OST 802 dead kitten

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
Does anyone know of a dead kitten that will fit the OST 802? I was recording with their foam windscreen on last night and I was still getting some wind noise...Thanks
 
I like Bubblebee's Windbubbles. There are a few other brands, but I started using these a few years ago, and like them. Available in several sizes and colors.
https://www.bubblebeeindustries.com/collections/windbubbles

windbubbles.jpg

A quick glance at their size chart suggests a size 3 or 4 should work since the OST 802 is a lot like the Countryman EMW. But you can measure and decide:
https://www.bubblebeeindustries.com/pages/windbubble-size-guide


The Rycote overcovers and other lav tools are also good (and I use them)...and the stickies seem stickier than they were 10 years ago; that's a good thing. These can be lower profile than the Bubblebee stuff. Worth having several options on hand:

rycote.jpg

Here's all of Rycote's lav stuff:
https://rycote.com/microphone-windshield-shock-mount/lavalier-solutions/
 
Yes, the stickiness of the Overcovers is weaker than I'd like. They give up a little too easily. Not that I want the strength of moleskin, but they do wimp out somewhat. I haven't tried BumbleBee.
 
Try Rycote's "Stickies Advanced" models...those are the stickier ones. Or fashion your own from toupee tape, but the Stickies Advanced work fairly well for me.
 
I'll give the advanced a try. The toupee tape is handy sometimes, but hard to deal with. The foam of the Rycote makes it easier to handle.
 
Overcovers rule! The regular ones have been more than sticky enough for me in every situation except covering a runner in an ultramarathon who ran in the rain. Overcovers don't stick in the wet.
I'll have to give the Bubblebees a try!
 
I had a talent that was dry and the Rycote wouldn't stick. I asked if she had lotion on and she said no. She was either lying or she had Teflon skin. I had to use moleskin. I guess your mileage may vary.
 
Paul F said:
I asked if she had lotion on and she said no. She was either lying or she had Teflon skin.
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Do you bring alcohol wipes? Those can help. If talent hesitates, I bring out a staple gun, "The Persuader." Usually I can then use the wipe.

But ya, the Rycote stickies do give you limited surface area. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes not. Still a good tool to have on hand.
 
Yes, I do use wipes. But in this case I did not because I already asked her about the lotion and did not want to insult her. I should have just not asked, but went ahead with the wipe request. Now I wonder if the wipe would have worked or if her skin really was Teflon.
 
I figured you had wipes handy. But did you have a staple gun? ;-)

Talent...they're what makes me want to be a novelist....
 
Thanks for the suggestions. Are there any that just slide over the mic or foam cover? The Windbubbles look like they might, but they're a bit pricey...
 
Paul F said:
Yes, I do use wipes. But in this case I did not because I already asked her about the lotion and did not want to insult her. I should have just not asked, but went ahead with the wipe request. Now I wonder if the wipe would have worked or if her skin really was Teflon.
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Powder makeup will also weaken the adhesive. If talent has put on makeup, or been through HMU, translucent powder (or any powder) can fall down into the shirt and cause problems with stickies. Or if they’ve been to the gym that morning, sweat and dirt can do the same. Alcohol wipes for all.
 
The Bubblebees are about $25. I've seen knockoff slip-on lav fur covers, but IIRC, they weren't much cheaper than the real thing from Bubblebee, Rycote, Remote Audio, etc. Maybe B&H has an Auray version for cheap?

Think if you can make the Rycote Overcovers work. For under $15, you get 6 or so fur circles, and a few dozen sticky sheets; You can (or at least could) get a set of different color furs in the same kit. The fur pieces are totally reusable (won't last forever, but will last through a several to a dozen placements if your careful (and lucky). And you can kind of stick them to themselves around a lav. URSA and Bubblebee have similar products for about the same price...I haven't used those but they're booth good companies so perhaps their versions will offer a design feature that appeals a bit more. Anyway, if you can live with tape, you can get 30 days of use for about $15. Not bad.

