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With the rising popularity of video cameras of
all types in the field these days, hunters, fisherman and outdoor
enthusiasts have never had a better selection of quality video gear to
choose from. Though some of today’s equipment requires a moderate
investment, there are a lot of ways to improve your video that will not
break the bank.
I review a lot of both amateur and professional
video footage in my role as a video producer and videographer. One
aspect of videos I see that can almost always stand to be improved upon
is audio. Great footage can be ruined by poor audio, including high wind
noises which are not only annoying but cancel out good ambient sounds
such as voices and natural background sounds. The easiest and best way
to improve audio quality is to reduce wind noise that is being picked up
by the microphone with the aid of a microphone windscreen.
Unfortunately, most of the video cameras available today are shipped
without a windscreen for the microphone, such as the widely popular and
venerable Canon GL2 shown below. (Image 1)
Image 1: Canon GL2 without windscreen on microphone.
There are several manufactures of synthetic fur
windscreens that offer a solution to this common problem. I’ve used
windscreens on my video equipment for many years from several
manufactures with great success to improve my audio. Recently, I found a
new manufacture to this sector that you might want to consider.
The WindCutter’s lower than average price is
what first caught my eye while searching for windscreens for the new
backup camera I had purchased, a Canon GL2, one of the most popular
video cameras on the market today. I’ve paid three times the list price
of their offerings for similar products and I’m usually leery of lower
than average prices on my equipment but decided to order one to see for
myself if their product had merit. It does.
My WindCutter GL2 model ($18.95 plus $5.95 s &
h) arrived within 3 business days after I ordered it, which was
impressive to say the least. Before installing it I filmed some tests
outside my home with gusts of wind from the NE measuring between
12-18mph. I then installed the WindCutter and filmed some more tests to
show just how much you can improve your audio with a proper windscreen.
The video clearly shows a vast reduction in wind noise with the
windscreen installed while at the same time capturing the ambient sounds
you want to pick up with your microphone while filming. (Watch the video located at the bottom of this article to
see the results of my test.)
Image 2: Canon GL2 with WindCutter
installed on microphone.
The WindCutter model for the GL2 slips over the
onboard microphone and is held in place with an elastic strip at the
opening. For most applications it should stay in place without any
modifications. However, for my use and other hunters/outdoor
enthusiasts, I recommend securing the back of the windscreen with a Zip
Tie to prevent it from hanging on brush and accidentally slipping off
while traveling through heavy vegetation. I’ve lost more than one
windscreen over the years that were not secured this way so the added
security is well warranted in my case. (It should be noted that the fit
of this model was perfect before I added my modification. My work is
very demanding on equipment with over 90% of my assignments being in the
woods, thus the extra precaution taken to prevent loosing the
windscreen.)
Improving your audio is one of the best ways to
improve your video and this product does the job at a price that to my
knowledge is unbeaten. If you’re serious about improving your video
footage, I encourage you to consider this very affordable upgrade to
your video camera.
The WindCutter is available for all prosumer and
professional video cameras as well as shotgun, lavilier and handheld
microphones. Custom orders are also available upon request. Visit The
WindCutter web site for more information and online ordering.
Contact:
Rebekah Stamp
The WindCutter
Email: questions@thewindcutter.com
Web site:
www.TheWindCutter.com
Phone:
406-899-2095
Hours: 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Mailing Address: TheWindCutter.com
400 6th Avenue N.
Great Falls, MT 59401
WindCutter Customer Comments:
“The
WindCutter is quiet (no rubbing noise) and helps eliminate any
squeaks caused by the foam screens, when they are not brand new.
Excellent at reducing wind
noise. Both the
natural type and what's generated from fast cueing.
Finally the freedom to move the
pole almost as fast as I'd like.”
Dennis Maitland, Jr.
Sound Department
Sophie's Choice, Silence of the
Lambs, Die Hard 3
“I was
standing in the middle of a wind blown field for 3 hours filming
snowmobile drag races. The wind was howling past me! Not one sound
pertaining to wind was recorded during that time! Awesome product!”
Matt Harper
http://www.sledjunkies.ca/
“I received
the windscreen for my gl2 very fast. I tried it the same day I got it.
It was fairly windy, perhaps 20-25 MPH gust and the screen worked very
well. I don't think it could be improved on. Thank you!”
Steven Mull
Omaha, NE
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Additional Video and Photos |
NOTE:
To view the video clips used in this article, we recommend you
have
Windows Media
Player installed on your PC. You can download the latest version
FREE by clicking
here. Visitors with a high speed Internet connection can LEFT
click on the video images to begin the download. Dialup visitors
will be better served by RIGHT clicking on the images and selecting,
"Save Target as...", then viewing the video after it downloads
to your hard drive.
Click on the video
player above to see why you need a WindCutter.
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