What’s in your sound package?

ahalpert said:
But then you can repeat a previous set-up that worked for you when you encounter the same scenario again?
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To reiterate this point (and please see my earlier post)... we have a guest judge on set today wearing a synthetic blend (read: difficult, noisy fabrics). Normally, on a button-down shirt, my first solution is an Ursa Mini Mount behind the placket and just above a button. This doesn’t work very well with synthetic fabrics, and even worse with synthetics plus chest hair.

So again, I went with the Ursa Chest Strap and the COS11 in an Ursa Mini Mount. Not so bad when he walks around, but when he sits down with the other judges, the fabric is still problematic. So again, an Ursa Fur Circle on the chest strap... problem solved. I’ll be stocking up on the fur circles,
 
I don't have anything like the expertise of Alex but I'd just like to add that Bubbebee Lav Concealers are the best audio purchases I've made in the last few years.

In the past, when hiding a lav between layers of clothing I've tended to go for some kind of moleskin or gaffer tape sandwich with the lav immobile in the middle (ie. stuck to both layers). This is great when it works but the failure mode is often catastophic with gobs of tape being dragged around under a shirt and me stopping the interview. Perhaps I was just doing it wrong?

With the lav concealers, one side is for sticking and the other is smooth and relatively frictionless. This means that even if the layer above the lav is sliding around it's still quiet (as long as the material is fairly light and soft). My sense is that this is 90% as good as an immobile lav but far, far less likely to fail.
 
Run&Gun said:
I run the CS-M1 as the nat mic on my F55 and it's great.
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What mount are you (and others) using when a CS-M1 is on a camera?

In general, Rycote suggests the InVision INV-6 heavy for this mic with a slip-on softie. In general, I like InVision mounts, but less of a Softie fan (I have a couple Rycote Windshields and a Cyclone; haven't bought into Cinela...yet).



But what's working for you, Run&Gun, and you, everyone else?

Thx,

Jim
 

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This week, I’m adding RF distro to my B-kit, which is the MixPre-10 II and 4 channels of Lectro wireless (two SRc receivers) in a Stingray JuniorX.

If there’s one thing I have done for my sound package that has made the biggest world of difference, it’s antenna distro: a PSC RF Multi and a pair of Betso Bowties. Signal range and stability improve quite noticeably. I’ve even run SMA-modded Senneheiser receivers through this system and gotten amazing range. The other benefit is RF isolation. Some mixer/recorders can put off RF spray, and having receiver antennae right by the device can cause some interference. Detaching the antennae and moving them to the outside of the bag - just that few inches of distance - can avoid the RF spray.

So I’m waiting on the bowties and all the extra cables to be delivered today and tomorrow. While the bowties do come with BNC>BNC cables, they’re only good for running directly outside the bag, so I order custom (longer) cables to be able to wire then into the bag the way I want.

But all that’s to say: if you have a bagged sound package, this is an addition that’s worth the investment.
 
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With the changing work climate here I sold my larger Sound Devices / Lectro setup last month, and no longer have a cart or large heavy bag kit.
The majority of the audio work I'm doing now are interviews and commercial shoots where I need to be pretty mobile. So I'm using a Lowepro ProTactic 450 AW II backpack as a gear cary along, loaded per job as needed, And working out of what I call my micro bag. An Orca OR-268 Low-Profile Mixer Bag fitted with a Zoom F6 32-bit float recorder. Currently I have 4 Sennheiser G4 512 wireless mics bagged with a Lectro ZFSC41 4 way Passive RF splitter and Betso Bowtie Antenna. At some point I'll mod the Sennheiser's with the second SMA connection for full diversity to a second Bowtie antenna. The gigs I have been doing haven't needed more that 6 wireless channels, so adding 2 backup Sennheiser wireless mics covers my needs at this point.
I can also use my spare Sennheiser's for camera hops. I kept my K-Tek boom pole, along with 2 spare poles for sit-downs, and my MKH-60, MKH-50, MKH-416, and a handful of other useful mics.
I also have 4 Tentacle sync timecode units for locking everything together, and have a new FeelWorld W1000S Wireless video setup which should be arriving this month.
All in all, it's incredibly light weight compared to what I had been lugging around.

Best!

Dave
 
So, this year I've actually been doing a decent amount of audio for other people when I'm not shooting(my audio guys are sending gigs to me that they can't do). My two main bags are built around a 664 and a 633. I keep finding myself going to the larger 664, even when I'm not using THAT many channels, because I like having full sized fader pots and dedicated controls for each channel and everything spread out just that tiny bit more. Don't get me wrong, I love the 633, but I don't really like mixing on the sub controls. If, when I'M doing audio, and I need more than three channels(more than two wireless), I go to the 664. Now, one of my dedicated guys keeps his two primary wireless in his 633 bag on 4 & 5 on the subs(he also has a 688 and 552). I guess it's all personal preference. If I was a dedicated audio guy and needed to buy a new, primary mixer today, I'd bite the bullet and get a Scorpio.
 
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I looked at the new SD stuff since I was already an owner. But My primary goal at the time was a small low budget Ambisonic recording package, and I felt the F6 offered better bang for the buck. With the F6 I can use 4 channels together with my Rode NT SF1 SoundField Mic, and have a stereo pair recording at the same time. Great for gathering SFX.
At some point I decided to try the F6 on a smaller video gig and it worked well. I even added the Zoom FRC-8 Mixing Control Surface for what would normally have been a smaller cart gig, and it worked out as well. I downsized homes a couple years ago, so now I'm trying to downsize from a Sprinter van full of gear, to what fits in my Porsche 911 Turbo. :evil:
 
I'm unhappy with bags. Access to things is cumbersome and I don't care for zippers. I didn't want to go the 3D printer route. So I thought I would see what I could do with Kydex to make access to everything easier. Being a pauper, I have the G3s which have the additional problem of front face control and display. Here is my first crack at it.

