Boom Poles....cabled/uncabled? Coiled/Straight? What are your preferences?

[MT Groove]

There haven't been much boom pole discussion here lately.  I figured we can get one going. 

I have been using an internally straight cabled 16.5' old style VDB pole for the last 3 years.  While it is light, I feel there is too much flex.  Plus, it is relatively long when collapsed. 

What are your preferences on boom poles?  Is there certain reasons you go with externally cabled over internal?  What about coiled cable vs. straight cables.  Do you feel there are sound quality/RF differences?  What about the XLR exit position?  What are your thoughts on that?  I think this is one of the very few line of business where there are so much to discuss about a damn pole! 

[Eric Toline]

There haven't been much boom pole discussion here lately.  I figured we can get one going. 

I have been using an internally straight cabled 16.5' old style VDB pole for the last 3 years.  While it is light, I feel there is too much flex.  Plus, it is relatively long when collapsed. 

What are your preferences on boom poles?  Is there certain reasons you go with externally cabled over internal?  What about coiled cable vs. straight cables.  Do you feel there are sound quality/RF differences?  What about the XLR exit position?  What are your thoughts on that?  I think this is one of the very few line of business where there are so much to discuss about a damn pole! 

FWIW: All of my poles (6-16ft) are internal straight cabled that I did my self. The exit point is at the base with a very small rubber stand off so the pole doesn't crush the cable when it's resting on the floor. Canare star quad is my cable of choice. Cable length is 3 feet more than maximum extention. I found that coil cables have a tendency to bunch up in the pole and are harder to manage.

Eric

[Guest Ken Mantlo]

The newer style Vdb's are shorter when collapsed and stiffer when extended, which cuts down on the creaking that the old poles tended to do.  They also need more cleaning to keep them tiptop then the old version.  I also use the straight internal cable.  Less weight to carry over your head when not fully extended.

[RPSharman]

I like the coiled internal cable, and have converted several boom operators into that being their pole of choice.  The ability to collapse and extend without having to "manage" the excess cable in great.  Also, being able to use a plug-on transmitter plugged straight into the pole for those crazy running around shots, or very tight sets with lots of things for cables to hook onto is really fantastic.

I don't understand the external cable thing at all.  I was on a solo job a few years ago when my internal cable disconnected from the XLR connector at the base.  I had to use an external cable, and even though I had no experience doing this, I can't imagine any amount of practice that would make this easier or significantly quieter than an internal cable.

Robert

[MT Groove]

I don't understand the external cable thing at all.

I don't understand that that concept either.  There has got to be a legit reason why some boom ops go that direction though.  As for colied vs. straight cable, I have used a PSC Elite with coiled cable and love the fact you can extend and collapse without having to deal with cable being caught up inside the pole.

[soundtrane]

<<I can't imagine any amount of practice that would make this easier or significantly quieter than an internal cable.>>

Come on Robert, I am sure there have been MANY years, in fact decades of time before the cable went into the boom pole.

Of course, I am going to leave this to all the nice people, the veterans and masters out here - who have been around for long enough to say whether i am right or wrong.

-vin

[Jeff Wexler]

<<I can't imagine any amount of practice that would make this easier or significantly quieter than an internal cable.>>

Come on Robert, I am sure there have been MANY years, in fact decades of time before the cable went into the boom pole.

-vin

I think this is another US thing vs. many other countries. As for decades, the first fishpole I ever used was a painters pole with a straight cable inside, this would be 1969. Every single pole after that has had some sort of internal cable. We did use one fishpole (we called it the frog pole, it was fiberglass, green AND French) which came without any cable, so I put an internal cable into it.

The only justification I have ever heard for using an external cable is the ease with which you can change out the mic cable if it goes bad. This is valid, I guess, since it is quite a deal to change out any of the internal cable arrangements.

[Alex Sullivan]

After trying every model I could get my hands on I've been very happy with two of the poles I've got.  An 18ft coil cabled Loon and an uncabled 16ft Panamic Maxi.  The Panamics cannot be cabled due to the design of the knuckles.  I work a lot with a boom op who prefers the uncabled, still not sure why, but everyone else I seem to work with prefers the cabled, which would be my choice if booming. 

Alex

[André Boisvert]

I don't understand the external cable thing at all.  I was on a solo job a few years ago when my internal cable disconnected from the XLR connector at the base.  I had to use an external cable, and even though I had no experience doing this, I can't imagine any amount of practice that would make this easier or significantly quieter than an internal cable.

Robert

I went close to 20 years with external cable doing solo, bag stuff. First with a VdB 806 (805? 808?), and then with a K-152. The big advantage is the ability to hold the cable tight around the pole with my far hand. I could run with that set up, fully extended with no problem. The downside is cable management.

