Matt G Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I feel that sticking to skin is less risky, is somewhat more secure, won't move around with the clothing, and much less likely to be seen my camera (always a concern for me) On the flip side.... some actors might not like the temporary pain from pulling the tape off them at the end of the day. (and of course if you use weak tape that easily comes off, you constantly have to be on guard to be jump in to mess around fixing a loose lav) Even if they might not complain in the moment, or say "it is no big deal", you can't but help wonder if secretly they're hating you for you and might bad mouth you in the future? Which then comes back to bite you in being overlooked for future work. Of course if they've got an underlayer, you can stick the lav to that instead. (best compromise of both worlds??) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourtelot Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 Moleskin. Doesn't hurt much unless you pull off hair. A disposable alcohol wipe to take off skin oil, it will stay put for a long time. Some actors are okay with it, some not. Just gotta ask. D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 80% of the time I mic the ladies right on the skin in the cleave just below the hem of the blouse. Actually, I instruck the female makeup artist to place the mic or i demonstrate, then hand the lav to the talent while my back is turned. Been doing this for years. I wrap the lav with a couple winds of Nexcare as a stand-off. Very rarely do I get clothing rustle. But can't do this with athletes because I hear their heart beat. For the gents, 80% of the time I hide it in clothing with undercovers or an ursa mount. Far more susceptible to clothing rustle though. I haven't tried the Manzeer or the Bro, lol. I mainly work on commercials, docs, and industrials. One movie I worked on I saw the sound mixer cut a small slit in the neck hem of a T-shirt and fish a B6 lav from the back to the front. For sweety skin application, when working with athletes or the TV show "My 600lb. Life" I use kinesiology tape. Never has fallen off and comes of cleanly but remove it sloooowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt G Posted October 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 2 hours ago, PMC said: I use kinesiology tape. Never has fallen off and comes of cleanly but remove it sloooowly. Ah yes, that's normally what I use 90% of the time:https://www.d3tape.com/product/91/k60-kinesiology-tape-50mm-x-60-metres/ 2 hours ago, tourtelot said: Moleskin. Doesn't hurt much unless you pull off hair. A disposable alcohol wipe to take off skin oil, it will stay put for a long time. Some actors are okay with it, some not. Just gotta ask. Not sure if I've seen Moleskin around in my neck of the woods, is "3M Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Tape" the same thing as Moleskin but under another name?https://www.nexcare.com/3M/en_US/nexcare/products/catalog/~/Nexcare-Absolute-Waterproof-Tape/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 Dr Scholl's Moleskin is the one you want. https://www.drscholls.com/p/foot-blisters/moleskin-plus-padding-roll/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I put them on skin a lot when I was starting out, but now I don’t think I ever do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonymuricy Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I almost never place the lav in the talent's skin. It may irritate their skin, in the first place, and it my cause pain if you're not carefull - or even if you are - when you take it off. And It may fall easily when it's hot and there's sweat on the skin. I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil so this is always the case. I almost always place the mics in the clothes, 90% of times, with Rycote Overcovers. No regrets from talent, great sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 YMMV. I find I have to make a quick assessment of the talent's wardrobe+action, the ambient temperature re: sweat and how fast we have to move: like will there be an opportunity for 2nd thoughts on that mic rig or maybe not? And....how lucky do I feel today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tourtelot Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 This is Moleskin in sheets: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Moleskin-Plus-Each/dp/B00IG0RN74/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1YPMBOXV5DPWF&dchild=1&keywords=dr.+scholl's+moleskin+plus+3+each+pack+of+3&qid=1601998068&sprefix=dr.+scholl's+moleskin%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-6 I don't recall that I put lavs on actors' skin a lot, but not "never" either. Like Philip says, after a while, you just know what you need to do to get a lav on an actor. And even then, you are sometimes wrong. D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 90% clothing. Usually it's determined by lightweight fabric that just will not support the weight of the rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I rarely use mole skin anymore. I only use it between really scratchy fabric and the lav head. Nexcare tape does not stick well at all to skin or fabric for me. I use it frequently but only to wrap the lav head as a stand off to get the head away from skin and fabric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Feeley Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 10 hours ago, Johnny Karlsson said: Dr Scholl's Moleskin is the one you want. https://www.drscholls.com/p/foot-blisters/moleskin-plus-padding-roll/ And the generic and other alternative Moleskin-like products I've tried don't adhere as well; the adhesive is inferior. At least IME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codyman Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I'm pretty much URSA mini mounts to clothing 70% of the time these days. If wearing a thin t-shirt and no chest hair, then I might attempt to the skin in the natural chest cavity (another 10-15% of the time). The rest of the times is my "wildcard" where anything goes in terms of