jason porter Posted May 14, 2011 Report Share Posted May 14, 2011 I am being asked to wire a Skydiver, so we can get a "clip" from him when he lands (really just a backup to the boom), not so much for the jump itself. Has anyone done this before? My concerns are- 1. The Tx becoming dislodged and falling to the ground from 10 000ft (and killing someone!) 2. The high SPL destroying the capsule before it reaches the ground Any chance of getting some cleanish audio as the diver floats to the ground? Any experience or insight would be great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted May 15, 2011 Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 I am being asked to wire a Skydiver, so we can get a "clip" from him when he lands (really just a backup to the boom), not so much for the jump itself. Has anyone done this before? My concerns are- 1. The Tx becoming dislodged and falling to the ground from 10 000ft (and killing someone!) 2. The high SPL destroying the capsule before it reaches the ground Any chance of getting some cleanish audio as the diver floats to the ground? Any experience or insight would be great! I did this once, putting a wireless on Frank Woodward (founder and owner of For Stars Catering) who is an avid skydiver. We were in New Zealand shooting "The Last Samurai" and at a weekend event he wanted to parachute in and be talking to the crowd over the P.A. system we had set up. It all worked great as soon as he came in range. No danger of the transmitter falling, it was tucked way into an inside pouch of his jump suit and the mic was well protected from wind. It was pretty effective, the crowd heard him talking before they realized they had to look up to see Frank coming down from the sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 That is great Jeff! Hopefully I have a much success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Recorded a tandem parachute presenter recently. Put a radio mike on him for the takeoff Plus a Sony Minidisk recorder for the distant stuff Worked well with the mike protected from wind mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Hi Mike, What did you do for wind protection? I have had success with Rycote lav furry windsceens, but never on a skydiver Recorded a tandem parachute presenter recently. Put a radio mike on him for the takeoff Plus a Sony Minidisk recorder for the distant stuff Worked well with the mike protected from wind mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Trew Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 No worries about damage to the capsule. It is usually easy to get good usable dialogue after the chute opens, as the falling speed is generally less than 20mph, which we all deal with every day. I think the best combination currently available is the Sanken COS-11 with its wire windscreen inside a MicroCat furry windscreen. When they jump, you should be able to get the best wireless range you've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason porter Posted May 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Thanks Glen, I have that exact setup. Thankfully we will be doing multiple jumps- 2 daylight from the Hercules and the landing site & 2 rounds in the night as well. Lots of chances for perfection! No worries about damage to the capsule. It is usually easy to get good usable dialogue after the chute opens, as the falling speed is generally less than 20mph, which we all deal with every day. I think the best combination currently available is the Sanken COS-11 with its wire windscreen inside a MicroCat furry windscreen. When they jump, you should be able to get the best wireless range you've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Capulli Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Jeff - what was your antenna / receiver setup on the ground? Mike - did you jump as well? where were you receiving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT Groove Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Reviving this topic. Glen, with the skydiver jumping from say 10,000 ft, how soon were you able to start getting good signal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordi Posted June 5, 2012 Report Share Posted June 5, 2012 Depends if you and the bag with the receivers are on the ground, or thrown from the plane with the guy transmitting! ;D ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlw Posted June 6, 2012 Report Share Posted June 6, 2012 Should work well and I've seen this, and similar things done. I was looking for a video I saw a few years ago with a newscaster that jumps out of a plane live on air, and had live audio and IFB. There was a short dropout just as she jumped out of the plane but otherwise, audio seemed good. Stunt pilot Will Allen sings the National Anthem live from the cockpit: he uses a UM250 from what I remember - it's strapped to the seat behind him. I'd suggest using a pair of helical antennas pointing straight up at the skydiver, and as much TX power as you can get. Line of sight gives you real advantages.... although 10K ft. is almost 2 miles... that's a long way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccsnd Posted June 7, 2012 Report Share Posted June 7, 2012 I'm actually a skydiver myself. I have just over 1100 skydives. If it is for after opening you should be good to go using your regular windy day lav technique. As for the jump itself, there is no chance at all of getting usable audio. (i know you said you weren't trying for it anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted June 14, 2012 Report Share Posted June 14, 2012 Hi Folks A Sonotrim inside clothing near the neck I was on the ground - reception good on a Lectro then at distance the Mini Disk recorder took over. Have done similar with my MM400's (I have 3) on Bungy jumpers at the famous Hackett premises near Queenstown South Island NZ I use B3 mikes for robustness taped under T-shirt. Transmitter taped into pinned body belt Quite funny to hear the stage countdown, the scream, and the splash if they hit the water Great fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregaS Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 Hi guys, Next week I’ll be shooting a documentary and will need to record the dialogue from two skydivers + their communications with the base which is going to be on the ground. I plan to use two wisycom transmitters with DPA 6010 lavs on the skydivers and my sound devices recorder with Betso sharkie antennas on the ground. Does anybody have similar experience ? Any suggestions on how to get the best sound out of this situation ? 