SonicBoomPole Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 So I'm on a shoot ending today that has some very sweaty actors doing some physical struggling and lots of shouting. My question is basically how you all have dealt with moisture like sweat(real or not), make up/lotion, blood etc getting near your lav mics. I've been using transpore and moleskin as well as rycote undercovers but wondered if there is a better method of keeping my mics clean and safe from harm. I recently had one of my OST TL 40s die on the last shot of the night on an actress and when I pulled the mic it felt greasy. I asked about lotion and she said no. She wasn't sweaty but other than that I can't think of why this one went down. Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VASI Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 It is necessary to wire with lavalier? I am asking because you said in last time you lost one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 " My question is basically how you all have dealt with moisture like sweat(real or not), make up/lotion, blood etc getting near your lav mics. " rotating spares (exercise shows) ... ...and of course L&D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted August 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 L&D? Is that when production re-imburses you for broken stuff? Yeah I'm getting them to pay for it. But it is inconvenient to have to wait for a new one to come and of course waiting for the check. I do have spares but they are inferior and would rather keep it consistent. I guess that's just part of the gig. Anyway in this situation yes I did need to wire them because the location sounds terrible and they aren't doing much blocking or rehearsing and the lighting is poor and creating shadows...ahhhh indie shoots. Today I'm booming as much as possible saving wires for when we really need them. So no real solutions to moisture and lavs? Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 So no real solutions to moisture and lavs? Anyone? Countryman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 " But it is inconvenient to have to wait for a new one to come and of course waiting for the check. " CRAP happens... ...and that's what spares are for.... and many Countryman's are renowned for being water/moisture resistant... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Pert Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 It definitely depends... But, I just learned a new technique that worked really well for us in 110 degree heat in the desert with lots of sweating on a reality type shoot where there was no chance to readjust lavs during the shoot. Use an rm-11 and use a large piece of moleskin (3"x3" to 5"x5" depending how sweaty) to affix it either directly to skin, or for heavy sweaters directly to shirt. Line top of moleskin with top of rm-11. Sounds amazingly clean and will stay on all day long. Now have fun getting the talent to agree to that one. Thanks to Joe Shim for sharing this with me. Hope he doesn't mind me giving away his secret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT Groove Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I have dealt with plenty sweaty talent in this Tx and Louisiana heat with high humidity. One trick I discovered accidentally is to cover the entire head of the lav with Kinesio tape. Kinesio tends to be semi water resistant while at the same time acoustically transparent. Since I have tried this method, I have not have a COS-11 soak out sounding muddy like they did before. This method also adds a bit of wind protection as well. Sammy Huen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted August 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 Brandon - awesome. I will certainly remember that and give it a try. Thanks! And yeah B6 would be nice in the future as well. Thanks guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted August 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 Thanks Sammy I need to find some of that tape then and order a few rm11s. Love this site! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I find Kinesio tape sticks better to sweaty bodies than moleskin (though that may be user error in my part). And as Jack suggests, Countryman mics work well on sweaty bodies. Today I'm booming as much as possible saving wires for when we really need them. I think I saw you: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate C Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 Placing the transmitter and the mic head upside down will also help prevent any moisture getting in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim M Posted August 10, 2013 Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 It definitely depends... But, I just learned a new technique that worked really well for us in 110 degree heat in the desert with lots of sweating on a reality type shoot where there was no chance to readjust lavs during the shoot. Use an rm-11 and use a large piece of moleskin (3"x3" to 5"x5" depending how sweaty) to affix it either directly to skin, or for heavy sweaters directly to shirt. Line top of moleskin with top of rm-11. Sounds amazingly clean and will stay on all day long. Now have fun getting the talent to agree to that one. Thanks to Joe Shim for sharing this with me. Hope he doesn't mind me giving away his secret. Every piece of tape fails under certain type of conditions. I've had seemingly industrial grade toupee tape fail to even remotely stick to a sweaty patch of skin in hot and humid conditions...or shirts... that is after moleskin and all others. Nonhumid locations where sweat evaporates easily and humidity is low tapes do work better...but not in the south. A well placed vampire clip or special arrangements thereof have never failed me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted August 10, 2013 Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 ... A well placed vampire clip or special arrangements thereof have never failed me. You just have to get over the cries of. "Dang, that stings!" when you apply it to their bare skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted August 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 Love the video! The particular wardrobe involved was a wife beater...vampire would have been obvious. It was pretty visible on camera with it taped to the shirt but once the skin was just drenched in sweat it made the shirt less able to take the tape. The mic was also more visible the more the shirt got wet. I need to get some white or skin tome color wires which would have helped at least. Sound was fine as long as the tape was sticking. I just got tired of having to change the mic all the time due to moisture and then was worried it might kill my mic eventually. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Mayer Posted August 10, 2013 Report Share Posted August 10, 2013 I occasionally work on a show that uses NeoPax chest belts: http://www.neopax.biz/products.html We use a COS-11 in an RM-11 on some contractors who can get really sweaty. No issues so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 I sometimes use sports tape to attach the Mic when the medical tapes wont hold through the sweat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted August 18, 2013 Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 Every piece of tape fails under certain type of conditions. I've had seemingly industrial grade toupee tape fail to even remotely stick to a sweaty patch of skin in hot and humid conditions...or shirts... that is after moleskin and all others. Nonhumid locations where sweat evaporates easily and humidity is low tapes do work better...but not in the south. A well placed vampire clip or special arrangements thereof have never failed me. Kinesio tape can last a few days, through swims, runs, showers, humid states. It's definitely not the solution for every problem, but it can be a useful tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted August 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2013 So yes, Kinesio tape is on the list of things to get as well as a mic-bra but I just spent a ton of money and I'd like to stop now (664!) I'll try out some sports tape also. Glad to be off that shoot though and ready for the next one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thope Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 I did a show where the main actor wears the same singlet throughout the whole film. Make up where constantly spraying him down to keep him wet. On the first day we worked out with the costume dept to have them sew the mic in to the singlet. Never had problems with it after that. Cos 11 lasted 6 weeks being sprayed at close range 100x a day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_bollard Posted October 21, 2013 Report Share Posted October 21, 2013 If need to get the mic on before the sweating starts. Sports tape (Leuko) will stick on thru the worst of the sweating if it goes on first; if it gets taken off when wet you will need to either get wardrobe to dry the top or provide a new one. Taping to skin is pretty much the same - get it on dry and you should be ok - consider orienting the mic head "down" to avoid sweat buildup in the diaphragm. Getting it sewn on is great if there's time and opportunity; usually the quietest way to attach too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundpod Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 There's a medical product called skin prep that creates a barrier on the skin that the tape will stick to. http://www.smith-nephew.com/professional/products/all-products/skin-prep/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lipka Posted October 22, 2013 Report Share Posted October 22, 2013 Or try this one! > http://www.vt-switzerland.com/en/vt500water-waterproof-miniature-omni-lavalier-microphone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonicBoomPole Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 The VT500 looks great! Have you used it? Does it sound ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 " Does it sound ok? " that is difficult to say... what is OK ? they sell a bunch of them.... some folks must think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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