Tim Norris

We had to deploy my tent during a windy rainstorm in downtown Milwaukee on April 3. It was cold, windy, and very wet. Three of us had it in place in less than ten minutes. The other two held it down while I assembled the stands and pulled out the shot bags. I remembered to collect these images for you! It took several days for the tent and shot bags to dry out in my garage. Clamp Clamp on stand connected to tent leg. Must take care to attach clamp to tent leg to avoid crushing/crimping the leg. It is sometimes easiest to attach clamp to leg properly and raise stand into place below it. Once attached, the lower sections of the tent legs can be retracted if they are in the way. You can adjust the height of the tent with the C-Stands. Cheers, Tim

You get what you pay for? Cheers, Tim

Looking at the provided picture, the mic seems quite old and worn, not damaged by production. I might guess the damage is due to age, perhaps some lack of care, but mostly age. The plastic covering will continue to break off. I have had lavs damaged by production and was reimbursed by production. I would never consider an attempt to be reimbursed for this one. It's time for a new lav. Cheers, Tim

The real answer: Lav microphones are disposable items. Yours is damaged near the capsule. There is no way to repair it to be as usable as it was before it was damaged. If it was damaged close to the other end, you could salvage it with a new connector or heat shrink tube. The insulation will continue to break off. At best, it will be a last resort back-up. Cheers, Tim

Not all boom poles are created equal. I recall experiencing intermittent electrical interference with my first internal coiled cable Vdb pole, and always at one particular spot on The Magnificent Mile in Chicago, above an electrical vault. In January 2000, covering the Iowa Caucus, I bought my first internal coiled cable K-Tek pole to replace the Vdb pole, mostly because it was much longer and candidate Bush didn't like to get close to the press. I first noticed a reduction in all handling noise as well as a reduction in wind noise, which I had attributed to the wind protection on my Schoeps mic. You will likely be pleased with a top of the line K-tek pole. Cheers, Tim

I carry C-Stands and Cardellini clamps to secure the tent, weighing each stand down with plenty of shot bags, depending on the wind. This is usually for rain. With C-Stands attached to each leg, the tent lasts longer, and it is simple to raise or lower the tent by adjusting the stands. Those 20" shorty risers come in handy for this. Setup is fairly quick and easier than hanging weight on the tent. I mount golf umbrellas to C-Stands using the same Cardellini clamps and shot bags. Easy to move around as the sun moves. I would love to have a large rectangular umbrella I could mount to my cart, but it seems like more work, could be less stable, and may be more difficult to adjust as the sun moves. Cheers, Tim

After years of use, I decommissioned my Ultra Sync stuff a year ago. It seems they are not supported in the US, either. Cheers, Tim

If you had two compatible single freq sets, you could send your audio signal to both TX... Many years ago, when 187s and 190s were fairly new, on complicated Live Shots for network news I would use one 'Lectro TX to send an IFB signal to multiple wide-band radio transceiver scanners which could receive my 'Lectro TX signal. I had three of these wide-band transceivers plus the one 'Lectro RX in the frequency matching the TX. It worked OK at a time when real wireless IFB was not really available. Before that, I used multiple 187 sets, on different frequencies, sending the same IFB audio signal to the multiple TX. Each talent had a receiver with an earpiece coming from the headphone jack, in addition to their microphone bodypack on yet another different compatible frequency. The wide-band transceivers offered an acceptable audio signal in a smaller package than the 187/190 receiver and an easier TX setup. Neither fix was nearly as elegant as real wireless IFB or a modern IEM system, but it worked. Cheers, Tim

Perhaps it's the microphone? Cheers, Tim

I had an RM once and lost it. I discovered I preferred the iPhone app and did not replace it. The app may be a good option if it's an option for you. It doesn't need to be your primary phone, nor even operate as a phone. I haven't used it for years, but it sure was cool when the RM was new! Cheers, Tim

I added an SL6 to my 688 years ago. Because I got rid of audio and power cables to RX and no longer needed a BDS, my bag lost about half a pound. I switched to a Scorpio with SL2 a couple years ago. Better in all respects except for the loss of a couple power outputs on the SL6. The best part was getting rid of the cables. For that, I prefer the SL2/8 series combo. The Dashboard was a nice addition to my MixPre 10 rig, holding a DSR and BDS firmly in place in a small bag. Cheers, Tim

Not having your checkbook is quite a poor excuse, a dead holdover from the '80s. These days, any person or business can pay through their phone. The bank writes the check, pays the postage, and you don't even need to find a mailbox, all for free! As treasurer of small a non-profit org, I often receive a text or email invoice and pay it immediately while on a lunch break or from my hotel room in the evening. My non-profit company checks are always in my pocket... A speedy payment is essential for any business. Cheers, Tim

Huh... the C-Stand is a modified tripod and is what I use. I carry four detachable base stands with standard risers and three with 20" risers, all in black, as well as four 15# and six 25# shot bags, arms, short arms and gobo heads. Super easy to pack and set up. They are more stable than even a large heavy duty light stand because they are easier to stabilize with shot bags. I can't imagine using anything else. Let us know what you settle on! Cheers, Tim

Doing mostly News, I have been using the Schoeps MK41 capsule, nearly exclusively, since 1989 or so. I like the low profile and weight, especially with the newer CMC-1. It's worked for me from quiet indoor interviews to noisy street scenes and full blown hurricanes using the Schoeps W20R1 basket with the fur covering for wind protection. I have become accustomed to the way it sounds... Cheers, Tim

Many years ago, students at a BIG10 football game referred to mine as a 'possum on a stick. I think this predated Dead Cat. Cheers, Tim