Johnny Karlsson Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Is there anything like the K-Tek Sidekick available for Ambient boom poles? Just a wild guess, but the K-Tek thread is likely not compatible...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olle Sjostrom Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Go euro (I mean you should! Even though Swedes are more American than euro...) style and put the TX on the top! There's also the straight cable option where you clamp the TX to the bottom.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanieldH Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 There is the QALP: Could also be used with a custom short XLR cable. Edit: It seems, they do not advertise it any more as an accessory product, but they may or may not have some as cable kit spare parts. I'd ask them. The coiled cable kits vary in internal cable noise depending on the model though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted August 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 Thanks for the suggestions guys, but neither of those would work for my purposes. Anything more like the KTek accessory? Or do I actually have to switch to a KTek pole in order to accommodate this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted August 7, 2022 Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 You would probably have to tell people why those solutions don't work as compared to the K-tek as the positioning is nearly identical. What is the issue you are trying to solve? I have a K-Tek pole and decided against the Sidekick. I've never tried it. I thought it might leave the transmitter vulnerable to being bumped into. The solution I have has some give to it if the transmitter is bumped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted August 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2022 I wouldn’t say they are nearly identical at all. - Olle’s solution puts the transmitter at the top of the pole. - Daniel’s would involve a short XLR cable plugged in to the pole going to the transmitter, which would leave it vulnerable to getting snagged on something. Could of course be cut to exact length, but still. It also adds 2 XLR connectors. The K-Tek thing makes it possible to quickly put the pole into a Boom Box, leave it in a corner of the set - and while it’s standing in there, it’s keeping the transmitter protected while our grip friends move stuff around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanieldH Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 I don't see how TX is more protected on the K-Tek than on a QALP. It also depends on the model. A short cable roughly in the desired length would run around the pole anyhow. The QALP can rotate around the boom when you loosen the knob. The actual question of the QALP is, if it is still available. I mostly run Wisycom MTB40(s) and it's XLR is not as stiff and solid as desired. I usually fix it with a bongo tie and some sort of spacer that is around, either some folded cardboard or a pipe clip like this: In the long run I might abandon my QALP though and fix the TX on a plates fitted with pipe clips. Either at the bottom or at the top, depending on the situation. This'll make assembly and disassembly much easier than fumbling with spacers and ties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted August 8, 2022 Report Share Posted August 8, 2022 Daniel, This solution might appeal to you. I got this idea from someone else. This is a bicycle phone holder that requires modification. I used 3M Command strips to attach the mounting plate to the transmitter. I don't ever take the plate off the transmitter as it is dedicated to the boom. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0754PFVFV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanieldH Posted August 9, 2022 Report Share Posted August 9, 2022 Hey Paul, many thnx for the input. I will think about it but it seems to have some disadvantages for my application. I work with different plugon TX models from different owners. Wisycom variants are quite popular though. On rainy days, we usually put ultrasound probe covers (basically dry condoms without a reservoir) over the thing. For those reasons, I'd want to avoid any permanent fixture on the TX. But the iOttie might be a solution to mount a small smartphone running the godforsaken Teradek VUER app. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted August 17, 2022 Report Share Posted August 17, 2022 On 8/7/2022 at 3:01 PM, Johnny Karlsson said: I wouldn’t say they are nearly identical at all. - Olle’s solution puts the transmitter at the top of the pole. - Daniel’s would involve a short XLR cable plugged in to the pole going to the transmitter, which would leave it vulnerable to getting snagged on something. Could of course be cut to exact length, but still. It also adds 2 XLR connectors. The K-Tek thing makes it possible to quickly put the pole into a Boom Box, leave it in a corner of the set - and while it’s standing in there, it’s keeping the transmitter protected while our grip friends move stuff around. I think you misunderstand how the ambient solution works. There are no additional xlrs, just the internal cable exiting and terminated in an xlr that the plug on plugs into. I’ve used this system for about a decade, except without the extension piece on the back end of the pole. I also upgraded to a neutrik HD waterproof connector after raining out a standard one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted August 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2022 4 hours ago, Wandering Ear said: I think you misunderstand how the ambient solution works. There are no additional xlrs, just the internal cable exiting and terminated in an xlr that the plug on plugs into. I’ve used this system for about a decade, except without the extension piece on the back end of the pole. I also upgraded to a neutrik HD waterproof connector after raining out a standard one. Ah ok, fair enough. You are correct that I misunderstood how this works. However, it looks like that accessory is no longer available. If they still made them, I guess the bottom attachment could be removed - on my pole it looks like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul F Posted August 18, 2022 Report Share Posted August 18, 2022 Johnny, have a look at this conversation and see if it dissipates your concerns about multiple connectors. One of the contributors mentions that in a recording studio (or a post house for that matter), signals can flow through many connectors. https://gearspace.com/board/geekzone/1274814-signal-loss-successive-connections.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Steel Posted August 18, 2022 Report Share Posted August 18, 2022 8 hours ago, Paul F said: Johnny, have a look at this conversation and see if it dissipates your concerns about multiple connectors. One of the contributors mentions that in a recording studio (or a post house for that matter), signals can flow through many connectors. And consider live sound. Arguably the requirements of low noise are less stringent in that line of work as in studio or video production. Still, in one of the auditoriums where I work, a typical mic plugged in on stage goes through 7 pairs of XLR connectors. Almost all of the problems I have with connectors are attributable to the wear and tear after many years of plugging and unplugging cables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted August 18, 2022 Report Share Posted August 18, 2022 17 hours ago, Johnny Karlsson said: Ah ok, fair enough. You are correct that I misunderstood how this works. However, it looks like that accessory is no longer available. If they still made them, I guess the bottom attachment could be removed - on my pole it looks like this: It is a bummer if they’ve stopped selling those. It’s been my favorite configuration. you could easily 3D print the part if thats a route you want to go. I’d be happy to send you measurements or maybe a 3d scan if you want to go that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted August 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2022 11 minutes ago, Wandering Ear said: you could easily 3D print the part if thats a route you want to go. I’d be happy to send you measurements or maybe a 3d scan if you want to go that route. I do appreciate the effort, but no worries. I do not have a 3D printer anyway. 7 hours ago, Matthew Steel said: And consider live sound. Arguably the requirements of low noise are less stringent in that line of work as in studio or video production. Still, in one of the auditoriums where I work, a typical mic plugged in on stage goes through 7 pairs of XLR connectors. Almost all of the problems I have with connectors are attributable to the wear and tear after many years of plugging and unplugging cables. 16 hours ago, Paul F said: Johnny, have a look at this conversation and see if it dissipates your concerns about multiple connectors. One of the contributors mentions that in a recording studio (or a post house for that matter), signals can flow through many connectors. https://gearspace.com/board/geekzone/1274814-signal-loss-successive-connections.html Thanks guys. Signal loss was not my concern. At all. Rather the added bulk. All in all, I am not in any urgent need to change what I am currently using. It was more of a question of "can I make this more elegant", and IMHO, the K-Tek Sidekick is more elegant that any other currently existing option. Again, that's just my personal view. To each their own as the saying goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Farrell Posted August 19, 2022 Report Share Posted August 19, 2022 If you already have a side exit pole you could use a right angle adapter to turn the transmitter parallel to the pole. https://www.amazon.com/LyxPro-positioned-different-interfere-applications/dp/B073X2SDMJ Although I would make my own out of neutrik parts rather than trust that brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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