My microphone blimp is too big to fit in most locations!

[harmonica44]

I got it cause I was having problems with wind getting into the mic, as I moved the mic from actor to actor. But most indoors locations cannot fit the blimp in high enough without it being seen in the camera. It was much bigger than I though it was when you see it online. So it seems I cannot use it, but I still got the problems with wind getting in the mic. Any thoughts on this, or what I can do?

How do you people use a blimp indoors, since it's a movie making standard?

 

[Alcove Audio]

It depends upon which mic.

If you are using a hyper try a ball gag.

 

[harmonica44]

Okay thanks. But I already bought the blimp for this purpose, like I was told to before, and cannot afford a ball gag now. Perhaps I could sell the blimp for a ball gag, but could I use the ball gag on a shotgun for outdoors as well, or does it only work on hypers? For some reason the blimp is really long too. I was told on here before that with a shotgun mic, I shouldn't be anymore than 24 inches away, but the blimp creates almost an extra foot, besides the mic itself, inside!

 

[Alcove Audio]

You need the blimp & dead cat to use with your shotgun outdoors. You use the ball gag on the hyper when you're indoors.

If you can't afford a real ball gag just use a foam windscreen - it's better than nothing.


C'mon H44, you should know all this already. We've only covered it at least a dozen times.

 

[AcousticAl]

Okay thanks. But I already bought the blimp for this purpose, like I was told to before, and cannot afford a ball gag now.

You always seem to do EXACTLY what everyone else tells you to, without stopping to take in the big picture and make an informed decision. An informed decision, by the way, is not based on "this guy told me that I should do this one thing." It's based on examining the options, each in its own context, and figuring out which context(s) you experience most.

Do you have only the shotgun, and that's why you use it on interiors? Then get a foam windscreen. If the foam windscreen is not enough, add a fur cover sized for the foam windscreen. The blimp is never your only option for wind protection when it comes to mild environments.

C'mon H44, you should know all this already. We've only covered it at least a dozen times.

Seriously.

 

[harmonica44]

I know but it's hard to make an informed decision when I have to buy the equipment, and have it shipped to me. There is no rental stores where I live, where you can test this stuff out. So I pretty much have to make uninformed decisions, unless a store comes here that has a lot of movie making equipment.

I can order more stuff, but I don't want it to be the wrong stuff again, only to either send it back or resell it.

 

[Alcove Audio]

What's so tough about getting a ball gag or a foam windscreen?

We've now covered it all at least a dozen times plus one.

Do some research on your own, damn it!!!

 

[harmonica44]

I did do research but no one told me that the blimp would be too huge to even use with the mic at too far of a distance inside to even get close enough to the actors. You think that would be a something worth mentioning. Alright I do some research and hopefully will not be in for any hidden catches this time, that I was not told online, when purchasing the equipment.

 

[jax_rox]

I'll preface this by once again saying I'm no audio specialist, but I've worked with some very professional sound guys who get regular (highly) paid work doing what they do (Production Sound).

Firstly, isn't the idea of a blimp to cut out wind noise? So, why would one need to use it inside where there is no wind? I've generally seen either naked mics or mics with just foam 'screens indoors (in addition to lav mic'd talent).

Secondly, when I've seen blimps in use, they're large but they're not so large that you can't even use them inside - how low are the ceilings of the rooms you're shooting in?!

 

[harmonica44]

Kitchen scenes, bedroom, living room scenes I have planned. If the actors are standing, the roofs are just too low and I tested in all three rooms. I went to other houses, but the ceilings are roughly the same height and makes no difference.

Even if the ceilings were high enough, there is about a foot of extra room in the Rode blimp between the mic and the front of the blimp. So the mic now has to be an extra foot away from the actors, and you loose distance quality. Instead of booming two feet above an actor, I would have to go three feet, so I do not understand how I am suppose to get in close enough either way.

When I shift the boom pole from person to person it creates wind, and it creates inteference with the mic. I have a shockmount so it's not that problem, it's just wind is getting in the front of the from shifting it.

I have to shift fast, since you want it to be aimed at the next actors mouth before they speak. So I need some windprotection and the foam windscreens that came with my mics are just not doing the job.

 

[baoliun]

dont feed the trolls

 

[rayw]

My microphone blimp is too big to fit in most locations! . Any thoughts on this, or what I can do?

Put cold water on it.
Make it shrink.

Or put it in the dryer.
Make it shrink.

