The Auralex MudGuard v2 uses a proprietary “multi-radii” design that diverts internal shell reflections away from a microphone placed within it. Whereas concave or parabolic shaped surfaces tend to focus sound towards the microphone positioned at its focal point, the v2 shield either absorbs incoming noise and room tone or “splays” it away from the microphone using a “W” shaped shield covered in Auralex® Studiofoam®.
MudGuard v2’s outer solid shell offers rigid support for the system and also reduces unwanted room ambience from entering from behind and into the interior space surrounding the microphone. I compared voice recordings made with and without using the shield. I notice that bright shrill-sounding microphones tend to warm up when placed inside the device. I had less leakage from external noises—loud traffic, etc. The Auralex MudGuard v2 Microphone Shield comes with a complete set of mounting hardware and measures 16 W x 10 D x 14 H-inches. It will mount on any mic stand—separate from the microphone—or it and the mic can share its mounting system using a single stand.
Auralex MudGuard v2 Microphone Shield sells for $169 MSRP.
auralex.com/product/mudguard-v2
BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
