Making the Custom Microphones for Hamilton!

[@tested]

In case you missed it, here are the OTHER videos from our Hamilton visit! kzbin.info/aero/PLJtitKU0CAejog4eKg-Y13a9LhqlqGyw2

[@ryanadams7581]

Another great video! Please could you do a video about the lighting on Hamilton?

[@WardNightstone]

not for nothing but couldn't they rig up king Georges Staff to be a mic if the one in the crown went out

[@leviraylan7489]

I dont mean to be offtopic but does someone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.

[@silassergio9554]

@Levi Raylan instablaster =)

[@leviraylan7489]

@Silas Sergio Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@jamesbailey4304]

I absolutely adore how when you mentioned 3d printing, she paused as a whole world of possibilities opened up. That smile warmed my heart today.

[@ungartothemax20166]

Yeah do you think that they actually took him up on his offer starting at around 5:51?

[@jaylee5876]

Aww, I love that girl

[@laurencenoble3629]

@@ungartothemax20166 I doubt it. You really want the transmitter to be as compact as possible. I think a 3D printed component would add bulk as well as another thing to get broken and it also makes it more difficult to get to the connection. As someone who has been given that call to check these things many times the first thing we do is to make sure the connector hasn't come loose.

[@thehuggz-i9k]

My goodness. Adam's passion for everything is so very contagious. The way he's able to see and appreciate the smallest of details in a job that, to me, would come across as tedious is just a magnificent character trait. But to then be able to express that to other people in a way that's exciting and able to break down those misconceptions is, quite frankly, inhuman. I have to feel like even she walked away with a greater appreciation of her own job, skill set and tools.

[@txm100]

I am the same way.

[@tormentedsoul7852]

Adam makes anything interesting. He makes you believe that you could do this. I sometimes just want to run to Home Depot and do a project.... then I remember oh yeah, I am not allowed to play w/ power tools.

[@constancemiller3753]

I wish everybody could catch enthusiasm.

[@TheBigburcie]

Multi-million dollar production but the most important tool to keep the show running appears to be a bent paperclip.

[@FirstnameLastname-vf9rp]

I read that before I got to the part and I was like what

[@neonstorm7241]

That’s in true Hamilton fashion.

[@blueashke]

@@ALIANALISA Well, in their defense, this isn't on Broadway. This is at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco (where, incidentally, I randomly met Adam many years ago while in line for Wicked). But I just love them geeking out over stuff.

[@TheBigburcie]

@UCpJDqcgNoivNdY3DGuFmNeA I fully agree that sometimes simple and cheap is the way to go. The ISS relies on zip ties and velcro, although knowing government projects, the zip ties were probably $75 each.

[@tacticaltoast6721]

That's theater for you

[@thefrankenator]

Been a Sound engineer my whole life, Finally the Audio Dept is getting some interest from the rest of the community! i love when people see the magical world of theatre audio for the first time.

[@errhka]

sound is the unsung hero of everything they are in. One of those jobs where it works until suddenly it doesn't - you have to be on your A-game all the time and that takes mad respect

[@blacktieaudioproductions1380]

frank molloy: you’re so right! Also been in Audio my whole life, and I love that people get to see all the clever tricks of how we mask microphones onstage.

[@sonicjackalopeproductions3342]

I know! I personally feel seen :) and by Adam Savage no less

[@stgeorge143]

My son is an actor and I love how the sound ladies that mic him up are IN CHARGE. You don't mess with them! Such characters.

[@AlexMR]

I'm trying to be in audio engineer but it's a silent job no one really thanks you for lol but I feel the same I'm still learning and love learning about productions with body mics since I'm barely starting

[@phibrugg]

Did you see that? One smart person talking to another smart person: - I’ve got an idea that might help you - (not being territorial or defensive) I’m interested

[@charlieritchie7724]

I think it was more of a “omg why have I not already thought of that. That’s genius”

[@chrispan3033]

Very refreshing to see. Or not being dismissive towards a guy not in her field while she has been doing it successfully this whole time.

[@scorinth]

... and then a few minutes later the roles are reversed!

[@wolfelkan8183]

9:55 "This is the thinnest they have" *Cameraman tries frantically to get it in focus.*

[@OrigamiMarie]

focus . . . focus . . . focus . . . focus . . . screw it, it's invisible.

