How to Lav 17 Outfits in 5 Minutes

How to Lav 17 Different Outfits
On this weeks episode of 4 Minute Film School, we discuss how Hollywood films mount lavs and overcoming challenges with a wide variety of outfits and costumes. You find great ideas of how you can improve your audio quality for dialog in your productions.
Thanks to our guest instructor Stephen Harrod for sharing his years of experience and wisdom. www.imdb.com/name/nm4035316/?r...
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[@305kubrick]

Great tutorial! It would be more helpful to do extreme close ups of what they are doing with the mic's.

[@Tmanaz480]

You always hurt the one you lav. No seriously, great video.

[@BrightsonDavid]

Hey Stephen Harrod, You're amazing! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@JussiTarvainen]

Superb and extremely informative video! Thank you so much :)

[@wrthit1915]

Wonderful. And love your products

[@ShelbyWatson]

do more episodes like this. show more of the techniques

[@hedbonker5604]

On the 1st one there I generally create 2 triangles of gaff tape sticky side out and sandwich the lav with that. Cannot stick to skin for some situations so for that I stick to clothing and skin side I put a small hypoallergenic makeup removal swab.

[@rayrapphaelbisnar]

awesome, this was helpful!

[@patronise]

Great lightning round. With wetsuits I've found the material is so thick that it muffles the sound too much - went with a hair mic for that shoot.

[@anandraj3460]

Good idea thanks for the tips

[@OrigEntertainmentOfficial]

Awesome video. This is one of the most important aspects of production yet so little information is out there on this. I can't find the neo packs on Trew Audio. Am I missing something? Great job, guys!

[@CommHive]

Love the video - great tips. Thanks - Any tips on how to mic kids? Not so much on where the lav and TX goes but about how to get them to leave things in place. :)

[@stevesteveson0101]

Kids are difficult because their bodies aren't developed, little ones specifically. So their clothes cling to them. Theres a wire right in the open on an episode of Preacher. I don't bother much of the time for that reason and they always fidget.

[@williammartey]

I think that these lessons are so essential and easy to digest! Great work Ted and Stephen how to lav an adult in a diaper

[@paintballing489]

Great Video! Very helpful. Some I knew and some I didn't. Does anyone know where to pick up pocket tapes? I couldn't find them on trew audio.

[@funny2thag]

paintballing489 I was with them on the shoot of this episode and he bought everything he demonstrated at a Walmart down the street. He got them in the personal care section.

[@rockmyballsplease]

Whenever I hide the lavs I can never get very clean audio? What I want to know is even with these techniques what does the audio sound like and how clean is it? It would give me an indication as to how accurate my technique is. Also, How much of the lav audio actually gets used?

[@meahnicholas7352]

hey could you put the link how to get these item how he mic like the tape

[@itslukehill]

Thanks for the video. Where can one find the "pocket tapes' you mention in the second setup? I don't see it on the Trew Audio website and a Google search doesn't return anything useful.

[@stevesteveson0101]

www.joesstickystuff.com/

[@cockerjc]

I can't find "Pocket Tape" used on button-up shirt.

[@toddyboymail2264]

I cannot find neopac on true audio. Please help with links.

[@srgaudio4767]

Is there a video where you guys physically show how to mic these wardrobes?

[@Streamtronics]

loved it, this sound guy seems pretty cool I'd love to pick his brain a little xD I was wondering about something like a mascot type costume, with large head... probably would record that separately anyway tho since you can't see the mouthmovements anyway...

[@stevesteveson0101]

They can always record it later (permitting budget and time) but you could probably rig something right in the head depending on how much room it has. It's always good to capture everything on set, they hired a sound guy to record might as well get what you can get. Post and the director will appreciate it!

[@magnusholmes]

Samurai suit could be quite intresting

[@nightdonutstudio]

Wish you have article written about every tool you mentioned in the video.

[@stevesteveson0101]

This is where I have purchased all of my equipment since starting my career. www.trewaudio.com/product-category/expendables/expendables-lavalier-accessories/

[@rgsauve]

+Stephen Harrod Nice! Thanks for the link. If only that site showed photos of those accessories in use. That would be a popular video.

[@audioviking5349]

What about some body paint costumes like Mystique (X-Men 2011)? Maybe in the hair?

[@stevesteveson0101]

Hair mic for sure, but then you have the issue of where to put the transmitter. For me, thats a no wire situation. If there are shots where they are wide and they only way you can get the dialogue is with a wire you need to explain that to the director. But then again, if you are on xmen they have the budget to paint the boom/wire out and they have the budget for adr.

[@stuartdeacon5694]

Great points and great links in from the questions below thank you. Swim suits!

[@stevesteveson0101]

Boom it

[@petermountain3068]

Where's number 11 :D ?

[@Mile26point2films]

Guys missed a number unless you accidentally deleted it. One you may have left out was the mic placement on a Marie Antoinette type Dress and Louis XV wardrobe.

[@PhilippJansen]

Great and cool video again! It would have been nice to know where to put a lavalier microphone on a Chewbacca costume. Would the amount of hair on that costume rattle so much that a boom operator would be necessary or would an integration into the costume be okay?!

[@aputurelighting]

That's an answer you'd find in preproduction meetings and consume tests.

[@stevesteveson0101]

Well I cant speak for the sound on the original star wars but my understanding was wireless microphones were used sparingly back then. Much of sound in studios was captured on boom microphones on a giant jl fisher boom, still used today in fact. I highly doubt they used a wire on Peter Mayhew. For the sake of this conversation though Id say try to find an open space or cavity to hide it in or better yet place it right outside the costume on the fur and talk with wardrobe about hiding it in plain sight on the costume! Be careful though, wookies are known to pull people's arms outta their sockets. 😆

[@electricafroman]

chewbaccas sound was all post.

