Using a blimp in rain

[Renton Maclachlan]

Using a blimp in rain and keeping the mic dry - what do people do?
Would a plastic bag under the furry work? Would certainly keep the mic dry...and there's no wind noise from the plastic...I've tried it in front of my fan.
What does a wet furry do to sound?
Any other issues involved?

Renton

[Brian P. Reynolds]

A plastic bag under the fluffy does knock some of the high frequencies.
Here are some other alternatives...
Accessories/Spares » Rycote (Rycote Duck Raincover)
Trew Audio: Remote Audio Rainman Boom Mic Rain Cover (Rainman)

I have used the Rycote Duck in VERY heavy rain it worked well with no rain sounds, afterwards the fluffy is damp and needs drying out. Not ideal for boom work but for fixed FX mics wonderful.

[Jordan Block]

Protect the mic with a non-lubricated condom. Be sure to tape it off past the connector, you don't want water sneaking in there.

Then wrap the blimp in hog's hair to help cut the noise of the rain drops hitting the blimp. You'll find it in any hardware / home improvement store, hog's hair is used as filters for furnaces. You should be able to get it in pre-cut pads or rolls, and it's dirt cheap.

You can also lay it out on the ground under where you're booming to reduce the rain noise off the ground, provided the shot allows it.

If you're in heavy rain, having a spare fur around is a good idea, you can dry one while using the other. A water soaked fur on the end of a boom can get rather heavy.

[Dean Sensui]

Originally Posted by Jordan Block

Protect the mic with a non-lubricated condom.

Imagine going to the drugstore to ask about getting that...

"Hi. I'm looking for non-lubricated condoms. The biggest you got."

"Well, it's about 12 inches long. How rugged are they? And I'll need some tape to seal up the back end, too."

[Paul R Johnson]

Wrapping mics in clingfilm or comdoms keeps the water out, but does nasty things with frequency response and directivity that mean some quite radical eq is needed to make them sound natural, I've always found.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Renton Maclachlan

Using a blimp in rain and keeping the mic dry - what do people do?
Would a plastic bag under the furry work? Would certainly keep the mic dry...and there's no wind noise from the plastic...I've tried it in front of my fan.
What does a wet furry do to sound?
Any other issues involved?

Renton

Best option is a Rycote Duck.

This prevents the water getting through to the windshield and microphone and the foam on top means that it is silent - basically the rain is absorbed by the foam, goes through to a waterproof layer at the bottom and then silently drips off the sides and ends.

Very effective.

[Philip Howells]

Originally Posted by Dean Sensui

Imagine going to the drugstore to ask about getting that...

"Hi. I'm looking for non-lubricated condoms. The biggest you got."

"Well, it's about 12 inches long. How rugged are they? And I'll need some tape to seal up the back end, too."

Reminds me of the story (the accuracy of which I cannot vouch for) that early during WW2 Churchill suggested/ordered the RAF drop canisters of condoms over areas in which Nazi soldiers were gathering prior to invading Britain. The condoms were to be the largest available but, insisted Churchill, the packaging was to be marked "size - small". I don't think many historians list these amongst the reasons that Operation Sealion was cancelled.

[Renton Maclachlan]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Best option is a Rycote Duck.

This prevents the water getting through to the windshield and microphone and the foam on top means that it is silent - basically the rain is absorbed by the foam, goes through to a waterproof layer at the bottom and then silently drips off the sides and ends.

Very effective.

Your description has enabled me to make one for no cost. Thanks so much. I've just finished making it so it will be interesting to see how it works - when I need it.

[Vincent Rozenberg]

I have this one: RainHat Medium - Reinhardt Microphone Windshields

[Brian P. Reynolds]

I did a google search on "rain, hat, microphone" ....some times you find some terrible things and think WHY !!!

MICROPHONE HAT -- hands-free recording

[Renton Maclachlan]

Originally Posted by Vincent Rozenberg

I have this one: RainHat Medium - Reinhardt Microphone Windshields

I like it. Maybe I'll copy this one when I produce my Mark 2!! In fact I already have some sponge like the bottomlayer, though I confess to not having checked it out to see if the "sound colouration is reduced to a minimum"!

[Colin McDonald]

Originally Posted by John Willett

Best option is a Rycote Duck.

This prevents the water getting through to the windshield and microphone and the foam on top means that it is silent - basically the rain is absorbed by the foam, goes through to a waterproof layer at the bottom and then silently drips off the sides and ends.

Very effective.

Hey, that picture looks like Scotland. I could use one of these ducks most weeks (but not this one where I have had overheating cameras out in the sun for less than 1/2 hour.)