Wind Noise on Camera Mics: Foam vs Furry Windscreens
Use a foam cover for indoor recording and very light air, and a furry windscreen when you record outdoors in a breeze. Foam is small and cheap and tames breath and gentle air currents. A furry cover, sometimes called a "dead cat", is bigger and does far more against real wind. Neither removes wind noise completely, and neither is worth buying until you know it fits your microphone.
This guide is about covers and fit. For choosing the microphone itself, see our on-camera microphone explainer and our shotgun and lavalier picks.
Why wind ruins audio
A microphone picks up pressure changes in the air. When wind blows across the capsule, it creates turbulence that the microphone records as a low rumble or a thump. That sound is separate from the voice or the scene you want, and it is hard to remove afterward. Prevention at the microphone works far better than fixing the recording in editing.
The two common covers work in different ways. Foam is a porous cover that slows the air at the surface and softens bursts of breath. A furry windscreen adds a longer layer of fibers that breaks up moving air before it reaches the capsule, which is why it suits outdoor use.
Foam covers: what they do well
- Small and light, so they hardly change the size of the microphone.
- Useful indoors, where they soften breath sounds and gentle air from fans or doors.
- Easy to carry, and many microphones ship with one.
- Cheap to replace, if one gets lost or worn.
Their limit is outdoor wind. A foam cover alone will not stop a steady breeze from producing rumble. It is a good everyday layer, but it is not a wind solution.
Furry windscreens: what they do well
- Far better outdoors, where wind is the main enemy.
- Often used over foam, as a second layer, on microphones whose design supports it.
- Quiet to handle, because the fibers do not rustle much, though cheap ones can look unruly.
The trade-offs are size and appearance. A furry cover makes the microphone larger and more visible, it can get in the shot with a wide lens, and it can pick up dust, damp and hair. Dry it and brush it between uses.
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor interview, no air movement | Foam | Softens breath and small air currents |
| Outdoors, light breeze | Furry, ideally over foam | More protection for wind, with foam for breath |
| Outdoors, steady wind | Furry, plus a sheltered position | Wind is too strong for foam alone |
| Lavalier on clothing | A small foam or fur cover made for lavaliers | Wind noise on a lavalier needs its own cover |
| Handheld vlogging | Furry, sized to the microphone | Moving the camera creates its own airflow |
How to check a windscreen fits your microphone
Fit is where most windscreen purchases go wrong. A cover that is too loose falls off or lets wind in at the gaps, and one that is too tight squeezes the microphone or does not seat. Work through these steps:
- Identify the microphone model exactly. The name is printed on the body and listed in the manual.
- Look for the model on the windscreen listing. A good listing names the microphones it fits. If it says "universal" only, read the size details.
- Measure the microphone. Take the length and the diameter of the part the cover goes over, and compare them with the dimensions in the listing.
- Check the shape. A long shotgun microphone, a compact stereo microphone and a lavalier all need different covers. A cover made for one shape will not fit another.
- Check the mount and the controls. The cover must leave room for switches, the shock mount and the cable. Some microphones have a pad or switch that the cover can block.
- Keep the return option open, as our buying checklist suggests, and test the fit as soon as the cover arrives.
If the microphone is bundled with a foam cover already, check whether the furry cover is designed to sit over it. Measure with the foam on, not off.
If you cannot find a matching cover
Some microphones have no ready-made furry cover. Check the maker's accessory list first, because the maker may sell one. A close-fitting cover for a similar-size microphone can work, but fit is a gamble, so buy from a seller that accepts returns. Do not cut or modify a microphone to fit a cover.
Other ways to reduce wind noise
A windscreen is one layer. Add the others:
- Use the microphone's low-cut or high-pass filter, if it has one. This reduces low rumble. Check the manual for how it affects the voice.
- Change your position. Put your back to the wind, shoot in the lee of a building, or move the microphone closer to the speaker.
- Monitor with headphones while you record, if your camera allows it, so you hear wind before it spoils a take.
- Use a mount that isolates the microphone. A shock mount reduces handling thumps, though it does not stop wind.
- Move the microphone off the camera. A microphone nearer the speaker needs less gain and picks up less wind relative to the voice. See shotgun versus lavalier microphones.
If your microphone mounts on the camera's shoe, check our hot shoe fit guide. For a complete setup, our guide for video creators covers the pieces together.
Keep the cover in good shape
A windscreen only works if the fibers stay clean and the cover stays seated. Shake out dust, brush the fur with a soft brush, and let a damp cover dry fully before you pack it, because a wet cover held against a microphone is a bad idea. Follow the cover maker's care advice. Check before each shoot that the cover has not slipped back and that it does not press on any control. Carry a spare foam cover, since it is the one most often lost.
Lavaliers and handheld use
Clip-on lavalier microphones sit on clothing, where they pick up wind and fabric rustle together. They use small covers made for their size, so a shotgun cover will not fit. If you hold a camera and a microphone while walking, your own movement creates airflow across the capsule even on a calm day, which is why a furry cover often helps with handheld vlogging. Our vlogging camera guide covers rigs that carry a microphone on the move.
Test before the shoot
Record a short clip with the cover on in the conditions you expect, and listen with headphones. Compare it with the same clip without the cover. If wind noise remains, try the furry cover over the foam, change your position, or add the low-cut filter. A short test costs a few minutes and saves a day's recordings.
Covers to search for
A foam windscreen set
Choose a cover that names your microphone or gives the length and diameter it fits. Keep a spare in the bag.
A furry windscreen for outdoor recording
Match the cover to your microphone's shape and size, and check that the listing names it or gives the dimensions.
Foam handles breath and light indoor air movement. A furry windscreen is what you need outdoors, often fitted over foam. Before you buy either, identify your exact microphone, check the dimensions and listed models, and test the cover in real conditions.
This guide reflects general audio practice and quotes no model, decibel figure or dimension. Which cover fits which microphone is stated by the cover's maker and the microphone's maker, so check the accessory list, the listed dimensions and the manual, including any note about low-cut filters. Test the cover in real conditions before an important recording.
Frequently asked questions
Is foam enough to stop wind noise?
Not outdoors. Foam softens breath and light air currents but a steady breeze needs a furry windscreen, and sometimes a sheltered position as well.
What is a dead cat windscreen?
It is a furry cover that fits over a microphone, usually a shotgun type, to break up moving air before it reaches the capsule.
Can I use a furry windscreen over a foam cover?
Often yes, if the furry cover is sized for it. Measure the microphone with the foam on, and check the cover's listing for the models it fits.
Will a windscreen change how my microphone sounds?
A cover can slightly change the sound, so record a short test with and without it. The wind reduction is usually worth the change outdoors.
Do lavalier microphones need windscreens?
Yes, outdoors they do. Lavaliers use small foam or fur covers made for their size, so a shotgun cover will not fit.