Here you see an open frame that gives full access to the sides and bottom. The recorder is protected by Kydex panels that are screwed to the top and bottom. Ahh, no zippers, thank you. And full access to the connectors and SD cards.

The green thing is a belly pad to push the recorder away from the belly to make it easier to see the recorder.

I mostly work on a small vertical cart with the bag on top. In that case, I flip the pad out and have the recorder at an angle for easy viewing.

To solve the G3 access problem, I have two racks that hinge away from the recorder to give access to the display, controls, and batteries. When I have it on the cart, the whips are replaced with coax and two LPDAs. If I am using it on the cart, but don't want to set up the LPDAs, the G3s can be set to a vertical position while the F8 is at an angle to optimize reception.

Hidden under the G3s is a 12v battery and 3v converter to run the G3s. Also in the back is power outputs for the LPDAs and an LED light on the cart.

There are a couple of D-rings for a handle and harness.

I'm still sorting it out and have not tried it yet.
 

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I stepped away from audio entirely for a little while. But recently bought back in with a small set.

the basic overview:
G3 pair, with Lectro 190 relics as a backup.
Random assortment of lavs I have accumulated over the years, but mostly lower end stuff
AT4073 (most boom work)
AT4021 (interviews or dialogue in reverby rooms, musical instruments)
Sound Devices Mixpre3ii (with some custom cables and power sled options)
Ktek with internal wiring and those more classic rubber coated fish pole holder style things. They just work.
Sennheiser Zep wind basket and deadcat
And one of those cheap Rycote "Softies" with a pull over felt cover for higher wind situations in a pinch.

unlike my camera gear, I can walk out the door with everything in a small pelican and go.




Back in the day, I tried those Zoom H4n things, and used a Tascam DR680, and a few other options, but those never felt right. The Mixpre3ii is annoying for pro use, but for simple setups and more limited and specific professional use, this setup has proven to be at least enjoyable after initial setup. set levels, press record, the thing glows red. Done. it works. So, for a cheap alternative, I am pretty happy about it. And light weight. none of that back breaking bag work.

I still prefer the true Sound Devices, and have fond memories of the sound I felt I got from the Cooper Sound CS104 I shlepped for a short time, and if I could make Nagra's work for my workflow, I'd be all for that, but the Mixpre3 has certainly given me the basic ease of the very essential feature of pressing record and getting a sound. no frills. just a familiar pro-like interface that is familiar and confidence inspiring. It's about as pro as I can get without encroaching on a pro's work.

This setup gives me some of the touches I missed about the professional setups I was used to. And it often goes back to the idea that the skill of the operator and technician can make the difference, but I feel pretty confident with this small efficient setup for very specific types of professional work, where I might have control over things enough, that I am not worried about needing anything more than the bare minimum.
 
Yes, I did the SMA modification. Oh, do you mean did I do them myself? ... Like I'd send something out to be done? You know me better than that. :D
 
Paul F said:
I'm unhappy with bags. Access to things is cumbersome and I don't care for zippers. I didn't want to go the 3D printer route. So I thought I would see what I could do with Kydex to make access to everything easier. Being a pauper, I have the G3s which have the additional problem of front face control and display. Here is my first crack at it.
Click to expand...

Hardcore!
 
Paul F said:
Yes, I did the SMA modification. Oh, do you mean did I do them myself? ... Like I'd send something out to be done? You know me better than that. :D
Click to expand...

ha! no, i was curious if there was a version that was like that out-of-box. But certainly a clean mod you did there!
 
Resurrecting this thread as it was a great conversation, and I’d love to see more!

A few months ago, I ordered some of the new(ish) Viviana Moleskin Extreme. This has become a huge part of my expendables kit. For those who haven’t seen it, used it, or heard of it, this is moleskin with two wire ribbons embedded. It can be molded and shaped, which means it can make a little air pocket out of the fabric to keep the mic safely isolated.

Another recent addition, just a couple weeks ago, is a Sennheiser MKH 8050 supercardioid. The 8060 has been my standard workhorse of a shotgun for a couple years now, and I really wanted to add a supercardioid to go with it. I was on the fence between that and the venerated MKH 50, which I may still snag at some point, but I like the extremely compact nature of the 8050 and the fact that it’s of the same “family” (the 8000 series) as my primary shotgun. I’ve used it on a few interviews over the last week, and it’s performed flawlessly. It sounds excellent, too.

Last, I’ve been on the search for a better way to organize my lavalier mics. I’ve had the Orca OR-29 clamshell cases, but they’re a bit bulky and on’y hold three lavs per case. I finally found what I had been looking for: plastic business card cases. $12/dozen on Amazon. 3.7” x 2.5” x 0.5”. They work perfectly. There are slimmer cases that have 0.25” inner height, but connectors need more clearance. If you’re storing lavs with microdot and no attached adapter, the slimmer cases will work.

I reorganized my lav and strap case with these business card cases, which also have space for P-Touch 1/4” labels on their edges. I have mine color-coded by make, and labeled with model, color, and serial number. I can fit 22 of these cases in the same amount of space that four of the Orcas fit to store only 12 lavs. This is a huge improvement, as was ditching the padded divider system in my Pelican 1450 and replacing it with TrekPak.

lav_case_layout.jpg
 
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