Rycote Microphone Windshields
Rycote Microphone Windshields manufactures professional microphone windshields, shock mounts, and accessories — including patented Lyre® suspension and 3D-Tex® materials — serving broadcast, film, and field recording professionals globally through its own brand and parent Videndum plc's distribution network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersStroud, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rycote Microphone Windshields does
Rycote Microphone Windshields Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of professional microphone windshields, shock mounts, and related accessories, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. The company is a privately held subsidiary of Videndum plc (LSE: VID), operating within the parent's Media Solutions segment alongside broadcast-support brands such as Sachtler, Vinten, and Anton/Bauer. Rycote's product portfolio centers on patented acoustic windshield technology (including the Cyclone and modular windshield systems), the patented Lyre® suspension mechanism for vibration isolation, and the proprietary 3D-Tex® acoustic fabric. The company has expanded beyond accessories into branded professional pencil and shotgun microphones, and offers bespoke "Perfect for Range" configurations for specialized recording scenarios.
The company's go-to-market combines direct sales through its own channels with distribution via a global dealer network and Videndum Media Distribution, which reaches 11 geographic markets. Rycote serves professional sound recordists, broadcast and film production crews, and specialized audio practitioners such as wildlife recordists, with products typically purchased as part of field recording kits. Manufacturing remains hand-built in the UK, reflecting a craft-based production model rather than high-volume automation. Revenue is not separately disclosed by Videndum, and the company does not present any visible AI/ML or software capability in its current product set — competitive differentiation rests on acoustic engineering, materials science patents, and 55+ years of brand trust in the professional audio industry.
Rycote Microphone Windshields firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rycote Microphone Windshields
- Legal name
- Rycote Microphone Windshields Limited
- Website
- https://rycote.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Rycote Microphone Windshields manufactures professional microphone windshields, shock mounts, and accessories — including patented Lyre® suspension and 3D-Tex® materials — serving broadcast, film, and field recording professionals globally through its own brand and parent Videndum plc's distribution network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rycote Microphone Windshields industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Audio Accessories
- NAICS
- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Audio for Cameras (On-camera Mics, Wireless Mics, Recorders) (CRACAPAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Tripods, Mounts & Supports (Tripods, Monopods, Clamps, Action Mounts) (CRACAPAI)
Keywords
Where Rycote Microphone Windshields is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stroud
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Rycote Microphone Windshields business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: Rycote generates revenue primarily through the sale of physical products including windshields, shock mounts, microphones, and accessories. Products are sold as one-time purchases with various kit configurations and individual components available. The company also generates revenue from spare parts and servicing through their official service centre.
- Spare Parts and Servicing: Servicing, repairs, and genuine Rycote spare parts are available from their official service centre at ryvotespares.com, providing an additional revenue stream for replacement components and repair services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Basket Windshield Systems |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Slip-on Systems (Softies) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shock Mounts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories and Spare Parts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rycote Microphone Windshields product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rycote designs, manufactures, and sells professional microphone windshields, shock mounts, and slip-on wind protection systems (including the Cyclone, Modular Windshield, Super-Shield, Classic-Softie, and Super-Softie ranges) along with professional microphones and accessories. Products are hand-built in the UK and used for location sound, broadcast, film, and field recording applications.
Product overview
Rycote Microphone Windshields is a UK-based manufacturer of professional audio equipment founded in 1969. Their product portfolio centers on wind protection and shock isolation solutions for professional microphones, including flagship products like the Cyclone Windshield (offering up to -50dB wind suppression), Modular Windshield Kit (the original windshield system with up to 30dB attenuation), Stereo Cyclone Windshield kits for stereo recording techniques (X/Y, MS, DMS), Super-Shield, Classic-Softie and Super-Softie slip-on systems, and InVision Studio shock mounts featuring patented Lyre suspension technology. They also offer professional microphones (pencil and shotgun), a full range of accessories including Windjammers, Mic Foams, Connboxes, PCS mounting systems, and bespoke 'Perfect for Range' solutions optimized for specific microphone models. All products are hand-built in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, UK. Rycote is a division of Videndum plc.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cyclone Windshield Flagship basket windshield kit featuring Z-lock basket design with 3D-Tex material, offering supreme wind suppression up to -50dB; hand-built in the UK.
- Modular Windshield Kit The original windshield system providing up to 30dB wind noise attenuation with configurable basket lengths and extensions for various microphone sizes.
- Stereo Cyclone Windshield Kits Professional stereo windshield kits featuring compact Z-lock basket design with 3D-Tex material, optimized for stereo recording techniques including X/Y, Mid-Side (MS), and Double Mid-Side (DMS) configurations; up to -50dB wind suppression.
- Super-Shield Advanced basket windshield system with 3D-Tex material offering acoustic transparency and wind protection; available in Small, Medium, and Large sizes.
