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thebrengun

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Everything posted by thebrengun

  1. Forgetting to plug in the refrigerator at the end of the day is an occupational hazard for most if not all of us. I am told that many put their keys in the refrigerator to help them remember but here in New York City that only means that I return to my apartment to discover I've left the refrigerator unplugged AND I'm locked out of my apartment. I've thought of leaving my iPhone in the refrigerator but couldn't bear to be without it as I am addicted. So I made myself a wallpaper for the phone to help me remember. I figured others might enjoy it so I put it online. Downloadable as a zip or view (in various colors) here. Here's the wallpaper in action on my phone:
  2. I am always surprised when I am not re-screened or hassled in any way when I carry on my Rode NTG3 in it's case:
  3. Jan, I was actually told this story by a producer (Will) whom I've worked with as a boom op a couple of times! It's a great story (and a great film as well) so it's quite nice to hear it again from the source.
  4. This is a bit off-topic but I just finished booming a feature on the RED and had no problems with camera noise--except mysteriously during one setup there was a lot of interference affecting the CMIT5U. It would get louder and louder if I brought the mic close to the camera. We spent a few minutes turning on and off various settings on the camera before I thought about what could be different. Was it the wireless focus assist? No...used that yesterday without problems. etc. The answer turned out to be that I had switched boom poles and the short cable that comes with the Rycote pistol grip mount on that pole was unshielded or at least poorly shielded (Neutrik actually). I removed it from the chain and all was well. Should have been the first thing I checked but I wasn't really thinking about how the shock mount hadn't been used yet for that job.
  5. You could always open up the .WAV in Text Edit and look at the XML data if you're in a jam. The sound devices xml contains its timecode framerate info like this: <CURRENT_SPEED>30/1</CURRENT_SPEED> <TIMECODE_FLAG>NDF</TIMECODE_FLAG>
  6. Sven is fine. As has been said, most of the options that are buried in the menu are the sort that usually don't need to be changed often or quickly. I don't have any problems with my trim pots either. My only complaint is that the finish seems to rub off the mixer. I believe this has been documented in another thread somewhere.
  7. You can't pay cash for food or beverages on most major airlines now, and I was recently at American Apparel where they would not accept cash.
  8. I've been using the Invision 6 with no problems. I noticed much less noise vs. the PSC mount once I switched over. Seems like I can get away with some pretty crazy movements!
  9. "...keep it placed so we can hear the dialogue crystal clear, and at the same time not see the actual shotgun mic in-frame." Reminds me of Ian McKellen explaining acting on Extras: Ricky Gervais - Extras - Wizard! You shall not pass!
  10. Used my Rode blimp for the first time yesterday. It came free with my NTG-3, otherwise I would've bought the Rycote, which I am accustomed to using ordinarily. I didn't have any problems with noise and it performed wonderfully in some rather tough wind here in NYC, including on the Staten Island Ferry (no not that ferry). I do find that it's not as easy to make adjustments in the angle because of the way that it locks off the position and it is much bigger, heavier, and less solidly constructed than the Rycote. If I were buying a new blimp, it would definitely be a Rycote, but the Rode performs well enough that I'll use it until it falls apart...and then buy a Rycote.
  11. The Powerexes are great and I just picked up some eneloops this week and so far so good. I recently got the SD552 (my first mixer!) but hadn't yet powered it from rechargeable AAs. I used the rechargeables for the first time today and noticed that instead of reading a full charge at -30, it reads as only being -10. Is this because the eneloops and powerexes are 1.2v instead of ProCells which are 1.5v? I'm running 10.6.2 and Safari 4.0.5 and the Pro Sound site works fine for me.
  12. I recall these tubes being mentioned in another thread, but I haven't been able to find it. Where did you get them/how did you make them? I just bought a Rode NTG3, which comes with a cool metal tube case and I'm looking to replicate that for my other mics. Also, you mentioned that your mics travel fully assembled. I want to do that as well, but I wasn't sure if there were any adverse effects in doing it that way. I take it that there aren't, since you transport them that way?
  13. I'm not sure how many of us are on Twitter, but for anyone who is, I invite you to follow me http://www.twitter.com/thebrengun and to share your username here!
  14. A friend of mine who's an editor said this, and I quite agree with it: "If the movie is good, the story engaging, then I don't notice anything about the craft; if the movie is bad, the story not engaging, then I notice the editing, production design, lighting etc." If it's a good movie then I don't think about it, but if it's boring, then I have an instant way to entertain myself by observing the craft. It's the only thing that got me through my girlfriend dragging me to see the Sex and the City movie!
