Lav recorder body belts and pouches

O

OldCorpse

Rockin the Boat
So I have a bunch of Zoom H1 recorders and some wired lavs. I was thinking of how best to place the H1 recorder on the talent's body. I know there are various waist, thigh, ankle belts and shoulder harnesses with and without pouches:

Wireless Mic Belts

And also the NeoPax belts:

NeoPax

However, the H1 has its own unique shape, and I was just wondering what people used to effectively place them (other than dropping the h1 into the actor's pocket, heh).

And yes, I understand that wireless is better because you can monitor etc., but this is not about that - it's about what system you use for placing the recorder most effectively and economically with minimum of fuss.
 
I don't know of any good way to do this with an H1 since that's not what it was designed for. There are elastic belt back holders, but they are designed around wireless transmitters. You might have to make something or find something designed for something else that might work.
 
Exactly - those were not designed for the H1, which is why I posed the question as to what people used... my idea was that I could simply buy one of the standard belts and modify the pouch (have a different one sown in or what not) to have the H1 fit, but before I went off modding this, I figured somebody else might have confronted the same problem and had a better solution :)
 
I keep a couple of Ace bandage wraps in my kit for extra transmitters. They work fine on thighs, legs and arms, at least with my standard size Lectros and G3 body packs. I would assume they would hold a H1 or other smaller recorder securely. You still can't monitor them though.. do ya feel lucky?
 
Rick R said:
I keep a couple of Ace bandage wraps in my kit for extra transmitters. They work fine on thighs, legs and arms, at least with my standard size Lectros and G3 body packs. I would assume they would hold a H1 or other smaller recorder securely. You still can't monitor them though.. do ya feel lucky?
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Ace bandages work well because body packs usually have a belt clip - does the zoom have a clip of any kind?

Finding someone in your area who can sew is a real game changer... I use a local lady for scrims, backdrops, space lights (she can make curtains and drapes so she can handle large sheets), this might be that kind of thing as well... have a small pouch sewn that the recorder can sit in, attached to an elastic belt or at least a bodypack-style clip.

I use fabric glue a lot to try things out. When it's right I can just have the glued seams sewn.
 
"Ace bandages work well because body packs usually have belt clips "
- Not so for me, I never use the belt clip and remove it all together if possible. I use the 2" or 3" wide cotton elastic bandage with Velcro (13 to 15 ft. when stretched) I start by wrapping the bandage around the appendage two or three times, then put the transmitter in place, and continue to wrap the remaining length over the transmitter... haven't had a transmitter come off yet, even when the talent runs. In my experience, it's more secure than my RA strap/pouches . The down-side is it takes a little longer to change batt.s or make adjustments.
 
I guess the point I was getting at in saying that the H1 isn't designed for this use was that nobody makes anything like what you are asking for that I've seen or heard of. Sounds like you'll have to go the custom route.
 
If you are okay with a waist pouch, then the cheapest solution is a stealth money belt. I keep one in my kit, although I haven't had to use it just yet.
 
Michael Carter said:
I use a local lady for scrims, backdrops, space lights (she can make curtains and drapes so she can handle large sheets), this might be that kind of thing as well...
Click to expand...

Local professional theatres also have this issue and the costume shop makes all kinds of pouches and bands to hold wireless transmitters. Most dramatic theatres use wireless occasionally and they never want it noticed. Musicals and such tend to not worry so much about visibility, but they also don't want the transmitter visible and in general they have a harder time hiding them than in a film.

Anyway if you talk to your local theatres costume shop you will likely be able to find someone who has made something similar.
 
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