PMC

In the past, I have used permanent markers of different colors on my cos-11 lavs, screens and several inches of the cable. The color lasts several weeks if not abused and you have the benefit of being able to remove the color and apply a different color later. If you are going the paint route, maybe use a paint made for vinyl car seats. Yes there is a specific spray paint for this. It remains flexible.

I recommend getting an agreement in writing from the PM to replace equipment damaged or lost during the production. List the prices of each item you will be using so the PM has a clear understanding of the liability he/she is responsible for. Get a Certificate of Liability (Inland Marine policy, usually) from production and have it outline that they are responsible for paying the deductible. Pretty standard stuff, really. And have spares on hand. Then use the gear you really think you need knowing that it will be replaced by production if damaged.

Here is an example of a purpose built windshield for a LARGE condensor mic.

+1 for Denecke products. Been using them since the mid 90's. I have only had one component fail on one of their products in all that time. The clap sensor in my TS-3 Slate (hall effect transistor, maybe). I asked them if I could buy the componet from them and replace it myself. They did. And I did. I think it was $14 with shipping.

I have a lot of Canare Star Quad XLR cables in many different colors too. For gaffe tape residue I use Goo Gone. For everyday grime removal (dirt, oil, grease) I use generic Disinfecting Wipes from Walmart, Target, etc. I have been using these wipes for over six years on the same cables. No fading or stiffening.

DSG, The beauty of this rig is that if it moves it doesn't move much at all and if it rolls left and right, the lav is surrounded by a Plush cushion. If you hear any rustling it will most likely be from fabric to fabric noise. Not fabric on mic noise. I have used this rig just inside the top seam of a dark t-shirt too. It worked as long as the actor didn't look down and cover the lav with his chin (chins).

Sandor, I have built similar rigs. They can work well if the thickness of the rig doesn't show the wardrobe bulging. I have discovered many mixers dislike the RM-11 these days. Yes, we have lots of other rigs to use now but I find they are still a viable option with moleskin or Joe's Sticky Stuff in certain applications. I know a guy who still uses footballs to sandwich his lavs. If it works, great. Your pics remind me of when I ran with Sonotrim and Sonotram mic rigs and used their windscreens. Thanks for sharing. DSG, If you buy a couple URSA Plush Circles (I have not tried their large fabric squares to know if it is the same fabric), you will be able to feel the difference between those and an Overcover. The Plush is made with fabric "hairs" that are less stiff. And I think the base fabric mesh is a bit more transparent sonically. The downside is that they are PRICEY. URSA thinks highly of them I guess. Add them to the UPM expendables list.

Half the time I use the under-the-collar rigging with starched shirts I don't get clothing rustle anymore but I get perfectly clear beard stubble scrapping against the starched collar sound effects. Just in case anyone needs that. They generally don't. I am a big fan of tie-knot rigging with a B6 if the guy isn't wearing a $400 french tie and he doesn't mind the intrusion. If I am desperate to eliminate clothing and hair noise I tell them my backup plan is a staple gun. I love the look on their faces.

Happy to, DSG. This is what it is all about. I do not claim credit. 1) Wrap double stick around the lav body whilst capturing the safety pin 2) Wrap the URSA Plush around the assembly and covering the lav head No amount of actor aerobics is going to shake this rig lose. I hide it between the overlap of button-down shirts and in a folded collar. Simple and fast. I find the URSA Plush to be quieter than the Rycote Overcover.

I personally invite descriptions and pics of less than ideal micing techniques IF they include possible ways of addressing and improving the issue. It feels like I have been in the business since the Roman Empire. I started out with the massive lunch box Vega VHF wireless mics. There are days that go flawlessly and days where I feel like I am holding everyone back, failing, trying to solve a wardrobe noise issue in a scene that I cannot get a boom in. Heck I was DP'ing a reality shoot recently and noticed the mixer was micing everyone with a COS11 wrapped in an URSA Plush with a safety pin captured in the Plush as it wrapped around the COS11. I hadn't seen that before. He said a reality show mixer taught it to him recently. I live and learn everyday. The rig works more times than it doesnt. I'm just asking that we grow from "these examples" of less than ideal implementations. Offer a remedy.

TC is like rust. It bleeds and grows. The only time I needed TC return from a source I used star cable (twisted pair with shield) on a seperate but taped-on cable. No bleed. Never tried it in a cable snake.

That CampTime chair looks like a winner to me. I need a little back support.

TXAdvance is so versatile. Thanks, Compasseur.

Jim, Go into Exclusion List of TXAdvance. You can add custom exclusions to your list, as illustrated below.

Nice idea but I would need a minimum of 16 in. left to right for my mixer, cable clearence and media slot access. I currently have the Perol PS617 "football." I have a love hate relationship with it. Orca and Portabrace are too big and bulky but well organized. Everything fits in the football (664, 3 SRb, 2 hops and 1 comtek xmtrs, media wallet, batteries, plus fiddly bits, but it is tight and of course the bag rolls, hence "football."

I figured it was wrapped with a bit of foam tape.

Big enough to be a Senny ME2, lol.

Enough can NOT be said about a good active RF analyzer/coordination app like TXAdvance.

Wow. What a great idea. Can't beat the price! If it only had zip-away side panels for cable, connector and card access.

Axel, Did you solve the issue? If I was still having these problems I would turn on the two ssm xmtrs and watch their broadcasting freqs in real-time on a spectrum analyzer. I'd look for off-freq drift and splatter. I'd also place them away from any other rf emitting devices just to eliminate environmental rf pollution when i tuned them. If the problem persists then the tuning issue is probably the SRb By the way, what firmware does the SRb have? Current version is 2.1. I sent both my SRb receivers in for lectro checkups last year. They came back with v2.1 firmware and I have had no issues with them since.

Do you have any transmitters in your bag like g3, etc. camera hops or ifbs that use the same block? I have g3 camera hops and used to get this problem occasionally before I got TXAdvance rf scanner in order to allocate my freqs appropriately. Much more helpful than SRb scans or Freq Finder app. Do you have an rf spectrum analyzer?

Years ago when I was using G3 units as body packs the performers frequently broke the connectors when the units were not concealed in belts because they stuck out so much. I replaced the switchcraft locking connectors with the switchcraft right-angle non locking 3.5mm connector and stop having problems. Sometimes I would put a piece of tape across the connector to secure it in place. I have never experienced a broken TA3 or TA5 connector.

Thanks everyone for your input. I have decided to go the 522 route. There are plenty of them on ebay. More versatile than a CL6 and far less expensive than CL16 and outboard analog mixers. A CL12 at $1,000 would be ideal but that isn't going to happen.

I would love a Scorpio but would never realize a proper ROI in my Midwest market.