3BO: The Boom Operator's Kit - Sound Speeds

If you are new to sound and thinking about getting together your own boom kit, you may be a bit confused on what you should and shouldn't invest in. Is it necessary to make an investment? When is it acceptable to use a sound mixer's equipment? What should your first purchase be? In this video I'll answer all of that and more.
Important Note:
In the video I forgot the mention that if production isn't renting your boom kit, make sure your sound mixer includes your gear in their sound package inventory. That way if something gets damaged, production will have to replace it.
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[@thelinthicums3295]

We love your channel. Subscribed, and binge-watching your catalog!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Welcome aboard! Thank you for the sub!

[@generalsamuk]

Love your videos - absolutely spot on as always!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you!

[@ColinZiemer1]

Don’t sleep on Dinkum for planting mics

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm not a fan of Dinkum. It's all about the Ultra Light Plant Arm.

[@HackMyControlSystem]

Wow! Just came across your channel after taking two Videomantis courses and gaining more interest in audio. As an indie, no budget filmmaker this has been quite enlightening. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you for watching!

[@MichaelWynneCAS]

It’s important you have the fundamental tools of your trade. I have two boom poles on my kit available for my crew which they are welcome to use because the production is renting it from me. However if I was a boom op as my craft I’d have all the tools. I also worked with you recently and was very impressed that you had your own shock mounts.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm a geek dude. I carry everything except Zeppelins, mics and TX. I can assure that I'll be at my top performance if I use my gear, my way.

[@NathanOakley1980]

The only mic mention was a “gun shot” mic…. ….there was me thinking the list would be with loads of mics.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Normally we'll use the sound mixer's microphones. I just carry my own specialty microphones in my kit.

[@scoremoore4280]

perhaps a Boom operator kit review next time? that's what i thought this video would be about, good information to know though, keep up the good work.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Score Moore More details please. I went over what boom ops put in a basic kit. Do you mean you want a tour thru my insane kit?

[@scoremoore4280]

Sound Speeds yes please. It's always good to see what We have to look forward to once we go pro.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Score Moore Alright then. Next episode of 3B0 I'll show what I have in my crazy kit.

[@scoremoore4280]

Sound Speeds ok, I think it's always good to let us see what it's like to be a pro.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Score Moore You got! Expect it in my next 3BO video.

[@TKennedyfilms]

Just switched to ambient poles from panamic what is your standard maintenance process? would you be able to cover this?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thomas Kennedy Send me an email at [e-mail] and I'll share my process with you so you can start maintenance immediately.

[@matthew.datcher]

Thanks for posting this video. I can see how my kit is different from yours.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Next episode I'll actually show my kit.

[@matthew.datcher]

Sound Speeds I'm looking forward to it. Part of my original question was about how you transport your kit. What kind of cases and bags do you use. Maybe even a little bit about how you pack your vehicle. Thanks.

[@SoundSpeeding]

@22:14 if that jumbo boom is one of only six in the USA, and the only one in the film industry, what are the other 5 being used for?

[@SoundSpeeds]

I've had two people from Ambient tell me different answers. One was that it was the only one in the US and the other said it's one of two and the only used in film. I don't know... all I know is that it's rare.

[@SoundSpeeding]

@@SoundSpeeds just struggle to think of how it could be used outside of film/tv?? Thus am curious as to where/how it is being used.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Here's one way. A boat on a driveway, 12 feet off the ground. Lights on one side, SuperTechno crane on the other. A tall fence with spikes on top prevents me from booming safely. Actor walks from one side of boat to the other. What do you do? kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2TXl62eo6p1r6s

[@SoundSpeeding]

@@SoundSpeeds lavs or nothing for me! Either that or fly a drone with a boom hanging down from it?? hahaha

[@SoundSpeeds]

Too noisy bro.

[@dry509]

Where does the boom operators headphones plug into both wired boom with cables and wireless? Also, what is a shock mount?

[@SoundSpeeds]

The sound mixer will give the boom op a monitoring device to listen to. You must plug the headphones in. A shock mount isolates the microphone from vibrations coming from the boom pole.

[@dry509]

@@SoundSpeeds Thanks for your reply.

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@whitneyince3612]

Who do you consider your mentor?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Doug Cameron has been a great mentor of mine thru the years.

[@SoundSpeeding]

Want to swap your Ambient QP-6200 Jumbo Boom for my Sound Devices 552? ;-)

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ha!

[@joaovitorjoaovitor]

Why don't you include Zeppelins in your boom kit?

[@SoundSpeeds]

I have no idea which microphones the mixer uses and different mics are different sizes. Carrying zepps would require a lot of space and a huge investment.

[@joaovitorjoaovitor]

Fair enough. I was considering a situation where the mixer's Zeppelin was a little loose or slightly damaged, but at the same time it wouldn't even be a matter of preference or style, only negligence by the part of the mixer.

[@SoundSpeeds]

João Vítor M A mixer should replace faulty gear. They may complain but it shouldn't be something that you have to pay for. They're the ones getting several hundreds of dollars daily for package rental.

[@joaovitorjoaovitor]

Absolutely. Often times they'll complain about it indeed!

[@SoundSpeeds]

João Vítor M Mixers need or hear it or they won't know something is broken.