Whether you’re capturing audio for musical recordings and podcasts, or street documentaries and films, you’ll definitely need more than just a microphone. And while there are different types of microphones, you should always remember to include one basic yet crucial accessory: a microphone wind cover (windscreens). To help clear up the differences between the two, we’re diving into the windscreen vs pop filter uses and features.
Microphone covers or mic mufflers go by many different names, depending on their type and use. You might know them better as microphone windscreens or pop filters, although these terms describe two different types of products. We’ll discuss their differences below and also list down some of the best microphone wind protection products available at Adorama.
Microphone Windscreen vs Pop Filter
Wind protection for microphones basically shield the device from capturing disruptive noise, but they come in many different forms and sizes. We divide them into two basic categories:
Windscreens:
When deciding between a microphone windscreen vs pop filter, there are many features to consider. In a nutshell, microphone screens block strong winds from hitting the microphone and causing unwanted noise. They are particularly helpful when you’re recording outdoors and wish to capture ambient noise with low distortions.
For example, you’re filming at the beach and you want to record the sound of the waves but don’t necessarily want the wind to blow up your audio or overpower your actors’ voices. In this case, you’ll definitely need a mic screen of some sort added to your boom mic.
Microphone windscreens usually cover the entire microphone, but there are three basic types:
- Foam: There are also windscreens that come in the form of a foam cover. Commonly made of polyurethane, the density of foam windscreens determine its efficiency in blocking wind.
- Baskets/Blimps:You’ll also come across the terms baskets or blimps, which are essentially made of mesh material with a thin inner foam layer that covers the entire microphone like a pill but provides an open-air chamber between it and the microphone.
Do I need a windscreen for my mic?
We get this question all the time: “Are pop filters really necessary? Do I actually need a windscreen for a decent recording?” The honest answer is, “It depends.”
If your recording is unaffected by wind or extraneous noise, then you don’t necessarily “need” a microphone windscreen. It’s usually best to be prepared, though. At the very least, keep a microphone windscreen in your kit should conditions change.
The same is basically true of a pop filter; if your vocalist has great technique and keeps a safe distance from the capsule, then you can get away without using a filter or microphone cover. However, be aware that some plosives will naturally slip through, but you can manually edit their impact later on.
Pop Filters:
On the other hand, pop filters or pop screens are used mostly indoors to improve the quality of your recorded voice. Instead of covering the microphone, they are smaller and often placed at a safe distance between the capturing side of the microphone and the speaker.
The metal or soft, stocking-like mesh of the pop filter is designed for maximum transparency while reducing popping sounds or plosives (p, b, t, k, g, d) when you sing or talk. By shielding breath blasts, you won’t sound like you’re spitting into the mic. Pop filters also come in different shapes (usually circular or a curved rectangle) but they essentially work the same way. The thinner mesh material lets more high-frequency sounds through than foam covers do, making it ideal for recording podcasts, interviews, and singing voices.
Once you’ve figured out what you need, you can either check out our list of the best pop filters or discover some of the best microphone windscreens below.
What’s better: pop filter vs windscreen?
When you’re deciding whether to use a windscreen vs pop filter, consider the situation first and foremost. It isn’t so much that one is better than the other, but that they each attempt to preserve the integrity of a recording under different circumstances.
A pop filter is going to serve you best in the studio when you’re in a controlled environment (ideally an acoustically-treated one as well!). Pop filters help diffuse some of the acoustic energy behind plosives, which lends itself to a cleanly recorded vocal that requires less editing. Pop filters commonly attach to a microphone stand and are made out of nylon or metal.
On the contrary, microphone windscreens are primarily used outdoors when recording on location for film, TV, and broadcast. As the name suggests, they minimize wind and outdoor ambience from ruining the recording. Microphone windscreens are a kind of microphone cover that envelopes it, such as with a shotgun mic, and are made out of foam or faux fur.
To summarize whether to use a windscreen vs pop filter, remember that windscreens are best outside, and pop filters are best inside.
Best Microphone Windscreens for Videography
When it comes to a windscreen vs pop filter, microphone windscreens are inexpensive but very useful accessories that can add production value to your videos. So if you’re filming with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, these microphone covers will help you produce more professional quality audio that will complement your footage.
