RYCOTE MICROPHONE WINDSHIELDS - Softie

The Softie windshield is a 'slip-on' design, consisting of an open-cell acoustic foam base fitted with an integral synthetic fur (25mm) fabric cover. A robust and practical windshield, 70mm in diameter, it performs as well as a standard Rycote windshield (without Windjammer). Both the acoustic foam and synthetic fur are made from materials which are specially designed and manufactured for the purpose, which offer up to 36dB of wind-noise reduction without any adverse effect on high frequency. In addition the foam is not susceptible to UV or moisture damage, giving this product great longevity. The Softie provides a fast, flexible solution for ENG on-camera microphones.

Classic-Softies are available separately or together in a kit (see Classic-Softie Kit) with a Softie Lyre Mount Suspension on a pistol-grip handle, these systems provide a quick, simple, robust and cost-effective solution for modern day ENG and location recording environments.

The system is available as either fixed 19mm (031103) or 21mm (031104) microphone diameters, or to suit two nominal microphone diameters; a standard hole fits 19-22mm and a large hole fits 24-25mm. Each of these are offered in various internal depths. It is essential for correct operation that the Softie front section covers all the slots along the length of the microphone. The price lines below show the length of the internal hole, not the overall length, so that a suitable model can be chosen to suit a particular microphone. The following table shows compatibility with a range of microphones. If a microphone is not listed here, please check with Technical Support, as a Softie is probably available for it.

Softies can be used on camera mounted microphones, however care must be taken to avoid the 25mm fur length from appearing in shot. For details regarding choice of an appropriate model to suit a microphone please see Softie Windshields above, or see the table below for microphone/camera sizing.

The Super-Softie windshields are intended for rough service, robust enough for the most challenging news-gathering situations, when used with camera, hand or boom-mounted microphones. The slip-on design retains the excellent wind noise reduction of a conventional cavity windshield but allies it to a 'novel aerodynamic shape and surface structure', and to a specialist material - 3D-Tex - which 'combines excellent acoustic transparency with superb attenuation of wind noise'. It has no rigid internal structure, so causes virtually no polar pattern distortion.

The shape and structure of the Super Softie allow it to reduce wind noise at extreme low-frequency and infrasonic frequencies, where the greatest wind energy lies, more efficiently than previous designs, to give greatly improved wind noise reduction compared to conventional 'soft' windshields. The windshields have high immunity to rain, maintaining 'excellent acoustic transparency in almost all situations'. If they do become soaked with rain they can be squeezed out and shaken dry very quickly; if coated with dust they can be rinsed quickly without affecting its performance

Windshields are listed with details of the diameter and depth of the recess to take the microphone. The 'hole' size given is the range of microphone diameters that can be accommodated. The length given is the length of microphone that will be covered by the foam. A windshield should be chosen which will cover both the end of the microphone and all of the slots or other apertures in the microphone body.