Boom pole in carry-on luggage?

TyFord

TyFord

Well-known member
I've been meaning to mention this. Recently, I had to travel to TX for a shoot. I didn't want to trust my audio gear to checked-in luggage. The problem was, my K-tek carbon fiber boom pole is way to long to fit in my standard carry-on bag.

As it turns out, k-tek makes an aluminum pole that collapses down to around 20 inches and fits perfectly in my suitcase. It opens to 6' 9" and they make both an internal cable and external cable version. You may find yourself in need of a boom longer than 6' 9", of course, but for the locked down shots and run and gun we were doing, it was fine.

K-tek doesn't have the AVALON Traveler on their website, but you can find it at. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=k-tek+traveler&btnG=Google+Search

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
That's one serious problem I have with my homemade boompole, it's 6' no matter what. A real pole is on my list, after remote focus control, blimp, etc., etc.
 
Capt Quirk said:
That's one serious problem I have with my homemade boompole, it's 6' no matter what. A real pole is on my list, after remote focus control, blimp, etc., etc.
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That's one of the many reasons I discourage painter's or DIY boom poles. I researched telescoping aluminum tubing and every way possible to do a boom cheaply... but there's no beating one of the K-Tek "economy" poles... or the Gitzo 7680c... once you feel and use the locking collars... you seriously couldn't do anything like this for anywhere near the selling price.

The min/max pole length is a problem ALL the time... not just when you're travelling. Sooner or later you'll be in a situation where you need to constantly adjust length and you won't have the room to slide the pole behind you... that'll be the first day that $195-240 for a reasonable pole will seem dirt cheap.:)

Thanks for the head's up on that pole Ty... this next bit is skirting the topic slightly, so let me re-iterate that yes, the title is about packing a pole in the carry-on luggage!

But to anybody who may think this is the best way to start out... as if you're planning ahead... I gotta' say that we had a guy go with us on a doc shoot out of the US and I offered the use of a longer pole (before we left)... and he found out the hard way that it's better to have length you don't need then need length you don't have. I'm strictly talking to somebody that's debating their first real pole... this would be a great extra pole (to go with a longer one).

I still want that 16' K-Tek that you're sporting in the collection!
 
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I've never needed a boompole before, but now I have one even if it is a DIY. Just in case. Better to have a cheap DIY, than none at all? Especially since there is so much that I do need, and could use right now. Even if I did have an official high dollar boom pole approved by pro audio crews around the world, I don't even have anyone on board to hold it. This'll do for now, and eventually get the upgrade too.
 
Capt Quirk said:
...I don't even have anyone on board to hold it....
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You can effectively use a boom pole on a light stand with a [fishing] rod holder. Works like a charm.
 
Lately I've become a big fan of using a Cartellini (matthellini) clamp in a knuckle on top of a c-stand... just don't clamp so hard that you break your pole. If you need to get maximum length on the pole... or are clamping by the very end... then use the grip arm and wrap some gaffer's tape at the end of the arm... crossing over to get some sticky side out (optional but I do it)... then take a small pony clamp and use the "v" to help support the end of the pole while the matthellini is securing the pole... works like a freakin' champ!

If you have excess pole... or a 10lbs boa-bag... then you can actually get away with using just the knuckle and matthellini (again cartellini is the same) on a normal lightstand and just grab the pole near the end (butt end) and wrap the boa on the nub sticking behind the clamp... then I'd also put something on the lightstand, but in many cases you don't even have to do that (I would, but just for safety).

At this point I'd have a hard time recommending anything other then c-stand based accessories to anybody... even for sound stuff... things like the matthellini clamp (in conjunction with a knuckle) are so amazingly useful and versatile that I'm getting away from single-purpose gear in my kit. I still have and use a lot of normal lightweight lightstands... even for sound stuff... but what I mean to say is that after doing the matthellini thing a few times I'm packing up anything that held a boom pole only.

For sake of $$$ economy I should add that you need to be in the market for c-stand type stuff already... or else be building a grip kit... because even a single 2" matthellini will run you just under $50... so add that to the knuckle... etc. etc.

If you have Avenger c-stands or some c-stands that already include a grip arm w/ extra knuckle (which is standard gear really)... then all you need is the matthellini and it's gold Jerry... it's gold!
 
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Yeah, unless you have to move. I have a mic stand with boom for those simple sit down times. But then it comes down to does the shotgun get that much better sound on a boom, as opposed to it sitting on the cam?

And I'm sorry for the unintentional highjack Ty. That is a sweet little boom pole :)
 
Matt,

When I bought my first pole, the 16' carbon fiber k-tek, I thought, Phew, I could get a 12. They said most people get a 12. I know (for me) that as soon as I get the 12, I'll need just a little more. I have only used the 16' boom to it's fullest extension maybe three times, but I was happy to have it.

