How To Boom Walk and Talks

Booming is an awkward thing to do. Your body wants to walk one direction while your body wants to have the boom exactly perpendicular to that direction. It doesn't take much to feel very weird or even hurt but in this video I show you how I make this process manageable.
Over the years I've thought extensively about what our bodies do and how we can use our bodies more comfortably while doing uncomfortable activities with a boom pole. These are the tricks that work for me and what I'd consider to be the best ways I've found to boom walk and talks.
Gear Commonly Used In My Videos:
DJI Pocket 2: geni.us/DJI_Pocket2
Panasonic Lumix FZ-80: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixFZ80
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7: geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixDMCG7
Aputure Amaran AL-MX LED Video Light: geni.us/AputureLight
Tascam DR-40: geni.us/TascamDR40
Sound Devices MixPre-6: geni.us/SoundDevicesMP6
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and if you purchase something using one of these links, you'll pay the same price that you'd find on Amazon if you looked it up yourself but Amazon will pay me a small referral fee for sending you there to make a purchase.
Make sure to subscribe for more content!
Want some Sound Speeds swag? teespring.com/stores/sound-sp...
Have a question? Write it in the comments below or email [e-mail]
Join us on Facebook: / soundspeeds
Follow us on Twitter: / soundspeedsyt
Interested in becoming a patron? / soundspeeds
To make a donation: www.paypal.me/SoundSpeeds
Join my Discord: / discord
All donations received will go directly back into this channel.
If there's something specific you'd like the donation funds to be spent on, please specify in the donation notes or send me an email.

[@philhahn]

So relieved we didn't have any walk n talk shots when I was mixing on some student films recently - while still early n learning, was a bit tricky wrangling first years assisting me to do good boom work (they'll get there!) definitely need to keep these vids in mind for them - you explain things more clearly than me haha

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you and thanks for watching

[@Tgspy312]

Defying nature is a great description of the chaotic crab walking I find myself doing when booming. Love your energy, brings me great joy!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yes indeed. Thanks for watching

[@zandershanks7718]

wow, great video because i'v been doing this all wrong and now that i now how to wallk and talk with a boom i can start fillming my movie.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Awesome. Good luck.

[@charlesisrecording]

You kept that mic super steady in that last sprint, that's some serious skill! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thanks man. If I were Captain Disillusion I'd say it was VFX. ;-)

[@actually_romanoff]

would love to see how you work behind the scenes on actual sets!

[@SoundSpeeds]

:-)

[@kengoodwin459]

Thanks @SoundSpeeds! This is a video that i’ve been waiting for for years! walking backwards is my biggest challenge.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Hopefully these trucks will help you. :-)

[@khediveobam2662]

I'm starting this wanderfull job from Cameroon 🇨🇲❤️ , i like your videos

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. :-)

[@PostColorGear]

Very informative. Especially that facing where you're walking technique. Thanks for sharing!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing dude.

[@nickr5213]

It’s always great watching you show off your techniques. I now cringe when I see a lot of boom operators using poor technique. I recently saw a guy boom one handed and resting the pole on his head. Spinal compression incoming…

[@SoundSpeeds]

Yeah but younger boom ops don't worry about long term effects

[@lilipey]

Excellent and very informative content Allen!

[@SoundSpeeds]

:-) Thank you.

[@SunriseWaterMedia]

That's amazing, Allen. 👏🏃💨

[@SoundSpeeds]

I do my best

[@soundmixervegas]

You are the best!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you sir

[@robertharker]

Great video

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you Robert.

[@jobinjayan2153]

Great ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. :-)

[@jonukelis528]

Review "hide a mic re:pose" , it is said, that it suppose to get rid of low rumble when booming

[@SoundSpeeds]

I already reached out to them but they haven't gotten back to me. I used one a few months ago and it did help.

[@marchernandez1644]

Hey Allen, love your stuff, I'm starting to get into being both a Location Sound Mixer as well as a Boom Operator for indie film, would you recommend the audio technica m50x for Boom Operating or is that more for mixing in post, or should I get something more flat sounding or more noise cancelling focused

[@SoundSpeeds]

The M50X is what I use in my studio but on set I use the 7506's. I like being able to somewhat hear thru my cans so I can hear sounds around me. If I hear something, I'll have a decent idea of where it's coming from too.

[@Libsenth]

How easy you handle that boom suggest I gotta upgrade my pole. Very nice video!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Thank you. Many years of handling booms. Experience helps. Thanks for watching.

[@Mac1Sound]

Hi Allen !, hows the Nano doing, I am in the market for my first "proper basket' and I was wondering if it's worth punching for the Nano or just stump up the cash for a normal Rycote basket ( for my 416). I have a Cinela cosi for my MKH8050. I'm trying to do the 'buy once, cry once' but £550inc tax is a lot at the moment while I'm one low budget/indie set. Also thanks for the boom info I have some walk & talks to do on a beach, so this is suuuuper handy info.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Sure thing. Glad to help. I'm still testing the Nano. Some things I like, some I'm not so crazy about. Review soon.

[@iancraig]

We just don't think of these kinds of things. Now I'll have to practise in the garden!

[@SoundSpeeds]

It took me years to figure out the tweaks that work best for me.

[@iancraig]

and seconds to show it!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Very true. Shaving years of trial and error off a younger boom ops career to figure it out

[@HubLocationSound]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@SoundSpeeds]

😉

[@Meneerbramschrijft]

Which k-tkek boompole are you holding here?

[@SoundSpeeds]

KP16 Review soon

[@polarmx7890]

Why is the blimp its 90° degrees? i have seen it manytimes on American´s behind sceenes, im used to work with it on about 45° or so, am i doing wrong?

[@SoundSpeeds]

It depends on the situation. Often times when pulling talent I will angle out to reduce footsteps but if it's on carpet, I might not if there's heavy ambient noise

[@DesertCookie]

@@SoundSpeeds That's really great to know. We have a few situations where footsteps are a big concern.

[@SoundSpeeds]

They are always a concern especially with the Steadicam op.

[@stephenszklarski5446]

what pole are you using in this video ?

[@SoundSpeeds]

The K+Tek KP-16. I review it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYbZdYlniZiffM0

[@broadcastbytes]

Like a gazelle

[@SoundSpeeds]

Ha! :-)

[@WORTHITORNOT]

Watching this now my neck and shoulders hurt lol. How bad do your shoulders hurt after a long shoot day?

[@SoundSpeeds]

Why? Know a good chiropractor? ;-)

[@WORTHITORNOT]

@@SoundSpeeds Haha

[@SoundSpeeds]

To answer your question though, yes

[@soundmixervegas]

I would love to show you my boom technique for everything but scripted.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Please do. :-)