RYCOTE MICROPHONE WINDSHIELDS AND SUSPENSIONS - Blimp Style

Nano Shield has been designed to be Rycote’s smallest and lightest windshield within their portfolio. At around 30% lighter than Rycote modular windshield kits, Nano Shield Kits comprise of two basket halves that use magnetic locking, and a microphone mounting bar that requires only thumbwheel adjustment to setup. The kits include Rycote Advanced Lyre mounts (17-21), swivel arm with 3/8-inch thread adapter, Nano Shield Handle with PCS release, low profile XLR cable with built-in RF filter and switchable 80Hz low cut filter, low profile XLR3 digital cable, 360-degree adjustable (and reversible) XLR holder, and protective case.

The basket halves are designed in sizes A to D, and although the kits include specific baskets, all baskets are interchangeable. The model postfix shows the included basket for example NS1-BA includes 1x Basket B and 1x Basket A. Basket A measures 85mm, basket B measures 131mm, basket C is 178mm, and basket D measures 225mm. This enables the user to mount almost any microphone without renewing the whole windshield.

In addition to the contents of the kits, accessories and spares such as light grey cotton socks and black Merino wool socks are available as options. Along with the accessories and spares listed in the below table, a selection of spare lyres, see RYCOTE SUSPENSIONS AND LYRES, and cables, see RYCOTE CABLES are also available to order.

Accessories and Spares guide

Maximum microphone lengths

Microphone compatibility

Notes: (1) Kits are supplied with 3-pin XLR cable and therefore included cable may not be compatible with suggested microphone.

Cyclone introduces advanced design concepts to the traditional basket windshield, using modern materials to create the successor to the Rycote designs familiar since the late 60's. Consisting of a complete windshield and suspension kit, the durable yet lightweight design gives 'category leading wind and shock isolation performance', with the same overall volume yet lighter in weight than an equivalent Rycote modular windshield. The multiple suspensions provide 'complete isolation against handling noise and cable-borne noises, and windshield basket self-noise'.

The microphone is carried in the patented Rycote soft suspension 'lyres', seen before on some of Rycote's later designs, to isolate it from vibration passed from the pole, stand or handle to which it is attached. The suspension is supplied with a short, ultra-soft microphone cable, to avoid these vibrations by-passing the lyres, ready-fitted to the angled XLR-holder below the suspension.

The two-piece windshield surrounds the microphone and is itself mounted on a suspension system, inhibiting vibration from travelling from the boom to the basket and then to the microphone via the air as well as avoiding vibration, picked up by the windshield, transmitting to the primary suspension.

The windshield can be fitted to the suspension in just a few seconds. It locks together using magnets; sprung catches are also provided to prevent the parts separating under extreme acceleration on a boom. The cone-like shape combats standing waves inside the shield; the overall bulk is shifted to the basket front compared to previous designs. The exterior is covered in Rycote's '3D-Tex', a dual-layer synthetic material which combines 'excellent acoustic transparency with superb attenuation of wind noise'. It is resistant to rain, and if it does get wet, the rain may be gently squeezed out; it is possible to dry the cover using a hair-dryer.

The result of all these advances is a combined suspension and windshield, which, as supplied, without fur cover, exceeds the combined wind-noise reduction performance of a Rycote modular-style windshield and fur windjammer, with a considerable increase in transparency and frequency range. The size and weight are similar.

Wind attenuation: 50dB without Windjammer, better than 60dB with Windjammer, measured total power, 10Hz - 20kHz, no weighting, under real wind conditions.
Handling isolation: Typically better than 10dB, dependent on microphone type and LF band shaping.
Frequency response: Substantially flat, 10Hz-20kHz, +0db, -3dB, measured with differential twin microphone technique.

Kit contents: Cyclone suspension, fitted with 72-shore Universal Lyres. Cyclone cable (fitted). Cyclone windshield, Large (consisting of left and right pods). Pair of Universal Lyres, 62-shore, for lightweight microphones. Hex key driver, for adjustment of Lyres.

Optional accessories: Extension handle with soft-grip, 53-288. Small (029103), medium (029102), and large (029101) Cyclone Windjammers are available for use in absolutely extreme conditions.

Cyclone Windshield Kit Small

Suitable for microphones from 75mm up to 160mm in length, 19-25mm in diameter, and a 3-pin XLR connector (use 089103) or LEMO connector (use 089104).

