Eric

I got one of the Sennheiser battery eliminators for free. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to use it as it would require making a hole in the door or getting the kit (with replacement door)nto which Michael posted a link. Seemed like a good idea. I'll test out this whine before I use it. Thanks.

The people who I have worked with have always used Countryman B3 for water. Water sports, etc. It has always been fresh water though as we don't live by an ocean.

I have been using Lectro block 20 & 21 with a Sennheiser G3 band A for a camera hop. I believe some of the G3 band A is within the Lectro blk 21freq range. It's been fine.

Used to use the Lectro D4 as a camera hop. That worked well.

It also became easier to have the hop and IEMs (director/producer monitor) coming from one TX out of the bag. No separate comtek and a different TX for a camera hop.

Freq finder is helpful to sort out compatible freqs in conjunction with a site scan.

https://www.100sideprojects.com/

Kris does great work in Toronto. However, you're in the US. Up to you.

This may sound crazy, but is the rotary input pot clean? Have you tried turning it back and forth a number of times to "clear" it? A scratchy pot perhaps? Antenna screwed in all the way?

Did you plug in the d-tap the wrong way? When looking at the connector one side is flat and the other side has rounded edges. It is possible to jam the d-tap connector into a battery the wrong way. This could have started your issue.

Is the power cable from BDS to the 411 good? Have you tried another cable?

And yes, as Osa mentioned, when the power cable is plugged into the 411 it takes precedence over battery power.

I can't imagine not having the option of recording discrete iso tracks today. A 552 can record two (L&R).

I did own a 552 and sold it for a 664.

I have never been asked or had use for a stereo microphone in all my years of doc/reality. No time to do ambience recording. It's all been run and gun, interviews, and verite.

Friends have had decent results with Walker tape as well. Similar to Topstick. Perhaps a little more sticky?

https://walkertapeco.com/product/ultra-hold-tape-straight-strips/

Some are contoured to attach toupees to a head. May look more like a boomerang. Perhaps go with straight strips.

It does look 3D printed.

https://www.instagram.com/100sideprojects/?hl=en

Kris does excellent work here in Toronto. He can likely fashion you something similar.

Perhaps there are others that do similar work in your neck of the woods.

The Panamic quick release. An oldie/classic, but goodie.

Just check the screw is tight every so often. Easy to remove one handed. I've fallen for them.

A (quick) production meeting beforehand usually clears up all expectations and deliverables (including sound report) and file naming.

I simply use the Sound Devices created sound report on my 664 or 633. I usually set up (or the machine does it for me) a daily folder.

I usually fill in job, client name, director, etc. the day before when I get the call sheet.  I do add notes when I can. If it's a VO or wild line, ambience, room tone, etc. I have some common phrases saved in the recorder for quick access. Or just label the file name VO, room tone, etc.

The machine (664/633) saves the sound report with the audio tracks in the daily folder.

If anyone asks for it, I direct them to that daily audio folder, or I will e-mail the sound report file from my backup drive or the SD/CF card.

I find this pretty easy. I suppose the key is to have a chat with prod co., post, etc. as to what they are looking for (aside from great sound).

Sometimes I wonder if anyone even looks at my sound report.

I used Ken's suggestion (WD40) since I had it around the house. Cables seem to be fine. It may make them slippery for a bit, but so far so good.

Little accessory box from Wish. It's bigger than the ones that I've seen people keep individual their mics and their accessories in.

This is for little mini accessories only (mounts, windscreens, clips, etc.). It does not come with lures, etc. Shipping can take a while.

I use a countryman hard case for my lavs.

https://www.wish.com/product/5aed4a21beb8ef716bcc5b43?from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=CA&_force_currency_code=CAD&pid=googleadwords_int&c=6493229759&ad_cid=5aed4a21beb8ef716bcc5b43&ad_cc=CA&ad_lang=EN&ad_curr=CAD&ad_price=3.00&campaign_id=6493229759&exclude_install=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2eebw7W68gIVKz2tBh0eyQbXEAQYASABEgLdZvD_BwE&hide_login_modal=true&share=web

Sennheiser HD 280Pro or Sennheiser HD25ii.

