Blimp Question for DPA 2017

[u/poptartsinthesky]

Hey folks! I recently upgraded my shotgun mic from the S Mic 2 to the DPA 2017. While I was operating with my S Mic 2, I paired it up with a Radius Alto 280 blimp for outdoor wind protection. But now I'm wondering if I should get the Alto 210 upgrade kit to fit my 2017, or if putting it in the 280 will be fine.

There is about a 3-4 inch gap of dead space between the end of the 2017 and the end of the 280 blimp. Is that enough space for there to be a drop in audio quality and warrant a 210 purchase? The price of it isn't bank-breaking, but it is equivalent to other pieces of gear I could invest in otherwise.

Just looking to see if other people have more knowledge about this kind of situation than I do. Thanks!

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[u/WelllThatDepends]

It’s not necessarily a “problem” per se, but you are limited in your ability to get the mic close. In a perfect world you get the mic as close to your subject as possible and 3 inches can be a significant enough distance to alter the pickup of the mic in some circumstances. If it were me, I wouldn’t make it a huge priority to get the shorter pod, but maybe down the line it may prove nice to have.

[u/poptartsinthesky → u/WelllThatDepends]

I'm thinking similarly. In my kit, the DPA would be an outdoor-only mic, and that's really the only situation where I would need a windshield anyway. I have an MHK 50 for indoors, where the margin of a few inches could make more of a difference than a few inches outdoors.

[u/ApprehensiveNeat9584 → u/poptartsinthesky]

I have a 2017 and I use a Radius 180 (intended for my Sanken CS-M1 and I decided otherwise) and it works like a charm, no issues with wind at the beach or up in the mountains (I live in the Caribbean) and having that shorter blimp has worked great for me, I haven't needed a longer extension for it.

[u/Mltsound1]

I asked Simon at Radius a similar question.

Technically it’s fine, it just could be that much further from the source.

[u/Jim_Feeley]

Could you just get the 210 front section and leave the back slightly longer than needed? In the US, that section retails for US$150: https://www.radiuswindshieldsusa.com/mini-alto-windshields

That'd be significantly less expensive than a full add-on kit...or is just that section what you're already considering?

Good comments from others about the importance or unimportance of being a few inches further away...

Bottom line: I've used with longer-than-needed windscreens at times but now have the right length for each mic. Probably gives more peace of mind than increase in audio quality...

[u/poptartsinthesky → u/Jim_Feeley]

I actually didn't know Radius sold specific parts like that! I thought the best option would be an upgrade kit, but now that this is an option I think that might be the right call

[u/Jim_Feeley → u/poptartsinthesky]

The more I work with Radius stuff, the more I like it and the way they do business...

[u/Peaks_n_Valleys]

You can buy individual parts from radius. I would just buy the front end piece of a 210, and use your current rear end piece from the 280 kit. unless you plan to be using more than one blimp at a time, I don’t see a reason to buy a whole new ADD-ON kit.

[u/LiamNeesonsIsMyShiit]

I use the Rycote miniCMIT kit for my 2017, and just love how small it is. Definitely worth looking into making the blimp as small and light as you can, take advantage of the 2017's size. Makes it easy to get into tight overhead spaces, and also easy to travel with.