew

Of course you pay more and get better. But for me, the Rode Blimp suffices. It blocks wind, and reduces handling noise. What more do I need?

- If I pay double, do I get double the performance?
- Does it block extra wind that I'm not noticing at the moment? Probably not.
- Is it more robust, will it last longer? Probably does, but then I'm not out shooting for the BBC, this is a hobby, not a commercial operation.
- The blimp is for occasional use for me, it spends a lot of its life lying in a corner and only comes out for special occasions.

I'd love to know specifically what's wrong with the Rode product!

As it stands, I had to choose between affordable wind protection and not buying Christmas presents for the family. Family won, in this case!

The Rode Blimp and Rycote S-series are about the same price - but Rycote's patented "Lyre" suspension is the best there is (which is why I have swapped all my suspensions over to these - these are *all* my suspensions, not just outdoor recording ones, and include studio mounts for all my small and large diapgragm microphones).

So there is no need to pay double.

The Blimp's size means that it is pretty effective at wind attenuation - but I don't like the weight, the suspension or the hairy cover.

Ah, I see. I forgot about the S-series. I'm sure that I read somewhere that the Rode was a bit better in high wind, but you do read a lot of funny things on t'internet. I automatically think of the £400 Rycote systems rather than the S-Series.

Red Dot Design Award
 

I see that the RØDE Blimp was awarded the Prestigious Red Dot Design Award 2009.

Not quite as prestigious as the Red Dot award, they also received an Australian International Design Award for the blimp as well.

This is not to neglect mentioning their use of "dead wombat" technology, moving beyond industry standard "cat" technology.

Andrew

Andrew, how long did your blimp take to be delivered?

Just curious. Thanks!

Only about a week after registering on the web site. The credit card $1 payment was processed about two days before it arrived via courier.

Bear in mind that I am in Australia. The supplies and fulfillment in your country may be slightly different in their setup.

How long have you been waiting?

Andrew

Ah, I forgot to check to see where you were haha. I'm in California, so I'm expecting it to take a bit. I submitted my request for the blimp about a week ago, payment for $0.89 USD was processed Christmas Eve, so I'm in no real rush... was just curious how long they're taking to get to the states. Rode says to expect delivery times to be 6-12 weeks, but I'm sure they'll deliver early ;)

Enjoy!!

Trevor, I got mine in a little over two weeks. It shipped from Carpenteria, CA.

Excellent. Thanks Kevin

Yeah got mines on Tuesday Dec 22 and I had purchased it back on Dec 11. It was shipped to Norcross, GA. $0.92 for mines.


Nicole

92 cents? Pfft. Consider yourself lucky.

Mine cost me a whole dollar. :-P

Andrew

did you receive any tracking information or did it just show up? also, which carrier, UPS or FedEx?

Just trying to figure out when and how to expect it :) - Fedex SUCKS here so I'm hoping for UPS

I have nothing but sheer admiration for Rode. I use the blimp quite a lot, and to be honest, it is bloody brilliant at what it does; reduce wind noise.

Even though I paid full retail for mine, it is worth its weight in solid platinum. I shoot ENG, and if its too windy for a radio lav, then its the Rode shotty, in the blimp wearing the wombat...

Once I get back to the studio I will dig up a pic of a comparison I made on the timelines so you can see how effective it is, even under 40 knot winds.

The boys and girls at Rode are truely in touch with mic users. My ONLY crit of the blimp is the little clip used to make an airtight seal around the tail cable going into the Blimp proper, comes loose. Superglue fixed that.

If you do not have a Blimp. Then you should get one.

Ben

I'm waiting for dingo technology - noise attenuation and gear protection with a single cover.

The ntg3 can be found for ~549 in the U.S. $699 is the MAP. Since I was going to buy a blimp anyways, it's a "no brainer" for me.

Rode even treats it's customers like people by providing an online form to get the blimp.

No tracking information only an email that confirmed I ordered. It came from CA and it was shipped to me via UPS.


Nicole