K-Tek Purchases about to be made...

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bentramer81

Well-known member
K-Tek K-SM I'm getting ready to buy this shock mount for use with my Audio Technica AT-815b for $115. Do you guys think this is the most durable shock mount for that price?

I'm also debating whether to get the boom pole with the internal wire
K-Tek KE-110CCR 9’2” 5 sec boom, w/cable
$230

(Are internal wire booms just as reliable?)

or the external wire
K-Tek KE-110 9’2” 5 section boom pole
$175,

I'm also buying the
K-Tek Z-FSO-XL 40 MPH fuzzy windscreen for $100

Would you guys give a thumbs up for these purchases, and do you have some suggestions as well, thanks in advance.
 
Have you looked at the new Rycote Invision mounts--about $68. They come in different sizes for different mics, and there is a chart showing the right mount for your mic. I don't own one yet,and therefore can't speak to durability, but I am planning on buying.

http://www.rycote.com/products/invision/
 
Definately purchase a carbon fiber internally cabled pole if you plan on doing any Doc or Reality work with it. Over long shoots the pole's weight adds up.

The Ktek K-sm is really cool. You can adapt this shockmount to fit inside a Rycote zeppelin system. Those little rubber donut bands DO break, so purchase a spare. Mine took 2 years of rough reality work to break so it's not exactly fragile but it weighs tons less than the big Rycote donut shaped shockmount that is widely used at rental houses.
 
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Been totally satisfied with K-Tek, plus they're really nice people (family business) who totally stand behind their products. Besides prostitutes and microbrew, one of the few American companies left to support.
 
Aaron Murphy said:
Definately purchase a carbon fiber internally cabled pole if you plan on doing any Doc or Reality work with it. Over long shoots the pole's weight adds up.

The Ktek K-sm is really cool. You can adapt this shockmount to fit inside a Rycote zeppelin system. Those little rubber donut bands DO break, so purchase a spare. Mine took 2 years of rough reality work to break so it's not exactly fragile but it weighs tons less than the big Rycote donut shaped shockmount that is widely used at rental houses.
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Do you have any exact model recommendations?
 
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/475913-REG/Gitzo_GB3560_GB3560_Six_Section_Carbon.html

K-tek poles are perfect if you have the $$ but for a 12' carbon fiber the gitzo is half the price and still really nice, I have had mine for a few years and no trouble.

Just get some of those ball hair ties to secure the cable to the pole and you are golden. I second the rec for k-tek shockmounts. I have a k-tek kssm with soft bands and I really love it.

K-Tek also makes great zepplins; the k-tek k-zepp is very popular here.
 
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The K-tek pole was $170 for wire outside and $230 for internal wire, the pole in the link above is $300, didn't you say it was half price? Also, and this is probably a newb question but what is a zepplin?
 
A zepplin is a large airship used by location audio folks to move gear from place to place. Just kidding...

Its a knickname for the kinds of microphone windscreens that actually look like miniature zepplins. The most common is the rycote but recently k-tek started making a version for half the price of the rycote. I have a k-zep wind system I use for my 416.

Rycote has taken the concept to a smaller ball shaped screen called the baby ball gag, (BBG). Useful for super and hyper cardiod mics. I use a BBG with my 50.

A note on internally cabled booms: Early designs were notorious for internal cable slap when moved around in certain ways but I've found recent ones have been just fine. In amoungst the kit I have an internally cabled k-tek 152ccr and it has worked flawlessly.
 
bentramer81 said:
The K-tek pole was $170 for wire outside and $230 for internal wire, the pole in the link above is $300, didn't you say it was half price? Also, and this is probably a newb question but what is a zepplin?
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Those are aluminium poles, they translate vibration like crazy and are not very good for that reason. The pole I lised is 12' which is much nicer for reach. The k-tek 12' graphite pole is in the $600 range.

you can also get a 9' gitzo CF pole for $220 ish, but why skimp? Get the 12' and be done. You would be suprised how often you will need that extra reach!
 
You can never go wrong with any K-Tek product. Their service and support is amazing, and their products are all really solid.

Rather than the furry mic cover, you may want to look at the k-zepp instead. It provides better overall wind protection.

Phil
 
saneproductions said:
Those are aluminium poles, they translate vibration like crazy and are not very good for that reason. The pole I lised is 12' which is much nicer for reach. The k-tek 12' graphite pole is in the $600 range.

you can also get a 9' gitzo CF pole for $220 ish, but why skimp? Get the 12' and be done. You would be suprised how often you will need that extra reach!
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Sweet thanks, I think I'll go with the Gitzo model you mentioned above and stay away from aluminuim, The model you mentioned above would that be the best choice and does it have the internal wire, if not can you link the cheapest Gitzo with an interal wire? (I'm not a fan of B&H's website)

From the original part of my email it sounds like the K-Tek Z-FSO-XL 40 MPH fuzzy windscreen for $100 is about the best deal out there for the money since no one commented.

And finally, K-Tek K-SM shock mount, doesn't have the plastic bands so I thought it would be more durable than the one with bands since the last one I had broke.

To conclude, I think I'll stick with all the original items of my first post and subsitute the boom pole with the Gitzo (just need to compare price of internal and external wire models) Thanks for all your help gang!
 
ptalsky said:
You can never go wrong with any K-Tek product. Their service and support is amazing, and their products are all really solid.

Phil
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I agree that k-tek is really great! I have the gitzo 12' cf pole and love it. I wouldn't trade it for an aluminum pole made by the good lord himself though.

ptalsky said:
Rather than the furry mic cover, you may want to look at the k-zepp instead. It provides better overall wind protection.

Phil
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Amen to the k-tek k-zepp, you really need to spring for that. Don't waste money on a softie! Do it right the first time..
 
bentramer81 said:
Sweet thanks, I think I'll go with the Gitzo model you mentioned above and stay away from aluminuim, The model you mentioned above would that be the best choice and does it have the internal wire, if not can you link the cheapest Gitzo with an interal wire? (I'm not a fan of B&H's website)

From the original part of my email it sounds like the K-Tek Z-FSO-XL 40 MPH fuzzy windscreen for $100 is about the best deal out there for the money since no one commented.

And finally, K-Tek K-SM shock mount, doesn't have the plastic bands so I thought it would be more durable than the one with bands since the last one I had broke.

To conclude, I think I'll stick with all the original items of my first post and subsitute the boom pole with the Gitzo (just need to compare price of internal and external wire models) Thanks for all your help gang!
Click to expand...


The gitzo poles are external wire only. Use ball hair ties and rig your pole properly and you will not have issues.

The k-zepp includes a shockmount as part of the system!
 
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