Lancashire soundie Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I do the occasional news live, always an exciting experience (I mean that). For the more complicated jobs, with a presenter or two and several contributors, I tend to use wired ECM-77Bs as I consider cables to be more reliable for live work than radio mics. Almost always, all those in shot are standing. The only issue I have doing that is that a participant sometimes ends up standing on a cable, which then runs the risk of dragging that mic off their lapel. To counter this I always make sure the cable isn't spooled on the floor near their feet (I place it a couple of feet away) and I use a cable clip below the actual mic clip so that the cable clip takes the initial strain, but does anyone have any useful suggestions on how best to make it foolproof? You have to bear in mind that I will only have, at the most, five minutes to mic up three guests. There's nothing quite like seeing a microphone become unclipped as you're live on air, standing out of frame, completely unable to do anything about it. Of course I could just use radios, but when it's a developing story with several other news crews around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Maybe find a way to clip the cable on their belt or ankle ? (a velcro tie maybe?) That won't stop them from standing on the cable but at least they might feel it when they're doing it as there's some tension pulling on the cable on their belt/ankle...? And that kind of could secure the loose on the lav between that point and the mic itself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Collins Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Gaffer Tape the cable to the ankle. Hopefully they are wearing socks. Also a tight fitting Velcro ankle strap will work especially if the talent is female. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Decades ago wireless mics were very rare on local low budg shoots, and we had to do walk and talks etc with wired lavs. SOP was to tape bring a short cable down from the mic psu (as with Sony ECM50) to an xlr that we'd tape to the talent's shoe (so we could quick-disconnect for breaks etc). The talent would drag the cable as they moved, with a PA keeping it out from under their feet. Doing this with 4-5 people walking together was a challenge but we did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancashire soundie Posted March 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks for the input, unfortunately we have minutes at the most to wire people up. I wonder if putting the barrels/cables on a squat little box in front of them might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigF Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 would pulling the latches out of the female XLRs so they could "brake-a-way" be a lesser evil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 I think a clip on their belt (if they have a belt) or an office clip to the back of a coat or dress might work for strain relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Williams Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Make sure to leave slack at bendable and stretchable places of the body such as waist. If you need to, use medical adhesive tape or some other kind of tape just on the inside of the clothing to help strain relief before popping out of the clothing to the clip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpro Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 I suitable amount of high explosives will convince them of the error of their ways. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel Posted March 7, 2015 Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 Loop lav wire and run over shoulder, secure XLR on waist band - the trousers get pulled before the mic and the mic goes upwards if it does get pulled. A clip like this: http://www.countryman.com/xlr-belt-clip may help speed things up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Weaver Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Connect the lav to a wireless transmitter to avoid cables being stepped on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted March 21, 2015 Report Share Posted March 21, 2015 Using a lav on a radio (a good one say Lectrosonics) give you much better control as the transmitter will manage the peaks and and give you a tighter easier mix. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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