A DIY microphone Zeppelin can be built from PVC pipe, plastic leaf guard mesh, cable ties, rubber-band suspension, and a removable faux-fur cover. The surviving description of Joel Greenberg’s 2006 project supports that design and its parts list, but not the original detailed cut plan. Treat the dimensions below as starting points to adapt to your microphone—not a verified, universal blueprint.
What this build is—and what it can do
A Zeppelin, blimp, or basket windshield is a cage that surrounds a microphone and leaves a protected air space around it. It is especially useful for shotgun microphones used outdoors. The basket and its suspension form the structure; a furry outer cover helps manage wind. A fur cover made for a small existing windshield is a different project from this complete basket.
The design described in 2006 uses PVC supports and leaf guard mesh to make the cage, with the microphone held inside on a compliant suspension. Faux fur wraps over the cage and attaches with hook-and-loop fastener. No measured wind-reduction result is established for this particular homemade build, so expect to evaluate its performance with your own microphone and conditions.
Materials and tools
The historical parts list gives these materials. Its 4-inch PVC dimension is a reference from that project, not a requirement; choose the cage size and supports to suit the microphone, retainers, and clearance you need.
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#1 Best Overall
- 【Universal Fit for Shotgun Mics up to 325mm】 Designed to accommodate most shotgun microphones with a length of up to 12.75" (325mm) and diameter of 19-22mm. It serves as a perfect protective housing for professional models like Rode NTG-1/NTG-2/NTG-3/NTG-4, MKH 416, and Audio-Technica AT875R, ensuring compatibility with your existing location recording gear
- 【Eliminate Handling Noise & Wind Distortion】 Engineered for outdoor shoots, documentaries, and ENG (Electronic News Gathering). The integrated dual-hoop elastic shock mount system effectively isolates the microphone from vibrations and handling noise. Combined with the included "Dead Cat" fur windshield, it drastically reduces wind buffeting without muffling high frequencies, delivering broadcast-quality audio even in adverse weather conditions.
- 【Acoustically Transparent & Lightweight Design】 Minimize arm fatigue during long takes. The skeletal frame is constructed from lightweight yet durable thermoplastic, ensuring the blimp remains easy to hold for extended periods. The acoustic design is acoustically transparent, allowing sound to pass through freely while blocking wind, reducing the need for extensive post-production noise reduction.
- 【Versatile Boom Pole & Handheld Operation】 Adapt to any filming scenario instantly. The ergonomic handle features a standard 3/8-inch thread, allowing seamless connection to professional boom poles for overhead recording. The adjustable angle mechanism provides flexibility for run-and-gun filmmakers who need to switch between handheld and boom operation quickly.
- 【36-Month Extended Warranty & Support】 A safe choice for professional creators. We stand behind the durability of our blimp system with an industry-leading 36-month extended warranty. If any part (including shock mount bands) breaks under normal use, we provide a free replacement, ensuring your production workflow remains uninterrupted.
- 4-inch-diameter PVC pipe for the main stock
- Plastic leaf guard mesh
- 1/2-inch threaded cap and a 5–8-inch threaded handle
- Bicycle grip for the handle
- Six screw eyes
- Two microphone retainers and small bolts
- Rubber bands for suspension
- Faux fur fabric, hook-and-loop fastener, cable ties, and electrical tape
- Saw, cordless drill, screwdriver, wrench, and sandpaper
These are the items named in the surviving project summary, not a guaranteed compatibility list for every microphone or a current price estimate. A separate PVC shock mount was also described as a related build; it is optional rather than a required part of the basket.
Build the basket and suspension
The original detailed directions are not available on the accessible Make: page. The following outline follows the surviving parts list and description; it is a practical interpretation, not a recovered verbatim step-by-step plan.
Rank #2
- A58WS-BLK replacement windscreen compatible with Shure SM58 / SM48 / 565SD / Pgx2 / Slx2 BETA58 SM58LC SA-M30 SV100 RK143G, Beta 58A, PG48, PG58, 565, 588 Microphone
- Same shape as original windscreen cover
- Easy to snap into mic, Blocking out plosives, pop, breath and wind noise; Fits like a glove and protects the mic from slip, dust and moisture
- Washable and high elastic wind screen, - After being squeezed and deformed, it can be restored to its original shape by washing with water
- Accessory for vocals, musical instruments, podcasting, field recordings, vlog, zoom streaming and online games. Note: Microphone Not Included
- Size the cage around your mic. Allow room for the microphone, retainers, suspension, and enough clearance that the mic cannot touch the mesh or PVC. Plan a rounded, streamlined exterior rather than sharp corners.
- Cut and smooth the PVC. Use the PVC supports to form the cage structure. Sand cut edges and remove burrs so they do not snag the mesh, fur, or hands.
- Attach the mesh. Shape the plastic leaf guard around the supports and secure it with cable ties. Trim or cover sharp ends, and check that no section is loose enough to flap or rattle.
- Fit the handle. The listed threaded cap and 5–8-inch threaded handle provide the handle arrangement described for this build; add the bicycle grip and secure the assembly to the basket as appropriate for the chosen layout.
- Install the microphone retainers and suspension. Use the retainers and rubber bands to hold the microphone centrally without hard contact against the cage. The suspension should be secure but compliant, and its parts should not vibrate against the basket.
- Make the fur cover removable. Wrap faux fur over the basket and use hook-and-loop fastener to attach it. Keep the fibers untangled and ensure the cover does not press on the mic or interfere with the suspension.
