Introduction
The Rode WS6 is a windscreen designed to minimize wind noise while recording audio outdoors. As an essential accessory for microphones, it promises to enhance the quality of your recordings by reducing unwanted disturbances caused by wind.
Performance
- Effectively minimizes wind noise, ensuring clearer audio recordings even in windy conditions.
- Compatible with various shotgun microphones, providing versatility for different recording setups.
- Durable construction ensures longevity, withstanding outdoor use and protecting your microphone from environmental elements.
Ease of Use
- Simple installation process allows for quick attachment and removal, saving time during setup.
- Lightweight design adds minimal bulk to your recording setup, maintaining portability.
- Intuitive design ensures hassle-free operation, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
Versatility
- Suitable for a wide range of outdoor recording scenarios, including field interviews, wildlife recording, and outdoor filmmaking.
- Adjustable foam material accommodates different microphone sizes, offering compatibility with various shotgun mics.
Pros
- Effectively reduces wind noise for clearer audio recordings.
- Durable construction ensures longevity and protection for your microphone.
- Simple installation and intuitive design make it easy to use.
- Versatile compatibility with different shotgun microphones.
Cons
- May slightly attenuate high-frequency sounds, affecting the overall audio quality.
- Foam material can degrade over time with heavy use, requiring replacement.
Conclusion
Overall, the Rode WS6 proves to be a valuable accessory for outdoor recording enthusiasts, effectively minimizing wind noise and enhancing the quality of audio recordings. While it may have some minor drawbacks, its durability, ease of use, and compatibility with various microphones make it a worthy investment for anyone looking to improve their outdoor recording setup.
David Young –
Out of the box review. I purchased this item after reading some of the negative reviews on the less expensive Rode dead cat. At first glance this item does appear rather cheap looking (I would have been annoyed if I had paid the full retail price of $59.99) however it’s better constructed than I initially thought. It doesn’t suffer from the “flattened” look that the dead cat is said to have and shedding appears to be minimal(I petted it like a real cat). It also appears to hold its shape quite well and looks like it can take a moderate amount of abuse such as being stepped on during a shoot. The actual interior features a densely-packed cocoon of a sponge material that look like it could dampen a fair amount of wind noise and holds a shotgun mike pretty steady. I tried this out on the Rode NTG-2 and it seems to provide a particularly snug fit. I haven’t had the chance to field test this in the elements yet but I’ll post a more detailed review when I do. This item, like most windscreens, is overpriced for what it is but there are far worse alternatives floating around out there.
Diana Solorio –
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Previously had one that kept falling off to the point of losing it. This one stays on and hasn’t fallen off once. Works great.
AmazonSlave –
It works! It works really well with my NTG4+. Very little to zero wind noises, a little snug to put on and off, but that is to the benefit as you don’t have to worry about it coming off.
Ashwyn Warrier –
The fur windshield of my Rode Video Micro had burnt off slightly I was shooting close to fire. I was looking for this model for a while and found this which was a perfect fit. Also really reasonable price for the original part. This is a thumbs up frm me.
harish –
I wish the seller had been honest about the self age of the product. It is old (2018). It was dusty, yellowed and crumpled on one side when I opened the plastic.
However, the sheild is perfect; no shedding at all and works quite well in light windy conditions.
ORBIT MEDIA –
Not sure how you lose a big fluffy ball / Deadkitten but I’ve managed to lose them on both RODE Mics I have so good to be able to replace them ASAP through here. Worth having even for a slight be of wind!
John –
Ok I got the deadcat 4 years ago and I boy was I dissapointed. Works in light winds but still picks up a WOOSH here and there. Thankfully this thing has dropped in price. It’s WAY better. Great examples of it on youtube. If you already own a deadcat, I’d recommend figuring out how to wrap it around some tougher foam. There are examples of how to make cheap windscreen but if yo ualready ahve the deadcat material which is probably better than what you can get at walmart, than you are 90% there. Anyway if you don’t have any windscreen, get this. It’s GREAT.
AnaJosefa LópSan –
Buena calidad y amortiguamiento.
Amazon Customer –
We work a lot in the SF Bay area where the ocean breezes can be very noisey. We tried different wind screens. This WS6 is my choice for the tough sound indices. The fur is thick and does not feel thin like on many. This screen has an internal plastic boot that slides over your bare shotgun type mics. Any foam wind screen must be removed to install this. But this screen is all you need.
Great quality. Doesn’t seem to shed….yet.
cinetrope –
I purchased a WS6 windscreen for the stock microphone on my Canon XL2 and I am quite pleased. I live in an area where it is often windy and conditions can really louse up my shooting schedule. The day it arrived it was blowing steady at 15mph, gusting to around 30mph. I took the WS6 out of the box, removed the foam pop screen from my microphone and slid the new windscreen into its place. It went on easily, fit snugly and made a tight seal around the rear of the microphone. I took it outside and shot some test footage and when I loaded it into my NLE I could hear the wind blowing in the trees and bushes and against the side of the house but not so much as a pop or rumble from contact against the microphone diaphragm. I will probably just leave it in place from now on, the manufacturer and several reviewers state that it is transparent in non-wind conditions. I usually buy genuine Canon parts for my camera but Rode has a good reputation, their windscreen fits, performs as advertised, and costs $75.00 less than a similar Canon product. If you have been on the fence about a third party windscreen or wondering if it would fit on an XL series microphone I suggest that you pull the trigger on this purchase.
PD –
These puff ball windscreens work well up to a point. Obviously if you’re shooting on location in the middle of kansas with 40 mph winds, you’re going to need a blimp which is way more expensive. But for a bit of a breezy day this filter works quite well, WAY better than the foam rubber screen that comes with the NTG-3. I notice very little shifting of audio tone with this on. In fact, I’ll use it for indoor shoots as well, who knows if you’ll walk under a ceiling fan or even have to follow the subject outside. For me this is a must-have given the price (vs a blimp which can run around 300 bucks).
Amazon Customer –
Notice how many of these you see used on TV interviews in the age of Covid? They are reasonably affordable and work in all but the heaviest winds. Then you’ll need a blimp. Having said that I live in a very windy area but this has never failed to cut wind noise.
Fits nicely on my Rode NTG2.
Amazon Customer –
Fit perfect for my NTG2 RODE