Windscreen (dead cat)
Also known as: dead cat, furry windscreen, wind muff, foam windscreen
A foam or furry cover placed over a microphone to slow down moving air before it reaches the capsule, reducing wind noise outdoors.
Updated
What it means
A windscreen is a cover that breaks up airflow around a microphone. Foam windscreens handle light breezes and breath; furry covers, nicknamed dead cats, use long synthetic fibers that slow the air much more effectively and are the standard for outdoor shooting.
The principle is simple: wind noise comes from turbulence at the capsule, so anything that creates a calm pocket of air around it helps. A furry cover can reduce rumble dramatically without changing the sound of voices much, which is why every outdoor sound recordist carries one in the bag.
How it works in practice
For action cameras, the usual route is an audio accessory such as the Media Mod or a mic adapter, combined with a small external microphone wearing a furry cover. Some brands also sell adhesive furry patches that stick directly over the built-in mic holes.
Clip-on lavalier mics take tiny furry covers too. Under clothing they are already shielded, but on the outside of a jacket a cover makes a big difference on any windy ridge or beach.
Keep a spare. Furry covers get wet, muddy and lost, and a soaked cover blocks sound and does not stop wind well. Let it dry fully before the next session.
What to watch out for
Covers reduce wind but also slightly soften high frequencies. In calm conditions, a furry cover can make audio sound a bit duller than necessary.
Stick-on covers over built-in mics can affect waterproofing or block a drain port. Follow the manufacturer's guidance, and never cover vents that the camera needs for cooling or drainage.
At high speed even the best windscreen has limits. Above a certain wind speed, place the microphone out of the airflow entirely, for example inside a jacket, or plan to use music instead of the original sound, possibly with ducking for short spoken parts.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip highlights use music, with every cut synced to the beat, so camera audio does not need to be perfect. A windscreen still helps if you want clean original sound for other edits of the same footage.