So I'm getting tired of yelling for everyone to shut up and stop walking around when we roll tape, and I'm thinking we need to ring the bell to get everyone quiet on the set like they do in proper stages.

But so far, after searching the web for months as well as every hardware store in a 50 mile radius, all I can find are the parts to assemble a simple bell/buzzer myself, not a complete device where you plug it in and the bell rings when you push a button and stops when you let go.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where else I could look to find one of these things? Do they even exist in a pre-assembled state? I mean, it makes sense if they don't, as normal usage for doorbells and the like would dictate having to assemble them in the field because you have to usually run wires through walls and mount the bell and button in different places.

I suppose I'll have to bite the bullet and just wire this silly little thing together myself but it'd sure be nice if there was a prefab off-the-rack solution. Really makes me miss the old days when I worked at a real studio with a real sound department. I know it's pretty ridiculous to stress over something this simple, but I suck at the do-it-yourself thing and will likely end up electrocuting myself and burning down the studio, not necessarily in that order.

(I was able to find the Red Light fairly easily at a Party Supply store, for what that's worth...)

Kinda pricey, but ... Bell & Light System (http://www.professionalsound.com/specs/bell_n_light.htm)

Wow, Steve, that's exactly it... knew I could count on you. I'm chagrined that I didn't find it myself. Just goes to show that what you get out of Google is only as good as what you put into it. I was searching for alarm bells & buzzers, doorbells, etc., and coming up with nothing useful.

It is indeed a little pricey, but maybe not so much considering the alternative.

Thanks again.

Postscript: and of course now that I know what this particular unit is called, a search at B&H shows they got 'em... Now the challenge is seeing if we can find a similar cheaper unit. I guess what I'm looking for is a simple pre-assembled/wired doorbell, but if I want it cheap I'm going to have to do it myself.

Go down to a local "large" hardware store I'm sure you will find something there in the door bell section ... the Internet is good things but sometimes a hands on approach is better.

Why not a real brass bell from the marine shop? It could also do double duty to match audio sync for multiple cameras.

A real bell rings on and on. It would probably get into some shots.

What about a simple compressed air horn for boats? Or a bull horn with a loud tone?

What about a bicycle bell? maybe bolted to the tripod ar sound cart

Go down to a local "large" hardware store I'm sure you will find something there in the door bell section ... the Internet is good things but sometimes a hands on approach is better.No, as I mentioned, I've done that and they've got everything, just not put together. Bells I can get. Bells, wires, buttons and transformers. It's the assembly I fear.
A real bell rings on and on. It would probably get into some shots.That's exactly what it's supposed to do. It needs to ring for a second or so (or as long as you hold the button down). One long burst means we're "on the bell" and all noise must stop. Two short means we're "all clear" and you may resume breathing.

Basically a schoolyard or fire alarm bell. Even a simple buzzer would do. I was just hoping to find the whole thing put together so all I had to do was plug it in, but sadly it doesn't seem to exist, even in a form a simple as a doorbell. And even the doorbell "kits" are meant to be hard-wired into the building's circuit mains, not plugged into a wall outlet. And they mostly chime like Big Ben rather than ring like a fire alarm.

Who'd have thought something so simple could get so complicated?

What about a bicycle bell? maybe bolted to the tripod ar sound cart
Brilliant! But some people might think that the muffin lady was coming with a snack. :-)

In my town we have a place that recovers old building materials from houses (etc.) that are being torn down. I would strongly suspect that you could find an old-fashioned doorbell in a place like that. Or maybe one of those little portable toy SFX players with a sound appropriate for whatever film genre you are shooting at the time.

When they put in the new electric passenger train system ("MAX" here in PDX), they were very quiet, and they had wimpy little OEM "horns" on them that nobody took seriously (for a vehicle that weighs several dozen tons and can cut you in half without even a bump.) So they got a good digital recording of a big diesel railroad engine and they use THAT to warn people to get out of the way.

Good idea, but again a recycled doorbell will be in pieces and was not likely plugged into an outlet. The individual pieces I can easily get new.

But keep those ideas coming, folks. Thanks.

Sport umpires whistle?

