What do you use to carry mics?

N

nyvideo

Active member
I offered to help some colleagues with what started as just audio and wound up being audio and video. As things kept escalating I found myself bringing more and more gear because the requirements were changing with each attempt. ("Gee, if we could do this, then why don't we try that?")

It was fun and I didn't mind at all. Plus, I learned a great deal about the technical as well as the interactive sides of the business. But, what turned out to be more difficult than I expected was carrying and keeping track of lots of loose gear. So I'd like to hear about:

1. In what do you carry mics to the job? As my array of gear grew I would add another mic or two and before I knew it I was carrying way too many relatively small cases and bags. (I realized that I should never have been so accommodating, but there were some office politics involved... :) )

2. What do you use to carry wireless equipment, specifically, something that would protect a Sennheiser G3 beltclip transmitter, ME2, a mic transmitter, and beltclip receiver and small cables?

3. How do you conveniently carry and arrange cables and stands?

Any and all opinions welcomed.

Thanks.
 
Depends on how much I need to carry. For smaller, local jobs where I drive to location, I may just pack my audio bag with mixer, recorder, wireless transmitters and receivers, lav case, batteries, etc. I'll have cables and headphones strapped to the bag, and have my fishpole/zepplin/shotgun rig laying in the seat. Extra cables and such are always in the van.

I also have a Pelican 1650 that can fit everything for longer hauls and air travel. For added protection, I'll pack the wireless systems in a more compact Pelican that is packed with the rest of the gear in the 1650.

I have a Gator mic box that stores 20 or so mics that I keep with my PA system.

Extra cables are neatly coiled, sorted, and stored in plastic Sterilite bins from Wal Mart.

I don;t carry mic stands to film/video gigs, but for the sake of answering your question I have mine in a zippered, canvas mic stand case from On Stage.
 
It's the little things that count.

For those simple, small projects I just carry everything in a Petrol audio bag, which goes into a large black duffel bag with velcro nametapes for easier ID (similar to what they use in SF and deployment). Within this Petrol audio bag are recorders both main and backup, mixer, power suplies, lavs, lav supplies, talent wireless (8), wireless hops (3 pairs), cables, connectors, pens/markers, and microphonies. For larger remote gigs, the entire rig goes into Pelican cases (1620 for this bag rig). For small feature work, I use the same audio bag on a cart w/ add'l monitors, wireless, large format mixer, AC/DC power boxes, 3 or 4 booms, 4x sharkfins for RF, and more supplies. On action-heavy feature with pyros and such, everything goes on a cart with a separate 744T/4x 411a audio for remote/off work.

Microphones
Pelican 1550 case(s)
Condensers, dynamics
- Zippered vinyl cases w/ silica/dessicant gel packages
- Ziploc sandwich bags INT, bubblewrap EXT (small microphones)
- Thin, padded, elongated containers (large microphones)
- Cigar caddies (1, 2, 4, 8)
Lavaliers
- Original manufacturer cases for city or non-dangerous situations
- Pelican 1010 for multiple lav storage (wet, humid environment)
- Fisherman bait plastic, roung containers for tight storage

Wind Protection
Pelican 1550/1600 case(s)
Full Zeppelin, BBG
- Windjammers stored inside the zeppelin w/ handle attached.
Lav Furries
- Ziploc bag
Pop/Windscreens
- Individually sized plastic, squared containers (Rubbermaid sets from Amazon)

Wireless
Pelican 1550 case(s)
Talents
- Lectrosonics Rx/Tx packed side-to-side vertically in one 1550 case (Fits 12 sets)
- Antennas stored in Ziploc bags and into Pelican 1010 and clear, vinyl pencil cases
Hops
- Sennheisers Rx/Tx with accessories in one 1550 (Fits 16 sets)
- Accessories are packed in zippered pencil cases w/ clear vinyl window
Coms
- All stored in one Pelican 1550 case, 2x Lectro IFBT4 6x R1a, 2x Comtek Tx 8x Rx
Sharkfins, LPDA
- 4x stored in one Pelican 1550 case with RG8 cables, splitters, combiners, amplifiers

Slates
Laptop padded sleeves
Dumb and Smart

Mixers/Recorders
Pelican 1550 case(s), Anvil tabletop mixer case
Field mixers/recorders
- All stored in their respective manufacturer sound bags
- Accessories stored in clear vinyl pencil cases
Medium format mixers
- All housed in anvil-type rack cases for storage, pulled out onto table or cart for usage.

