Homemade Windscreen

[nevso]

Anybody got ideas for a homemade windscreen...Pop filter for vocal mics? I tried to make one from foam but apart from the loss of highs and detail they look really bad. Foam is hard to cut and I'm sure the foam I could buy was not the same as Sony would use?
I was thinking that a acoustically transparent sheer screen on some kind of movable mount...?

[MetalDave]

I have seen a pair of nylons stretched over a hanger bent into a curcle and taped to a mic stand used. 50% of the effectiveness of these pop filters is it keeps the vocalist at a certain distance from the mic.you could not even use the nylon just a circle they sing through and it would have 50% effectiveness. use the nylon to get the other 50% though. this leaves it up to the engineer as to how far away from the mic the vocals should be presented. If you get them to far away and have to push gains this can cause noise. You want to get them just far enough away to keep the pops out. any further and you are starting to cause other problems.

[MetalDave]

ok that was just a pop filter description... a windscreen would be used in an outdoor venue. then you need to cover the mic with a piece of foam rubber or something else that will keep the wind from booming the mic and also is good to eliminate pop from vocals. If you make these yourself they will not look pretty. also, these change the sound drastically. If you are just talking in the studio, unless your studio gets windy, use the pop screen.

[brandondrury]

50% of the effectiveness of these pop filters is it keeps the vocalist at a certain distance from the mic.

Agreed! But the pop catching ability is a big plus!

Try to find a picture of the Stedman. I paid $40 for mine. While it works well, I know I could have built this for $3 at Lowes if I knew what to look for.

Brandon

[stringz4kids]

Check out these instructons on how to build a pop filter.

Build Your Own Microphone Pop Screen

[polyneux74]

It can really depend on the kind of microphone your using outdoors. My question would be are you using a dynamic or condenser mic? Next question, what kind of polar pattern does the mic have and is there a dB switch on it?
A typical windscreen from the music store should work well, given a light to moderate wind, in a heavy wind though you should look to your sound guy to lighten up on the mic pre-amps and use a boost on the out put after the vocals have been processed. The boost should be something transparent that won't color up the sound once again after the pre. A good polar pattern to have on the mic would be a tight cardoid pattern, resembling a kind of mushroom shape, this keeps the mic close to your vocal and doesn't allow as much wind to get in the way. Another excellent mic would be what's called a "long rifle" these are made to block out wind especially strong winds and you don't have to swallow the mic to get the vocals out.

[nevso]

Originally Posted by MetalDave

I have seen a pair of nylons stretched over a hanger bent into a curcle and taped to a mic stand used. 50% of the effectiveness of these pop filters is it keeps the vocalist at a certain distance from the mic.you could not even use the nylon just a circle they sing through and it would have 50% effectiveness. use the nylon to get the other 50% though. this leaves it up to the engineer as to how far away from the mic the vocals should be presented. If you get them to far away and have to push gains this can cause noise. You want to get them just far enough away to keep the pops out. any further and you are starting to cause other problems.

Thanx MetalDave,
tried your nylon idea by stretching a leg of black panitose over a smooth 10mm slice of (I used 2 slices of down pipe) PVC Pipe, and by sliding the same size slice but one size bigger in diameter over the first - the nylon was sandwiched in between. I had previously sprayed the slices black and with a goose neck and clamp from the rim to the mic stand ..looks as good as the rest of the gear.
I am recording voice over with condensers and the best mid and upper results are on axis with the mic. Popping now is eliminated with on axis response giving me +6dB better at 5 -8k.

[nevso]

Originally Posted by polyneux74

It can really depend on the kind of microphone your using outdoors. My question would be are you using a dynamic or condenser mic? Next question, what kind of polar pattern does the mic have and is there a dB switch on it?
A typical windscreen from the music store should work well, given a light to moderate wind, in a heavy wind though you should look to your sound guy to lighten up on the mic pre-amps and use a boost on the out put after the vocals have been processed. The boost should be something transparent that won't color up the sound once again after the pre. A good polar pattern to have on the mic would be a tight cardoid pattern, resembling a kind of mushroom shape, this keeps the mic close to your vocal and doesn't allow as much wind to get in the way. Another excellent mic would be what's called a "long rifle" these are made to block out wind especially strong winds and you don't have to swallow the mic to get the vocals out.

Polyneux74

Vocal popping is more related to the "plosive" low frequency waves that are created by the fast release of air on words beginning with "B P V"and diagraphs like "th" not so much the pick up pattern of the mic. Good pop filters are a barrier to that frontal plosive wave without affecting the rest of the wave front or frequency response. By the way,"shotgun mics" have a very narrow cardiod pattern BUT not in the bottom end.

This what I've done so far - in my reply to MetalDave...

Thanx MetalDave,
tried your nylon idea by stretching a leg of black panitose over a smooth 10mm slice of (I used 2 slices of down pipe) PVC Pipe, and by sliding the same size slice but one size bigger in diameter over the first - the nylon was sandwiched in between. I had previously sprayed the slices black and with a goose neck and clamp from the rim to the mic stand ..looks as good as the rest of the gear.
I am recording voice over with condensers and the best mid and upper results are on axis with the mic. Popping now is eliminated with on axis response giving me +6dB better at 5 -8k.