Torrential downpours. Severe snowstorms. Strong hurricanes. When severe weather hits, weather reporters are often on the ground to provide live coverage of the harsh conditions — sharing updates with those at home and helping them prepare for what’s ahead.

To provide such coverage, storm reporters need to have all of the necessary audio and visual equipment typically required of a news broadcast. Yet, in the eye of a storm, ensuring these items remain safe and operational is easier said than done.

In the case of microphones, for instance, moisture can severely compromise sound quality and even cause the sound to completely cut out. So what reporters often do is use plastic bags and duct tape as a temporary fix to keep moisture out. While these solutions can appear quite clunky on the TV screen, the larger issue is they often fail to fully address the problem in the first place.

The Problem with Half-Hearted Microphone Skins

Temporary microphone skins are just that — temporary. Plastic bags are relatively flimsy in nature, so they don’t hold up well in harsh environments, and they don’t have an accurate fit to the shape of a microphone so they are prone to creating gaps that invite in moisture.

How this moisture impacts the microphone depends on where it ends up. If condensation reaches the microphone’s diaphragm or, in the case of wireless microphones, the transmitter on the bottom of the device, it may produce inconsistent sounds or perhaps no sound at all. At best, microphones damaged by moisture have to be taken out of use for an extended period to dry out. Many are compromised beyond repair and require the cost of a replacement.

Whether microphone performance is disrupted or reporters have to take time to continuously rewrap plastic around the microphone, there are more interruptions to storm coverage — and subsequently more headaches for reporters and viewers alike. The good news, though, is these issues can be avoided with a more permanent and reliable solution, specifically silicone skins.

Microphone Skins that Deliver Superior Protection

A custom-designed silicone skin can protect all parts of a microphone, from the top where audio is received from the speaker to the bottom where audio is relayed through the transmitter. While the rubber-like material is able to repel water and forms watertight seals, its customized fit to the dimensions of the microphone (with openings for plug-ins and wires) ensures effective results.

At Cases By Source, we have experience designing and manufacturing skin-on-skin solutions specifically for microphones. And these solutions have already made a positive impact for The Weather Channel and other news agencies that provide storm coverage. Learn more here.