Azden SWS-100 Hi-Performance Softie Windshield
The Azden SWS-100 is a microphone windshield or windjammer. It’s ideal for the Azden ECZ-990, SMX-10, and SGM-PDII shotgun microphones. Made of high-quality faux fur with a dense inner foam core, it provides maximum protection against wind noise up to 20db while remaining acoustically transparent to allow clear ambient sounds and vocals to pass through. It’s big enough to cover compatible microphones that are under 3.9 inches in length and 0.8 inches in diameter, but it is very easy to store in your equipment bag.
As long as you have any of these three compatible microphones, the Azden SWS-100 windshield is a must-have for outdoor recordings.
Key Specifications:
- High-Quality Faux Fur with Inner Foam Core
- Fits up to 4.25” x 0.83″ Microphones
- Compatible with Azden ECZ-990, SMX-10, and SGM-PDII Shotgun Microphones
Rode VideoMic Pro+ Foam
A microphone like the Rode VideoMic Pro+ is an industry staple — it also makes our list of best shotgun mics for filmmaking. And when you’re using one of the best on-camera microphones in the market, you’ll definitely want to complement it with a reliable wind isolating accessory. Together, this windscreen mic bundle makes the ideal combo for recording with your DSLR or mirrorless camera, as well as camcorders and portable audio recorders.
For added noise protection, the included VideoMic Pro+ itself has a specialized Rycote Lyre suspension system. It also bears an optimized windshield shape, so that it can fit an extra wind muff when you need to enhance wind protection.
Key Specifications:
- Rode VideoMic Pro+ with Foam Windscreen
- Integrated Rycote Lyre Suspension System
- Optimized Windshield Shape
- Dual Battery and Micro USB Power Operation
- Compatible with DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras, Camcorders, and Portable Audio Recorders
Rycote Mini Windjammer
The Rycote Mini Windjammer is an ideal option for Rode Video Microphones with Rycote Lyre. Providing excellent wind diffusion with its high-quality synthetic fur, it’s the ideal partner for select product models manufactured by one of the most popular brands of video microphones.
This well-designed microphone windscreen cover easily slips over the foam material that comes with the Rode VideoMic Pro with Rycote Lyre. Together, they provide added wind isolation while preventing additional loss of high-frequency sounds, whether you’re filming a movie project or broadcasting interviews outdoors. It can also work with built-in mics on portable cameras, as well as on external camera mics and handheld reporter mics.
Key Specifications:
- High-Quality Synthetic Fur
- Adds Wind Protection Over Rode Foam Windshield
- Prevents Additional Loss of High-Frequency Sounds
- Designed for the Rode VideoMic Pro with Rycote Lyre
- Compatible with Built-In Mics on Portable Cameras, External Camera Mics, and Handheld Reporter Mics
Rode Microphones Blimp & DeadWombat Windshield
As you can tell from this mic cover type, the Rode Microphones Blimp is shaped like a pill. It carefully encloses compatible microphones (the NTG-1, NTG-2, NTG-3, and other third party shotgun microphones up to 12.7 inches in length) while giving it some static air space for extra wind protection.
While it looks like most mic blimps, the Rode Blimp has a special characteristic: it also serves as a shock mount accessory to reduce the noise associated with mic handling. The shape is even optimized to fit fur windscreens.
As a bonus, this Rode Blimp bundle already includes the Rode DeadWombat Windshield for added wind protection and a bunch of other accessories.
Key Specifications:
- Flexible Plastic with Mesh Inner Cage
- Includes Rode DeadWombat Windshield
- Integrated Adjustable Dual Hoop Suspension System
- Compatible with NTG-1, NTG-2, NTG-3, NT4 Shotgun Mics
- Fits Shotgun Microphones up to 12.7” in Length
Azden SGM-250 Foam Windscreen
Contrary to popular belief, not all mic protectors are shaped like a thick, rounded tube. You may remember that there are much thinner supercardioid (shotgun) and unidirectional microphones, and you would certainly also need a windscreen for these if you’re going to be recording outdoors.
