Hat’s off to Rycote’s New Mini Windjammer

Stroud, UK, December 2008: Though you could be forgiven for thinking that windshield specialist Rycote has moved into branded headgear, this month sees the company add five further miniature windshields to their range of Mini Windjammer, all designed for different portable stereo digital recorders.

The Mini Windjammer range was first launched in 1985 to provide wind-noise protection for video camcorder and other compact microphones, and was widened at IBC 2008 with the appearance of three all-in-one windshields designed for different handheld digital recorders, of the kind now widely used by journalists, podcasters and broadcasters everywhere. To the models for the Nagra AresM, Olympus LS10 and Sony PCMD50 launched at IBC, Rycote have now added Mini Windjammer™ for Edirol's R-09HR, Marantz's PMD620, Tascam's DR-1 and Zoom's H2 and H4. As you can see from the photos accompanying this release, where the recorders in question have divided Left and Right microphones, the appropriate Mini Windjammer is accordingly split into two connected parts.

"No, we're not diversifying into shock wigs," explains Rycote's Sales & Marketing Manager Gabby Davies. "Hand-held compact digital recorders are now in such widespread use by broadcasters that we have been getting user requests for bespoke windshields tailored to fit each model for some time. However, the recorders are all so different in size and shape that a generic 'one size fits all' design isn't suitable - we had to produce a range."

The new Mini Windjammer are available now. Rumours of limited-edition models in Ziggy Stardust Red, Sigue Sigue Pink and Vicious Green are sadly unfounded at present - however, if there is enough interest, who knows...?

About Rycote

A family-owned company with a history of more than 30 years of innovative design, Rycote have become a synonym for microphone windshields the world over, playing a leading role in this small but significant industry from a quiet corner of Gloucestershire in the UK. Forming an essential part of broadcast and recording technology at the critical point of audio capture, Rycote's windshields and microphone suspension systems are all designed, developed and manufactured in-house, and their Modular Suspension System was honoured with a Technical Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000. For further information, please visit www.rycote.com.