[@stevesteveson0101]

Correct unless otherwise statement by the director, it is sound departments job to capture everything on set, which includes Chewbacca's grunts and urghs and David Prowse's un-used performance as Darth Vader. Like wise for Mad Max Fury Road. Despite that much of it was ADR sound was still present on set. Rolling to give post production a reference as to the performances captured on the day.

[@electricafroman]

Stephen Harrod true and they did but with a boom. Through the mask and helmet it sounded like turd but absolutely no reason to use a lav in either situation...

[@user-xv4he4mt4x]

5:47 He meant to say "rotoscope" out the boom out of the blue screen.

[@joshcomer425]

This was amazing. I would have watched a 30 minute version of this. What about using a lav on a cropped shirt?

[@stevesteveson0101]

Cropped meaning low cut?

[@joshcomer425]

+Stephen Harrod -More like a half shirt (crop top). Does that fall into bathing suit territory: i.e. don't try? Or would you try to use a waist pack high up the talent's torso?

[@stevesteveson0101]

+Josh Comer waist/toros or clip on the bra run the wire around the shoulders. If its see through you're in the danger zone.

[@dontfrown3593]

Birthday suit? Im assuming hair mic if available.

[@stevesteveson0101]

Hair mic, yes. Then comes the problem of the transmitter. And if its a skinny dipping or streaking scene and they are shooting wide and tight you're not going to be able to wire. In that case its important to communicate that with the director. Film making is a collaborative process, there so many elements at work on the screen. The performance in take 3 might not be as good as the audio or the lighting of take 6. We are all there (in theory) to make the same movie. You have to reach a happy medium, and if thats not met and you are not getting the sound you need for that shot, you have to communicate that so they knew. Ive been in some touch shot situations and all you can do is your best with what is provided.

[@DRunDis1]

Thanks for the awesome info. Sub'd! You guys should've done Spidermans costume. I think that would be a tricky one considering anything on the body will show up.

[@funny2thag]

That's a good point.

[@electricafroman]

spiderman costume=ADR

[@diogoalmeidavisuals]

How would you mic a bikini on a movie like Spring Breakers?

[@stevesteveson0101]

Don't.

[@Mile26point2films]

you just have to rely on the shot gun

[@yosefalexander6688]

Hey I got a really good one! How are you going to Mic a Sky Diver?!

[@stevesteveson0101]

Get really good wireless. Get a lot of really good wind protection. Stand on the ground wait for them to fall into range.

[@SeqMod]

use a low-sensitivity lav with a small recorder, or higher-end transmitters have built in recording already.

[@electricafroman]

You guys, remember to get your coverage so you can boom everything. Lavs are nice but don't sound as good and are unnecessary a lot of the time. I recorded a short yesterday, didnt use lavs and it sounds amazing...

[@stevesteveson0101]

You're preaching to the choir. Boom city all the way. Lavs in my mind are a safety. Nothing beats a skilled boom operator (s) swinging a scene.

[@electricafroman]

Stephen Harrod Most new producers do not know this. Its, put lavs on everyone and I don't want to pay anything for them :) Just wanna let the newbies know...

[@omnesilere]

6:08 music editing lulz

[@curtpair6044]

For football... we hide the mic in the sternum of the pads, and then put the transmitter in the shoulder area of the pads... that's the way the BIG boys do it at the NFL!

[@stevesteveson0101]

Do you lose a lot of transmitters giving the rugged conditions they're put in?

[@curtpair6044]

VERY rarely! It's all in where it's placed! It's closer to the inside, than the outside! It's 'wrapped.' The NFL has been 'doing it' this way for a LONG time!

[@betocabral9983]

Great video! Always nice to check how others approach miking talent. Here's a link to more detailed coverage on "laving" Football players. A little old article interviewing audio techs from NFL Films with some awesome content. www.lectrosonics.com/europe/Press-Releases/nfl-films-selects-lectrosonics-for-on-field-audio.html Cheers

[@rebeccaholland730]

Great help!! How would you lav a bikini, swimsuit, and the best one... An Equestrian outfit?? Tall boots, tight riding breeches, either a polo shirt or a show shirt which is like a man's dress shirt, only it has a round collar, which overlays the top of the button up, and it's generally very fitted. How would you keep it from falling off while riding, or keep it from rubbing while riding?? Is THAT one good enough to win!?!? Hehehehehe...

[@stevesteveson0101]

Bikini and swimsuit-boom it. Equestrian , been there. Waist strap and mic in between the buttons. Put the transmitter in a non lubricated condom, cause its gonna get sweaty.

[@photojoseph]

Short/no hair, and a beard - could you mic the beard instead of the hair? Ever done that? Or is it too bristly to work.

[@stevesteveson0101]

To noisy.

[@davidbialik1878]

Here's my challenge: Where and how to place a wireless lav on a male actor with a scruffy beard that goes down his neck. He's wearing a tee underneath medical scrubs. The scrubs are noisy and his scruffy neck rubs against his costume.

[@stevesteveson0101]

If it has a pocket in it and you're able to make alterations to wardrobe, cut a hole in the pocket and put the lav in there. If theres no pocket try to put the mic on the side avoiding the beard. Also its probably not sanitary for a nurse to have an unkempt beard so they'd probably fire him anyway. 😆

[@davidbialik1878]

Actor showed up unshaven on set for training vid.

[@stevesteveson0101]

+David Bialik baaaad actor. Shaaaammme!