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ClearSonic Isolation Shields
by Will James
How many times have you stood at the console at a concert, trying to get additional gain from a certain source without surrounding instruments finding their way into that mic? If you've ever mixed an orchestra, how many times have the violin players complained about the volume of the drum kit or other surrounding instrumentation? Or, have you ever just wanted to solve some incoherence problems caused by too many mics presenting time/phase problems?
A possible solution to all these problems is offered by ClearSonics Manufacturing, of Hudson, Ohio. ClearSonics has come up with an extremely clever design to what we call a isolation shield.
Features/In use
In the past, blast shields have been cumbersome to say the least. ClearSonics has come up with a folding acrylic shield system so simple in design it is brilliant. The solution is a rugged, hinged shield that spans 10' by 5' when opened, but collapses down to as little as 2' by 5'. This is the model I received; the A5-5. It has five panels and is 5' high.
ClearSonics offers eight different sizes of portable, clear acrylic shields that range in price from as little as $100 up to $500. Sizes range from 2' high by 4' wide fully open, on up to 5'6" high by 12' fully open. The company also offers a full range of accessories, including heavy-duty carry bags of Cordura and insulating foam (a must for transportation from gig to gig), as well as cleaning solution and lint/scratch free wipes.
I surrounded a Yamaha Custom Recording drum kit with the model A5-5 shield. It was easy to arranged it to provide 180 degree coverage around the kit. Additionally, there are cutouts at the base of each hinge where the panels join together. These provide easy access for feeding through mic cables or a subsnake. The 5' tall shield is ideal for a good size drum kit, the height being sufficient to provide excellent reduction of stray cymbal noise, as well as some of the more transient sounds, such as snare drum.
Summary
The ClearSonics A5-5 is a unique product - rugged and well-made - that is highly useful in solving bleed-through and volume containment problems. And it looks nice enough to put on any stage.
Contact ClearSonics at 330-650-1420.
Will James, owner and chief engineer of Atlantis Audio and Lighting, is a contributor to Pro Audio Review.
