xlr Flow-thru cable Management

[fmurdoch]

Hey everyone, was wondering if anyone has any strategies or go-to ways to deal with the excess cable of a flow-thru XLR. I'm loving working with it, and the flow-thru mitigates a lot of the internal handling noise, but I have yet to find a convenient way to handle the excess slack. I've instead been using my smaller external boom pole for shots that would create more flow-thru cable slack, but it would be nice to have a method to manage it if I don't have time for a boom pole change or I'm running with a smaller kit.

[VASI]

Hej,

 

With flow-thru XLR, you mean an internal cable in boompole? 

[Tim Norris]

10 hours ago, fmurdoch said:

ways to deal with the excess cable of a flow-thru XLR

 

I prefer a good internal cabled pole. It requires a mount that isolates your mic from the pole and really good handling techniques. My work requirements and preferences are probably much different from a real boom op... I am wearing my 30# bag while mixing, actively booming and following the camera. This is most fun when in a large crowd, perhaps a pending riot, and you have no idea what's coming next. Often the audio leads the camera.

 

Cheers,

Tim

[DanieldH]

I use a modded DYH-1816 cable retractor populated with Mogami 3031. That just about fits the max 3m for an Ambient Quickpole 5100.  It is attached to the 5100 by an 3d resin printed clamping holder. The latest version of the holder also accomodates 10oz worth of tungsten weights from the archery industry as Hodges weight.

The lower ends of the booms pipes are fitted with "washers" that guide the cable and prevent it from flapping around during operation. In the latest Version the "washers" do not have to be glued any more.

I do mainly wireless booming on fictional shows with it, but also use it on 1 man show style bag jobs. As a DIY solution it helps me a lot, but it is far from a commercial product. I'd really like to make a more custom system that allows for more cable/boom length. 

[Derek H]

I’d love to see some photos of that rig!

[DanieldH]

The black holder is the current version, the blue greyish a previous version on my 2nd / fallback boom.

[Derek H]

That’s pretty cool! Nice work. 

[DanieldH]

35 minutes ago, Derek H said:

That’s pretty cool! Nice work. 

The DYH re-tractor is far from ideal. It has a power spring, but a constant force/torque spring would be far more feasible. Also, it comes with a locking mechanism that is useless and leaves behind some dead air in the enclosure. The whole thing is not very service friendly and for the full 3m expansion slightly smaller than one would wish.
I have not found a material / construction platform to develop something optimised for our needs from scratch. In the end, it would most likely be some router/mill processed aluminum alloy, like camera cages or cheeseplates. But prototyping with it is very expensive and resins as tough as they are advertised have viscose properties under permanent tension. I might end up with plywood or end up working with what is there.

The last image shows the smallest of the "washers" in the upper segment of the Quickpole.

 

 

[fmurdoch]

 

On 2/21/2024 at 12:39 AM, VASI said:

With flow-thru XLR, you mean an internal cable in boompole? 

Yes, I mean a straight internal cable. I'm looking for any techniques others use to manage the excess slack when it isn't extended to full length. 

 

Mostly wondering what the best way to hold the cable would be. I've resorted to wrapping it around my arm, or holding it coiled in my back hand and trying to avoid rubbing.

 

On 2/25/2024 at 7:06 AM, DanieldH said:

The black holder is the current version, the blue greyish a previous version on my 2nd / fallback boom.

That design is super impressive! Never would have thought of that. I can definitely see how that helps with one-man band stuff.