codyman

I currently have a '17 Transit Connect and it's kinda the perfect size for *most* things, especially as our gear kind of shrinks down a bit and carts don't need to be as massive as they used to be. That being said, I'm a bit miffed by the fact that this is the end of the Transit Connect / Ram Promaster City / Mercedes Metris etc. for North America. Now if you want a van, you have to buy a full sized one. Hopefully someone comes out with something decent sized and electric someday but I do worry if something happened to my Transit Connect, I'd be up you know what creek in terms of not wanting a big behemoth that gets mileage in the teens and has the suspension of a Conestoga wagon. Hopefully someone like Ford comes to their senses and makes something again off the Maverick Hybrid platform as it would be nice to get 40+mpg crawling along on the 405 per usual.

Oof, that Merecdes test with the blocks is nasty. Word to the wise, never cheap out and buy an older van either because some of those 90's vehicles, particular the US Domestic stuff, were nasty even without a load.

No one publicly knows but they've been touting, "High IP3 performance of +15 dBm for tough RF environments". I think it's safe to say it will have better performance than an SRc but I have no insights to that other than this performance metric they've publicly announced.

Slightly off topic but with the RX4+ in a bag, do you use the knobs for each channels as faders and then is it push it to solo/change the trim? Just curious

Well they are supposed to be releasing the RX8+ add on for slot receiver module / they have a dante option etc so they have been really good about keeping it up to date? A lot of these recorders sound amazing and it seems most of the features we're seeing on newer models are more focusing on convenience features (such as built in wireless / higher track count / DANTE etc) because pro level 24bit/48khz stuff sounds pretty darn amazing.

That's the shame about the Sonosax one. It seems to be the perfect size (and probably built like a tank) yet without having trim knobs, it's a no go for me at least.

I have one of these mothballed from back when I used to use it for a lot of post stuff. I wouldn't recommend it for location carts as yes it is heavy and although it's fine/good in the post world, I just can't imagine it being really "worth it" in the field given the weight and size. Frankly I should probably sell mine as it hasn't been used in a couple years.

Are you referring to the 8 series recorders or the MixPre series? Seems the Cadillac 3rd party controller for the 8 series is the Sonosax control surface.

Probably was a fake auction if they were saying you had to contact them and purchase outside the eBay ecosystem.

A lot of the Los Angeles mid-tier "we're creating content" kinda gigs seem to be offering about $700-900 all in a day, at least from what I get contacted about here and there. That's great if you're showing up with a Zoom F4 and two Sennheiser G3's with really nothing else to offer, but it's a bit comical when someone hits you up wanting to pay in that range for a "small shoot with only 4 wires needed / timecode IFBs" etc. With how crazy both new and used gear has shot up in price, not sure how anyone can afford to get paid that kinda rate unless you're just turning yourself into a rented government mule that works 80 hours a week breaking your back.

Whether it be miscommunication or not, I'd be cautious doing business with this client in the future given that they are trying to play with words and terms around you.

Yep, I've never had a Denecke break on me. I have JB-1's and also some old school timecode boxes from that from practically millennia ago and they still work great.

This is why I opted to keep 4 channels of my Lectro 600mhz stuff rather than offload it. Works great when I travel overseas for work it's already paid for itself again in terms of its value vs what it would have cost me in rentals for the amount of overseas gigs I've done.

Huh, not sure what went wrong there. Here's attempt #2:

I'm starting to see a lot of the 400 series single block SM series Lectros coming up for sale in the $700-900 range for an SMV/SMQV. Seems prices are dipping a bit as I'm assuming more and more are jumping on the digital train? I recently picked up another HM plug on transmitter in the block I wanted for just $750 so there are definitely deals to be had out there.

I'm still stoked on my 400 series Lectro gear. Bought my first one in I want to say 2012? and still have it. I first used Lectro gear on set in film school in January 2009 on a shoot (pictured below during a night shoot in the famous "Bookman" book store in Orange, CA). I was blown away back then by how great the pair I had on a shoot sounded and the range was fantastic vs the very old Audio Technica sets I had used prior. I already have a DSR4 on pre-order and it's fantastic that I can still use the stuff I purchased in 2012 alongside anything new in the digital domain as time goes on.

