afewmoreyears

Love it...

I am SO on the sideline with this machine....... I am just waiting for some stability.... They probably ARE stable... but the perception is "not yet"... That's how I read all the info coming in.... VERY nice...but... The shipping back to ZAX and the amount of issues is a concern, but that being said, it's early... Too much, too fast (well not really) I feel so much angst relating to this particular machine... As for getting an Infant mortality machine for me..... That's just how my life is.... I'm terrified... and, I totally understand waiting, saving, paying and then suffering.... I feel bad for those who have had issues.... I too would be upset and perhaps a tad bitter... aggravated is a good word here.. especially with the Payout for shipping and Ins... But, that's really "simply life" for all electronics these days.... to be fair, but for electronics that cost so much, it does border on something else.... maybe just MORE frustration, because it WAS such an expense... you really expect it to work as advertised.. Maybe an agreement or warranty which states they will pay for the shipping and such to get the recorder to and from in the event of a service issue for the first year..... I know that would make me feel a bit better about "jumping in".... I mean, if they REALLY feel good about it, and want to make a reliability statement, stand behind it with paid shipping and Ins. too... I mean, if it really is just a few machines, what do they have to loose?... Perception is very powerful as we are seeing here... whether it is warranted or not... But for now..... still waiting..... money in hand.... Could I just jump to a 788?.... Maybe.... thinking more about it.... I am one of those that has never had issues in the field with a Nagra, Fostex or SD recorder..... Lucky, maybe..... Knock on wood...The thought is unsettling to me, even though I would just swap it out.... The folks we work with are so uptight, the 5 min would probably kill them all....dead....

Go to a bigger gun/ sports store, such as Cabelas..... gun dept. ask for desiccant packs for gun safes.... they come in small, medium and really big for use in gun safes.... they are reusable, and last for years..... You simply put them in the oven for a few hours at 300 degrees and they are ready to go again..... I have had the same ones for years.... I keep them in drawers in my huge rolling follow cart.... funny, but one big one will take care of the interior of my whole van....

Sound flat..... exactly!!

7506s..... I will take two pairs of the 7506s for the price of one pair of HD25s and their cheesy plugs any day of the week... Over the last number of years I have been really happy with them... They just feel like home to me...

I don't know what to say about dependability on the 606 Fostex unit and units I have owned other than to say they have all been flawless.... After hundreds of days on this machine, my buttons work perfect, still, exactly as they did when I pulled it out of the box....naming with the keypad on the machine is FAST and very easy.... don't understand the problem there either... Maybe the unit in question had some dirt and grime issues...? I have had, nor do I have any problem either turning in DVD RAM discs, Transferring data using the USB method, or giving the DVD ram to DITS for a mount and transfer then the Disc goes to production for a backup in their show files... pretty simple stuff .... Are there smaller units for over the shoulder, yes, of course, but for my cart, I still LOVE my 606 and it's ability to do it's job and never let me down...." SO FAR..." Arming tracks for use is a one push button... everything is right there, fast and easy.... heavier, yes, bigger, yes.... personally, I don't care.... It's on my cart, and since I usually can't get to the gym that day, I am actually happy for the extra amount of weight... For those struggling to get data on and off the machine, maybe read the manual, or simply ask someone who knows how, but to say it is unable to play in today's sound game is a very inaccurate thought.... Or, that the USB file transfer method reduces the file quality in a way making them bad tracks. Even given the options, (and by the way I do own other machines and plan on a Nomad once the smoke clears), I still actually prefer my 606.... It's crazy... What can I say.... The Nomad will become my grab and go bag rig..... One of these days... The money is sitting in my account, just waiting... while all the nice folks at ZAX continue to polish that machine and it's software.. That Fostex will remain on my cart... I will probably pre-empitively swap my DVD ram drive this Summer just because thats how I do things... before it has any issues.... but I too am moving to transfer of data via USB I would go Nomad or 788T in a heartbeat before the Nagra, but that's just my .02.... I think I would rather deal with Sound Devices or Zax directly for issues, I know they do a great job... Getting Nagra service may be just as good, I don't know... It's been a while and I never actually dealt with them...

The forum is not large enough for my list of redundant gear.... Sometimes I wonder why.... but better to have the stuff than not...

RVD, The Collette is a great tool, expensive litter bugger... we use them from time to time..... and love it.... If the car is static, we will sometimes break it out.... same great Schoeps sound, little footprint... A must have piece of gear if you ask me.... Nice pics...

