I built a rig for my NT1-A’s this weekend and put up some pictures that can be found on my blog:

http://inovember.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/diy-stereo-rig-for-nt1-as/

http://acousticlight.net/blog/?tag=frogs

Yes, if you put the two NT1-As in a pair of vertically mounted Rode or Rycote blimps you’ll end up with a rather more effective (in terms of wind reduction) version of what I built. How do you mount the NT1-A inside the blimp though? Most of the mountings available are designed for narrow-bodied mics like the Sennheiser ME or MKH series, not hefty studio mics like the NT1-A!

I’d love to try surround recording, but alas my budget won’t stretch to another 2 NT1-As and a 4-channel recorder at the moment. I’d love to hear some of your work though, so please do post a link.

Cheers,

Tom

I’m not really sure the design is refined enough yet that I’d want to take anyone’s cash to build one for them… maybe when I’ve improved on the windshield design a bit, but there’s a long way to go before I start competing with Rycote!

If you decide to have a go at building your own I’d be more than happy to run through the specific materials, dimensions etc. that I used – everything can be picked up at one of the larger B&Q stores, and you don’t need any special tools beyond a basic electric drill.

Cheers,

Tom

Thanks for the info – I need to have a go really at building it and see how I get on. That is unless you fancy naming a price to build one – I’m happy to pay a proper price for your time and the bits.

Thanks again.

Jonathan

Yes, the noise floor of the NT1-As is fairly spectacular. I often notice on 30/40 M/S recordings that the self-noise is high enough to be intrusive in a quiet environment. You still can’t beat that set-up for portability though!

I did originally plan to have the microphones completely inside the pipe with a cut-out section, however I was worried that there might be cavity resonance effects between the capsule and the inner wall of the pipe. In the end I cut the pipe to the length of the microphone body, excluding the mesh capsule shield. Once the microphone is mounted the XLR socket on the bottom is roughly level with the bottom of the pipe, and the capsule pokes out the top. The mesh wrapped around the outside of the pipe then provides the rest of the height needed to support the fur windshield.

The bands are doubled up for strength and passed through holes on drilled in either side of the pipe, then looped around offcut pieces of cable tie to hold them in place. The only flaw in this is that when a band breaks the outer mesh will have to be removed to replace it… but Royal Mail obviously chooses well because this hasn’t happened yet.

If you want any more details or pictures of a specific part of the set-up let me know, and I’ll get you some photos next time I have the fur off.

Cheers,

Tom

Like your design. Could I trouble you for a few more details on it?
I too have bought the Rode NT1-A matched pair. They are extremely impressive.
I used to do a lot of SFX recording for various libraries with a portadat and a Sennheiser 30/40 MS setup in a Rycote suspension.
I sold that kit years ago now but now am looking to do some more. It’s amazing to me that some very good and expensive mics havequite high inherent noise floors. I work in music and voiceovers for radio/tv – mainly using a Neuman u87 for vo work. Lovely sounding mic and fine working close but it has far too much noise for anything else.

NT1-As are a bit of a find – for the money quite amazing. At the moment I am using them through a Fireface 400 interface and a MacBook Pro – which sounds great as the Fireface has excellent preamps but it’s not particularly mobile! However it’s workable and like you did to start I have the NTs on a stereo bar in their Rode mounts.

But I shall have to pay a visit to B&Q I suspect. So in your picture you have cut the length of the drainpipe to that of the body of the NTs – and then cut out a forward facing section – leaving a strut to the top and bottom rings as it were? Some holes in the rings for the bands? Then wrapped that in the mesh? Sorry it that’s all obvious!

Nice work – cheers for now.

Jonathan

Anyway, your version looks more proper design.

Let`s invent!

I make certainly some photos when succeed.

Taisto