Silence of the Winds

At Commend, “Audio Engineering” for Intercom stations is not restricted to “under-the-bonnet” high-tech electronics. With windBRUSH for Intercom microphones, Commend Audio Labs have introduced a small, but powerful masterpiece in acoustic precision mechanics. When it comes to preventing unwanted wind noise in outdoor Intercom stations, the brush-shaped plug-on module leaves all other similar devices miles behind.

Anyone who has ever tested a microphone by blowing into it knows why wind is considered a sound engineer’s worst enemy. Intercom stations are also subject to interfering wind noise when they are exposed to wind in outdoor locations such as airports, motorways, toll roads or train stations. The annoying hissing is caused by vehicle tailwind or draughts causing tiny, energy-rich swirls of air to form next to the microphone.

The solution to this problem is anything but trivia. It must eliminate the deafening wind noise without compromising the clarity and intelligibility of the transmitted voice sound.

Common wind protection devices are typically made from soft open-cell synthetic foam or fur to break the swirls, thus eliminating their sound distorting energy.

Commend’s new windBRUSH is based on a different, more efficient approach. Commend Intercom stations are installed primarily in outdoor locations unsitable for common wind protective devices. Ambient moisture, frost, dust and other rough conditions impose special requirements on material and design. Here Commend’s small but powerful wind protector with its special brush construction and durable synthetic bristles has been proven to deliver vastly superior air swirl breaking (and thus noise silencing) capabilities in laboratory and field tests.

With the ground-breaking design of the windBRUSH, Commend goes much farther, taking the wind out of the sails of most other existing soutions. What makes it all possible is the precision-engineered brush shape that is based on careful acoustic research. The result is up to 90% noise reduction that leaves the voice sound fully intact – a clear testimony to Commend’s innovative creativity in audio engineering. The effectiveness of the WindBRUSH has been amazing industry experts and end users alike, as recently in Amsterdam, where the WindBRUSH was showcased at Intertraffic, the world’s top traffic technology trade show. Overall, the small gadget with the big effect is a dream come true for operators of wind-exposed Intercom stations everywhere.

Noise gone with the wind – thanks to Commend windBRUSH.

Key benefits include:

• Excellent reduction of wind noise by up to 90% (–20 dB): much more efficient than common designs
• Brush design prevents soaking with water and resulting damage
• No sound muffling or acoustic restrictions, thanks to front opening
• Extremely easy to clean from dust and dirt
• Snow on outside can be removed with a simple flick of the hand
• Extremely easy to mount and retrofit

About Commend

Commend develops and manufactures Security and Communication systems for protection of people, buildings and values. The Commend International GmbH was founded in 1971 and is one of the world’s largest providers of Intercom Systems.

Currently about 150 employees are stationed in the headquarters in Salzburg; in the international partner network about 350 people are working together. The annual turnover 2012 was about €55 Mill., export rate 95%.