DIY rycote WS-2 water proof wrapping for work in a cave/tunel

[RadoStefanov]

I have a shoot next week underneath the Hoover dam.

I was advised that it is like raining over there.

Any ideas on a solution

[Jaymz]

Not sure if anywhere rents out the Rycote Duck, which would be ideal. All Rycote windjammers are coated with liquid repellant that can take quite a bit of rain though.

[John Blankenship]

Also this:

http://www.remoteaudio.com/rainman/

[boomhead]

I've found the remote audio rainman to be not so great. try finding some Hogs Hair air filter material and build a cover in the same fashion as the rainman. this is the material FX use to dampen (pun intended) the sound of the rain on stage.

wrap the zeppellin, make a cap for the back end and fasten it with small zip ties. once it is built you should be able to slide it on and off. use this on top of the windjammer.

[John Blankenship]

I defer to any actual user comments since I've not tried the Remote Audio Rainman.

I've had success with a Windjammer and just drying it off on the car's console with air blowing on it when driving between locations. It dries really fast.

[benr]

As Jaymz already mentioned, the Rycote Duck is the only thing I have ever really seen. Wouldnt be bad to have around for just in case times like this, but yea at $135 if you never use it again (which is doubtful, but possible I suppose) it might be a bit much to invest. LINK

[RadoStefanov]

Ideally I would get the rainman but it comes only for the WS-4

Rycote duck would not be sufficient for such extreme leakage while booming.

Isn't there a fabric I can buy locally and just saw it together?

On a different note I am happy that I would have the opportunity to test my DPA 4061 in extreme humidity...

[stevegrider]

The Hog's Hair air filter material that Boomhead mentioned above can be found at places like Lowe's, Home Depot or hardware stores. It's not hard to cut or manipulate, and isn't expensive.

[Jim Gilchrist]

Like both Steve and boomhead said, hogshair sheets are readily available at your hardware store of choice and not at all expensive. Buy enough to do 2, 'cause you'll make the first one too small no matter how carefully you measure.

A spare windjammer is also a good idea for days it will be really wet.

Best regards,

Jim

[Ray Collins]

Depends on how much moisture you are in, a large black garbage bag over the microphone when not in use may be all you need. Hogs hair works great.

[Rick Reineke]

Maybe put a condom on the mic for further 'protection'.

[Philip Perkins]

Rainman worked fine for me. But you do need to be able to find some shelter once in awhile and wring it out.

phil p

[taylormadeaudio]

Which mic do you plan to use for the boom?

I only ask because Schoeps mics have issues with moisture... I love my Schoeps mics, but wouldn't trust them in that environment, would prob go with a 416, CS3e, or other shotgun mic.

+1 on constructing your own hogs hair cover, and having a plastic bag to cover when not in use -- small hand towel for boom extensions as well (if you have the time.)

~tt

[RadoStefanov]

Thanks for the info. I am MKH all the way!

Sent from my HD7 T9292 using Board Express

[Ray Collins]

The Schoeps rain issue: dirt builds up on the threads of the capsule, probably from the oils off your hands. When damp it becomes a resistor, as it is the return path this isn't a good thing. Use some alcohol and clean the threads on both the body and the capsule, and you reduce the problem.

[syncsound]

+1 for the Rainman and MKH combo. Came through with flying colors during record rainfall for Portland, Oregon.

[Michael McQueen]

i just finished up a long shoot in some rainy conditions and i had good results with the remote audio rainman thingy.

[Jeff Wexler]

RemoteAudio RAINMAN

- from RemoteAudio website:

Protects the sound:

The RAINMAN softens the impact of rain drops falling onto the boom microphone.

Protects the microphone:

The RAINMAN channels rain away from the microphone, along the outside of the "zeppelin" style windscreen.

How does it sound?

Like it's not even there. The RAINMAN is more acoustically transparent than traditional "furry" windshield covers

[RadoStefanov]

Jeff, I don't think they make RainMan for WS-2 rycote

I ended up taking the MKH8040 in the tunnel and just try to setup the interviews where there is no "rain".

What impressed me most was the fact that my DPAs and mkh8040 worked perfectly for 3 hours in 98F and almost 100% humidity.

The DPAs/lectro SMQV and the mkh8060 worked perfectly next to high voltage cables and huge transformers as well as tight places.

This was my wireless setup

2 smqv - talents,

1 HM - Boom, - " I was advised not to have hanging cables attached to my body"

2 LMa hops,

1 SRas Uni slot panasonic HPX300 " cable to camera was a safety concern as well"

1 Sennheiser G3 TX return on camera,

1 Sennheiser G3 RX Return in mixer.

1 Sennheiser IEM IFB for director.

I HAD ZERO PROBLEMS even in very tight places thanks to IAS coordination.

Can somebody teach me how to put a Petrol Perc poncho on a Petrol harness properly.

I could not find the instructions.

[RadoStefanov]

I meant MKH8040

[Rich Reilly]

What are the typical mic failure rates (ballpark) in high humidity?

[RadoStefanov]

I remember when I was using Oktava and Neumann outdoors in Portland Oregon it was almost every humid day.

I even had a Neumann fail indoors because the window was open.

After the mics dry it is all good again.

[soundmanjohn]

Last summer, I recorded at the base of Niagara Falls, using an MKH30/40 MS pair in a Rycote, with just a Wimdjammer as extra protection. No problems until I hit the so-called Hurricane Platform, which is pretty wet. Mics stayed dry, but moisture got into the XLR connection and big nasty crackles resulted. On getting to a dry place and dismantling the kit, I wrung the WJ out, hung it on a fence in the sunshine for about ten minutes and dried out the XLR connection. The mics were bone dry and I had the 788 in my back-pack, under a rain poncho, but that spray gets blown everywhere, so a degree of dampness was in evidence. By the time I'd finished, I was wet through and water was dripping from the end of the Rycote, but I was astonished at how quickly it dried. A quick going over with the collapsible brush and all was well.

[studiomprd]

" Can somebody teach me how to put a Petrol Perc poncho on a Petrol harness properly. "

" I could not find the instructions. "

:'(

poor, poor Rado...

[RadoStefanov]

I put a piece of mole skin where the mic and connector meet.

I also had mole skin where the schoeps teardrops attaches to the mic

Last summer, I recorded at the base of Niagara Falls, using an MKH30/40 MS pair in a Rycote, with just a Wimdjammer as extra protection. No problems until I hit the so-called Hurricane Platform, which is pretty wet. Mics stayed dry, but moisture got into the XLR connection and big nasty crackles resulted. On getting to a dry place and dismantling the kit, I wrung the WJ out, hung it on a fence in the sunshine for about ten minutes and dried out the XLR connection. The mics were bone dry and I had the 788 in my back-pack, under a rain poncho, but that spray gets blown everywhere, so a degree of dampness was in evidence. By the time I'd finished, I was wet through and water was dripping from the end of the Rycote, but I was astonished at how quickly it dried. A quick going over with the collapsible brush and all was well.