[@ChibiChibi310]

As a woman in sound, knowing that its a very gendered profession, it's wonderful to see Adrianna brought to the forefront for this video! Amazing video, Adam. Thank you.

[@SerenityAutumn]

Same!!!!

[@sketchers3115]

I'm considering doing sound for theater. Is it a hard thing to get into?

[@joanbernsten3960]

@@sketchers3115 Replying to you cause I'm interested in Hallies answer...

[@blah7983]

You would think they’re would be more woman as they typically are better at distinguishing sounds than men.

[@SerenityAutumn]

@@blah7983 Women are needed in sound mostly because females (and males) prefer to be mic'ed by other women. It's more comfortable for them because often the mic has to be hidden under certain clothing.

[@timweydert3490]

I love these videos about the people without whom a show would never be possible. Stage performances are so plentiful in the skillsets required to make it all happen.

[@Sharklops]

this was one of the best videos on Tested in a long time. Love this sort of highly specialized vocational knowledge. Same reason I recently have gotten into watching videos of old school cobblers and stuff like that

[@terriblej6107]

I'd love a recommendation for an old school cobbler video :)

[@Sharklops]

Terrible J - I really like a channel called Trenton and Heath. They are brothers who are I believe second-generation cobblers. They're pretty young guys but are very traditional craftsmen and they do a really good job of giving explanations as they repair and restore shoes. They have a lot of good videos but here's a restoration they did of a pair of John Lobb shoes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqqspGurrc1gnbM And here's that shoemaker John Lobb of London (which has been in business for 5 or 6 generations) showcased on an episode of the British show Handmade: By Royal Appointment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2qtpoaHaZaed7M

[@marymiller752]

See, I always love seeing mic placements on actors in stage shows. Especially in person, because that means that I'm lucky enough to be close to the stage. I find it so interesting to see the placement of mics and try to logic my way to reasons of the placement. I also really enjoy seeing the details that can only be seen up close, because they always add to the story for me. Like when I saw the Bandstand musical tour, I was actually able to see the band's dog tags and the fake seams from the stocking that the girls wear. PLEASE DO MORE BEHIND THE SCENES FOR STAGE SHOWS!!!!

[@JustAnotherBuckyLover]

Agreed - I legit didn't realise that people were so funny about spotting a mic, for goodness sake. I'd love to see most of them try to fill a theatre without amplification just once let alone eight times a week, without permanently wrecking their throats.

[@CarloRufinoSabusap]

Typically if it's on the forehead it's because it's to allow the actor to use all of their face in the show and to prevent sound issues. For example, hugging someone or kissing someone doesn't get clouded with the sound of ruffling clothes. Forehead placement also allows for optimal sound mixing because the microphone stays stationary on the forehead - it doesn't move distance from the mouth. There's no muscles in your forehead that move the microphone around alot. If placed on the cheek or side of the head, body movement or even just talking causes the head of the microphone to move around, causing small but influential changes in sound level. When on the forehead, the sweat also moves downward on the face away from the microphones aperture. On the cheek or side of the head, sweat can slide down the face and right into the aperture. Imagine for example, you took a cup outside in the rain and held it facing down. There's a very small chance that some water will land on the inside of the cup. Now hold the cup horizontally and water galore will be inside the cup.

[@marymiller752]

@@CarloRufinoSabusap Thank you so much for the explanation! I never knew that the placement of the mics was so important. But now it makes a lot of sense.

[@j.d.3597]

Two Theatrical Sound videos in as many weeks?!? You are making me miss when I did this 😭! Crafting body mics to be as hidden as possible was one of my favorite jobs back in the day and she is doing a PHENOMENAL job at it for the show!

[@robotinhidding]

I have a similar background and I was thinking the exact same thing haha! She is super clever!

[@nicdennis]

This, surprisingly, is now my favorite video in y'all's Hamilton series.

[@KayDubs77]

As a former property and costume manager (many many moons ago), I'm absolutely LOVING these behind the scenes glimpses of Hamilton!!

[@koalacruz787]

totally. it upgrades and updates used to be active production people on what's going on nowadays.

