Now discontinued by Rycote, some parts of the S-series range are still available to purchase, whilst stocks last. For suitable replacement systems by Rycote, see Windshields, windscreens and pop screens.

Retaining the well known Rycote features of flexibility, balance and performance, the S-series is a semi-modular suspension and windshield intended to shock-mount most axial microphones and protect them from wind noise. They are available as complete kits, with additional components available so that different lengths of microphone can be used with a single kit. Lightweight, with a minimum of parts, they are tough enough to withstand the rigours of ENG and simple to use.

Windshields may be removed easily and quickly, to access the microphone, or when the suspension is to be used without wind protection.

S-Series Kits - Suspension, Windshield and Cable

Four kits are available, all accommodating cylindrical microphones with diameters from 19mm to 25mm, and to suit the majority of common microphones. The kits differ in the length of the ‘pods’, which clip to the suspension to provide wind shielding. These are selected to suit the length of the microphone. Additional pods may be purchased to suit longer or shorter microphones.

Each kit contains a suspension, with pistol grip and all fittings, two pods and a short, highly flexible microphone cable.

Kit Selection By Length

‘Shortest microphone’ refers to the approximate length for the shortest microphone suitable for the kit. Much shorter mics may be used without a reduction in windshielding, but the suspension may not be appropriate.

Kit Selection By Microphone

Kit Components

Note (1) : Type number, pod length.

S-Series Suspension

The S-series suspension is intended to provide isolation for the majority of axially firing microphones with body diameters ranging from 19mm to 25mm. The main structural element is a bar, moulded from high-grade engineering plastic, which runs parallel to the microphone. This is connected to a vestigial pistol grip, which may be rotated in the vertical plane and has a 3/8th inch Whitworth mounting-thread for stand or fishpole. The point of attachment to the bar can be varied to improve balance. A large circular moulding, the chassis-ring, mounts around the bar; this is to attach the windshield ‘pods’.

In the upper surface of the bar are a series of slots. The user inserts two ‘mic-webs’ into these, at a spacing to suit the microphone, and cable clamps to restrain the cable. The mic webs are one-piece suspension elements, moulded from Hytrel, which provide the elastic support for the microphone. The outer part of the web clips into the bar and supports the inner web, which incorporates a clip to hold the microphone body. The result is an elastic mount which is stiffer laterally than axially. The flexible microphone cable is clamped to the bar then led out through the chassis-ring; the male XLR locates in the pistol grip.

The cable is a PVC jacketed, helically screened, balanced twisted pair, made of ultra-fine stranded copper cores. It is fitted with three-pin Neutrik XLR connectors which have gold-plated pins.

S-Series Windshield - ‘Pods’

The windshield is made up of a pair of ‘pods’, which twist-lock into the chassis ring on the suspension. Overall diameter is 100mm, they are available in a series of lengths. Made of a plastic basket material, and covered with acoustic fur covering, they can give better than 30dB of wind noise suppression between 100Hz and 500Hz.

Pods are supplied in the S-series kits, and may be purchased separately in different sizes to allow an existing kit to take more than one size of microphone, or to allow the creation of a custom-length windshield. When ordering pods, the user should add the length of the microphone plus 50mm for the XLR connector and select two pods which will take the combined length without the microphone or connector touching the ends of the pods.

Pod U125, U150, U180, U225 have an internal tube length of 125, 150, 180, 225mm respectively.