non-humming CFLs?

L

livy500

Active member
I plan on using a bunch of CFLs to blast a white backdrop for an interview. I'm aware this isn't the best option, but I'm trying to work with a very low budget. The 150 watt equivalent CFLs (brand: Azlo) I ordered online just came and they have a loud hum. I went to Home Depot and got two other brands and they make less noise but I'm still concerned about it.

How annoying is it to deal with this kind of hum in post? Someone was saying it might not be too hard to get rid of in Soundtrack Pro.

Does anyone know a good CFL that has a high wattage and little or no hum?

Thanks,

Livy500
 
8.5'' clamp fixtures. What would be a better fixture to use? (Keep in mind I'm trying to keep this low budget.)

Thanks!
 
Do you have any kind of dimmer switches? That said, I just looked up the website for that company, and they don't look very reliable to me. For finding good ones... head to your local hardware store and buy in singles, try them out. I've never had any that hum when they aren't having draw issues (like with a dimmer or poor house wiring). That model just might not work well with your particular fixtures. When shopping, look for a high color reproduction index (CRI) when they list it. Aim for the high 90's on that one.
 
Some are completely silent, some hum, some buzz. If you find some TOTALLY silent ones,with good CRI, do let me know :)
 
I rarely see any that make noise these days. You may have some other issue going on in your electrical system perhaps. Or just bad luck in choosing CFLs.
 
You might be able to use them depending on how bad the hum is and how far away from the mic they will be. Setup a test shoot with as close to the real setup you plan on using. Be sure to get some room tone with the lights running. If you notice the hum in post apply an inverse wave of the room tone to the test interview and see if that helps.
 
I ended up going with mostly N:vision 100 watt equivalent. I also used some of the louder Azlo bulbs. The hum wasn't noticeable a few feet away, so it was all good.

Thanks for your help, guys!
 
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