a particular troublesome wardrobe. Also, don't underestimate the power of "hiding" an exposed lav, especially in a wide shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey LaCroix Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I always love how this gets a 50/50 response every time it is asked. I do clothing most of the time unless a they are in T-shirt and the chest cavity works. Also, when you HSVE to go to the skin and chest hair is an issue the URSA chest strap w/ an RM-11 can work really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I concur about the ursa strap and rm-11. The problem is 80% of the people I mic are civilians in their own wardrobe. I don't get the luxury of time or having the subject remove their shirt/blouse in order for me to place the devices. On rare occasions I even resort to the old school method of sandwiching the lav between two tape footballs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt G Posted October 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 8 hours ago, PMC said: I rarely use mole skin anymore. I only use it between really scratchy fabric and the lav head. What do you use instead of Moleskin to affix the lav mic? 6 hours ago, Trey LaCroix said: I always love how this gets a 50/50 response every time it is asked. Doesn't seem to be running at 50/50? With the number of people saying "never" or 70-90% of the time they don't put it on the skin, I'd say the average must be running at over three quarters of the time the lav doesn't get placed directly onto the skin itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codyman Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 Just now, Matt G said: What do you use instead of Moleskin to affix the lav mic? I've come to love "Super Stick It". Extremely sticky but no issues with residue or sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt G Posted October 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 7 hours ago, codyman said: Also, don't underestimate the power of "hiding" an exposed lav, especially in a wide shot. I guess it is a nice balance, how a lav is most needed for a wide shot, but also is then least likely to be seen! You could potentially even ditch the exposed lav completely once you go in from the wide to the mid shots, if it becomes troublesome. 8 hours ago, jason porter said: Usually it's determined by lightweight fabric that just will not support the weight of the rig. Right, so I should try to always attach to the clothing, and only go for skin if it is a lightweight blouse/t-shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 I use 3M Transpore Tape much of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt G Posted October 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2020 2 hours ago, PMC said: I use 3M Transpore Tape much of the time. That's for attaching directly to the skin? As I've found it to be way way too weak when I'm using 3M Transpore Tape attaching it to clothing (or maybe I'm getting this mixed up with the papery white tape that looks the same) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMC Posted October 7, 2020 Report Share Posted October 7, 2020 Yes, directly to the skin. This is medical tape for securing an IV to a patient. It works very well. The tape is semi clear with tiny dimples. It is widely use in my region. Don't use the white tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 I am honestly not sure where my percentages fall. I try to approach each person with an "open mind" and evaluate their wardrobe and situation in the moment without making up my mind of what I'm going to do before I start. I carry a kit that has almost a dozen different kinds of adhesives, but i use topstick the most by far. It's not that it's better, I think I'm just used to it and can generally predict how it will react to a new situation. I have no hesitation to attach to skin, though I usually ask permission first. I like getting creative with lav rigs, but I think my best success always comes from the simplest setups. No matter what, this is one part of the job you never stop learning, and that keeps it fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Geldof Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 I try to get a sense of what talent will be wearing throughout the day, especially if there will be wardrobe changes and to what. Skin is often a great option, if the mic isn't going to get buried under layers of synthetics, or winter coats. As we enter the colder season we are probably going to continue to do plenty of work outside, so I'll fill my magic box of lavaliere goodies (what one cam op I work with regularly refers to it as) with plenty of options for both skin mounting, hidden in layers of clothing, as well as exterior blending. I've personally been asked to not hide the mic as much, on non narrative shoots, during the pandemic, even though I often explain it will take me no longer to do it in most situations. One more thing regarding mounting to skin. I find it much easier to teach talent how to place their own mic, when on skin, than any other type of scenario. Clearly this is only in a situation where I am unable to place the mic myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codyman Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 6 minutes ago, Matt Geldof said: As we enter the colder season we are probably going to continue to do plenty of work outside, so I'll fill my magic box of lavaliere goodies (what one cam op I work with regularly refers to it as) with plenty of options for both skin mounting, hidden in layers of clothing, as well as exterior blending. I guess adding on to Woody Allen's "can turn right on a red light" jest about California, I guess we differ in that finally (at least the men) will probably be wearing a button down long sleeve rather than a t-shirt during "winter" that makes our lives a lot easier here in LA to mic them up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted October 8, 2020 Report Share Posted October 8, 2020 And just for fun, here's my go to lav kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.