Hi all,
I thought I would post another missive after a long day of doing run and gun/ENG at a large festival.
Here was the setup I used:
Sennheiser 416 in blimp and windsock
SD 302
3x Sennheiser G2's
Listentech IFB
Petrol Bag (medium)
Full harness
New BDS
Connections:
416 into 302
Out via G2 to camera
G2 to IFB (same frequency as camera link, see below for why)
Wireless lav on host (G2 with B6)
So, I set up my bag for my first full ENG type project. I found I was missing some cables (things I need to order, not lost). I didn't have enough mini to XLR short cables for the G2's. I only had 2, and really needed 3 or 4. So I went kind of clugy with my setup. One went into the mixer from the host's G2. The other went to the receiver on the camera. So, I didn't have one to go out to the G2 for the Tx to the camera, so I split the headphone out, sent to the camera from the headphone (which had a side benefit...It gave me a master control for the 302, plus the individual pots for each channel.) Then, this left me no way to hook up the IFB (I only have one splitter for mini jacks). So, I retuned one of my G2 Rx's to match the camera send frequency, and short hopped between the G2 RX and my IFB Tx. Are you following this so far????
Lesson learned here...even though I have this big bag full of different connection cables, I need more. More connection cables is a good thing. ;-)
The 416 performed like the champ that it is. It's off-axis rejection really helped get interviews in situations where we had lots of loud misc playing in the background.
Why is it that everyone that sees a blimp with a windsock on it immediately feels the need to pet it?
I also used my BDS for the first time. Wow, this is going to be an awesome investment. I picked up a Li-ion NP1 and charger, and the BDS system from Trew (this is always running on their site). it works like a charm. Wires in nicely, and after a full day of running my 302, the battery still showed full charge. I am presuming that running my recorder (Tascam HD-P2) will not signficantly change the battery drain.
The biggest problem I had was keeping the harness adjusted to keep the bag weight on my shoulders rather than my back. I didn't even realize initially that it wasn't fully on my shoulders, then I sat down for a second and tightened it up and it was night and day. But then at some point it slipped again and by the end of the day my back was aching.
The G2's as a camera hop were pretty good. No significant dropouts reported, no RF hits, but we were fairly close together most of the day. I'm now starting to drool over a Zaxcom kit for camera sends. So let's see, do I get the 744 first or the Zaxcom first?
Also, I didn't run the recorder this time out...the guy that hired me didn't want it. Next time I think I will insist. There were times when it would have been nice to record an interview even if the camera wasn't running.
The only other problem I had with my bag was with the battery compartment cover. I had the little velcro "platform" setup in the first slot on my bag to keep the 302 raised up. The only way to do it in that slot is to velcro it to the battery compartment cover, which makes it harder to get into the battery compartment.
Also, has any one figured out what the strap is in the first slot? I can't use it around either my recorder or mixer. Basically, it is in the way.
When I bought the bag, I also bought these cable holders that hook on with carabeeners (sp?). They are perfect, and very easy to open (nice velcroed tab on them). I highly recommend them. I think it was like $7 for two from B&H. (And actually, it was a good thing I had them....one of the carabeeners that came with the harness had a broken spring, so I replaced it with one from the cable holders.
Another thing...why is it that camera operators in these situations keep forgetting that if my headphones are on, I can't hear them. I seriously think we need a t-shrt that says that:
IF MY HEADPHONES ARE ON, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
More often than not, I found myself just pointing the mic at him. It is a strange world we live in that we hear through our microphones. It still amazes me to what a voyeuristic world we live in as sound folks. I heard more conversations yesterday than I would ever want to (at least I didn't have to listen to anyone going to the bathroom like I inevitably end up doing on a feature). ;-)
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now. I'll augment as my brain unfries.
Phil
I thought I would post another missive after a long day of doing run and gun/ENG at a large festival.
Here was the setup I used:
Sennheiser 416 in blimp and windsock
SD 302
3x Sennheiser G2's
Listentech IFB
Petrol Bag (medium)
Full harness
New BDS
Connections:
416 into 302
Out via G2 to camera
G2 to IFB (same frequency as camera link, see below for why)
Wireless lav on host (G2 with B6)
So, I set up my bag for my first full ENG type project. I found I was missing some cables (things I need to order, not lost). I didn't have enough mini to XLR short cables for the G2's. I only had 2, and really needed 3 or 4. So I went kind of clugy with my setup. One went into the mixer from the host's G2. The other went to the receiver on the camera. So, I didn't have one to go out to the G2 for the Tx to the camera, so I split the headphone out, sent to the camera from the headphone (which had a side benefit...It gave me a master control for the 302, plus the individual pots for each channel.) Then, this left me no way to hook up the IFB (I only have one splitter for mini jacks). So, I retuned one of my G2 Rx's to match the camera send frequency, and short hopped between the G2 RX and my IFB Tx. Are you following this so far????
Lesson learned here...even though I have this big bag full of different connection cables, I need more. More connection cables is a good thing. ;-)
The 416 performed like the champ that it is. It's off-axis rejection really helped get interviews in situations where we had lots of loud misc playing in the background.
Why is it that everyone that sees a blimp with a windsock on it immediately feels the need to pet it?
I also used my BDS for the first time. Wow, this is going to be an awesome investment. I picked up a Li-ion NP1 and charger, and the BDS system from Trew (this is always running on their site). it works like a charm. Wires in nicely, and after a full day of running my 302, the battery still showed full charge. I am presuming that running my recorder (Tascam HD-P2) will not signficantly change the battery drain.
The biggest problem I had was keeping the harness adjusted to keep the bag weight on my shoulders rather than my back. I didn't even realize initially that it wasn't fully on my shoulders, then I sat down for a second and tightened it up and it was night and day. But then at some point it slipped again and by the end of the day my back was aching.
The G2's as a camera hop were pretty good. No significant dropouts reported, no RF hits, but we were fairly close together most of the day. I'm now starting to drool over a Zaxcom kit for camera sends. So let's see, do I get the 744 first or the Zaxcom first?
Also, I didn't run the recorder this time out...the guy that hired me didn't want it. Next time I think I will insist. There were times when it would have been nice to record an interview even if the camera wasn't running.
The only other problem I had with my bag was with the battery compartment cover. I had the little velcro "platform" setup in the first slot on my bag to keep the 302 raised up. The only way to do it in that slot is to velcro it to the battery compartment cover, which makes it harder to get into the battery compartment.
Also, has any one figured out what the strap is in the first slot? I can't use it around either my recorder or mixer. Basically, it is in the way.
When I bought the bag, I also bought these cable holders that hook on with carabeeners (sp?). They are perfect, and very easy to open (nice velcroed tab on them). I highly recommend them. I think it was like $7 for two from B&H. (And actually, it was a good thing I had them....one of the carabeeners that came with the harness had a broken spring, so I replaced it with one from the cable holders.
Another thing...why is it that camera operators in these situations keep forgetting that if my headphones are on, I can't hear them. I seriously think we need a t-shrt that says that:
IF MY HEADPHONES ARE ON, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
More often than not, I found myself just pointing the mic at him. It is a strange world we live in that we hear through our microphones. It still amazes me to what a voyeuristic world we live in as sound folks. I heard more conversations yesterday than I would ever want to (at least I didn't have to listen to anyone going to the bathroom like I inevitably end up doing on a feature). ;-)
Anyway, that's all I can think of right now. I'll augment as my brain unfries.
Phil