Power/Battery
Pelican 1400, 1550 case(s)
Sony L-type batteries
- Stored individually in their own mini-camera containers
IDX NP1
- Stored in single/double 30-round mag-sized pouches, leads taped with white paper tape
AA
- Stored in manufacturer box
9V
- Stored in PowerPax battery caddies, Ipower 9v battery caddy
Marine-celled
- Each Stored in Pelican 1400
Chargers

Tapes
Paracord 550
Gaff, Paper, Masking, Painters, Electrical
- Assorted size color gaffs and papertapes are looped through a homemade 1-foot and 2-foot black paracord 550 w/ carabiner attached

Microphone/Speaker Stands
Onstage carry-on bags, custom-made cordura bags
Microphone Stands
Booms, Sraights, shorties
- All stored in various-sized Onstage zipper cases
Large-format (56 inches and above collapsed)
- Custom-made bags
Speaker Stands
- Stored in Onstage zipper cases

Boompoles
PVC pipes, Cabela rishing rod case, Pelican 1750
- All stored in respective PVC/fishing rod cases w/ bottom glued and top off
- All Paracord 550 handles for carry
- All then stored in Pelican 1750 long case.

Music Playback, VOG
Anvil rack cases, cart, full of odds and ends. Speakers packed in manufacturer nylon cordura cases.

Cables
Plastic Tote bins, Milk Crates, Pelican 1560
Stingers, Electrical
- Various sizes stored in Milk crates and tote bins
Data
- Tote bins
Microphone?line, snakes
- Milk Crate, Tote bins, Pelican 1650 for travel
- Cables are individually cable colored by their length w/ color collars and color zip ties.

Accessories
Milk crates, totes, Pelican 1550/1600
Headphones
- Manufacturer vinyl cases, all loaded into milk crates with ID
Pony clamps
- Milk crates
C47, bobby pins, Bongo ties
- Large Ziploc bags
Microphone clips, shockmounts
- All stored in Pelican 1600
Flashlights, multitools
- Mag pouches
Soldering Station and other related items
- All soldering-related items are stored in personal 1550
Connectors
- All stored in Plastic bags, into metal cases, into Pelican 1550 for travel


Just for Film/TV stuff...
 
+1 for the Pelicans. You can choose the size and configurations, but you just can't beat them for the ultimate protection. I really prefer luggage for my video gear, but the audio stuff gets Pelicans.

Grant
 
I haverecently got this bag that I think covers most jobs. It has room for mixer, recorder, cans, 1 or 2 wireless systems (both transmitter & receiver) a 2 or 3 20 foot cables, or even my thick break away cable. And it's got some hitten pockets for stuff I need out of the way, but accessible like batteries.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/686614-REG/Petrol_PS602_PS602_Deca_Eargonizer_Bag.html

For larger jobs that require cabling I just got a cool Duck Wear tool bac with lots of little pockets and space for a bunch of cables: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00002243C.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.gif

But I do video also, so I have a big Kata OMB75 bag that holds a camera and has room for a reasonable amount of audio gear too. It all depends on how many mics, cables, mixers you have. I choose to go larger than I need.
 
No simple solution...

No simple solution...

Thanks to all. First, it's heartening to hear that this is a common issue. I had thought I might have been the only one trying to figure out how to do it.

From just these few responses it seems that you're all over the map when it comes to the best solution for your personal needs, yet you have your own unique ways of solving the "how to haul" problem.

Once again, thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top