[@slowgold20]

It's painful to think that all of these awesome people Adam interviewed are now out of work for the foreseeable future :( all of us in the stagehand biz are hurting. Idk. Maybe the hamilton production company will step up and keep paying them, but that hasn't been what's happened so far.

[@Raktoner]

Adam is living proof you can be extremely nerdy while being very kind and sociable. He's such an amazing person to watch and his pleasant attitude is so contagious. Makes it so easy to watch these videos of stuff I know nothing about.

[@kellynguyen353]

These Hamilton videos are such a treat to watch! Thank you Adam and the team that makes this possible!

[@AtOddsAlways]

This interview is outstanding, Adam. It makes me proud to be a fellow IATSE member. Adrianna is a fantastic representative of her craft and her union!

[@adrianvarner]

Thank you Adam for taking a moment to turn the spotlight around on to an industry that often goes unnoticed. We do what we do because we love it and not for the attention but it is still nice from to have people notice our hard work from time to time.

[@waterlemonandfriends]

Jefferson: *mic drop* Also Jefferson: Never mind I'm gonna need that

[@colemanb.7223]

Like #100 from me. Congrats

[@kildemol1577]

"It's lots of boredom followed by moments of abject terror" that's the exact definition of "Thank you 5" for crews 😂😂😂

[@MrJessebo]

That's the most accurate description of our job as sound engineers I've heard.

[@samraymond4464]

Can you say if you were able to look at the lighting department...? 🙏

[@FirstnameLastname-vf9rp]

Sam Raymond yes lighting is literally everything

[@samraymond4464]

@@FirstnameLastname-vf9rp thank u! I always love to look at the lighting systems and rigs!

[@JayanXiao]

I love love LOVE the exchange at 10:44. Clearly you have two passionate professionals and to have one offer a suggestion and it being so graciously and excitedly received (with curiosity as well!) is such a beautiful thing. It is so easy for people to shrug that off but wow that exchange caught my ear right away. Great video ♥️

[@lachlan5658]

Love this behind the scenes series! Keep up the awesome work Adam and Tested!

[@tekvax01]

I love the fact that you take care while coiling the microphones and the hair clips as a keeper is a *brilliant* IDEA!!!!

[@kevinmccoy781]

Orchid clips!

[@tekvax01]

I've repaired a great many of those microphones over the years! The Lemo and Hirose connectors on the Sennheiser mics are a total pain to re-terminate! Most of the news anchors also double mic all the time. They also have an IFB receiver, for comms from the control room!

[@aaronnalder4177]

My favourite thing about Adam’s channel is learning about the tools people use to get jobs done. Especially the tools meant for something else. That fly fishing tool was the most incredible thing I have ever seen

[@briand7890]

Goodness. I just need to stop mid video and say "Thank you!" for just letting us see a craftswoman working her craft. 10:10 - just letting us see her work.. minus cuts and sillyness. so great.

[@koalacruz787]

from the way they talk: i can feel her love for the craft and his excitement as he discovers these amazing underappreciated backstage work. hope to find more video gems like this.

[@lekoman]

So appreciate it when they don’t edit out the interesting bits. “Oh this is just the detailed tedious part.” *snip, snip* NO! Leave it in! That’s the part I wanna see!!

[@user-sc4hs3nk1t]

Will you be doing a Video about the Hamilton lighting?

[@jokerswld8]

I hope so!!

[@koalacruz787]

will be looking forward watching it.

[@Vicemir]

This series is just so wholesome %))) Adam and all the crafters and actors are sooo nice and I love them all talking about tools and what they do. So enjoyable! Makes me feel like I really want to be there too :D

[@spagamoto]

Flying toasters screen saver?! Gal after my own heart. The mic wiring reminded me of cable lacing, which is a very flexible and reliable technique to craft wiring looms. NASA and the Navy use it, for example.

[@Durkan34]

Ok sound mixing desk guy video was jaw dropping - now my mind is officially blown. Off to get a whipping tool thingy - don’t need one just need one... (The hellerman sleeves I’ve used for cable indents. You can get them with letters and numbers)

[@hughbrackett343]

I think it works like the boy with a hammer. You'll find all sorts of things that need whipping.

