Rycote Cyclone Windshield Kit

The industry-leading Cyclone windshield, available in Small, Medium and Large.

The evolution continues

Rycote’s flagship Cyclone range features next-generation wind and handling noise isolation for discerning audio professionals. All Cyclone baskets feature our advanced 3D-Tex® material. This durable windshield system possesses outstanding, consistent performance while being easy to maintain as it does not use fur. The Cyclone is truly evolutionary, and now we have taken it a step further.

Three sizes. Endless possibilities.

• Cyclone Small
• Cyclone Small delivers outstanding performance for small diaphragm condenser and short shotgun microphones alike. An Offset Link bracket is included, to provide mic axis articulation if required for ideal microphone placement. Cyclone Small includes Short XLR, LEMO and MZL model variants.
• Cyclone Medium
• With our new, premium, short XLR, the Cyclone Medium fits a wide range of microphone sizes.
  This Cyclone family member accommodates not only short shotgun microphones, but also many popular shotgun microphones too— all in a compact chassis for maximum wind and handling performance with minimal weight.
• Cyclone Large
• Originally introduced in 2014, the Cyclone Large has been updated with our durable, grey 3D-Tex material.
  Used with many shotgun microphones, the latest Cyclone Large maintains industry-leading performance with a neutral appearance.

Advanced 3D-Tex®, for superior performance.

All Cyclone models feature our advanced 3D-Tex® material. This provides a neutral appearance and superior performance over standard basket solutions, with excellent acoustic transparency and superb attenuation of wind-noise. Covering a lightweight yet durable chassis, Cyclone models are designed to withstand the extremes of the field for reliable, daily use – to deliver the consistent results location audio professionals depend on.

Premium performance for a wide range of microphones.

Cyclone Small and Medium models accommodate a range of microphone sizes, from compact condenser to shotgun, providing premium performance for a much wider range of microphones in your arsenal.

Premium short XLR.

The premium short XLR supplied with the Cyclone Small and Medium is not only lightweight: it makes these models perfect for use with longer microphones, reducing the overall size and weight of the Cyclone model required. In other words, Cyclone Medium, with its durable, lightweight chassis, houses many popular shotgun mics!

Superb acoustic transparency.

The Cyclone has superb acoustic transparency. Designed with an open shell structure consisting of curved contours and no straight or parallel surfaces, it greatly reduces room-tone effects inherent in conventional tubular windshield designs.

Even greater microphone wind protection.

The unique design of Cyclone shifts the overall bulk to the basket front. This aerodynamically efficient asymmetric basket covered with 3D-Tex material provides enormous benefits in terms of surface turbulence and acoustic impedance, resulting in wind-noise reduction comparable to the combined modular-style windshield / fur cover performance. In truly extreme weather conditions, an optional Cyclone Windjammer can be used to deliver wind-noise reduction that far exceeds any other windshield system available today.

Taking microphone shock-isolation a step further.

Rycote uses its industry-leading Lyre® microphone suspension to reduce the bulk of shock and handling noise, but they have taken shock and handling isolation within the Cyclone design to a new level with the exclusive, Floating Basket Suspension* (*patent pending).

Any structure can transmit mechanical vibrations and radiate them as acoustic noise. Moreover, natural resonances, dependent on materials and mass, will amplify certain frequencies and give this a characteristic spectrum. Windshield baskets are no exception, so a small proportion of handling noise links to the microphone through the air, bypassing any immediate suspension system.

The Cyclone takes the Lyre principle and incorporates it into the Floating Basket Suspension. This innovative technique provides vibration isolation between basket and pole, thus attenuating handling noise at source. Each Cyclone size is equipped with a unique basket suspension designed to maximize vibration isolation based upon the combined weight of the basket and specified microphones.

From microphone windshield to suspension in the blink of an eye.

Imagine a windshield that can be removed from or attached to the suspension in an instant using just one hand – allowing audio professionals to capture the best possible audio at any moment – in any environment. This is the unique benefit of Rycote’s Z-Locking System. Reassembly is automatic, and components magnetically snap into perfect alignment.

Consistent performance with low maintenance.

Location sound mixers require equipment that will not only withstand extreme conditions, but also maintain consistent performance. Maintenance is often a time-consuming, yet necessary evil.

3D-Tex was developed for both outstanding performance and ease of maintenance. Dust it off after mild use or rinse and air dry after heavy use to maintain outstanding, transparent and consistent performance for years of faithful use.

Real world testing.

We understand that all the engineering expertise in the world wouldn’t mean a thing if the finished product couldn’t stand-up to the challenges of real-world location recording.

In addition to testing with new, more powerful wind machines, Cyclone prototypes were sent out into the real world for real testing by location sound professionals. With various iterations of 3D-Tex covering Cyclone prototypes, we were able to learn where our developments were truly successful and where additional development was required. As a result, the Cyclone range performs incredibly – in all conditions.

We extend special thanks to the professionals that put the Cyclone through the harshest test imaginable – the real world.