- Classic-Softie Industry-standard slip-on windshield for broadcast, film, and video professionals with up to 40dB wind noise reduction.
- Super-Softie Premium slip-on windshield with advanced materials offering superior wind protection compared to standard softies.
- InVision Studio Shock Mounts Versatile and durable shock mounts providing protection against shock, vibration, and handling noise, available in INV-3, INV-6, INV-7, and INV-7HG MkIII variants.
- Nano Shield Compact windshield solution offering acoustic transparency and wind suppression in a smaller form factor.
- Perfect for Range Bespoke windshields specifically optimized for particular microphone models or series, including solutions for Rode NTG series.
- Professional Microphones Rycote's own line of professional microphones featuring precise audio, low self-noise, and common tonal quality, including pencil and shotgun microphone variants.
- Spare Parts and Servicing Official Rycote service centre offering repairs and genuine spare parts for Rycote products via ryvotespares.com.
Quantifiable outcome
- Wind noise attenuation up to -50dB with Stereo Cyclone kits
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rycote Microphone Windshields
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rycote Microphone Windshields technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Rycote Microphone Windshields partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rycote Microphone Windshields competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Sennheiser: Global leader in professional microphones (MKH series) and audio equipment. Rycote's new Stereo Cyclone kits are specifically optimized for Sennheiser MKH 8030/8040/8050 microphones, making Sennheiser both a critical compatibility partner and adjacent incumbent in the same professional audio ecosystem.
- Shure: Global incumbent in professional microphones, wireless systems and audio accessories. Competes indirectly with Rycote via integrated shotgun microphone and windshield bundles targeted at broadcast and production customers.
- Audix: US professional microphone manufacturer owned by Videndum Media Solutions (Rycote's sister brand). Operates in the same Videndum division and serves overlapping broadcast, studio and live sound customers with complementary (not competing) product lines.
- Rode Microphones: Australian pro-audio brand offering shotgun microphones (NTG series), wireless systems and on-camera audio solutions. Competes with Rycote at the integrated system level (microphone + windshield) and is a meaningful adjacent player in the same broadcast/film/creator market.
Direct peers
- Schoeps: German premium microphone maker widely used in professional film and broadcast production. Competes with Rycote at the microphone level and is a key compatibility target for Rycote windshield kits.
- Bubblebee Industries: Danish specialist in microphone windshields, lavalier concealers, and professional audio accessories. Closest direct competitor to Rycote in premium windshield systems for broadcast and film production, with overlapping product categories (slip-on fur covers, basket systems).
- DPA Microphones: Danish premium microphone manufacturer for broadcast, theater, and film. While not a windshield specialist, DPA sells integrated microphone-and-accessory solutions that overlap with Rycote's lavalier, instrument and miniature microphone accessory categories.
- Cinela: French manufacturer of professional windshield and shock-mount systems for boom and field recording. Competes head-to-head with Rycote's Modular and Cyclone systems in the high-end broadcast and cinema production market.
Emerging players
- Windtech: US manufacturer of microphone windshields and windscreens for professional and consumer audio. Direct competitor in the windshield category, typically positioned at a lower price point than Rycote's premium offerings.
- K-Tek: Manufacturer of boom poles, shock mounts and production audio accessories. Sells complementary products (boom suspension, cable management) used in the same location-sound workflows where Rycote windshields are deployed.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rycote Microphone Windshields social profiles
Digital presenceRycote Microphone Windshields financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rycote Microphone Windshields leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rycote Microphone Windshields funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rycote Microphone Windshields M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rycote Microphone Windshields
What does Rycote Microphone Windshields do?
Rycote designs, manufactures, and sells professional microphone windshields, shock mounts, and slip-on wind protection systems (including the Cyclone, Modular Windshield, Super-Shield, Classic-Softie, and Super-Softie ranges) along with professional microphones and accessories. Products are hand-built in the UK and used for location sound, broadcast, film, and field recording applications.
Is Rycote Microphone Windshields a public or private company?
Rycote Microphone Windshields is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Rycote Microphone Windshields founded?
Rycote Microphone Windshields was founded in 1969. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Rycote Microphone Windshields based?
Rycote Microphone Windshields is headquartered in Stroud, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rycote Microphone Windshields make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts and Servicing.
Who are Rycote Microphone Windshields's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Sennheiser, Shure, Audix and Rode Microphones. Direct peers are Schoeps, Bubblebee Industries, DPA Microphones and Cinela. Emerging players are Windtech and K-Tek.
Does Rycote Microphone Windshields have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rycote Microphone Windshields.
What industry is Rycote Microphone Windshields in?
Rycote Microphone Windshields's product category is Professional Audio Accessories. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAPAH, Audio for Cameras (On-camera Mics, Wireless Mics, Recorders), with a secondary code of CRACAPAI, Tripods, Mounts & Supports (Tripods, Monopods, Clamps, Action Mounts). Its NAICS code is 33431.