Whiteside Production
Active member
I just recieved a AT Pro88w and was wondering what is the best way to hide lav mics. Can you explain in detail? Windscreen or not?
HIding Lavs
- Thread starter Whiteside Production
- Start date
Sorry, I'm not familiar with that particular lav, but I'll tell you what I do generally (I usually am hiding B6's, B3's and EMW's though).
First, you need tape. I use two different kinds. First, I use a medical tape called Hypafix. It is used in hospitals to hold down IV's, and it is very pourous, so I use it right over the mic head and onto the clothes (underneath) or skin, depending. (Note, this is not what I usually do with the B6, that is a very different mic, very small and I usually hide it in plain site).
Next I use Scotch brand paper/painters tape (the green kind, it is much stickier). I make two triangles (credit to Jay Rose's book for this part of the technique) and I place the two triangles on either side of the mic head to help hold it in place and isolate it from clothing noise. Next, make a loop in the mic cable (take up 75% of the slack) and tape it inside the clothing (usually for me under the actor's arm on the side, shows less). Finally, run the cable out the back and plug it in to the mic pack (wireless) or if you're going wired, you'll probably want to take it all the way down the actor's pants. If you're going wireless, stick the mic pack inside the actor's waist band in the small of their back. (Lots of people also use different kind of holders to strap it under the shirt, or on the actor's calf).
Now, lots of presumptions here: First, that wardrobe has given you clothing you can work with. Watch for tight shirts and wires showing through. For women with tight shirts, a great way to hide the wire is to tape it to the bottom of their bra (looks like bra showing rather than wire).
Under the clothes is just one place I've hidden mics. Especially with B6's, I've put them on eye glasses, over the ear, under a wig, behind a button, all over the place. You just have to be a bit creative.
Oh yeah, I also bring along a thing of zip lock baggies for the mic pack...some actors tend to sweat in the strangest places...Yuck!
HTH,
Phil
First, you need tape. I use two different kinds. First, I use a medical tape called Hypafix. It is used in hospitals to hold down IV's, and it is very pourous, so I use it right over the mic head and onto the clothes (underneath) or skin, depending. (Note, this is not what I usually do with the B6, that is a very different mic, very small and I usually hide it in plain site).
Next I use Scotch brand paper/painters tape (the green kind, it is much stickier). I make two triangles (credit to Jay Rose's book for this part of the technique) and I place the two triangles on either side of the mic head to help hold it in place and isolate it from clothing noise. Next, make a loop in the mic cable (take up 75% of the slack) and tape it inside the clothing (usually for me under the actor's arm on the side, shows less). Finally, run the cable out the back and plug it in to the mic pack (wireless) or if you're going wired, you'll probably want to take it all the way down the actor's pants. If you're going wireless, stick the mic pack inside the actor's waist band in the small of their back. (Lots of people also use different kind of holders to strap it under the shirt, or on the actor's calf).
Now, lots of presumptions here: First, that wardrobe has given you clothing you can work with. Watch for tight shirts and wires showing through. For women with tight shirts, a great way to hide the wire is to tape it to the bottom of their bra (looks like bra showing rather than wire).
Under the clothes is just one place I've hidden mics. Especially with B6's, I've put them on eye glasses, over the ear, under a wig, behind a button, all over the place. You just have to be a bit creative.
Oh yeah, I also bring along a thing of zip lock baggies for the mic pack...some actors tend to sweat in the strangest places...Yuck!
HTH,
Phil