I'm now using a 12' Loon with an internal coil. It has certainly simplified cable management, but if I have to run fully extended, my ears get filled with mad cable slap. The coil will bunch up, but with the Loon, both ends come apart easy, for a quick fix.

I still haven't found my perfect pole or cable, but I'll keep looking.

[Zack]

Love my Loon!

[Tom Visser]

The only justification I have ever heard for using an external cable is the ease with which you can change out the mic cable if it goes bad. This is valid, I guess, since it is quite a deal to change out any of the internal cable arrangements.

The same justification can be made for my underwear, but I still prefer to wear them on the inside.

I use two poles, an Ambient QX lightweight short pole for ENG / interiors and can easily carry on a plane inside a pelican.  Also have a QP longer pole for everything else.  The QX has an internal coiled cable, never heard cabling noise with this setup.  The QP has a straight internal cable, because due to the length, it would be impossible to use a coiled cable.  I have heard noise if I have the boom in a near vertical position with lots of movement, or when running... but if running, I have other issues anyways.  I too wouldn't think of using an external cable at this point.  In fact, I'm a little spoiled and want to figure out how to get a coiled cable on my longer QP.  The Ambients use a threaded attachment at the butt which has a side exit for the cable.  They offer a clamp for the XLR to keep it in place, so this is nice and neat and don't have to worry about protecting the shell when you place the butt of the boom on the ground.  Given that this part can be unscrewed off, it also makes field maintenance very easy, or at least I would imagine that it would, I haven't had an issue with cabling so far.

[Guest Ken Mantlo]

André Boisvert beat me to it, no cable slap on the running.

[Ian Thomson]

East coast Australia

16ft panamic. (uncabled)

pretty heavy; but very little flex, awesome locking knuckels, just feels "solid"

on my last few jobs we've been wireless boom, and it's actually been pretty good with the tx and power-supply at the mic end' (audio ltd powering cable thingy, and audio ltd 2040)

my Std operating procedure is external cable, mostly because I love my panamic, but also for the lack of cable-slap.

as always, different horses for different courses.

cheers

Ian

[Jan McL]

Whether you prefer internal/external cable has a LOT to do with what you're used to. I've also heard it said that this is a West Coast / East Coast thing.

Was raised on external cabling.

With a couple of Goody beads on the pole to hold the cables and a little technique, one can easily 'remember' without 'remembering' exactly how long the pole was extended, which = deployment speed, which = more time at rest between takes. Paul K Boom is brilliant at this. Learned that by watching him work.

-- Jan [who's boomed just enough to be dangerous, and humbly appreciative of the art]

[martijn scholte]

I like the coiled internal cable in my ktek 152 and the exit xlr on the side

i use a coiled cable from vdb from boom to 744t

works for me

cheers

martijn

[JackHenry]

With a couple of Goody beads on the pole

What are Goody Beads???

[Jan McL]

What are Goody Beads???

Goody Beads in action on Mr. Gardner's pole:

The technical term is "Goody Twin Beads".

-- Jan

[Guest Ken Mantlo]

Girls use them to put their hair in ponytails.  Local grocery store.

[al mcguire]

guys use them to tie their hair in ponytails

just a few years ago ...

[Eric Toline]

Had some GTB's, kept losing them. Went back to velcro straps attached to the cable. No more problems.

Eric

[Guest Ken Mantlo]

guys use them to tie their hair in ponytails

just a few years ago ...

Just the ones that can't remember that the '60's were over with 40 years ago.

[Peter Mega]

Nothing wrong with a left over hippie!!

Regarding boom poles, I use a K-Tek K152-CCR. Thats the internally coiled, cabled pole with side exit XLR at the bottom. I love it.

When I used to use the external straight cable on my older pole, I never really found it a major hassle, I guess you get used to it and live with it.

I dont find cable slap a problem with my K152-CCR and I try really hard to avoid running as its almost impossible with a bag rig anyway. A slight canter or trot is the best I can do with heavy bag rigs!!

I take the bottom of the pole off and disconnect the TA3 connector to untwist the coily cable from time to time. This keeps the pole extending and retracting freely.

Cheers

Peter Mega

[jonathan chiles]

Another vote for the K-152 with internal cable. Havnt had issues with slap as I thought I would when I switched to this from a non cabled Ambient QP boom.

Only issue I have is that its very easy to cross-thread the CCR section when you're putting it back together after untwsiting the coiled cable, tolerances on those threads are not very good at all on the Kteks I find, same goes for the knuckles.

[André Boisvert]

I try really hard to avoid running as its almost impossible with a bag rig anyway.

I don't mind the running.

It's how I keep my girlish figure.

[aristotle_kumpis]

What's a good boom pole for ENG work? I already use a k-tek avalon, but is there something more lightweight I can use?