Lavs on Doctor Clothing

[J.Brown]

Pinmics are a good option when used indoors. Often when I use it producers, directors and clients think I haven`t put a mic on the subject yet so done well one doesen`t notice it. It`s not the do it all lav but when appropriate it works fine.

I also have concealer mounts for MKE2 and in windy conditions they are a better option. There`s not one solution that fits all situations.

 

[cpreston]

I would suggest not hiding the lav at all, it's not a film your doing but an interview. Here's a medical infomercial type piece I did a while ago, lav's visible throughout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yniOj66zhxg
And here's one from 4 years ago, lav was clipped to tie just below the frame in this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHlq_sHad4o
In both cases lav was just clipped to clothing, no Rycote cover foamies or similar.

If I can convince a director for an interview that a visibile mic is acceptable, I'm clipping the mic outside of the clothing. The sound quality is so much better. I have a few clients that allow it. On my own OMB event work, I will actually just carry a wireless handheld mic with me. Then, I don't even have to worry about background noise.

 

[J.Brown]

As long as micing is done well and not placed to awkward I doubt any viewer will take notice of the actual visibility of a lav. I think we are more anal when it comes to this than most others.

 

[Run&Gun]

As long as micing is done well and not placed to awkward I doubt any viewer will take notice of the actual visibility of a lav. I think we are more anal when it comes to this than most others.

As we should be. It’s part of our job.

 

[puredrifting]

To me, exposed lavs subliminally communicate, "News", which is fine if you're shooting news, but if you're not, it can look really distracting/strange. Large, clunky lavs with a big foam or furry windscreen on talent
communicate, "Local used car lot commercial" to me. If you use a frequency boosted lav like the OST801, you aren't losing anything and you can hide it with little to no sound penalty.

Hiding lavs must just be my pet peeve but I've always thought that exposed lavs look cheesy and low production value. That's why I moved to the smallest lav on the market, the Countryman B6 since it's barely visible, before I learned how to properly
rig and hide lavs. I haven't shot with an exposed lav in almost three years and my lav audio always sounds good. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Or you can have your stuff keep looking like news when it's not? Your choice.

 

[Run&Gun]

To me, exposed lavs subliminally communicate, "News", which is fine if you're shooting news, but if you're not, it can look really distracting/strange. Large, clunky lavs with a big foam or furry windscreen on talent
communicate, "Local used car lot commercial" to me. If you use a frequency boosted lav like the OST801, you aren't losing anything and you can hide it with little to no sound penalty.

Hiding lavs must just be my pet peeve but I've always thought that exposed lavs look cheesy and low production value. That's why I moved to the smallest lav on the market, the Countryman B6 since it's barely visible, before I learned how to properly
rig and hide lavs. I haven't shot with an exposed lav in almost three years and my lav audio always sounds good. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Or you can have your stuff keep looking like news when it's not? Your choice.

My general dividing line, so to speak is, if we're shooting 60 frames(real time), then I'm usually fine with it. 24P and I don't want to see it. My guys are generally booming sit-down interviews, anyway and if they lav someone, it's usually as a back-up. For single cam stuff, it's pretty easy, because we're usually so tight they can clip on the outside and it's out of frame. What bones you is the multi-cam stuff with a wide slider shot, which makes it hard to get the booms in close enough.

 

[Joshua Milligan]

To me, exposed lavs subliminally communicate, "News", which is fine if you're shooting news, but if you're not, it can look really distracting/strange. Large, clunky lavs with a big foam or furry windscreen on talent
communicate, "Local used car lot commercial" to me. If you use a frequency boosted lav like the OST801, you aren't losing anything and you can hide it with little to no sound penalty.

Hiding lavs must just be my pet peeve but I've always thought that exposed lavs look cheesy and low production value. That's why I moved to the smallest lav on the market, the Countryman B6 since it's barely visible, before I learned how to properly
rig and hide lavs. I haven't shot with an exposed lav in almost three years and my lav audio always sounds good. If I can do it, anyone can do it. Or you can have your stuff keep looking like news when it's not? Your choice.

