C-Stand and Boompoles

[David A-Ribeiro]

I´m in a shoot where I will need to improvise a rig to have a fixed boom stretch out to where the talent is speaking. There is only grip gear at my disposal and I was thinking of using a C-stand (or similary sturdy stand) and a clamp. The boom should ideally be stretched to a minimum 3m long so that there is space between it and the action for cam-op´s to move around freely.

 

My question is: is this realistic without a pole holder to support the boom at two different points? The laws of physics tell me I should probably clamp the boom at the end of the first section, but even there do I run the risk of the boom simply cracking?

 

Any opinions welcome!

[ProSound]

You can use cardellini clamp just don't tighten it too much and it should be fine or if grip truck has a tree branch holder. You should invest in a boompole holder just go to your local retailer that sells fishing pole holders

[Laurence]

You can replicate the mechanical effect of using a boompole holder very easily.  Set up the c-stand with the arm parallel to the ground, and with the c-stand knuckle pointing to the talent and somewhat close to the vertical of the c-stand.  Lay the pole across the c-stand knuckle and then tie the back end of the pole to the back end of the c-stand arm with a piece of rope or several wraps of gaffer's tape.  Where the boom rests on the knuckle, tie that off, too, for safety.  As with a boompole holder, drop a sandbag or 2 on the base of the c-stand... and if you need more extension on the pole, add a sandbag to the back end of the c-stand arm for counter-balance so the c-stand knob doesn't have to work so hard.

[andrewstone]

A Boommate is designed to fit into a grip head. Great for sit down interviews. A "baby triple header"  is useful in this config if space doesn't allow for another C-Stand.

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Shop-by-Brand-BoomMate/ci/4/phd/4291583202/N/4294255798

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/3617-REG/Avenger_F900_F900_Baby_Triple_Header.html

 

 

[Geoff Tirrell]

Go to wall mart and spend 12 bucks for a fishing rod holder.  A grip head will hold one just fine and it will do the job.  The only difference between this style holder http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/885688-REG/Auray_BPH_BOOM_POLE.html , and your standard fishing rod holder is that the rod holder sells for less and has threads on the bottom part.  all of the other dimensions are the same.

[David A-Ribeiro]

Great stuff, everyone, thanks.

 

Whitney, I might find something in the way of that clamp you mention, could try that.

 

Laurence, thanks for the instructions, I am not very clear with all the terms (sorry, not familiar with all the English grip terms), not sure what you mean by "knuckle" but I think I can infer...I´ll try that and maybe I´ll upload some pics, this shoot will last for a couple more weeks so there is some time to experiment a little.

 

Boomholder could be an item to add to that long list...

[studiomprd]

problem solving is a huge part of doing production sound.

[Laurence]

Safety first... fon't forget the sandbag.

 

[Marc Wielage]

I'm a big fan of K-Tek's Boom Cradle on a C-stand:

 

 

Laurence above is correct: don't forget the sandbag!

[Laurence]

Yes, the K-Tek is very nice and definitely preferable to what I described.  But in a pinch, gaffer's tape (or a little rope) will do.  Note that in the image I uploaded, the boom is just resting on the knuckle.  All the work is done by the tape/rope on the back end (the left side in the image.)

[Johnny Karlsson]

I've seen others use a mafer clamp, and on my early jobs, I used a method similar to what Lawrence describes, and sure, both work in a pinch, but I quickly felt it was worth the investment to get a boom pole holder for my poles.

[David A-Ribeiro]

This is how it looks like at the moment. There is a weight at the base of the tripod, no worries there. My concern is only that the very cheap boom will not withstand the rycote & shotgun.

[Laurence]

The stresses on the pole as shown are identical to those on a pole held by a boom operator... although theoretically less, since it never gets swung or raised, which momentarily increases the stress significantly.  If it can't handle this stress, it's not a real boompole.

