Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
16/06/2009

Rycote's Softie Reborn

the UK-based manufacturer of industry-standard microphone windshield and suspension systems, Rycote, has announced the immediate availability of a redesigned version of its Softie windshield and microphone mount incorporating the company's patented Lyre suspension technology.
As a result of the improvements, the new Softie system is lighter overall (a mere 145 grammes) and offers better isolation from handling noise.
The Softie is Rycote's robust, push-on microphone windshield and mounting system for shotgun mics and is widely used by documentary makers and in news-gathering applications. The main components of the new Softie are as follows.
  • The slip-on Softie Windshield is made of open-cell acoustic foam with an integral fur covering and is available in two models with different diameters. The version with the Standard hole accepts mics from 19-22mm in diameter, while the Large-holed type fits mics from 24-25mm.
  • The Universal Softie Lyre Mount and Bracket holds and supports the microphone whilst also providing excellent isolation from handling or stand-borne noise. It consists of a universal clamp which accepts any microphone with a diameter of 19-25mm (including flat-sided Sennheiser models) and is acoustically isolated from the rest of the bracket by its suspension in a pair of Rycote's non-elasticated W-shaped Lyre webs. The virtually unbreakable Lyres have steadily replaced rubberised or elasticated suspensions across he rest of Rycote's product range over the past 18 months. The shape of the Lyre provides the exact amount of compliance required to isolate the microphone capsule from vibrations and handling noise. Unlike other elastic and rubber suspensions, the Softie Lyre Mount is more resistant to extremes of temperature, operating unhindered at lows of -35ºC and highs of 100ºC.
  • The Universal Softie Lyre Mount is available with either a lightweight, ergonomic Pistol Grip Handle or Rycote's Camera Clamp Adaptor (CCA for short). The Pistol Grip Handle is designed for handheld use, but also has a 3/8-inch screw thread in its base to allow the Softie to be mounted on a boom pole.
    The CCA option is for users that wish to attach the Softie Mount to a Camcorder and fits into the microphone clamp on the side of the camera. This arrangement provides better isolation for the microphone from camera handling vibrations and Camcorder motor noise than mounting the microphone directly in the clamp. Like the Pistol Grip Handle, the CCA also has a 3/8-inch screw thread, so that the entire assembly may be attached to a boom pole if required.
The Softie Windshield Mount with Pistol Grip Handle and Softie CCA Mount are available for sale separately. Alternatively, the long-established Softie Kit, consisting of the Softie Windshield with Mount and Pistol Grip Handle is still available now with the new enhancements. As of June 2009, the kit additionally includes a high-quality 400mm Mogami xlr mic cable with gold three-pin xx connectors at either end, further improving the isolation of the microphone from the rest of the assembly.
The new-style Softie system is on sale now. For more details, contact Rycote on: +44 (0)1453 759338 or see: www.rycote.com.
(KMcA/BMcc)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

26/01/2024
Audio-Technica Launches New Version Of Its ATND1061 Beamforming Microphone
Audio-Technica has launched a new version of its ATND1061 Beamforming Microphone, compatible with the company's proprietary Audio-Technica Link commun
13/07/2023
Palmer Digital Group Offers Optional Speaker-Microphone Enclosures
Palmer Digital Group now offers optional speaker-microphone enclosures for its entire range of outdoor digital menu board systems, covering single, do
12/04/2023
Audio-Technica's BP3600 Immersive Audio Microphone Now Available
Audio-Technica has announced scheduled availability in Europe and the UK for its recently launched BP3600 Immersive Audio Microphone. A premium broadc
06/06/2023
Audio-Technica ATND1061DAN Ceiling Array Microphone Integrates With AVer PTZ Cameras
AVer PTZ cameras are the latest addition to Audio-Technica's roster of partners that integrate with the ATND1061 beamforming ceiling array microphone,
24/05/2023
Solo Videographers Deploy Bubblebee Industries' Microphone Accessories
Solo videographers and camera operators are increasingly turning to Bubblebee Industries' versatile range of microphone accessories to help them captu
24/02/2023
Tierra Audio Announces Offer On New Twenties Microphone
Tierra Audio has launched a month-long campaign celebrating its newest microphone - New Twenties. New Twenties is a large diaphragm cardioid FET conde
12/03/2024
DPA To Highlight Features Of Its Compact 2017 Shotgun Microphone
DPA Microphones is to highlight the standout features of its compact 2017 Shotgun Microphone at NAB 2024 (Booth C7307). From its durable construction
05/03/2024
Shure Unveils The MoveMic Microphone System
Shure has introduced its newest line of wireless clip-on microphones, the MoveMic Microphone System. MoveMic delivers reliable, true broadcast-quality
13/10/2023
DPA Microphones Launches New 2017 Shotgun Microphone
DPA Microphones has launched its new 2017 Shotgun Microphone. Designed to capture authentic sound with high directivity, clarity and consistency, the
10/10/2023
Audio-Technica’s BP3600 Microphone And Flux
Audio-Technica's BP3600 immersive audio microphone is now supported in the recently-released version of Flux::Immersive's SPAT Revolution software (ve
27/02/2024
Chief Unveils Latest Innovations For Its Tempo™ Flat Panel Wall Mount System
Chief, a brand of Legrand | AV, has unveiled the latest mounting innovations available for its Tempo™ Flat Panel Wall Mount System. This all-in-one, e
20/03/2023
Mount Pleasant Studio Hosts Broader Range Of Productions
Mount Pleasant Studio is London's most central soundproofed film and TV studio. The replacement of hot spacelights with cool, energy efficient but twi
03/11/2021
DPA Microphones Unveils The MS4099 Mic Stand Mount
DPA Microphones has unveiled a new accessory, the MS4099 Mic Stand Mount, for its renowned 4099 CORE Instrument Mic. The company has also begun shippi
30/07/2004
Audio-Technica to exhibit broadcast microphone and wireless microphone portfolio at IBC
Audio-Technica’s shotgun microphones, to be showcased at IBC 2004, set the benchmark for broadcast sound applications, whether for relaying trackside
07/10/2022
Sony Unveils New Microphone For Studio Recording
Sony has unveiled a new microphone for studio recording, the C-80, a uni-directional condenser microphone ideal for vocal/voice recording, instrumenta