I couldn't agree more. That's exactly how I feel. I typically use lavs as backups to my booms or as the primary audio source when a boom can't be used, but I always hide them unless it's a certain type of documentary or a quick web video I'm doing for myself. It just looks more professional. I often have people ask me how I recorded audio on things when they don't see a lav and to me, that means I'm doing my job right.

Now, if only I can get doctor clothing to comply...

 

[Rainer]

My rule of thumb, exposed lavs are OK and maybe even preferred in technical/clinical settings.

 

[Run&Gun]

Bottom line: Audio comes first. It's better to have an exposed lav than unusable audio.

 

[puredrifting]

Bottom line: Audio comes first. It's better to have an exposed lav than unusable audio.

I agree, I would never hide a lav and compromise the sound, but that's partly my point, it's not difficult to hide a lav these days and to end up with good sound.
I also have no problem with a small, color matched lav like a Countryman B6, maybe a white one on a lab coat?

 

[Run&Gun]

I agree, I would never hide a lav and compromise the sound, but that's partly my point, it's not difficult to hide a lav these days and to end up with good sound.
I also have no problem with a small, color matched lav like a Countryman B6, maybe a white one on a lab coat?

For whatever reason, I’ve never bought any B6’s, even though I’ve wanted to for years. But I’ve had some of my audio guys say they’ll stick them out of button holes and such and no one ever sees them.

 

[Alex H.]

I also have no problem with a small, color matched lav like a Countryman B6, maybe a white one on a lab coat?

I agree, though I'd go with the B3 over the B6.

White lav, poked through a buttonhole and hidden in plain sight.

The B6 is much more susceptible to rubbing noise transmitted through its thin cable. And the micro capsule has a little bit higher noise floor and is also more sensitive to air movement (wind, breath noises). The B3 sounds great, is quieter, and is still small enough to hide when slightly exposed. It's also less expensive. Or pick up a couple of white Ursa Mini Mounts for the DPA4060, which also fits the B3 perfectly, and mount the mic just under the placket of the lab coat.

 

[puredrifting]

I agree, though I'd go with the B3 over the B6.

White lav, poked through a buttonhole and hidden in plain sight.

The B6 is much more susceptible to rubbing noise transmitted through its thin cable. And the micro capsule has a little bit higher noise floor and is also more sensitive to air movement (wind, breath noises). The B3 sounds great, is quieter, and is still small enough to hide when slightly exposed. It's also less expensive. Or pick up a couple of white Ursa Mini Mounts for the DPA4060, which also fits the B3 perfectly, and mount the mic just under the placket of the lab coat.

I agree, the B6 is susceptible to cable noise, you have to know how to rig cables which means it's not a good videographer lav since most videographers are clueless about how to correctly rig lavs.
Have never tried the B3 but I bet it's similar to my OSTs, which are the bargain of the century. The DPAs are probably the best sounding lav on the market, the most transparent sound but also the most expensive too.

I'm kind of on the fence with the COS-11, it's good, but it's kind of large and long. Every sound mixers seems to use them but I find rigging them a bit more challenging because of the housing length.

 

[Rick R]

I bet it's similar to my OSTs, which are the bargain of the century.

The OST TL40 is similar to a the end-address B3 (though the OST has a flatter response and is slightly smaller). The OST 801/802 are identicle in size and shape as the venerable side-address Tram TR50. Performance is similar as well. The 801 has more of a presence peak for use under clothing.

 

[Vintegreo]

https://www.hideamic.com/how-to-use

^^^These work great! I use them with my Sanken Cos11d's all the time with a variety of clothing and usually have great luck. My audio guy recommended them for when I can't afford them, and they work very well.

Good luck!

 

[puredrifting]

The OST TL40 is similar to a the end-address B3 (though the OST has a flatter response and is slightly smaller). The OST 801/802 are identicle in size and shape as the venerable side-address Tram TR50. Performance is similar as well. The 801 has more of a presence peak for use under clothing.

Yes, I have three of the 801s and they have worked really well for me on our long term Docu Series, always hidden under clothing with the Rycote Overcovers.