[David A-Ribeiro]

Yep, no issues at all, sounds good, nice mix with the lavs, another happy sound day in the countryside. Thanks everyone

[David A-Ribeiro]

Not bad as well, that looks like the kind of doc I might be working on in the near future.

[RobertSzabo]

Like others have suggested. I really like my fishing rod holder. No slip due to the rubber coating, fits my VDB perfectly and cost less than 20 bucks.

 

[rmac]

This 2014 discussion is about boom pole holders for things like interviews. There are references to Cardellini clamps, Mafer clamps, fishing pole holders and Martyn Truman’s Boommate. There’s also a reference to K-Tek’s Boom Cradle, but at $165 that’s more than I want to spend.

 

Four years ago, on his Sound Speeds YouTube channel, Allen Williams discussed a newer product called the Boom-Buddy Boom Pole Holder: https://www.boom-buddy.com/boom-buddy-versatile-boom-pole-holder This holder is sold by Gotham and Trew for $75.

 

The Boom Buddy can be mounted directly on a baby pin, no need for a grip head. Also, the Boom Buddy’s vertical angle can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the angle of one’s boom pole.

 

My question is whether anyone has used a Boom Buddy and can comment on how good an option it is or isn’t. Having looked at one of these, I have two reservations. Is the screw that’s used to attach the holder to a baby pin sufficient, or are the grip head solutions simply a better idea? Also, the cradle for a boom pole is fairly short, certainly compared to the Boommate, even the shorter Boommate V. 2, which is 10” long. Is it too short?

 

Thanks

 

[PMC]

I have no experience with Boom Buddy, I have two fishing pole holders from Walmart $12 each and have used them for many years on three different boom poles and lengths, but looking at the product pictures of the Boom Buddy I can tell you I would not trust it outside of a windless studio. That wee set screw for securing the holder to the stand looks far too lightweight. 

 

My two cents.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

I can't speak to the Boom Buddy, but I own three "Boom Boys" from Remote Audio: https://www.trewaudio.com/product/remote-audio-boom-boy-2/   US$35, very robust.  It does need to slide into a grip head, but in practice, that's never been an issue, and, based on the photos, a grip head is far superior in terms of grip and durability compared to the elevation adjustment on the Boom Buddy.  I generally don't want or need vertical angle adjustment, so I tend to set it up so the boom is perpendicular to the line of movement to ensure that there is no risk of slippage at any length.

As with PMC, I'm judging by the photos, but I wouldn't trust a plastic product to withstand the large amount of torque that an extended boom pole can produce.

[Searey81]

I have a boom buddy and it’s fine…but I also purchased a few boom boy style holders and I’m much more satisfied with that product. 

[fieldsound]

I moved over to the boom mate v2 style holder and I will say it makes getting the boom pole in and out of the cradle significantly easier compared to the fish pole design. Helpful for interviews setups in tighter locations. Would recommend this product but I will say that the coating on the boom mate began to wear off disappointingly quickly.

[OB1]

Never had any issues with boom boys in the 20+ years of using them. Make yourself very familiar with where the weight is being distributed on the boom, boom boy, grip head, and stand and you can maneuver and reposition as needed even in the tightest of spaces.

[Moesound]

When I need a boom buddy, I use this guy.

Just saying…..

 

Moe

[tourtelot]

Moe, your boom buddy costs more than $20.  Is production willing to pay the price.  Seems like less and less these days.  :(:(:(

 

D.

[rmac]

9 hours ago, fieldsound said:

I moved over to the boom mate v2 style holder and I will say it makes getting the boom pole in and out of the cradle significantly easier compared to the fish pole design. Helpful for interviews setups in tighter locations. Would recommend this product but I will say that the coating on the boom mate began to wear off disappointingly quickly.

 

 

Thanks, are you referring to the rubberized coating where the Boom Mate and boom pole are in contact?

 

Screen capture from Trew Audio’s YouTube video on the Boom Mate v.2: