Bag for Zoom F8 and Sound Devices MM-1?

S

Strouty

Well-known member
Sound I'm downsizing from a SD442 + Tascam DR680 + big petrol bag to something smaller. I've very happily used the setup for a while, but I'm doing more video work that requires someone else to at least tend to bag & boom (usually someone more inexperienced) and I'm finding that they are not as in love with the big bag setup as I am.

So I'm moving to a Zoom F8, which I've heard pleasant things about, but I don't think I trust the digital limiters quite yet, so I'm going to put a Sound Devices MM-1 in there as well for a good limiter on the boom track. I'll need a spot to clip a couple G3 receivers as well.

So I'm looking for a low-profile bag that could work for this. The big issue is the MM-1, which will be in the bag when not being used by the boom op. So something with some sort of pocket or holder or some way to clip on the MM-1 that keeps the cables out of the way and still have relatively access to the gain knob. I know you guys are going to try to convince me to move to a mix-pre or 302, but bear with me.

So ideally, one slot for the Zoom F8, a place to clip on some G3s, and a pocket or holder of some sort for the MM-1. A standalone holder/pocket for the MM1 that attaches to the bag is even better, so I can just grab that when I need something quick and just want to go directly into the camera with audio.

Let me know if you guys know of anything (either new or discontinued that I can try to find used). I don't have an audio shop nearby, so can't really test out anything. The Stingray Junior looks promising and porta-brace has a bag for the F8 that looks ok as well if I could figure out a good way to get the MM-1 in there.
 
Thanks! May be worth testing one out and I love the price. I have a feeling I'll have to rig something special up for the MM1, so maybe I'll grab that porta brace bag and try to find another small pouch for the MM-1 that can attach to the bag
 
On another note... how bad is the Zoom's time code drift when swapping batteries? I know people say that you should rejam if you power the recorder off, so does this include even for a few seconds to swap batteries?
 
"does this include even for a few seconds to swap batteries?"
- I would say so.
- If you have the F8's internal batteries installed, there's no need to shut it down.. assuming your powering it externally.
- What are you jamming from BTW?
 
Good point on the external power.

I don't plan to use TC very much, honestly. My personal camera is the new Ursa Mini 4.6k. I was just on a shoot with a couple C300's and often work with a team that uses an Epic. The last director asked me in passing if I did timecode (which the Tascam 680 did not do without something like a tentacle sync) so I figured it was time to get something that at least did. I'm sort of the video guy that get's asked to fill in and do enough audio stuff that I figured it would be a 'nice to have'.

I'm also looking at getting a couple tentacle syncs as well.
 
Last edited:
I don't think you could even use the tentacles with the 680 -- it doesn't do TC to my knowledge. F8 should work...
 
I believe tentacle syncs can work on any audio recorder if they have a spare audio channel to write to (which I always did on the 680)
 
Some boxes can output Longitudinal Time Code (LTC), a complex square-wave audio signal). Post must have some way to 'read' it though. I used one of those boxes on a shoot, but the production's RED cameras were so wacky that TC was of little use and was abandoned after a day or so. The audio scratch tracks were reliable and takes were clap-slated as well.
I recall Media Composers and/or VideoToolshed had a LTC reader / to TC stamp converter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top