Or perhaps other people here have suggestions....
 
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Thanks I'll give the overcovers a shot. Has anyone tried placing the 802 UNDER clothes with the undercovers? I believe the 801 is meant to be worn under but not sure how the 802 would work...
 
scorsesefan said:
Thanks I'll give the overcovers a shot. Has anyone tried placing the 802 UNDER clothes with the undercovers? I believe the 801 is meant to be worn under but not sure how the 802 would work...
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801 and 802 are the same as far as the housing for capsule. I use the 801s with the Overcovers 100% under clothing. I usually stick it to the garment but on occasion have stuck it to the skin on the talent if they have a floppy shirt or blouse.
They work great and have plenty of stick for me. 802 doesn't have the high boost to compensate for being under clothing, that's what the 801 is for, but it would probably still sound fine on thinner voices. Probably sound too muffled on bassy
or deep voices? You should pick up an 801 or two to have both scenarios covered.

Screen Shot 2020-03-04 at 7.15.11 AM March 4.jpg
 
scorsesefan said:
Thanks I'll give the overcovers a shot. Has anyone tried placing the 802 UNDER clothes with the undercovers? I believe the 801 is meant to be worn under but not sure how the 802 would work...
Click to expand...

I don't use OSC mics, but I do use Countryman EMWs in both the shelved and peaked response versions. The 801 has a response similar to Countryman's peaked response, which is useful (and designed) for placement under clothing. Well, check out PureDan's chart. ANYWAY...

The 802 response isn't exactly like Countryman's shelved response, but here's my experience:

On thin-to-normal T-Shirts, I don't need the peaked (801) response (instead, I get to deal with hiding the mic and cable...Wheee!). And just inside jackets that hang kinda loose...like there's a sightline/sound-waves-line from the jacket to the mouth... I don't always need or want the peaked response. But under thicker clothes, the peaked response is nice.

However, in many instances, we massage the lav's curve and sound in post. Having multiple lavs for multiple wardrobe and placement challenges is a great thing. But if your money is being spent elsewhere, try using what you have in a variety of situations (under heavy sweater, in a shirt collar, whatever), and then see if you can get the lav mic to sound good in post.

And something that can help with under-clothes placement is a little lav cage to keep fabric or skin from rubbing against the lav. You can kinda fashion your own from moleskin, perhaps a hushlav, and a paperclip. Or you can buy readymade. There are a bunch of options these days, though many are mic-specific. Take a gander at one collection: https://www.locationsound.com/microphone-accessories-170/lavalier-clips-70

SF, since you're in NYC, consider taking your lavs to Gotham Sound in Astoria (just a couple blocks from the fun Museum of The Moving Image, IIRC), and some cash and ask them for advice. You can EASILY spend lots of money on lav gags, but they're fun. Kinda like little magic tricks.

Also, I saw the early iPad version of this tutorial by Thomas Popp (an actual working mixer). It's pretty good. I think this Udemy class has the same material. List price is $50, but that company seems to offer discounts (ie- any class for $12 or something) pretty regularly.

How To Put A Microphone On Talent

And you know, Andrew's tutorial videos on YouTube are pretty good. Sure, he's trying to promote the Diety brand, but there's good practical info in these. One bit that's relevant to this discussion is his/their take on a Moleskin sandwich:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckSiYcX6HT8

Note that the sandwich works better with tube lavs (like Sanken's and Deity's) than with paddle mics like the 801, EMW, and TRAM. BUT... Still good stuff to learn, and I'm hearing that Deity's new lavs are actually pretty damn good for the price.

Mastering lav placement is like mastering a bunch of tiny up-close magic tricks. Once someone explains the trick, it's fun to do, and people around you are blown away. OK, that last bit's not true...They just stop complaining about sound problems. But most of the tricks are inexpensive, and they are fun to do.
 
Thanks for the info. I've been to Gotham a few times and they're very helpful (and now that they're in Qns closer to me)... Dan, I plan on picking up an 801 when the Tentacle recorder lands...
 
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