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Audio: Make Your Own Mic Blimp

A microphone "blimp" - or "zeppelin," as it is sometimes called - is essential for stopping wind noise when you are recording outdoors. Undoubtedly, you've seen them in use on the evening news or on TV shows such as Law & Order, in the outside-the-courthouse scenes.

It is a given that they are effective in eliminating wind noise; it is also a given that commercial blimps are expensive. A commercial blimp can cost $200 or more, but you can make one yourself that's just about as good in about an hour, and it will only cost you about $20 in materials. You don't need an engineering degree to put it together, either, you'll need only some common household tools and materials to do it. (Tool & material lists can be found at the end of this article.) Here's how:

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I got the mesh bird feeder at a local hardware store for under $5, the faux fur at a crafts supply house ($2/package), the mesh strainers at a discount store ($1 for the pair) and a 12" paint roller at a garage sale for $1. You'll need only the 3"-diameter strainer, so you can retire the 5" one to your kitchen.

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Use a hacksaw to cut the bottom off the feeder. A Dremel or other handheld grinder with a cutting wheel makes the job go a lot faster.

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Next saw the handle and cup-lip off the 3"-diameter strainer. After removing the roller cage, I also sawed a 4" section off the paint roller, to bring it down to 8" length. If you're buying one, get an 8" or 9" roller to save yourself the work of sawing off the excess length.

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I used two cable ties to temporarily hold the roller shaft to the bottom of the bird feeder. The open (unsawed) end of the feeder goes to the rear of the handle, while the sawed end of the feeder goes to the end of the roller shaft.

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Mix some epoxy and apply it generously along the shaft where it joins the feeder cage, and let it cure completely before moving it. Be sure to use some newspaper or other disposable covering for your work surface, so you don't drip epoxy on it from the cage/shaft assembly.

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The faux fur comes in a single piece folded in half. Use a utility knife and a straight edge to cut one of the pieces in half along the fold line.