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Above 97dB, a mic without a MicMuff®
Microphone Cover
resonates, fails to cancel noise, and transmits and creates its own noise.
 
"My helmet is now the most comfortable it has ever been…in 35 years! The microphone ‘mufflers’ worked wonders. We are able to optimize VOX operation on eight headsets in a short period of time. No adjustments in VOX gain were required when going from oxygen masks to headset booms." — W.B., chief test pilot (This test was done in a C-130A aircraft doing air drops with the ramp down.)
 
 
Jim Vanek of Sport Copter uses an Oregon Aero upgraded helmet. The more ambient noise in the cockpit, the more dramatic the improvement in radio and intercom communication with the Oregon Aero® MicMuff® Microphone Cover.
 
People will understand YOU better!
 
You’ll understand others better.
 
 
 
 
Oregon Aero® Aviation Helmet Upgrades

 
Price List/Ordering: Individual components & accessories Price List/Ordering
Complete Helmet Upgrades: What To Order
Why Do I Need A MicMuff® Microphone Cover?
Installing The MicMuff® Microphone Cover
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MicMuff® Microphone Covers
GSA Schedule #GS-07F-5489R
    The MicMuff® Microphone Cover lets a noise canceling mic do its job above 97dB. Eliminates ambient cockpit noise and noise from radios and intercom. The noisier the cockpit (warbirds, open cockpit, large engine aircraft), the more dramatic the improvement in noise reduction and clarity. See Q&A for complete information. MicMuff® Microphone Cover must be used on all helmets installed in the communications system. Soft, washable leatherette cover over foam sleeve creates chamber around mic. Cockpit noise has limited access to mic cartridges, but voice enters easily through holes in leatherette cover. Doesn’t blow away.


MicMuff™ Microphone Cover For Amplified Dynamic mic    

MicMuff® Microphone Cover For Amplified Dynamic mic #90010
(mics shown right)


MicMuff™ Microphone Cover For Electret type mic    

MicMuff® Microphone Cover For Electret type mic #90015
(mics shown right)


MicMuff™ Microphone Cover For Military Dynamic (M-87) mic  

MicMuff® Microphone Cover
For Military Dynamic (M-87) Mic #90020 NSN 5965-01-387-8700
(mic shown right)
Price List/Ordering: MicMuff® Microphone Covers Price List/Ordering

 

Read what our Satisfied Customers are saying!



Why Do I Have Such A Hard Time Communicating
On The Radio And Intercom In A Noisy Airplane?

How the MicMuff® Microphone Cover Works

Next Page Why Do I Need A MicMuff® Microphone Cover?
Next Page How Does the MicMuff® Microphone Cover Fix The Problem?
Next Page Will My Voice Go Through That Small Hole?
Next Page Will I Need Additional MicMuff® Microphone Covers if There’s More Than One Helmet?
Next Page Will the MicMuff® Fit All Microphones?
Next Page How To Install The MicMuff® Microphone Cover

BACK TO BENEFITS

Q Why do I need a MicMuff® Microphone Cover in a noisy airplane?
A Good question! The short answer is that in a noisy airplane, a MicMuff® Microphone Cover enables a noise canceling mic to do its job. But here’s the complete explanation.
   Aviation microphones are noise canceling mics, built with two microphone cartridges aligned back to back with a common output membrane. Look at your helmet mic. It has openings for sound to enter on both the front and back of the microphone body.
   Cockpit noise enters both sides of the mic and cancels itself at the output membrane because this membrane must resonate to put out a signal. By allowing the same sound to enter both sides of the mic, the microphone cancels the cockpit noise effectively.
   When you speak into the mic, your voice mostly enters one side of the mic, causing membrane to resonate, which creates the output signal (your voice) without much of the ambient noise (cockpit sound). The output signal-to-noise ratio (your voice vs. cockpit noise) is quite good.
  This technology works well until the ambient noise level exceeds 97dB of sound pressure. This sound pressure level is exceeded easily by the noise of a large engine, insufficient sound insulation, an open cockpit, or an open ventilator, doors or windows.
   When the cockpit noise entering the microphone exceeds 97dB, it causes the membrane to resonate harmonically to the cockpit noise.This resonation makes a noise that sounds like the "shhhh" of wind. The harmonically vibrating membrane creates this noise, much like drawing your finger over a phonograph needle (remember those?) creates a "shhhh" noise.
   Unfortunately, when the mic resonates, it (1) fails to cancel cockpit noise, (2) transmits the noise, and (3) creates additional noise! Your voice is lost in this chaos. The signal (voice) to noise (other sound) ratio is now reversed — there’s more noise than signal.

Q How does the MicMuff® Microphone Cover fix this?
A The MicMuff® Microphone Cover is a two-part device. The first part is an ordinary foam sleeve placed over the mic. You probably have something similar on your mic now. These sleeves are commonly called "wind screens." They are not wind screens; they allow wind to pass right through. The foam sleeve is really an "anti-sibilant" which is meant to reduce the "sssss" and popping sounds caused by pronouncing "S" or "P" when speaking into the microphone. Oregon Aero uses the foam to produce a chamber around the mic.
   The second component of our MicMuff® Microphone Cover is a solid leatherette sleeve with two small holes and an elastic cord to fasten it onto the mic. This is pulled over the foam sleeve and the two small holes are aligned with the front and back openings on the mic. This combination creates a small chamber around the mic with limited access for cockpit noise to enter the mic cartridges. An acoustic baffle is created around the mic, which reduces the noise level at the mic to less than 97dB. This allows the noise canceling mic to do the job it was designed to do.

Q Will my voice go through this small hole?
A Yes, easily. Look at your cell phone mic opening; it’s probably smaller than the head of a pin.

Q Will I need more than one MicMuff® Microphone Cover if I have more than one helmet?
A Probably. Most intercoms make all the helmet mics hot at the same time so any mic without a MicMuff® Microphone Cover will create noise in the whole system. Like a bucket with two holes, plug one hole and the other still leaks; you must plug both holes. Make sure all helmets installed on the intercom have the MicMuff® Microphone Cover.

Q Will the MicMuff® Microphone Cover fit all microphones?
A Aviation mics come primarily in three types. The small "Electret" type uses a #90015MicMuff® Microphone Cover, the larger "Dynamic" mic uses a #90010 MicMuff® Microphone Cover, and the "M-87 Military" mic uses a #90020 MicMuff® Microphone Cover.

How To Install
The MicMuff® Microphone Cover


1 2
Slip the foam sleeve over the microphone. This produces a chamber around the mic.
Place the leatherette cover over the foam sleeve, with the two small holes aligned with the front and back openings on the mic. For other styles of mic booms, skip to #6.
   
3 4
Remove microphone screw that holds the boom.
Pull the MicMuff® Microphone Cover over the mounting bosses and clamp the mic boom directly onto the MicMuff® Microphone Cover.
   
5 6
Use the mounting screw to pierce a hole through the MicMuff® Microphone Cover and reinstall the screw, securing the Cover.
Tie the elastic cord provided with the MicMuff® Microhone Cover into a square knot.
   
7 8
Using a needle nose plier, tuck the surplus elastic cord inside the MicMuff® Microphone Cover. Do not cut off the extra cord!
MicMuff® Microphone Cover is installed. Now everyone will understand you better!

Price List/Ordering: Individual components & accessories Price List/Ordering
Complete Helmet Upgrades: What To Order
Back to Component Listing