I really think the best solution is to clearly show them HOW to operate the TURN ON function.... Load them with batteries the night before, and tell them to turn them on in the morning.... Use lithium batts, and if possible dweedle them off... If they are responsible, I don't see how it will be a problem.... It is not that technical.. Even the dimmest of lights can do the simple steps...Or, simply have them have a sound person in early...

No apology necessary Richard.... I sometimes wonder what someone watching would think watching us REACT to the never ending sequence of events and of changes that go into miking a car rig that they must think we are nuts. But crap happens fast.... you need to think on your toes.... I sometimes have no time to worry about perceptions, I need to get mics out of the shot and sounding good, and if I or my boom op mostly, are forced to look like idiots at times trying to accomplish that, so be it... It's war out there... The cramped quarters magnifies this effect due to everyone working on top of each other... but in the end, I smile when i say.... that worked out pretty good and I am happy with the product... Idiot or not... So many variables, so many last second lighting and actor changes... so much to deal with..... It's hard to look like you have a plan.... because you try, but seldome get to stick with it... The only plan I have is to end up with good dialog in the end.... I also have not had the best of luck with a cub on the dash, I saw the photo above, and although that does provide for some audio, it has never been the audio I like unless it is overhead, against a nice headliner and in a quiet or standing still vehicle... Too far from the mouth for me... I have had much better luck with the overhead Sanken COS 11s... especially on a trailer or on a moving vehicle... get em close and the audio fat... works for me...

RVD "I'm also surprised to read that many of you employ two micing methods for a single shot. If I were an AD watching a sound crew rig a car being towed, and saw that they were planting mics and wiring the talent, I would think I was working with a sound crew that didn't have a clear plan about how to capture the sound for the shot we're doing. Just my opinion." Goodness, If an AD is standing there worrying about how the sound dept. is dealing with their job, I would be worried about the AD... to hell with their opinions... or their inner thoughts... But really, in all fairness, hell, sound persons everywhere tackle their little puzzle however they do it.. If that means someone had dialog going into the car and were wired.... and the vehicle needed lavs planted in the front .. who's to really say that that method or any other is or may be wrong for any given shot... who knows... I would say, try different things, be creative, screw what the AD thinks and get your sound any way your brain tells you to get it.. 1 mic, 2 mics or 4....

When you are on a long show, and can work out the workflows to use one thing or another and run with it, thats a really good thing... For us, it's one show to another, always different people, crews, workflows and orders from production.... For me, I too like to pop out a Disc, and be on my way... or, simply get a CF card to DIT to download... What I do not want to do however is cycle through cards by leaving them and getting them back via mail or such.... for a few reasons, I would never want to go that route.... One of the great thing about the commercial world, besides food, time off...a life and the pay..... things are always different...sometimes thats good...

FS, No, Still discs on the film deals... I encourage them to take at least one.... hold on to it just in case.... on the HD gigs I transfer the data to the DIT, hold on to the data on my drives for just a bit and get the data onto my Mac just to have... also for just a bit... On the film jobs I turn in two DVD RAM discs, one master and one backup from another recorder... I run two at a time... I will give them what they want, but for most of the commercial gigs, they seem to still like the concept of the "Disc"... go figure... Besides, more income for me this way... If they want a CF, no prob.... but they still want the disc if no DIT...

I knew the SECOND I read the first post, it would be found and was NOT stolen..... For me as well, I will first say, I always think someone stole something.....

Yes, very much so..... Non Cartridge ones all over the place... I have hundreds... and still use them...

Every situation like others is different... as has been mentioned.... moving, static, car type, whats been removed from the car (doors-sunroofs etc.)... so many variables... But, that being said, we have had really good luck with Sanken COS 11s in the visors.... FOR PROCESS TRAILER OR MOVING deals... This really sounds nice, especially in situations where the car tends to have the visors CLOSER to the passengers and the car is nicely quiet... duhhhhh... The mics set in this way are also nice because they can either be tucked in where they are really hard to see, or placed out on a custom made spun wire mount, with a tape loop (big wire loop on one end) on one side so tape will stick the wire (4 to 6 inches) to the car... the other side the Sanken simple is taped to.... This wire then can be bent out, up down or tucked back in for concealment.. We also use these wires for the BACK seat situations where you see everything on the top, but the seat hides a mounting point on the back.... The wire mount can be used to get the Sanken out and closer to the talent... ' Now, sometimes we use CMC6s on mounts of various types, but these days with multiple cameras, this is harder to get away with... They are harder to conceal. The bumping by talent also is a pain in the ass. If the vehicle is moving, other problems seem to present themselves noise wise, but sometimes it works really well... especially static... Other benefits of the Sankens are (if used with a MM, SM or even SMQ) are that you can many times get the trans under the visor as well.... It is high up and ready for better reception.... it helps..... Talent worn lavs sound great, but packs are low, or if stashed, opens up other pains in the ass... Seat belts wreak havoc as well as abrupt head turns and body movement of all things inside the car.... you would think it is better, but in most cases, it's worse... The multiple cameras these days, removed doors and noise galore are the real problems we encounter, but they can in many cases be overcome.... I hate car gigs.... I just cringe.... never cared for it, never will.... Even though I try to keep gear just for this situation separate, I always find myself tearing up the package a bit to get everything rigged, then rebuilt quickly to get back on the cart... This is what bugs me most, it gets messy at times, but it is part of the deal, the more I try to stay organized, the more things get "messed up"... Uggggg Always big ALP 620 ants, always ISO tracks, unless they want a drive away rig, then still wireless, but from a bag in the back... and a kiss goodbye.....

