Foam ball mic windscreens. Is there a better way?

[Big Hoss]

I would think we would all be aware of the problem, and the common solution. Plosives, that banging noise that happens with P sounds from the vocals, or even just wind noise making your sound just awful in outdoor events, or indoor events with strong fans...

My solution has been in the past the foam ball mic windscreens. My current, and about to get replaced finally set of windscreens are almost stereotypical 1980s red. I am going with a more modest / subdued look as my interests have shifted as I have aged to wanting to do more Country and Blues type stuff with classic rock. So I am going with the plain black foam balls are replacements...

I know there are other methods for controlling the wind noise / plosives, but I am not sure any of them are any better. I see a lot of those "kitten fur" windscreen covers, but I am not sure they are any better, just more expensive, and they look easily torn / ruined...

So folks, what are you using, and mind you nothing is a valid answer. How well is it working for you?

 

[RoadRanger]

HPF - and aux driven subs outdoors.

 

[RustyAxe]

I use a foam ball just for wind noise ... outdoor or indoor. Otherwise, I just use some care not to pop into the mic.

 

[ggunn]

In my studio I use woman's stockings stretched over coathanger wire.

 

[Big Hoss]

In my studio I use woman's stockings stretched over coathanger wire.

Not sure if you are serious or not, however, I have heard / seen this done as a sort of ultra low budget DIY pop filter. They actually seem to work really well..

 

[Big Hoss]

I use a foam ball just for wind noise ... outdoor or indoor. Otherwise, I just use some care not to pop into the mic.

I have found though, no matter how much care is used, plosives, or popping into the mic happens, to at least some extent. Yeah the foam balls seem to work, they just seem too easy I guess is where my thought process is going...

 

[buldog5151bass]

In my studio I use woman's stockings stretched over coathanger wire.

This (or the non-DIY version) are great for studio work, but impractical for live use. Live, the foam is about your only choice - can muffle the sound a little (depends on the foam, mic, and singer).

 

[ggunn]

Not sure if you are serious or not, however, I have heard / seen this done as a sort of ultra low budget DIY pop filter. They actually seem to work really well..

I am completely serious. They work just as well as the ones they will sell you for $? at Guitar Center.

 

[Big Hoss]

I have 2 of those "factory made" ones... One of them is hiding behind the bookcase in my office as it slid behind and I don't want to fetch it... Amazon had some stupid cheap sale, like $3.00 for them...

I saw a guy make a pretty cool one using one of those needlepoint hoop thingies, a ladies stocking, Some Romex wire, and hose clamps...

When the screen on one of my cheapies goes, I am going to see if I can devise a way to recover it...

FWIW, I only use that in studio on my LDC mic... My dynamics all have foam balls...

 

[s0c9]

For wind noise we use the gates on our digital console (when we use ours outdoors.. which is seldom) and HPF/EQ for the "puh" noise.

We have an outdoor gig - one of 3 gigs next weekend (a city Festival, 1.5 hr set) with SR provided - have no idea of weather, but the problem will be the SR providers..

 

[4Mal]

Foam balls are tone suck... We deal with High winds here a lot- we are basically the wind surfing capital of North America afterall... I try like heck not to use foam balls as they sound horrible. So yeah, HPF, gates and EQ. If I have to use foam, I'm cranking the highs to compensate.

I do use foam on sm-57's. I have 6 of them with the screw clap Shure foams. Drums, horns, guitar amps, I prefer my Audix I5's but the shures are in the locker and ready to go if necessary. I even used them for Taiko drums last summer. Sometimes the wind wins.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

The Shure SM58 has an internal foam filter. Since I use a foam ball on mine, I've removed the internal one. Just unscrew the ball and lift out the internal filter.

Doing so helps restore a little bit of the highs lost to the foam ball.