I've thought of making my own but for what they might cost, I may be better off just buying one. Any reccomendations?

I read on RAMPS where Marty Atias recomended a climbers harness over the Versaflex.

the mixer waight less then my cigarets which i carring for all day long , what harnest , spend the money on something usiful, new bag perhaps :-)

Thanks Oleg, I'll stuff the 302 in my shirt pocket.

It's not weight but holding the unit stationary, and in a position to be able to monitor the metering. I'm a one man band most of the time.

If I was handy I'd use the wifes sewing machine. maybe I will anyway.

What's the Versaflex, Bryan? When I typed that on a search it brought up thousands of hits. And what kind of climbers harness? The only harness I've seen was at the Location Sound site (a Burbank, CA company) and it was made by Porta Brace. And speaking of Porta Brace, why a harness over a case? Just curious as I've been considering both to have my hands free as well.

The versaflex is a harness but it's made to carry a heavy weight rig. I just need something ro center the mixer about shirt pocket height. i was going to use a camera strap over my neck and a piece of webbing around my back so that the mixer and cables don't move.

The mixer and battery pack are in a portabrace case. The case comes with a shoulderstrap, which is too bulky to use as a neck strap.

I could also buy some webbing, velcro and delrin fittings and come up with something. I hate mickey mouse crap.

I s'pose the portabrace would do the trick.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=116715&is=REG

check that one

http://www.kinesisgear.com/images/K345K153C500big.jpg

Bryan, FWIW, I saw a guy on a shoot once that had a production vest, but he'd taken a small bag and sewn industrial Velcro to the back of it. Then he had a JLCooper micromix (I think that's what it's called) and had it inside the little bag, and then the small bag velcroed to his vest just above the breast pocket. Was pretty interesting.
Seems like industrial Velcro can hold just about anything, given enough surface area.

Oleg,
Judging by the photos of the Kinesisgear, and having seen the Versaflex, the Versaflex seems to be a way better unit. Get your hand on one and try it on, you will understand what I mean.

The versaflex is far too heavy, like extreme overkill. I only need a lightweight way of centering the mixer. Anytime I use the camera handheld and with an external mic I need the mixer. The VX2K mod is great but not without inconvenience.

I can mostly rig something up using some straps as i've already said.

Gebe wasn't serious, he was kidding me. Look at the model.

didnt kidding (and yes privetly:-)), dont see any need in versaflex for 1,5 kilo setup , i used working with versaflex for 10 kg setup and it was ok even i wasnt booming to much (doco style futer with wierless boom, 5 recievers , 2 mixers , hhb and 2 ifb transmaitor + 6 amp battery and some other shit inside my eargonizer) , this harness look exactly what you are need for small rig and it costs third of the versa , not all the big good stuff needed for small gigs

Gebe has really found a good outlet

Thanks

http://www.kinesisgear.com/

Kinesis sells great stuff, but it may also be overkill. How about something like:

http://www.digitalfotoclub.com/products3/678787037.asp

Bryan, weren't you considering mounting it on the camera? Did you decide against that?

I don't think a camera mount is a good idea for all situations. First there's the thought of drilling a hole through a $750 piece of gear, that's definetly out of the picture. I had thought of using a bracket 1 and velcro ( www.bracket1.com ). The best overall situation seems to be a chest mounted mixer, whether I use an on camera or boom mounted mic.

I get two new knees so i won't have to worry about handheld for a while. I found out this afternoon, the first one is booked for Aug 10. What a sight, an old guy with a marzpak and a walker.
I s'pose 2 vicodin and a quick shoot is a possibility. I know damn well I won't be able to stay away from hand held the whole time ;-)

Bryan, I'm considering the Kata line. Here's a link fyi:
http://www.kata-bags.com/Item.asp?pid=74&perentId=1&ProdLine=1

I was at a sound house in Burbank today where they recommended the above over the Porta Brace hands down. (I was really impressed with Location Sound. They're an excellent resource. And they both sell and rent.) I really like the Koala-1 for small mixers to go with it. The two snap together and make a solid and comfortable combo, though they can each be used separately as well.

It's a tad big for the Mix Pre (Koala1) and the harness is about the same, extreme overkill.

Thanks
Bryan

Brian - I'm working on a design for a mount that will hold mixpre without any additional holes drilled into it's case. Plug and play if it all works out OK. It will be held in place with small screws that will fit into the 2 small slots.

Right now I'm trying to figure out how to move a 800 mill into my shop so I can built cool stuff out of metal! -Greg.

Greg
Don't forget, I use a matte box with support rods. Also, if I'm using the Sound Devices 302, a boom and/or radio mics, i'll still need the chest pack.

I use double-sided velcro through the slots of the
MixPre hooked onto my belt or trouser belt loops,
so that it is at my side.
Five-foot cables run to the cam.

I'm going into TO and looking at some rock climbing chest harnesses. they're light and definetly not contrictive. You can actually buy the tubular webbing and fittings and custom cook one.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=ARphOvjQjEdE0VKXfkqUT8JMjM8ggwalIUSZAZgV1mIkhDcNRp5t!705347564!1709189 44!2003!7002!-297985067!170918972!2003!7002?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=667251&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=335103&bmUID=1083287841743