The simple (and cheap) things at DVinfo.net

Jon Fairhurst · May 21st, 2011, 02:00 PM

I did a series of indoor, one person interviews yesterday using a Sanken COS-11D and a Soundelux U97 (S/N 1!) in super cardioid mode on a stand into a Fostex FR-2LE recorder. The sound is good, but could be better.

Did I need better mics? No. The Soundelux sounds especially good. Did I need a better recorder? No, the hiss is very, very low. Better cables? Better position? No. All that was great.

What I needed was a few crummy blankets hung between stands. And maybe some sandbags to keep the stands vertical. The room had opposing hard walls and windows with little to break up the sound. Echo was the problem and no mic or recorder would have changed that.

I'm being picky here. The sounds is really quite good. The target audience isn't likely to notice.

But blankets? They're cheap compared to mics and recorders. And they would have helped us block stray light for a more controlled lighting situation. A double win!

Sometimes, simple solutions beat expensive ones. :)

Andy Balla · May 21st, 2011, 03:18 PM

I've been meaning to pick up about 6 moving blankets from Harbor Freight for a while now. Good for so many things. Like you said, cutting down bad reflections, blocking sunlight...Or as a boom op, it would be nice to either stand on one of these or kneel on one folded several times. Every time I work a shoot it seems there's always one shot that I have to boom low, which means I end up kneeling on some hard and cold floor for several hours. Another use would be to put one down for actors to walk on if I'm getting too much footstep noise on a hard floor. +1 for moving blankets!

Jon Fairhurst · May 21st, 2011, 08:35 PM

I've got to admit, bringing the world's greatest mic to a shoot feels cool. Lugging around a bunch of heavy, bulky stands, blankets, and sandbags feels uncool. Dammit Jim, I'm an audio guy, not a grip. ;)

Too bad that no mic would be as effective!

Great point about having the blankets for the knees. When you can stop the pain, "cool" no longer matters. :)

Andy Balla · May 21st, 2011, 09:38 PM

Just about every shoot I do sound for, I end up kneeling on a marble or concrete floor thinking "Oh yeah, I should buy knee pads". Moving blankets would do double duty here, I think.

Vincent Oliver · May 22nd, 2011, 12:39 AM

And of course after a hard days shooting you can use the blankets to rest those weary eyes and ears.

Maybe someone should market them as the all purpose mobile recording studio, stick a clapper board logo on and triple the price.

Christian Brown · May 22nd, 2011, 09:45 AM

Once was shooting in a college chapel with very high windows. Even with the shutters closed, a sliver of light was landing directly on the performer. I got a blanket from my car, stuck it on the top of mic stand, raised it to 15', and viola -- instant shade.

I've found doormats to be especially useful.

Jon Fairhurst · May 22nd, 2011, 10:00 PM

A 15' mic stand? You work with really tall performers. :)

May 21st, 2011, 02:00 PM	#1
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	The simple (and cheap) things I did a series of indoor, one person interviews yesterday using a Sanken COS-11D and a Soundelux U97 (S/N 1!) in super cardioid mode on a stand into a Fostex FR-2LE recorder. The sound is good, but could be better. Did I need better mics? No. The Soundelux sounds especially good. Did I need a better recorder? No, the hiss is very, very low. Better cables? Better position? No. All that was great. What I needed was a few crummy blankets hung between stands. And maybe some sandbags to keep the stands vertical. The room had opposing hard walls and windows with little to break up the sound. Echo was the problem and no mic or recorder would have changed that. I'm being picky here. The sounds is really quite good. The target audience isn't likely to notice. But blankets? They're cheap compared to mics and recorders. And they would have helped us block stray light for a more controlled lighting situation. A double win! Sometimes, simple solutions beat expensive ones. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

May 21st, 2011, 03:18 PM	#2
Andy Balla Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 182	Re: The simple (and cheap) things I've been meaning to pick up about 6 moving blankets from Harbor Freight for a while now. Good for so many things. Like you said, cutting down bad reflections, blocking sunlight...Or as a boom op, it would be nice to either stand on one of these or kneel on one folded several times. Every time I work a shoot it seems there's always one shot that I have to boom low, which means I end up kneeling on some hard and cold floor for several hours. Another use would be to put one down for actors to walk on if I'm getting too much footstep noise on a hard floor. +1 for moving blankets!

May 21st, 2011, 08:35 PM	#3
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: The simple (and cheap) things I've got to admit, bringing the world's greatest mic to a shoot feels cool. Lugging around a bunch of heavy, bulky stands, blankets, and sandbags feels uncool. Dammit Jim, I'm an audio guy, not a grip. ;) Too bad that no mic would be as effective! Great point about having the blankets for the knees. When you can stop the pain, "cool" no longer matters. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

May 21st, 2011, 09:38 PM	#4
Andy Balla Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 182	Re: The simple (and cheap) things Just about every shoot I do sound for, I end up kneeling on a marble or concrete floor thinking "Oh yeah, I should buy knee pads". Moving blankets would do double duty here, I think.

May 22nd, 2011, 12:39 AM	#5
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: The simple (and cheap) things And of course after a hard days shooting you can use the blankets to rest those weary eyes and ears. Maybe someone should market them as the all purpose mobile recording studio, stick a clapper board logo on and triple the price. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

May 22nd, 2011, 09:45 AM	#6
Christian Brown Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 194	Re: The simple (and cheap) things Once was shooting in a college chapel with very high windows. Even with the shutters closed, a sliver of light was landing directly on the performer. I got a blanket from my car, stuck it on the top of mic stand, raised it to 15', and viola -- instant shade. I've found doormats to be especially useful. __________________ http://artslaureate.com/, http://facebook.com/ArtsLaureate http://www.christianamonson.com/

May 22nd, 2011, 10:00 PM	#7
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: The simple (and cheap) things A 15' mic stand? You work with really tall performers. :) __________________ Jon Fairhurst