This episode is recorded entirely with a DPA 4017b shotgun mic inside the Radius Windshields Mini Alto 250, feeding a Sound Devices 888. Full disclosure, Radius Windshields sent the Mini Alto 250 to me free of charge and hasn't reviewed this video prior to posting.

Sample comparisons show aggressive cueing can produce handling noise, and once wind exceeds about two mph you'll want the fur cover on. In steady 8mph wind with 12mph gusts, the Mini Alto with fur handled it well throughout this episode.

Wind hitting a microphone capsule directly causes distortion that generally can't be fixed in post, so windshields remain essential outdoors. There are three main types: foam covers are simple and cheap but only handle the lightest winds (around 2 mph) and noticeably darken the sound; foam-with-fur covers (like Rycote's) handle more wind (up to about 5-6 mph) with less coloration when well engineered, though cheap unbranded copies often use less transparent materials; Zeppelin/blimp-style covers, with an outer diffusion material and air space around the mic, handle the highest wind velocities and are standard on higher-budget sets, at the cost of size, weight, and slower mic swaps.

I've used four Zeppelin-style covers: the original Rycote Super Shield (effective but fiddly to open/close); the Rycote Cyclone (which I own and love — handles high wind without the fur cover thanks to thicker fabric, connects via magnets for quick mic swaps); the Rycote Nanoshield (smaller, magnetic basket, but less wind capacity due to less internal space, and fiddlier to align on the shock mount than the Cyclone); and now the Radius Mini Alto, similar in size to the Nanoshield but with an easier-to-use basket and different suspension hoops. My favorites are the Cyclone for higher winds and the Mini Alto for its small size and quick basket access.

The Mini Alto uses a thermoplastic elastomer suspension system that manages shock and handling noise well, has a very easy magnetic basket closure, includes both a fur cover and cable options, and comes in various sizes matched to specific microphones. The 250 kit with cable is $499 US, compared to $735 for the equivalent Rycote Nanoshield — a much better value. It's built around Radius's existing modular shock mounts, so if you already own one you can just buy the basket kit. One minor con: swapping suspension hoops for different microphones is a bit fiddly, requiring an included Allen wrench, though this is true of all these systems, not unique to the Mini Alto. As a rule of thumb, use it without fur up to about 4-5 mph, and add the fur cover above that. Get out there and make some great sound, and we will talk to you again soon.