Cheap wind furry sock

Bob Howard · January 6th, 2007, 05:18 PM

In the camera department of my local Target store I found (for $13) a micro phone wind sock. It's actually designed to carry an IPod and probably aimed at young girls. In my case it fits over a Videomic perfectly - leaving the supplied foam on. It has a smooth light weight lining and elastic around the open end so it will stay in place.

It also has a chain attached (to attached it to a purse or some other 'girlie' thing) which needs to be removed. With a bit of modification it can be used by many other mikes as well. Worth a look if you're in a Target (or maybe somewhere else?)

Meryem Ersoz · January 7th, 2007, 10:43 AM

does it come in pink?

Greg Boston · January 7th, 2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meryem Ersoz

does it come in pink?

Dang, Meryem, you beat me to it. That was gonna be my first question.

If it comes in bright red, you could have a match to your camkote cover.

-gb-

David Delaney · January 8th, 2007, 05:21 PM

Can you post a link to this item?

Tim OBrien · January 9th, 2007, 09:23 AM

I use a bit of $3 fake fur from Walmart' craft department.

The piece I found is black and was about a foot square with long "hair" and an open mesh underneath. I cut a piece of it off about 3inches square and rubber-banded it to the mic with a black Scrunci hair band from the drugstore.

Looks good and does the job for a lot less than the $75 "windsocks" at the pro store....

Steven Davis · January 9th, 2007, 09:27 AM

I am blessed to have a wife that can sew. So (pun intended) I have made two of these types of things using fur from a fabric store, or Wallyworld.

One I made just slides over my foam windscreen. The other is made of chicken wire, some foam donuts and fur.

I'll give the industry credit for many things, but taking a peice of fur, sewing a seam and selling it for 150.00 is rediculous.

I applaud you for your innovation.

Bob Howard · January 9th, 2007, 04:37 PM

Today, January 9, I found the 'Target Sock' discounted to $9.95. And in answer to an earlier query....yes, they had pink.

Considering the labor factor of doing your own - trip to a fabric store, cost of fake fur, cutting and sewing, elastic, lining, time to sew it up, etc. - a much better deal.

Bob Howard · February 22nd, 2007, 07:06 PM

Yesterday I discovered the above mentioned 'wind sock' at my local Target - on a discount display at $4.98. I bought mine too early. However, it works as well as those found at your professional camera stores - the ones that sell for $30 or more. But only in white or pink.

Les Wilson · February 24th, 2007, 12:03 PM

I've done the craft store fur thing as well as purchased the real thing from Lightwave and Rode. The fur is definately better on the real thing.

Have you done any A/B tests to see how it affects the audio with and without wind? Basically, two tests. One tests how well it cuts wind. The other how acoustically transparent it is.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · February 24th, 2007, 12:29 PM

If the craft store fur is selected well (with large weave vs small weave) the craft store fur works better both in terms of transparency and wind reduction.
When you get to the stage of needing a zepplin however, the craft fur doesn't cut it.
I've tested both extensively, even nearly arriving at the point of manufacturing fur windscreens, because the several that I've made are far, far superior to the screens that most of the suppliers offer in terms of intelligibility and reduction.
You can't just throw some cheap craft fur into a strip and call it good, it takes a bit of planning, experience, and good sewing skill, plus an air gap. I've often created the air gap using the original foam windscreen that came with the mic.

Greg Boston · February 24th, 2007, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest House

One tests how well it cuts wind. The other how acoustically transparent it is.

Agreed. The reason for the price on professional wind socks is because they have been designed for maximum wind blockage with minimal coloration of the audio. I suspect the openings in the mesh, the density of the fur, and the stiffness of the fur have a lot to do with the efficiency.

But when you have budget restrictions, you do what you gotta do to get the job done.

Check this out for inexpensive ingenuity...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz:80/section...ectid=10425224

-gb-

Vence Vida · February 25th, 2007, 10:13 PM

Greg,

I'd really like to see what you've made, but the link doesn't seem to work.

-Vence

January 6th, 2007, 05:18 PM	#1
Bob Howard New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 20	Cheap wind furry sock - Target In the camera department of my local Target store I found (for $13) a micro phone wind sock. It's actually designed to carry an IPod and probably aimed at young girls. In my case it fits over a Videomic perfectly - leaving the supplied foam on. It has a smooth light weight lining and elastic around the open end so it will stay in place. It also has a chain attached (to attached it to a purse or some other 'girlie' thing) which needs to be removed. With a bit of modification it can be used by many other mikes as well. Worth a look if you're in a Target (or maybe somewhere else?)

January 9th, 2007, 09:27 AM	#6
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	Made two I am blessed to have a wife that can sew. So (pun intended) I have made two of these types of things using fur from a fabric store, or Wallyworld. One I made just slides over my foam windscreen. The other is made of chicken wire, some foam donuts and fur. I'll give the industry credit for many things, but taking a peice of fur, sewing a seam and selling it for 150.00 is rediculous. I applaud you for your innovation. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

January 9th, 2007, 04:37 PM	#7
Bob Howard New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 20	Wind sock continued..... Today, January 9, I found the 'Target Sock' discounted to $9.95. And in answer to an earlier query....yes, they had pink. Considering the labor factor of doing your own - trip to a fabric store, cost of fake fur, cutting and sewing, elastic, lining, time to sew it up, etc. - a much better deal.

February 22nd, 2007, 07:06 PM	#8
Bob Howard New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 20	Wind sock continued Yesterday I discovered the above mentioned 'wind sock' at my local Target - on a discount display at $4.98. I bought mine too early. However, it works as well as those found at your professional camera stores - the ones that sell for $30 or more. But only in white or pink.

February 24th, 2007, 12:29 PM	#10
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	If the craft store fur is selected well (with large weave vs small weave) the craft store fur works better both in terms of transparency and wind reduction. When you get to the stage of needing a zepplin however, the craft fur doesn't cut it. I've tested both extensively, even nearly arriving at the point of manufacturing fur windscreens, because the several that I've made are far, far superior to the screens that most of the suppliers offer in terms of intelligibility and reduction. You can't just throw some cheap craft fur into a strip and call it good, it takes a bit of planning, experience, and good sewing skill, plus an air gap. I've often created the air gap using the original foam windscreen that came with the mic. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

January 7th, 2007, 10:43 AM	#2
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	does it come in pink?

January 8th, 2007, 05:21 PM	#4
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Can you post a link to this item?

January 9th, 2007, 09:23 AM	#5
Tim OBrien Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palm Beach, Florida USA Posts: 99	I use a bit of $3 fake fur from Walmart' craft department. The piece I found is black and was about a foot square with long "hair" and an open mesh underneath. I cut a piece of it off about 3inches square and rubber-banded it to the mic with a black Scrunci hair band from the drugstore. Looks good and does the job for a lot less than the $75 "windsocks" at the pro store....

February 24th, 2007, 12:03 PM	#9
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	I've done the craft store fur thing as well as purchased the real thing from Lightwave and Rode. The fur is definately better on the real thing. Have you done any A/B tests to see how it affects the audio with and without wind? Basically, two tests. One tests how well it cuts wind. The other how acoustically transparent it is.

February 25th, 2007, 10:13 PM	#12
Vence Vida Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 218	Greg, I'd really like to see what you've made, but the link doesn't seem to work. -Vence __________________ Sony PMW-EX1R, Canon XL H1, XHG1, Panasonic GH2, Mac Pro 3.2 Quad running FCPS 3, FCPX, & Adobe Creative Cloud CC www.creativejuicesvideo.com