Stedman pop filter vs....

[polimorfos]

I've seen a couple Stedman Proscreen style metal wind screens showing up lately. SE has one as well as GrooveTubes. Both claim to have the angled screen holes like the Stedman.

Anyone have experience with these screens?

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by polimorfos

Anyone have experience with these screens?

no, but i like the steadman... it's $35, why mess around with a (potentially cheap) imitation?

[Brad McGowan]

I own a Stedman. I've compared the metal screen pop filters to the nylon mesh kind. The metal ones are much more transparent and don't introduce high frequency weirdness like the nylon ones do.

Brad

[polimorfos]

Are they really $35? I thought they were closer to $50. Where can I get them for that price?

The SE is $30 at BH Photo....

[polimorfos]

I see now, I was looking at the ProScreen XL. The standard model runs closer to $40.

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by polimorfos

Are they really $35? I thought they were closer to $50. Where can I get them for that price?

The SE is $30 at BH Photo....

you're right, my memory is faulty... i thought they were a lil cheaper, they're more in the $50-60 range. http://mercenary.com/royac.html

but still, why mess around for $15-25? that's a lunch bill for 2. guys spend thousands on mic preamps, mics, compression, etc... it just seems like being pennywise and pound-foolish to me.

if you get the cheap one you'll always wonder, "is it hurting my vocal sound?" just buy the one you really want and forget about the problem forever. you'll sleep better.

[Paul David]

Hey, you know what sux about Stedmans... That fricken unfinished metal clamp that digs into your mic stand. I tried a plasticoat thing on there and it lasted a few months, but why wouldn't they make a clamp that doen't damage the mic stand? Looks like the XL is the same.

[squeegybug]

I've had a Stedman (original version, no frame) a few years. Yes, it does allow more HF than the nylon filters. But I've gradually come to not trust it, something's often not right with the tone when using it. It's like it's causing some kind of mild distortion or "edge" almost.

Some of this depends on distance to mic and source, angle of approach - mic above/below/beside/etc. (the vents point down, if the logo is up). And the intensity of breath can cause this, seems to be worse on female singers than male.

Anyway, nothing scientific, just my feel. I'm mostly avoiding screens or filters as much as possible. Thought I might try the Pauly sometime, anyone used that one?

BTW, Soundelux mentions in some of their mic manuals that these perforated screens are not recommended by them either, also because of distortion.

Steve

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by squeegybug

I've had a Stedman (original version, no frame) a few years. Yes, it does allow more HF than the nylon filters. But I've gradually come to not trust it, something's often not right with the tone when using it. It's like it's causing some kind of mild distortion or "edge" almost.

I've noticed that the mic sometimes picks up the sound of air rushing through the holes in the wire mesh on plosives. Very distracting. I've gone back to nylon mesh and put my Stedman in the closet.

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by scrubs

I've noticed that the mic sometimes picks up the sound of air rushing through the holes in the wire mesh on plosives. Very distracting. I've gone back to nylon mesh and put my Stedman in the closet.

I got a real good deal on several of the Steadmans last year. After using them for awhile that deal doesn't seem so hot. Mine are in the closet too.

[theom]

Originally Posted by scrubs

I've noticed that the mic sometimes picks up the sound of air rushing through the holes in the wire mesh on plosives. Very distracting. I've gone back to nylon mesh and put my Stedman in the closet.

For close to the mic work with singer who have lots of air blasts I cant use the steadman without a second nylon screen in front of it.

It sounds stupid but the steadman reall does a great job of dissapating the wind energy, but it does whistle a bit, hense the nylon.

the nylon alone still bottoms out on big plosives so, steadman + nylon.

yes it kills a little of the top. but try it sometime, It works well on the c cornel syle blasters that wont to be right on the capsule.

then again, the sm7 works great on those guys too...

[warhead]

I know I'm biased, but I've never experienced anything negative with the Stedman and I've owned one for several years. The only wierdness is that it is TOTALLY attracted to the magnetic housing of a Coles 4038 so when using that mic it just gets pulled right onto it and "PING"!

War

[Rodney Gene]

I like em'...I actually bought mine from Warren about a year ago...I have 3 pop screens total. I only use them if I haver to.....

The cool thing about Steds is that they are washable...yep. A little warm water, soap and alcohol goes a long way towards getting the spit and crap out of them.

Them nylon jobbers can start to stink if you got too many different lips up against them.

[scrubs]

Originally Posted by theom

For close to the mic work with singer who have lots of air blasts I cant use the steadman without a second nylon screen in front of it.

It sounds stupid but the steadman reall does a great job of dissapating the wind energy, but it does whistle a bit, hense the nylon.

the nylon alone still bottoms out on big plosives so, steadman + nylon.

yes it kills a little of the top. but try it sometime, It works well on the c cornel syle blasters that wont to be right on the capsule.

then again, the sm7 works great on those guys too...

Yeah, I've done that too -- Stedman + Nylon. It just sucks to not get the benefit of the increased clarity that the Stedman is supposed to provide, though. It does stop the pops well.

[Brad Lunde]

Pauly Superscreen is the only one I have found that makes nearly all these problems (HF rolloff and plosives) go away. Built by Hilmar Pauly by hand in Germany for three customers: German broadcast, Schoeps and us. I found it through Dirk Brauner who knew about it, but not many others do.

I've sold them to some very big names for pop filtering because it does stop nearly all plosives and has almost undetectable HF roll off, almost undetectable low end shift. It ain't perfect, but its close. Only bummer is its ridiculously expensive ($135). They make a large diaphragm mount, small diaphragm mount or both.

I made the mistake of asking Hilmar at Munich AES many years ago if it was panty hose -I thought he was going to deck me, his eyes went on fire! He told me (through an interpreter) he spent YEARS finding this exact right material and it is made for him and only him. This is his life's work and I dissed it! Anyway, he's a good guy and it does really work like you want it to.

