Boom Technique?

Hans Moleman

Hans Moleman

Carbonite Member
Hey, just wondering

Do you guys have a preferred technique for holding a boom pole and mic?

as in, is it better to be over the camera, under, to a side, etc..
 
Depends on the situation. If you ask 5 boom ops about booming technique, you'll get 20 different answers.

-Dave
 
If you're right handed then put your right hand at the rear of the pole and left 2-3' ahead to support it. Right hand is guide. Shot will work best if you can get as much excess pole as possible behind you (for balance). Point the mic straight down splitting the distances between the actors and favor the quieter actor. You can't cover two people with one mic if the distance between them gets too great... unless you take turns on the lines. Lead the actors as if the room is dark and the mic is a flashlight that you need to illuminate the ground directly ahead of them... almost like you are LEADING the actor around. Since you're using a hyper (you ARE using a hyper right?) you don't have to point the mic at the person speaking. You can cheat it that way a bit, but you shouldn't need to.

Using two-cams you can shoot anything you want at eye level or higher (shooting down) so plan your edit and direction for that. I really like the show Arrested Development and that's how they do it. You can shoot two people talking, arguing, whatever... standing or you can shoot them sitting... or you can have one standing and one sitting as long as the camera and boom are in communication.

Rehearse so you (they) know where to go. If you're chasing the actor the sound will get odd every time they get ahead of the mic instead of the other way around.

You better start practicing with the boom. It's harder then it looks to keep the mic close but out of frame.
 
It can be omni, cardioid, or hyper. The caps can be changed.

Lately there's a barrage of questions about the Oktava that can easily be answered in other threads... recent ones too.

If you got a one-cap Oktava from GC then it's a cardioid.

Experiment and practice or it won't matter what mic it is. Once the dialog you get sounds good you're ready to shoot.
 
booming%201.jpg

Pictures are self explanatory I hope.
booming 3.jpg
 
Why do you think I pumped up the Gitzo 13' so much even though I like my K-Tek better? How else are you gonna' get that shot? Here's some more examples... including shotgun interior, but don't be fooled because this isn't a normal room and that isn't a cheap shotgun... and it isn't running directly into a camera.

booming with shotgun.jpg


booming with two shotguns.jpg


Note two guns to cover two people rather then one hyper. Moving guns define the space rather then blending in... so you have to think about what's hitting them off-axis... whereas with a hyper you don't. So if you're in an odd situation where you need the isolation of the gun you're probably going to have a hard time getting what you want if you've got to move it a lot.

This shot could have been done with a hyper splitting the difference, but it would have sounded more distant.

If I keep posting these (including lav shots) it won't take too long before you understand why everybody uses so many mics.:grin:
 
Not me Wabbit. I'm not doing anything that legitimate. Those are all from AD.

This is how I would have done that double shotgun shot... but it's only because I don't have two really good guns... just one. Pictured are two Oktava hypers on one pole... works great for a two-up with a mixer. You could even leave it as stereo if the two people are at the edges of the shot.:)

Oktava%20pair%20on%20Boom%20Pole.jpg
 
Had an interesting chat with a sound guy today... He's a Schoeps and 416 dude and was initially surprised when I told him all I used was a Blue Line AKG for everything. Screw shotguns. Screw lav's. I like the way this mic sounds -- and, really, the whole "hyper" vibe in general. It just works. It's always faster to boom this little guy than to wire people with lavs and besides, who likes paying for $15 in 9V batteries on every shoot with wireless lav's!?

Anyways, this thread proves that sound guys rarely agree on methods and the differences in technique are defined as "artistry" or something like that. :)
 
It's funny, because there are SO many different methods to achieving good sound, but the most important thing to understand is that my name is Jeremy and I have pole envy... Maybe 10' isn't enough...
 
Thanks for those pics, Matt. Really goes a long way in showing how it can be done. I feel so small and inexperienced now. :D
 
in Jay Rose's book"Producing Great Sound for Digital Video" there is a great section with very specific technique tips for using the boom and he explains his reasons behind his suggestions.

just one more reason to own that book.

i had the first edition and then got the updated one and gave the older one to a director i know who needed to learn some more technical stuff.

matthew
 
Almost forgot... you should probably try some cotton gloves too. That's some cheap insurance until you get really smooth.
 
Two other things to add - First, on the gloves, I get the gloves with the little rubber nobbies all over them. $1.50 a pair at safeway....gives better grip for the boom op and reduces the chance that his/her hands will slide on the pole, making more noise.

Second, I always show my new boom ops this (and it is also highlighted well in Jay's book): Arms straight up over head, elbows locked. A simple demonstration is to have someone raise their hands up overhead and bend their elbows, then lock their elbows to show them where the strain goes. Elbows bent - strain goes straight into their back. Elbows locked, strain goes into the shoulders and arms.

Matt, what brand of mini-blimp to you keep on your Octavas?
 
Hey Matt,

Im really enjoying checking out these pictures you're posting - keem em coming!

One thing about sound is that you dont often get a chance to SEE the way other guys work because its usually just you on a set (unless u got a boom guy)...

Its cool to see different situations handled by other people...

Thanks!
Tim
 
ptalsky said:
Matt, what brand of mini-blimp to you keep on your Octavas?
Click to expand...

Rycote BBGs in 20mm... they stay on there all the time. The only thing that changes is fur added if it's outdoors and breezy.
 
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