Design details that affect the result
Keep the exterior smooth
Shure advises an aerodynamic windscreen with no sharp corners, explaining: “The external windscreen shape must be aerodynamic (no sharp corners) to eliminate turbulence noise as wind moves over the windscreen.” A lumpy or angular cage can create turbulence instead of simply shielding the microphone.
Eliminate rattles and contact
Shure warns that vibrating or rattling mesh creates unwanted mechanical noise. Check the mesh, cable ties, retainers, handle, and suspension individually. Nothing should buzz, slap, or knock against the microphone when the basket is moved gently.
Rank #3
- Size: 30×22mm(1.18 x 0.87 inches); Caliber: 0.38 inches
- Material: Made of high quality durable foam material
- Function: Improves the recording quality by reducing unwanted noises and wind interference
- Feature: The foam cover can keep your microphone from dust and spit
- Application: Fits small lapel and headset microphones.Suitable for both indoor and outdoor venues
Use fur as an outer layer
Artificial fur is generally attached to fabric mesh and fitted over a zeppelin; it is not a replacement for a properly sized basket. Keep its fibers loose and untangled. A cover that is too tight, matted, or poorly fitted can compromise the intended airflow and fit.
Balance fit with acoustic transparency
HARMAN recommends choosing a windscreen that fits the microphone and notes that shifting can create noise. Microphone size, wind attenuation, and acoustic transparency all matter. A larger or denser covering is not automatically better if it changes wanted sound or fails to stay stable.
Rank #4
- PACKAGE INCLUDES: 20 pieces foam mic cover, 2pcs red, 2pcs yellow, 2pcs pink, 2pcs green, 2pcs purple, 2pcs black, 2pcs grey, 2pcs white, 2pcs orange, 2pcs blue
- MATERIAL: Thick and soft foam, the ball-type foam microphone windscreen is soft and thick, has good elasticity, convenient to set on the microphone
- SIZE: About 2.9 x 2.5 inches, caliber size is 1.4 inches, suitable for most standard handheld microphone, not suitable for headset mic
- WIDE APPICATION: The foam ball windscreen for microphone is suitable for ktv, dance ball, conference room, news interviews, stage performance and other places
- CLEAN AND SANITARY: These mic wind covers can keep your microphone away from stain by avoiding dirt, wet and spit, allow you to use the mic in an ease and comfortable mood
How to evaluate the finished windscreen
Wind-induced noise and acoustic insertion loss are separate performance questions: a windscreen may reduce wind noise while also affecting wanted sound. Results depend on factors including wind flow and turbulence, direction, basket diameter, covering material, and microphone placement. The U.S. government report discusses these as performance variables; it does not establish a result for this DIY design.
- Record the same source with the same microphone position and settings, first without the windscreen and then with it.
- Keep the wind conditions as comparable as possible. Repeat at realistic microphone angles and positions rather than relying on one orientation.
- Listen separately for low-frequency wind rumble, handling or rattling noise, and any change to the wanted sound.
- If audible rumble remains, a low-frequency filter can be an additional mitigation, as Shure notes; it is not a substitute for checking the physical fit and suspension.
This comparison is a useful home evaluation, not a controlled laboratory measurement. Do not assign the build a wind-reduction number without measurements under defined conditions.
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- SUPERIOR WIND PROTECTION - Features a Simulated Rabbit Fur Outer Layer & Acoustic Foam Inner
- Tapered Rubber Base for 360-degree wind protection
- Reduces wind noise by up to 40dB with minimum high frequency loss
- Reduces Vocal Plosives
- 1 Year Movo Warranty with USA-Based Support
DIY basket or commercial blimp?
A homemade basket trades predictable fit and finish for flexibility in materials and dimensions. Compare options on the points that matter for your work:
| Consideration | DIY PVC basket | Commercial blimp |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Build-dependent; size the cage and suspension to the actual microphone. | Check the manufacturer’s stated microphone compatibility. |
| Wind reduction | Not established for this design; evaluate your finished unit under comparable conditions. | Use product-specific performance information where available; no general figure applies to all blimps. |
| Suspension and vibration isolation | Depends on careful placement and securing of retainers, rubber bands, and mesh. | Depends on the particular product and its suspension design. |
| Acoustic transparency | Depends on fit, mesh, and covering; listen for changes to wanted sound. | Check product information and assess with your microphone. |
| Durability and effort | Depends on materials and workmanship; requires cutting, drilling, fitting, and finishing. | Ready-made, but construction and service life vary by product. |
| Cost | Current project cost is not established. | Varies by model and seller. |
For supplies, the relevant search phrase is faux fur fabric for DIY microphone windscreen. A 2025 Boom Box Post project reported $30 in materials for three small windcovers—about $10 each—under that author’s conditions, with sewing supplies already on hand and sale pricing. Those were small covers, not the PVC Zeppelin described here, so that figure is not a cost estimate for this build.
What is known about the original project
Phillip Torrone’s March 29, 2006 Make: post introduced Joel Greenberg’s homemade fuzzy windscreen, but the accessible page no longer contains its linked detailed directions. Jake Ludington’s April 7, 2006 summary preserves the parts list and high-level construction elements used here; it does not provide a verified cut plan or complete sequence. Current prices, specific-microphone compatibility, and performance of this particular design are not established.
Quick Recap
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