I've gone with the beyer dynamic DT250 headphone pads. I have even put them in the (front load) washing machine in a delicates bag. This can also be done by hand. They don't last forever, but I believe it's from trying to get them on and off the headphones for washing rather than the washing itself. 

Wow, I just came across this with two lavs I haven't used in a while. All sticky and shiny sitting in a drawer over covid. Weird. I see I'm not the only one.

Wasn't used in any crazy type of situations. Hadn't been used at all for 6 months. Thanks for the suggestions.

You can always start with a Zoom H4N or similar, but it sounds like you want more than that. I have heard some half decent recordings out of that online.

For stereo ambience it seems like 2 x cardiods are the way to go.

You can check these sites for general info (I just did a google search and these came up):

https://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/microphones-nature-recording-ii-different-microphones-different-situations/

https://www.wildmountainechoes.com/equipment/choosing-microphones-2/

https://acousticnature.com/journal/lowest-self-noise-microphones-field-recording-comparative-list

I also checked this place when doing a bit of research:

https://www.creativefieldrecording.com/2020/03/25/field-recording-gear-and-travel-daan-hendriks/

As Rick mentioned, this is primarily a dialogue recording forum. There are a lot of resources online from people who record ambience and record SFX libraries. Search those out. I'll also second his wind protection idea. No sense in recording amazing ambience just to have it ruined by wind.

I was able to borrow a Rode NT4 from a friend and used it along with a SD633. I found the NT4 a little noisy for quiet ambience. Maybe I cranked the preamps up a little too much. I was experimenting with ambience recording.

I felt the setup worked well for city ambience.

On 3/6/2021 at 11:39 AM, RunAndGun said:

You have to hold the buttons down for three seconds to fully turn them ON(RF ON/Transmitting).  Otherwise they are on, but not transmitting.  I’ve never liked this “feature” and wish it could be turned off(maybe an option in a firmware update).

This "feature" is helpful when you are shooting a reality show with 15-20+ mics and have to tune a transmitter backstage. Having the ability to change the freq on a tx without stomping on a frequency being used is a good idea. It's sort of like the UM400a days where you could tune the tx with a tweaker before turning it on. This is sort of the same, but different, as you have to turn these packs on to change freqs.

Having the ability to turn this off...never thought about that.

Yes, and this version too:

https://www.hawkwoods.co.uk/Sound/P/AD-NP1

Oh sorry, that's the short version.

I have  friend who gutted a full size NP1 and did it himself. He felt the older ones were "better" to take apart and glue back together vs. a L-ion blue IDX type. His opinion.

I have a FilmTech LSP4 that has been sitting unused since integrated mixer/recorders came into being. If that spikes your interest DM me.

It is large-ish and doesn't have a recorder. It's a 4 channel mixer with phantom (even T-power!). 

Quiet preamps x 4.

XLR inputs with phantom power.

Low risk of sudden death (e.g. from ancient electronics) -- it's not that ancient -- depends on your age I suppose.

Great portability.

Line-level out.

Shipping costs to Paris alone might kill this "just a preamp" idea if not some of your other criteria.

On 11/24/2020 at 11:40 AM, tourtelot said:

Anyone here remember the "No MOS" stickers that Audio Services gave away once upon a time?

Yes, I do. I've seen them at the shop. Haven't been there is a while though. I think they still have them.

I have worn a mask for a long day and had my ears rubbed raw. For me it seems to depend on the material used for the ear loops.

Some people I saw wore these types of things:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874Q4J3Y

I know URSA makes this:

https://ursastraps.com/product/ursa-maskies/

Alex,

Good to hear. It's a quality book. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Perhaps a good place to start is a good read. Jay Rose's book is an excellent resource.

https://www.amazon.ca/Producing-Great-Sound-Film-Video/dp/0415722071

Starts with sound principles, microphones, all the way through to post. If you're on a budget, check your local library. They had it at mine.

I'm sure there are many more books that could be helpful to you.

PSC elite poles have an internal cable that can be removed easily.

I can only speak to the pole with XLR out the bottom and not the right angle XLR bottom.

Unscrew the bottom XLRM, take off the top boom screw, and drop the XLRF through the pole. Non solder internal cable to no cable.

This is not Ambient though.