You'd have to get the upcoming DSR4 slot receiver which can spit out 4 channels of AES each slot. That will work in the Octopack and actually turn it into a Hexadecapack? once released.

It would have been cool if they would have somehow made 833-888-Scorpio models with wireless built in. Maybe just double the price and give each wireless channels corresponding to how many faders on front. 833 6 wireless, 888 8 wireless etc. I'm sure that's where things are headed (Technically the Nova already kinda does this).

In all jest, they've been asking us to do that for years and some of those reality folks sure try. I remember seeing some of those 788t + 8x 411a setups and wanting to contact a physical therapist just from seeing the photos.

I always tell people too that I'm not here for the good times of everything going smoothly, I'm here for when things go wrong and then I have backups / plans / the know how in how to navigate whatever is at hand. Yeah for a sit down interview, some newbie probably could roll in with a Zoom H8, cheap knock off 416 and some unknown brand of lav and record the sound for you, but who knows what problems might arise? What's the buzz on the recording? Why did the lav blow out? etc etc. I have professional, tested gear and then a whole bevy of backups and solutions to make sure everything goes hunky dory to the point where I can just give you the files after we wrap for the day and you don't have to worry about it. I can't tell you how many clients I've picked up because either they tried to "do sound themselves" or hired someone that didn't know what they were doing, especially in the documentary world which is something I'm often working in.

I don't know if you're familiar with the cost of living in the Los Angeles metro area but it is egregiously expensive. I know in my neck of the woods, you need $254,286/year to be able to "afford" the typical mortgage right now!

You're right in bringing up this discussion as it really does need to be discussed more (and let's face it, all industries need to discuss pay with their peers more!). I've quoted $750/10 + gear being negotiable depending on what's needed BUT generally don't let the overall floor go below $1000/day all in. That being said, there's always exceptions to the rule and personally, my exceptions are: 1. Friend who is doing something where I know they have $XYZ and I'm willing to do it as a favor for that price for them (assuming it's non-corporate or something back breaking). 2. Someone comes really close to that $1k mile marker and I genuinely think it won't be a back breaking day nor do I think they are lying about not being able to pay more. If it is for hawking some big brand or whatever and I know they have more $$$, then this is where I really do some soul searching and see if it actually is worth it. 3. Someone is asking for something silly easy and for just a couple hours work and I have zero else going on. I actually just packed up my van a few minutes ago for exception #3. Someone I know and like working with offered me a 1 hour sit down interview for $900 today. All in all, I'll really probably be there more like 3 hours but it's an interview with a very noteworthy musician I like and it is being shot in a literal recording studio so I know sound won't be an issue so I figure hey, why not. Anyways, I've already told myself that my base labor rate as of January 1st, 2023 I'm going to start saying $800/10 to people so we'll see where that takes me as let's face it, gear ain't getting any cheaper nor is anything else in life!

I'm sure it works great and has all the latest bells and whistles but yikes, $15k for hardware that is still being sandbagged via software? If it was $15k and had 16 channels, that would be a great value proposition but I just hate how companies are jumping on this sandbag and/or subscription bandwagon just to make their shareholders happy. What's next? 8 channels for only $199/month! Sign up now and we'll throw in Dante for just $49/month extra (taxes/fees not included).

Ebay is good for buying but selling is terrible. They take their fees out of the total including tax/shipping! So they always get a bigger chunk then you'd think but yes, you'll probably find a buyer. I have heard horror stories of buyers claiming all sorts of things and getting their money back etc. although I thankfully haven't encountered that. The biggest problem I've had is deadbeat bidders who at the end of the auction ghost you or say "Actually I don't want it and/or don't have the money for it". Then why did you bid!?!

Lots of good advice on here. I'd first and foremost start off by making a detailed spreadsheet and photos of every single thing you're offering. It will be tedious, but then maybe list it without a price and see what offers come in as long as people will take every last inch of equipment, the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all? If the numbers given to you don't sound good, then you might have to do what Doug suggests and sell the really good stuff off first and then maybe list the less desirable stuff as a lot. The good news right now is that I'm finding that because of how high the prices of new gear have climbed these last few years (thanks chip shortage / inflation etc), I'm noticing that good used gear, even if dated a bit, tends to be selling for higher than expected. I recently witnessed this when people literally on three continents were fighting over some old Tascam gear I was selling from 2008, go figure.