The main sections are about 4' long. When I boom, I'll frequently extend enough so that my holdiing position is more to the middle of the boom. That way, there is much lower leverage force. Try it. Hold six feet from one end and then from the middle.

Or, I'll only extend the top sections so I can use the bottom sections as a counterweight.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Vidled, I can see it if I were 20 feet from the action, but even if I'm within say 6-8 foot?

Ty, I've seen those fishing pole holders before, and heard folks use them with a boom pole. I am impressed with your nautical knowledge too- Gunnel ;)
 
Aye Captain,

I grew up in Annapolis, across the street from USNA. My dad was a Safety Officer for the Academy Sailing Squadron. I was on their yawls, knockabouts, and other sail boats when I was in my teens. Never lost the love for it.

Regards,

Ty
 
Capt Quirk said:
Vidled, I can see it if I were 20 feet from the action, but even if I'm within say 6-8 foot?
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6 to 8 ft is VERY FAR for mic pick up. Ideally you will have a mic 1.5" (yes, inches) to max. 2 ft away. Anything further and the audio quality will start to fall off...DRASTICALLY. Of course, for run-'n-gun, an on-cam mic is perfectly okay. I am talking "controlled environment" here, where you can do a nice set-up.
Putting a mic on a boom, and placing it so it's ~1-2ft away from an interviewee (for instance) doesn't take long, but will sound INFINITELY BETTER than on-cam from 8 ft. just do a simple test yourself, and listen to the difference. It's quite the ear-opener!
 
vidled said:
Ha! That's EXACTLY the way I do it too! Right down to the Lowel Uni-To (which are GREAT, and very underrated!)

Matt: C-Stands are nice, but unfortunately not too travel-friendly (compared to the Uni-To stands).
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EDIT: Oops! I see where I said use just a knuckle and matthellini... and then I say "lightstand" later... but I didn't get my thoughts onto the page... I just edited that to say "lightstand" at the beginning... it was already at the end of that statement. END EDIT.

Didn't I mention this exact thing in my earlier reply? Yes this is how I do it also if I don't have a c-stand or if I'm "portable"... I'll use one of the Arri stands to do it. :)

The one thing I was saying is that I normally have a decent "grip kit" with me and since the matthellini does so much more then simply hold a mic I normally end up using one of those clamps instead of the 'ole fishing pole holder (I put the fishing pole holder tip on the boards years ago when ATS was constantly out of the RAM holder)...

The main reason I like the matthellini (or cartellini) plus boa-bag is that you can boom a wide shot and utilize most of the length of your pole... a light stand w/o counterweight is gonna' get tippy... and the fishing rod holder becomes a 3-handed job if you need to extend that pole. If you use a clamp then you can grab the end of the pole and still leave extendable sections out front... so that the rig is adjustable w/o undoing anything at the stand. If you counterweight a short pole prior to extending then it will want to raise up... but if it's in a clamp then you have security at any length and the end result is the same.

Fishing rod holder $29
Matthellini clamp $48

There are many ways to skin a cat... so I'm not debating that this fishing rod approach works great in many cases... I just wanted to clarify that we were already 95% in agreement in my earlier post. :)
 
MattinSTL said:
...I put the fishing pole holder tip on the boards years ago...
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Likely where I saw it first... :)



MattinSTL said:
...and the fishing rod holder becomes a 3-handed job.
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Ha! Ain't that the truth! I got quite good at it using two hands and an armpit! :)

Will probably pick up one of them Matthellini's to check it out. Looks/sounds VERY promising!
 
MattinSTL said:
I see where I said use just a knuckle and matthellini... and then I say "lightstand" later...
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Ah, yeah; the C'Stand thing threw me off, must admit.
 
Back to the short boom for a moment (but I do appreciate the tip on the Avenger D200 by Ty and his cool little video), I just picked up the K-Tek Traveler and it is only about 21 inches and fits in my Pelican.

I was doing a shoot the other day with my K-Tek 110 and it was just a stand up interview of an umpire at a ball field with the boom guy standing three feet out of frame and the 110 worked fine but it was over kill and I was watching to make certain I didn't poke the producers eye out when we were in close quarters.

The Traveler is probably going to be used by me on a 5 to 1 ratio to the 110. Great little boom. Plus, I just love K-Tek and Mr. Klemme and his fabulous daughter, Brenda.

If you go to NAB look for their booth and meet them. And if you see a beautiful young lady with red hair don't make the mistake that I did and think "Oh look, they hired a model to show their products."

That "model" is Brenda and she is smart and sweet and runs the company with her father. Great people, great product.

Now I'm going off thread but I saw K-Tek's new enclosed Zepplin and it is a really great design and about half the cost of Rycote. If you are thinking about a full Zepplin get this one.
 
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