Fortunately, there’s a dedicated foam windscreen that already comes with the Azden SGM-250 Dual Power Shotgun Microphone. For added wind protection, the bundle also includes a shock mount holder, so handling noise is greatly reduced. This professional video and filmmaking audio set allows the use of AA batteries, aside from phantom power.
Key Specifications:
- Handcrafted in Japan
- Bundled Shotgun Microphone with Foam Windscreen
- Dual Battery and Phantom Power Operation
- Includes Shock Mount Holder
- Comes with Zippered Carry Pouch
Rode Microphones WS6 Deluxe Windshield
The Rode WS6 Deluxe is a reasonably priced windscreen that slips right onto shotgun microphones. The WS6 is crafted with a foam inner layer and an artificial fur outer layer to reduce unwanted environmental noise. The windscreen also has a rubber base to block any noise from sneaking in the base of the microphone.
The Rode WS6 is designed for the NTG1, NTG2, NTG4, and NTG4+ Rode microphones, and any microphone with a maximum length of 160.5mm and a diameter between 21-22.5mm, so be sure to check compatibility.
Key Specifications:
- Compatible with Rode NTG1, NTG2, NTG4, NTG4+ shotgun microphones, and microphones with a maximum length of 160.5mm and a diameter between 21-22.5mm
- Inner open-cell foam layer and outer artificial fur layer
- Easy to put on microphone
H&A WSS-14 Chinchilla Windshield
The H&A Chinchilla Windshield is a reliable and adaptable windscreen for shotgun microphones. The WSS-14 covers microphone lengths up to 5.5 inches and fits a range of brands including Rode, Shure, Sennheiser, Neumann, Audio-Technica, and Azden.
As the name suggests, the windshield is made out of simulated chinchilla fur to reduce wind noise by up to 40dB, while protecting the microphone from moisture and debris. The WSS-14 snugly and easily for quick protection.
Key Specifications:
- Compatible with wide variety of microphones including Rode, Shure, Sennheiser, Azden, Audio-Technica, and Neumann
- Maximum cover length of 5.5 inches
- Reduces wind noise by up to 40dB
Rycote Mini Windjammer
The Rycote Mini Windjammer is a slip-on fur cover that provides wind protection. The windjammer can be used solo, but was designed to be added on to Rode’s VideoMic NTG Windscreen for extra wind diffusion.
The Rycote Mini Windjammer is excellent at preserving high quality audio, including high-frequency audio, while still reducing wind noise. The Windjammer is crafted with high quality fur to keep other sounds transparent. The faux fur cover can accommodate a 21.5mm microphone diameter.
Key Specifications:
- Compatible with the Rode VideoMic NTG
- Designed to fit over the VideoMic NTG’s Windscreen
- Reduces wind noise without sacrificing audio quality, including high frequencies
- High-quality fur
- 21.5mm maximum microphone diameter
Sennheiser MZH600 Windshield
The Sennheiser MZH600 Windshield works specifically with the MKE600 shotgun microphone. The windshield is easy to transport and quickly slides onto the MKE600.
The MZH600 Windshield is arranged with an inside foam layer and an utter faux fur layer to both reduce outdoor wind noise, but to also allow wanted sounds through clearly. It has dimensions of 7×2.25” to house the compatible shotgun microphone.
Key Specifications:
- Compatible with the Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun microphone
- Built with both foam and faux fur
- Dimensions of 7×2.25”
- Reduces outdoor wind noise
- Easy to use
Rode Microphone’s DeadCat GO
The DeadCat GO by Rode is one of the more cost-friendly windscreens for microphones. The DeadCat GO windscreen is useful both indoors and outdoors, whether it’s the air conditioning blowing or a gust of wind.
The windscreen is excellent at reducing unwanted wind noise, while staying acoustically transparent like a pop filter. Rode’s DeadCat GO is appropriately named — it is a furry wind cover with dense shag. The DeadCat Go measures 7.08×2.75×2.75 inches and is compatible with most shotgun microphones.
Key Specifications:
- Cost-efficient
- Super furry windscreen
- Compatible with many shotgun microphones
- Acoustically transparent
- Measures 7.08×2.25×2.25”
