Back in 2014, I published the article RT and DirectTV Sports go beyond conventional mic flags by using branded windscreens, together with all of the advantages I perceived. A while later, I was contacted by a rep from FoamConversion.com who had read may article, thanked me, and explained that all but one of the providers I had mentioned in the original article are actually distributors of their windshields, another name for a windscreen. They offered me a sample of a windscreen with my CapicúaFM logo. That helped me prepare the video for this new article.

Link to original 2104 article

Back in August 2014, I published RT and DirectTV Sports go beyond conventional mic flags (illustrated above).

Review of advantages of branded windscreens over standard mic flags

• A branded windscreen is immediately compatible with shorter microphones which are uncomfortable to use with a conventional mic flag. The already short neck of this microphones are reduced even further with a standard mic flag, but are unaffected by a branded windscreen which only covers the head, not the neck. Of course, this applies to two digital mics from IK Multimedia (iRig Mic HD, reviewed here, and iRig Mic HD-A for Android, reviewed here, and used in the video for this article), the versatile hybrid XLR/USB AT2005USB microphone I have covered in several articles in ProVideo Coalition magazine and in two ebooks (English version or Castilian version).
• With a branded windscreen, the logo/brand is now much closer to the face of the person speaking, which means that it is immediately more visible. This is true whether it’s any handheld interview or standup microphone, be it short (like the AT2005USB and ATR2100), medium (like the high-output RE50N/D-B), or quite long like the RØDE Reporter which I be reviewed here or the Senal ENG–18LR I reviewed here.
• Considering that windscreens are made out of a spongy material, they are naturally matte (non-reflective). (I have seen some plastic mic flags that suffer from excessive reflection/glare, especially as seen by a video camera.)
• Potentially lower capital expenditure, rather than purchasing both a mic flag and a windscreen (if required) and if you need around ten of them (see details ahead in this article).
• Branded windscreens are available in common mic flag shapes (four-sided and three-sided), as well as spherical and even ultra-wide rectangle models to mount on pro audio recorders or smartphones used as audio recorders using their built-in microphone(s).

The video, and how it was done

https://youtu.be/8tEoOd8HtlI

Thanks to Francisco Javier Arbolí of MiamiWise.com, who did the video recording using his Sony PXW-X70 at 1080/29.97p at 50 megabit per second 4:2:2 and have me the raw footage for me to edit. The audio from the PXW-X70’s built-in mic was only used as a reference to have FCP X automatically synchronize the high quality I recorded from the digital iRig Mic HD-A, which fed my Nexus 6 (which was inside my jacket pocket) and recorded a 48 kHz WAV file. (I used a new audio recording app for Android that I’ll review soon.) Because this microphone contains its own preamp and A-to-D (analog-to-digital) converter, the sound quality was not limited at all by the Nexus 6’s audio circuitry. The Nexus 6 received a signal that was already digital.

Cost comparison

The cost comparison remains complex to do, since none of the providers are able to give any pricing without first submitting your logo. I encourage anyone interested to get the quotation from any of the companies listed in the original article. However, keep in mind that all told me they could only sell a minimum of ten pieces, so no matter how low the price may be, you will likely have to multiply it by that number, even if you only really need a single piece. It is always to have a backup or two, but you might find it unjustifiable to have nine backups.

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FTC disclosure

No manufacturer is specifically paying Allan Tépper or TecnoTur LLC to write this article or the mentioned books. Some of the other manufacturers listed above have contracted Tépper and/or TecnoTur LLC to carry out consulting and/or translations/localizations/transcreations. Many of the manufacturers listed above have sent Allan Tépper review units. So far, none of the manufacturers listed above is/are sponsors of the TecnoTur programs, although they are welcome to do so, and some are, may be (or may have been) sponsors of ProVideo Coalition magazine. Some links to third parties listed in this article and/or on this web page may indirectly benefit TecnoTur LLC via affiliate programs.

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