  15. Last year I asked a DP I work with a lot to either swap out or kill a noisy practical. He gave me a "brilliant" solution: get wild of the practical and flip it out of phase in post. I ended up getting him to get a less noisy bulb. I love working with this DP though, I suppose he was only trying to be helpful, but then again, I don't tell him to shoot another gray card rather than use a filter...
  16. Always monitor through the camera's return! I was burned once where after doing morning tone, level check, etc. some camera operator decided that he should set the levels higher at the camera without mentioning it to me. Everything hit the camera distorted even though it was fine on my end. This will also alert you to the cable having come unplugged. For narrative shooting I think it's always unwise for non-pros to shoot with multiple cameras. Any good DP will tell you that this will cause shooting to move more slowly due to the need to find multiple camera positions and lighting for all shots. Anymore that 2 or 3 seems like overkill to me. I wouldn't advise them on this though, as it's not really your place but it's a good indicator of their priorities and knowledge IMO
  17. Just received an email from Gotham Sound about their latest "Meet the Gear" breakfast. Seems like it's just in time. This newest one has yet to appear on their website, only by email.
  18. I have to say, I think that the original comment was someone said "Oh no I see a 416 indoors" or something to that effect. I don't think they were commenting on the quality of the mic, just the decision to use it in that setting. More of a taste thing given that the rear axis pickup of the 416 isn't always so preferable in an indoor setting, I know that many would choose a hypercardioid instead. But none of us were there, so we can't really judge... EDIT: Full disclosure and hilarious irony, my profile picture features me with a 416 indoors...oh well.
  19. I practically lived at Universal as a kid, albeit just the theme park. I always wanted to be involved in such fantastic creations. Last year a professor, talking about production said "Most people buy into the magic of movies, of course we all know there's nothing magical about it" Several of us looked around, our expressions clearly reading "We still think it's magic!"
  20. Definitely ask post about this. When I synced I found that the easiest way for me in FCP was to scrub on the timeline to the visual sync point, find the appropriately named file, and create an in point at the audio sync point, then drag the audio to the timeline, snapping to the visual cue point. So for me, the most important thing was the named files and a good clear slate to confirm. At school they include a smart slate in the rig but when I have to create the rig from scratch and I'm on a budget, smart slate is the first thing to go since most people I know don't use the TC.
  21. I am inclined to agree. They work and sound great in a controlled setting like a day full of interviews but don't perform quite as well during a day out in the park. Lectros are of course amazing and I always make sure they come with me. I was quite pleased that I was able to mix above ground while shooting was taking place on a subway platform! And the receiver was picking up full signal! But if you're on a budget, the G2s are definitely appealing.
  22. I was pleased to assist a professor or mine record a play for archival at the library at Lincoln Center. Since it's a play it's pretty much a one time deal, barring extreme catastrophes. There were two or three instances of RF interference during the play. Fortunately nothing major. Nothing was wireless but there were audience members sitting within 2 or 3 feet of the mics. I think it was probably a phone receiving a text or call while on vibrate or silent. Pretty frustrating since there's nothing that can be done.
  23. Hi all, for those of you who missed my intro in Who I Am Today, I'm a senior at NYU in film. So I am at the student level, just starting out mixing sound. But it's about time I began assembling my own rig. It will be a slow, expensive process, but necessary lol. I've decided that since I'll have another year's access to decent mics and mixers and because I seem to find myself on an increasing number of HVX shoots, the logical first acquisition is a breakaway cable. Alas these things things are $250 and while they are a great convenience (and essential to monitoring from the recorder) it's hard to justify so much when I could easily use 3 cables, messy as that is, to accomplish this job. So I've decided to boldly take the leap and create my own. In the past I have only done some basic soldering to repair broken cables and have never attempted anything like this. I was wondering what sort of cable, connecters, advice, etc. you would all recommend. I realize that the actual breakaway connection would be the trickiest so I'm willing to compromise and just settle for a snake. I was planning to have 4 channels (left, right, talkback, and operator phones). Also I was going to keep the mixer side of the cable with XLR and 1/4 phone jacks rather than the Sound Devices plug because the mixer I have easiest access to is the Shure FP33. Does making my own sound like a feasible idea or would it be worth the extra dough to buy one done right?
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