Just a note: but after the OP described it as a "fire alarm bell" I did a simple Google search on that specific phrase and there are a WHOLE bunch including 12volt, 24 volt AND 120 volt units.

I know the OP said they don't have much wiring experience, but if you went 12 volt and just used an extra computer hard drive transformer - you could fool around and try things with no danger.

Just a thought.

Intrigued, I did a bit more research.

There's a MANUAL fire alarm bell being made in China.

Looks WAY cool - Easy to mount - Probably dirt cheap - and NEVER runs out of power!

Don't know where you'd find a single unit retailer - but here's the manufacturer link...

Manual Fire alarm bell (Hand-rotary) products, buy Manual Fire alarm bell (Hand-rotary) products from alibaba.com (http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/219095690/Manual_Fire_alarm_bell_Hand_rotary_.html)

The "large" home improvement store should have a wireless door bell. Simply plug the bell into a standard 110 socket press the button and you've got a doorbell. I've had one on my house for the better part of 15 years. Some are louder than others but when you ring the bell at my house there is no doubt someone is at the door.

Yes, plenty of wireless doorbells at Lowe's, Home Depot and every local Ace Hardware in my area, but they all play the Westminster Chimes. Again, I can easily buy all the parts I need -- bells, transformers, button and wires -- separately, but I was looking for a complete system I could just plug in. I'll keep looking.

Somebody suggested a whistle... the type an athletic coach or referee might use. That sound like an excellent idea. It doesn't need to be plugged in, doesn't need batteries, won't be mistaken for a fire alarm, everyone knows how to use one, and it only costs a few bucks. Perfection in simplicity!

Ken

Maybe it's because I've been around bell systems on set for 15 years or so, but I have a hard time picturing a whistle being used for that purpose. More than a good chance it would quickly "go missing" and be found dangling from the perms thereafter.

12 volt old-fashioned alarm bell from the hardware store, some plain insulated wire, a momentary contact pushbutton switch, and either 1 12-volt or 2 6-volt lantern batteries wire 'em all in series and you're in business, if all you need is a bell. The rotating red beacon is what would add complexity.

Charles, I was hoping you'd weigh in as someone who seems to spend most of his life on a stage. Any other thoughts on this? To your knowledge are these thing usually just put together by the sound guys?

Steve, I think that's exactly what I'm going to have to do. Other than the very excellent (and expensive) unit you referred to earlier, it seems like what I'm looking for does not exist and I'm going to have to assemble my own. Not a big deal, I suppose. I've already got the beacon hooked up to a wireless remote controlled outlet which usually works.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

Someone mentioned air horns - aerosol can jobs. Simple / loud / cheap.

Air Horn Portable (http://www.defensedevices.com/air-horn-portable.html)

Someone mentioned air horns - aerosol can jobs. Simple / loud / cheap.

And typically so loud that it will temporarily deafen everyone on the set. But that may get the actors to speak up and make our job of capturing dialog easier! :-))

So I just took everyone's advice and bought the parts at the hardware store and turned the afternoon into a science experiment with my kids. Initial wireup took about ten minutes. Once we verified everything worked, I took everything apart and mounted all the pieces to a wooden folding TV tray that collapses when not in use. Works fine and a fun afternoon to boot. About $35 worth of parts and you can hear the bell down the street.

I'll mount the wireless remote for the beacon light to the same tray, so all can be controlled from the same console.

Thanks everyone.

What an entertaining thread. The top minds in the industry, slaving tirelessly to solve this seemingly simple problem. They apply their creativity, their problem solving skills and ingenutiy.Very entertaining and very interesting too.

However, I must say as a former sports official, I'm partial to just blowing a whistle, as was suggested by Brian Reynolds and seconded by Ken.

What an entertaining thread. The top minds in the industry, slaving tirelessly to solve this seemingly simple problem. They apply their creativity, their problem solving skills and ingenutiy. Very entertaining.and interesting.


I've often noticed that the more professional the people get, the cheaper the things they talk about are. Go to a no budget indie set and everyone talks about the Red One. Sit around with some seasoned pros and they talk about who makes the best apple boxes, clamps, sharpies, and apparently doorbells.

more often, the attributes and proclivities of various comely extras, stand-ins etc...