Cyclone Windshield Kit Medium

Suitable for short shotgun microphones from 174mm up to 255mm in length, 19-25mm in diameter, and 3-pin XLR connector, and is compatible with microphones including DPA 4017B, 4018A, Neumann KMR 81i, Rode NTG-3, NTG-4, Sennheiser MKH 416, and Sanken CS1, CS2.

Cyclone Windshield Kit Large

Suitable for shotgun microphones from 250mm up to 280mm in length, 19-25mm in diameter, and 3-pin XLR connector, and is compatible with microphones including Audio-Technica BP4073; Sanken CS-2, CS-3e; Schoeps CMIT-5u, SuperCMIT 2U; Sennheiser MKH 416, MKH 60, MKE 600; Neumann KMR 81i; Rode NTG-2, NTG-3.

The eight standard sizes of mono Modular Windshield sizes are offered in a complete kit. Each kit includes the correct Modular Suspension fitted into the Modular Windshield (plus extension piece if required) and Windjammer. Each standard modular suspension is now fitted with Universal Lyre clips as standard, and also include a pair of square MKH Lyres clips and a hard-wired Connbox 1, as standard.

Please see the following sections for descriptions of the individual components, and compatibility charts to determine the correct model for the microphone in use.

Included items:

Optional accessories: Alternative Connboxes are available, with various connection formats, to minimise cable-borne noise, and 'Hi Wind' covers are available for additional wind protection.

Note: Some stereo microphones have a single body and fit inside 'mono' width suspensions and windshields.

Important: Small, medium and large in the table equate to 1-module, 2-module and 3-module. Mono XBG is a half module, 'mono' suspension, referred to by Rycote as a Mono Extended Ballgag.

Note (1): Reduced length. (2): Full length. (3): With super-cardioid tube. (4): Special order version using larger lyres required - contact Technical Support for details. (5) With CUT1 filter. (6): With capsule remote. (7) With MZD pre-amp and MZF filter. (8): Requires kit variation with 5-pin, Connbox 4 or purchase of a separate Connbox 4 if kit is unavailable. (9): Requires kit variation with Connbox 2 or purchase of a separate Connbox 2 if kit is unavailable.

Super-Shield Kits are complete windshield and shock mounting systems for shotgun microphones up to 300mm in length.

An updated version of a well-proven Rycote design, this has a rigid basket windshield that totally encloses the microphone for the best wind-noise reduction. The central chassis supports a range of 'pods', in lengths to fit almost all location-style microphones, and provides for good aerodynamic balance and adjustment of centre-of-mass balance.

The Rycote patented 'Lyre' suspension isolates the microphone, and together with a captive cable, minimises handling noise. The pods have a twist-lock fixing to allow fast and easy access to the microphone. The kits are available in three lengths. Front and rear pods are available separately for replacement purposes or to use with an existing suspension to fit a larger or smaller microphone.

Each Super-Shield kit contains a suspension with cable and pistol grip, a windshield, consisting of front and rear pods which lock onto a ring around the suspension, and a Windjammer cover.

(1) Weight includes suspension, pistol grip, XLR cable, windshield and Windjammer

Super-Shield Suspension provides isolation from shocks and vibrations using the Rycote patented 'Lyre' technology which cuts handling-noise with any axial microphones, without the use of rubbers or elastic. The suspension is suitable for microphones 19mm to 25mm in shaft diameter, using two snap-in, pinch-release' Lyre suspensions, that can be slotted into any of six positions for perfect balance and fit. The suspension is supplied with a highly flexibility, 450mm microphone cable.

The Super-Shield Windshield is made up from two 'pods' which attach to the central chassis. They are lightweight, durable baskets made from flexible grey plastic netting with a screening material attached. The windshield has a twist-lock system onto the suspension chassis ring, and when fitted completely surround the whole microphone, connector and suspension. This system creates a still volume of air around the microphone, which provides excellent wind-noise reduction, with minimal high-frequency loss.

Super-Shield Front Pod, Super-Shield Rear Pod

The rear pod, 010420, is the same for all sizes and is listed for use in case of loss or damage. Small, medium and large pods may be substituted for the pods of a different size, to change, say, a small Super-Shield into a medium or large Super-Shield.

Super-Shield Windjammer

The Windjammer is a high-quality, synthetic-fur cover which fits over the windshield and provides 'excellent protection' against extreme wind noise. Hand made in the UK from the 'highest quality materials available', which are specially designed and manufactured for the purpose, it has 'very little detrimental effect' on the high frequencies in the audio being captured. Windjammers, although included in the kits, are also available separately for use in case of loss or damage or when changing the size of a Super-Shield by swapping the front pod for a different size.