ME66 windscreens. at DVinfo.net

Tyler Gred · March 6th, 2004, 12:43 PM

I am looking at buying a wind screen for my ME66. I see that there are two different kinds. The MZW66 and the MZW66PRO. Is the Pro one worth the extra money? Any recommendations on any others? Thanks in advance.

Marco Leavitt · March 6th, 2004, 02:03 PM

I called B&H when I needed a windscreen a couple of years ago and asked this same question. I was told -- the expensive one's black. :) I got the black one, working on the theory that Sennheiser must have had a reason. This is no ordinary foam. It's made of very fine fibers that radiate out from the center.

Robert Martens · March 6th, 2004, 03:55 PM

I got the MZW66PRO when I bought my ME66, thinking "hey, it may not be a zeppelin/dead cat setup, but it's better than nothing".

Honestly, I can't tell the difference. Not with the shooting I do, anyway. Never had any significant winds fly by while recording, so I'm not qualified to speak of its abilities.

What I CAN tell you, though, is that the velour is aggravating. Simply holding the screen for a moment will allow hundreds of itsy-bitsy black fibers to stick to your hands. You probably won't notice them at first, until you look closely, but they're there. All over your hands, the inside of your camera bag, on your camera, everywhere!

Even though it does help to protect the microphone from potential scrapes and scratches, I consider it a waste of money. But that's just me.

Marco Leavitt · March 6th, 2004, 04:07 PM

I think the windscreen helps quite a bit. It's not really made for outdoor shooting, which really needs a blimp or a dead cat style windscreen. I think its main function is to reduce air turbulence from when the mic is being swung around on a boom pole indoors. I wouldn't shoot without it. I also had some shedding when I first got mine, but that's long since stopped. They're prickly too if they get stuck on your skin. I wouldn't want to breathe any of those fibers in either.

Tyler Gred · March 6th, 2004, 04:19 PM

So should I go with the just the regular one? Will there be much difference in them?

Marco Leavitt · March 6th, 2004, 04:24 PM

That was your original question wasn't it? All I can tell you is that I did and am happy with the decision. I have never used the cheaper one though.

Tyler Gred · March 6th, 2004, 04:30 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Marco Leavitt : That was your original question wasn't it? All I can tell you is that I did and am happy with the decision. I have never used the cheaper one though. -->>>

Yes, but Robert seems to dislike the velour. It looks like the velour was the only reason it cost more. I am just curious to know how much the velour will help.

Robert Martens · March 6th, 2004, 04:36 PM

Well, now, as Marco said, the shedding of his windscreen died down after a while. I hardly ever use the thing, so this hasn't happened yet. I don't doubt the quality of the product itself, or its usefulness in certain situations, like the "fast movement indoors" thing.

All I mean to say is that I have not noticed a difference in the quality of the sound with or without the screen.

But hey, if you're gonna buy one of them, why not get the pro version? Not ridiculously expensive, really...plus you get to tell people about the material. "It's real velour!" :)

March 6th, 2004, 12:43 PM	#1
Tyler Gred New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 19	ME66 windscreens. I am looking at buying a wind screen for my ME66. I see that there are two different kinds. The MZW66 and the MZW66PRO. Is the Pro one worth the extra money? Any recommendations on any others? Thanks in advance.

March 6th, 2004, 02:03 PM	#2
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I called B&H when I needed a windscreen a couple of years ago and asked this same question. I was told -- the expensive one's black. :) I got the black one, working on the theory that Sennheiser must have had a reason. This is no ordinary foam. It's made of very fine fibers that radiate out from the center.

March 6th, 2004, 03:55 PM	#3
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	I got the MZW66PRO when I bought my ME66, thinking "hey, it may not be a zeppelin/dead cat setup, but it's better than nothing". Honestly, I can't tell the difference. Not with the shooting I do, anyway. Never had any significant winds fly by while recording, so I'm not qualified to speak of its abilities. What I CAN tell you, though, is that the velour is aggravating. Simply holding the screen for a moment will allow hundreds of itsy-bitsy black fibers to stick to your hands. You probably won't notice them at first, until you look closely, but they're there. All over your hands, the inside of your camera bag, on your camera, everywhere! Even though it does help to protect the microphone from potential scrapes and scratches, I consider it a waste of money. But that's just me.

March 6th, 2004, 04:07 PM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I think the windscreen helps quite a bit. It's not really made for outdoor shooting, which really needs a blimp or a dead cat style windscreen. I think its main function is to reduce air turbulence from when the mic is being swung around on a boom pole indoors. I wouldn't shoot without it. I also had some shedding when I first got mine, but that's long since stopped. They're prickly too if they get stuck on your skin. I wouldn't want to breathe any of those fibers in either.

March 6th, 2004, 04:19 PM	#5
Tyler Gred New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 19	So should I go with the just the regular one? Will there be much difference in them?

March 6th, 2004, 04:24 PM	#6
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	That was your original question wasn't it? All I can tell you is that I did and am happy with the decision. I have never used the cheaper one though.

March 6th, 2004, 04:30 PM	#7
Tyler Gred New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 19	<<<-- Originally posted by Marco Leavitt : That was your original question wasn't it? All I can tell you is that I did and am happy with the decision. I have never used the cheaper one though. -->>> Yes, but Robert seems to dislike the velour. It looks like the velour was the only reason it cost more. I am just curious to know how much the velour will help.

March 6th, 2004, 04:36 PM	#8
Robert Martens Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 820	Well, now, as Marco said, the shedding of his windscreen died down after a while. I hardly ever use the thing, so this hasn't happened yet. I don't doubt the quality of the product itself, or its usefulness in certain situations, like the "fast movement indoors" thing. All I mean to say is that I have not noticed a difference in the quality of the sound with or without the screen. But hey, if you're gonna buy one of them, why not get the pro version? Not ridiculously expensive, really...plus you get to tell people about the material. "It's real velour!" :)