Yes like a french lunch break, eat while bent over... LOL... Only a joke....

Yeah, Try that crap at 50, or 60.... Not yet 30?..... It's not so much the loss of "life" or "time", sh-t I'd be sleeping... but the difficulty in doing it day after day... It really gets hard.... think of how you younger guys feel, how tired and worn out you are, now tack on 20 or 30 years..... It gets hard.....

In my case I take either a playback package I have, any of them, or simply a powered 400 watt speaker, and use the EQ on my 01V96 to roll off everything above 30, 40 or 50 cycles... pick one... There is your thumper....

Robert, thanks by the way...... I won't send anything in myself unless something is not functioning properly, then it goes in right away... I used to clean my old Cooper 106 myself... I took the faders apart into a bunch of pieces, cleaned everything and put it all back together.... I did this for years, and as time went on, it needed it more and more... In two years, my 01V96 has needed nothing thank goodness... It does have a battery which must be changed out by a repair facility... Why the hell did they not make that a servicable part... probably money... So far my MAJOR gear has needed next to nothing but cleaning... for years... knock on wood... but in fairness new gear is added and replaced regularly...Although I do the Major cleaning quarterly, I reorganize before each job... making sure everything is in it's place... On some rough jobs, I am glad to simply get everything back and into the van.... You do what you can... my point was to take the time and do it... like not staying out late before a show, (never anymore, but used to as a younger guy), you just pay more in pain and heartache if you don't just do it... both get rest AND clean house.... and it's still hard work...

The Carnet and the "intrest " is from all my experience related to country of origin, value... whats coming in and whats going back out... I have never seen the officials there concerned with the frequency of ANY of the gear.... Now this was a few years ago, but I doubt it has changed... As for what will WORK there, better you check, looks like Mr. Mega has provided some reference material... As always, bring a bunch if you can, and see whats availible once your there... even after all your research.. These days, you have to pick and choose once on site... so many variables... doing your homework like your doing cant hurt...

Pretty straightforward, nice job, thank you Mr. Trew....

Just wanted to give a shout out on the importance of going COMPLETELY through your kit and not only taking an inventory of all the items both large and small (tiny too), but in actually cleaning anything that might need it... This includes all connectors, XLRs, comtek or IFB connectors (male and female), wireless parts and accessories as well as the lavs themselves... and all battery connection terminals. I look for missing set screws, nuts, bolts.. ect... Get all the sticky sttuff off everything and bring things back to spec of sorts... Boom poles should be serviced, cart cleaned, tires checked for pressure and condition on and on.... I do this in depth check Quarterly... I would suppose some do it before a large show, then again after... others maybe once a year... I know mixers who NEVER do it... I don't recommend this... We all have SO many pieces of gear, large and very small, it's a good habbit to keep things in place, maintained and in check.... I sometimes spend two full days going through things, I feel SO MUCH better after doing so... I feel like I know everything is OK and in it's proper place.. I ALWAYS find missing bits, items that need to be replaced, items that needed cleaning and items that were simply out of place in my kit... As a bonus, I also almost always find something cool in my kit I forgot all about... For the old timers, you already knew this... For newer folks, get on the program... Your nerves and your ability to do your job will be better in the end...

Awesome.... ANDROID PLEASE.... Thank you guys so much..... Great job.... MUCH appreciated....

If price is an issue, about $1,300 in US dollars for the 8060 and about $1,000 for the 416.... The 416 IS battle tested, that's for sure... The 8060 is an option... good advice...