Brad

[theom]

Originally Posted by Brad Lunde

Pauly Superscreen is the only one I have found that makes nearly all these problems (HF rolloff and plosives) go away. Built by Hilmar Pauly by hand in Germany for three customers: German broadcast, Schoeps and us. I found it through Dirk Brauner who knew about it, but not many others do.

I've sold them to some very big names for pop filtering because it does stop nearly all plosives and has almost undetectable HF roll off, almost undetectable low end shift. It ain't perfect, but its close. Only bummer is its ridiculously expensive ($135). They make a large diaphragm mount, small diaphragm mount or both.

I made the mistake of asking Hilmar at Munich AES many years ago if it was panty hose -I thought he was going to deck me, his eyes went on fire! He told me (through an interpreter) he spent YEARS finding this exact right material and it is made for him and only him. This is his life's work and I dissed it! Anyway, he's a good guy and it does really work like you want it to.

Brad

Is it washable?
they can get stinky ya know.

[Brad Lunde]

Originally Posted by theom

Is it washable?
they can get stinky ya know.

Yes it is.

[Exmun]

I'll put a ditto on the Stedman introducing wind noise on some singers. It's not all, but a pretty powerful singer/client of mine and for some reason the wind gusts were unbearable. I had to have him back off the mic about 2 - 3 inches more. Fast songs... powerful singers = use something else other than the Stedman or "back up!"

I've not tried the nylon + Stedman thing. Must try sometime.

[faeflora]

The Pauly Superscreen really IS amazing.

It pretty much has no negative affect on the source at all! The mic attachment is also very good quality.

It's too bad not more people know about this. People spend thousands of dollars on mics then drop a crap screen in front of it when they could just spend a hundred bucks and get something that's REALLY acoustically transparent.

Here's some links:

Transaudio site:
http://www.transaudioelite.com/abpaulsup.html

Las Vegas Pro Audio site (With frequency plots):
http://www.lasvegasproaudio.com/pasu.html


Brad, please pimp these more! Do it for the music! thumbsup

[obostic]

Originally Posted by faeflora

The Pauly Superscreen really IS amazing.

It pretty much has no negative affect on the source at all! The mic attachment is also very good quality.

It's too bad not more people know about this. People spend thousands of dollars on mics then drop a crap screen in front of it when they could just spend a hundred bucks and get something that's REALLY acoustically transparent.

Here's some links:

Transaudio site:
http://www.transaudioelite.com/abpaulsup.html

Las Vegas Pro Audio site (With frequency plots):
http://www.lasvegasproaudio.com/pasu.html


Brad, please pimp these more! Do it for the music! thumbsup

Can the mount scratch your mic? Is there any type of felt protection on the mounting hardware?

[Levi]

I purchased one of the Groove Tubes pop filters last week and put it to the test on a bright, nasaly singer, and it worked very well. Yes, a little brighter than the nylon "poppers," but very usable and sturdy. Nothing that made me cringe in any way, and plosives were non-existant. I'm anxious to try the nylon + GT together. Guess it all really depends on the singer and their style/sound/technique.

[squeegybug]

Originally Posted by Levi

I'm anxious to try the nylon + GT together. Guess it all really depends on the singer and their style/sound/technique.

It does, of course everything affects everything. I know from my experience with that kind of setup (metal mesh/Stedman to Nylon) I got the weirdest, most off-pitch recording I'd ever made of myself. And I almost never have problems staying on key.

And since the nylon blocks pops and kills much of the high end anyway, what's the need of adding the mesh? Sure, try everything and learn what works for you. But also compare how it feels to sing into it, and do some blind A/B listening after.

Steve

[Bluzzi]

How does the Pauly mount on a suspension mounted mike? All the pics I see are of one directly mounted to the mike body.

Jim

[Brad Lunde]

Originally Posted by Bluzzi

How does the Pauly mount on a suspension mounted mike? All the pics I see are of one directly mounted to the mike body.

Jim

Yes it mounts to the body.....doesn't work on every mic but does on most. I've aksed Hilmar to make a longer strap so you can weave it within a shock mount if necessary. He's also working on a gooseneck, but a silent one that stays where you put it is not easy to do. I would guess this will also be expensive.
Brad

[faeflora]

I've used mine with a few different kinds of shockmounts.

[hopeless_opus]

I picked up the Groove Tubes PF1 (I think... or maybe PS1?) this weekend,

anyway, no problems, worked great.

[Merk]

Stedmans are nice i own a few of them. i have wondered recently though with a few artists if they have been making noise becasue these guys yell so loud i can only imagine how much air is being redirected by these holes.


these types of pop filters are the exact same thing as a metal mesh grill used in newer cars for the rear dash speakers (angled holse to redirect sound twards the interior of the car instead of the rear window).

[Gregg Sartiano]

Who makes the Royer, GT, and Stedman metal pop filters? Are they the same (just asking -- I don't know).

[Ruphus]

Royer and Stedman at least are the same. ( Asked Royer when I purchased mine.)

Ruphus

[borau]

Hmm. I get the most amazing results from our Royer/steadman filters. I felt it was a real step up from the fabric ones. Of any brand.

Can anyone sum up your bad experiences with these ones, cause I really don't recall any of that trouble with them.

Whistling noises, metallic sounds. Totally uknown to me. For me/us they have just worked totally transparent. They do seem kind of sensitive to the angle of placement towards the mic. regarding effectiveness.

Regarding soundelux advising against them, might there be a connection with transaudio so strongly recommending a competing brand?

I can at least tell David and Brad that the Royer/Steadman works F'in great with the E47.


The original Really highly sought after vintage multipattern E47, that is.