And then there's always...

 

[A.D.]

I think this calls for a total rewrite of the script so that everything can be shot outdoors.

Alternatively, you could just audition for really short actors. Maybe that's how Tom Cruise got so far in his career? He was sound guy's dream!

Or failing that, how about making all the actors kneel down for the interior shots? It would make the sets look really grand and spacious too.

 

[IndiePaul]

I've generally seen either naked mics or mics with just foam 'screens indoors (in addition to lav mic'd talent).

+ 1

Not sure why your scene/film making process is so different to the norm H44...

Go to 3:10 here. Sucker Punch Behind the Scenes. Do you see a blimp on that boom?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRolWrNuInE

 

[mad_hatter]

Not sure why your scene/film making process is so different to the norm H44...

Perhaps H44's ceilings are particularly low...?

 

[harmonica44]

Yep I see that blimp, but it's much smaller than the Rode blimp I have. That one has a much better chance of fitting in my place.

 

[IndiePaul]

Perhaps H44's ceilings are particularly low...?

The point though is that he is using a blimp (and a large one apparently) indoors when he does not have to. The pros don't. But he is. The indoor wind is obviously caused by his moving the boom too quickly - ie bad boom technique. The vid I included had the Sucker Punch boom op place the mic within 2 feet of the talent - H44 could do that, his ceilings would not be that low...

It's just H44 creating extra work and stress for himself...

At least he's actually begun the process to actually film something...

 

[IndiePaul]

Yep I see that blimp, but it's much smaller than the Rode blimp I have. That one has a much better chance of fitting in my place.

But that's my point H44 (and what others have been saying too), it is an indoor shot (Sucker Punch) and they are not using a blimp... Looks like a mic with a foam screen/shield to me.

 

[AcousticAl]

I know but it's hard to make an informed decision when I have to buy the equipment, and have it shipped to me. There is no rental stores where I live, where you can test this stuff out. So I pretty much have to make uninformed decisions, unless a store comes here that has a lot of movie making equipment.

I can order more stuff, but I don't want it to be the wrong stuff again, only to either send it back or resell it.

1) I don't typically check with local rental companies before I buy, and there are no local shops that carry what I need. I seem to do fine.

2) Ignoring all the advice that suggests you should be prepared for multiple environments and then purchasing only the one solution is not making an informed decision.

3) You didn't buy the wrong thing. You bought one solution expecting it to do everything and, again, ignoring advice that it doesn't apply to everything. If you take that mic outside on a breezy day, you'll need the blimp. Take it out in a windstorm and you'll need the dead cat, too.

Even if the ceilings were high enough, there is about a foot of extra room in the Rode blimp between the mic and the front of the blimp. So the mic now has to be an extra foot away from the actors

What the hell kind of mic are you putting in that RØDE blimp that there's an ENTIRE FOOT between the mic and the front of the blimp?! I have the RØDE blimp, and an NTG-3, and at most it adds 4" to the front, and maybe - MAYBE - 2" on the back factoring in the XLR connector that sticks off the back of the mic anyway. And yes, I just measured it to be sure.

Unless you are using a much smaller mic, which would beg the question of what made you buy a huge blimp for a small mic?

When I shift the boom pole from person to person it creates wind...
I have to shift fast, since you want it to be aimed at the next actors mouth before they speak. So I need some windprotection and the foam windscreens that came with my mics are just not doing the job.

The foam windscreen that came with my NTG-3 is plenty to guard against air moved by boom swings. I don't know why yours isn't. But just get a furry cover for the foam screen, which I've already suggested, and you should be fine.

 

[harmonica44]

Okay thanks. I still need something for outdoors though. The Rode Blimp will not work, since I cannot get in close enough with the mic, cause the blimp is too long. I have the Rode NTG-3 as well. I measure and the NTG-3 is 10.1 inches. The blimp is approximately 18.5. Here's a video of the mic next to the blimp. I measured and you are right, 2 inches in the back, one in the front. That's for the Rode NTG3, I measured with the AT4053b before, which I was told the blimp would fit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovTGhRWemk0&feature=youtu.be

In that scene from Sucker Punch, I know they are not using a blimp, and a foam windscreen, now that I see the scene blown up.

When I shift the mic from person to person I move to fast for the foam windscreen to handle then right. How do I move it fast enough, from actor to actor, before the next actor begins his/her dialogue? I have to move fairly quick unless my methods of movement are just wrong.