The sound blimp consists of a hollow shell made of special sound-dampening materials. The shell is often made of metal, plastic or carbon fiber materials. A window is built into the shell to allow a view of the camera controls and viewfinder. Opening and closing the window is done using a zipper or other fastening mechanism.
The use of a sound blimp is very beneficial when recording sound for a film. The blimp significantly reduces the noise of the camera motor and its lenses. This reduction means that the sound recorded will be clearer and will not contain any noise or hiss from the camera. The need for post-production sound editing is also lessened. Instead of focusing on removing sound and noise from the recorded audio, the sound team will concentrate on enhancing the sound quality obtained from the blimp.
Sound blimps also provide the added benefit of being portable. They are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry around during filming. This portability is a crucial advantage when shooting video and audio sequences in locations that are hard to access or difficult to set up equipment in. Sound blimps can be easily transported to the location and deployed in minutes, allowing the production team to focus on the shoot and not the noise.
Another benefit of using a sound blimp is that it reduces the risk of accidentally capturing unwanted sounds. For instance, environmental noises, such as wind, rain or traffic, can ruin a shot, especially if they are loud and intrusive. By enclosing the camera and its accessories, the sound blimp eliminates these unwanted sounds. The blimp also prevents sounds created by the operator, such as clothing rustles or footsteps, from being recorded. This feature is particularly important when filming scenes in which the camera is close to the actors, capturing the sounds produced by even the slightest movement from the operator.
In conclusion, sound blimps are essential tools for recording sound during film production. They provide a completely silent environment for the camera and its accessories, eliminating unwanted noise and ensuring the clarity of the recorded audio. The portability of the devices is also an added advantage, making them easy to use and transport to different filming locations. The key takeaway is that if you’re a filmmaker working in noisy and sensitive environments, or you need to capture sound near animals, then a sound blimp is a must-have item in your kit. A sound blimp can make the difference in capturing clean and high-quality audio, which is essential for the success of a production.