🙂 Greets, Grega Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanpeds Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 You’ll need some sort of recorder on each talent, such as a PDR, to get the sound while in the plane and diving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 Use Zaxcom Digital Recording wireless on the talent and you will get it all --- I don't think you can rely on wireless transmission from the ground up to plane and during skydive. Local recording and wireless transmission can be accomplished most easily with the Zaxcom units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpro Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 Back in the day, I would just put a SSN on the person, hit record and let it run. So much easier now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted October 10, 2019 Report Share Posted October 10, 2019 I tried using a Nagra SN (I assume that is what you are referring to) for a recording on a rollercoaster ride --- discovered that the mechanical tolerance to the G-forces of the rollercoaster was not sufficient and the recording failed. Similar situation with full size Nagra planted in one of the fighter planes on the movie "The Right Stuff". The recording had a few glitches but was otherwise okay and useful, the larger problem was that Dennis Quaid vomited on the Nagra that was sitting between his legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregaS Posted October 11, 2019 Report Share Posted October 11, 2019 Thank you all for your feedback. @Jeff Wexler will try the Zax Transmitters for the backup. Will try to cover all the gear in case of unexpected vomiting 😬 What about recording all the comms .. I was thinking the good old way to mic up one Motorola on the ground .. Cheers Grega Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpro Posted October 11, 2019 Report Share Posted October 11, 2019 Stereo version of the SN. You are probably right Jeff, the G forces would cause problems, most likely when the chute deployed. Lots of flutter and wow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Flowers Posted October 11, 2019 Report Share Posted October 11, 2019 I shot this with for BBC Nationwide in the mid 1970s with a Audio radiomic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Immoral Mr Teas Posted October 12, 2019 Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 Jeff, that’s brilliant. My friend had a similar “claim to fame” (or her dad at least) that Jimi Hendrix threw up over his drum kit. Nick, as a failed / gave up piper, I hope that everyone here appreciates the skill involved in recording those beasts even in easier circumstances ... Jez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonG Posted October 12, 2019 Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 @JBond Nagra story alert! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Westgate Posted October 12, 2019 Report Share Posted October 12, 2019 On 5/17/2011 at 12:01 AM, jason porter said: Hi Mike, What did you do for wind protection? I have had success with Rycote lav furry windsceens, but never on a skydiver I used a Sonotrim mike under clothing Once in the air the presenter used a selfie stick and a GoPro to do pieces of the commercial to camera. He then stopped talking to enjoy the "flight" and I got a wonderful altitude track. I eventually un-rigged him in the car park below mike On 5/17/2011 at 7:07 AM, Michael Capulli said: Jeff - what was your antenna / receiver setup on the ground? Mike - did you jump as well? where were you receiving? Me jump!!! Xugger that! Radio mike range was pretty good as the guy was in clear air But the pieces to camera , out of radio range were captured on the recorder Now days I would use a Sony Recorder to flash drive. Small inexpensive and 24K 64 bit This unit has been round the world on low cost commercials without budget for me. I have wired a Sonotrim to plug into it and it is spotless! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel Posted October 13, 2019 Report Share Posted October 13, 2019 46 minutes ago, Mike Westgate said: I used a Sonotrim mike under clothing Once in the air the presenter used a selfie stick and a GoPro to do pieces of the commercial to camera. He then stopped talking to enjoy the "flight" and I got a wonderful altitude track. I eventually un-rigged him in the car park below mike Me jump!!! Xugger that! Radio mike range was pretty good as the guy was in clear air But the pieces to camera , out of radio range were captured on the recorder Now days I would use a Sony Recorder to flash drive. Small inexpensive and 24K 64 bit This unit has been round the world on low cost commercials without budget for me. I have wired a Sonotrim to plug into it and it is spotless! mike What's the Sony unit Mike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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