[@loki19842]

Hi Adam, the Tool you are Looking for is called "Three-Pronged Pliers for Sleeves and Grommets"

[@slowgold20]

Most people I know in the business call it the Hellerman tool

[@enixon8268]

They exist in agriculture also. They are used to castrate young male stock animals. Same theory, stretches a small rubber band open to get it over a bigger object.

[@therealxicojorge]

I'm in a band and we run 14 mics and its complicated enough, this lovely lady is a super-hero in my eyes

[@andrewfabacher]

Had tickets to see this show on the 19th but they canceled because of the virus. Pretty bummed. Was looking forward to it.

[@liagoldenberg9377]

after a year of waiting, I was supposed to fly in the summer to the USA (I'm a 12 hour flight away from NYC) to see Hamilton, Wicked and other musicals I love, but because of the virus ordering tickets is risky cus we might have to cancel. I don't have any other time I could fly there, only in a year or two. I feel you :(

[@andrewfabacher]

Not Deer I definitely suggest doing some research on airlines because a lot of them are waiving their cancellation policies to allow for last minute cancellations. I would say just monitor the situation closely and make a decision when the dates get closer. I wish you the best! P.S. wicked is everything you heard it is and more. An excellent show.

[@liagoldenberg9377]

@@andrewfabacher you're right, we should just _wait for it_ , and see how things'll be (ok im sorry) thank you so much for the advice!

[@dontmindme5290]

@@liagoldenberg9377 I live in Wales and was planning to see Hilton in London on the 10th of October but it's too risky to book

[@St1ckM0nk3y]

@@dontmindme5290 it'll be fine by october. Either it will have gone away, or killed off the population enough that all those who survive will be immune and darwinism wins.

[@SkyOctopus1]

I loved the flying toasters on the screensaver. That's a blast from the past. Also her attention to detail.

[@WallChart]

Love that a video series has finally gone backstage and is highlighting the work of the sound crew, rather than interviews with cast members. 😀

[@candamorgan]

Adam's videos are my mental safe place. Always so happy, invigorating and illuminating. Thanks for being the best of us and inspiring the most of us :)

[@Alejandro-420]

Ok so i just watched the movie on disney + and the entire time eliza was on camera i was staring at her face trying to find the mic and literally couldn’t. Like you can see the mic on mostly anyone but like i was so confused where they put elizas mic. They killed it! I was so impressed!

[@charlesrobichaud-parahawkm4088]

Thank you for being so generous with your time and sharing this unique experience. Special thanks to Adrianna, she is outstanding.

[@theaudioforge356]

As a sound and transmitting tech I really like that you've showed this part of our work Adam. What an inspiring and amazing crew and your enthousiam really enlarges it all!

[@JohnFoley1701]

I love how adam can get people so excited to talk about their professions.

[@KenPurcell]

All these theater specific skills are so interesting. Makes me really miss working in tech theater. I have found that a very large percentage of Makerspace members are theater people.

[@CliffGraham]

Long time fly tyer here- somebody tell the poor girl about the bobbins we use and monofilament thread on spools. Would make wrapping those mic shafts MUCH easier. I enjoyed watching Adam get so excited about the knot/tool I’ve used many thousands of times. Fun fact- lots of Tyler’s do that exact knot only with their fingers (not me) and it’s a thing of beauty!

[@evalynn1863]

I love when creative people get excited about sharing their skills and knowledge. This was truly such a joy to watch

[@terriblej6107]

I'm loving this series. Between seeing adam fanboying and the techniques they use, brilliant

[@BeaCassidy]

I am absolutely loving these backstage theatre role videos Adam, thank you! I'm hoping that soon there will be videos for lighting and stage management. I hope you were able to do something like that before coronavirus shut everything down.

[@davidtowlun2118]

I teach technical theatre at a small college and I'm fascinated with the level of specialization in theatre at a high level. What I really love is to hear from these excellent specialists how they carefully (or accidentally!) developed their skills and careers. Great series! Thanks for the tour!

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Level 1: Stick a few SM58s on stands and run XLR cables. Level 100: This!

[@KeithMendoza]

Best comment I've read so far.

[@dannyjmtaggart]

👏👏👏

[@debaasvanhetjournaal4277]

so basically the white house vs the theatre lol

[@majuss06]

Nice whip finish, Adrianna. I would spool that thin line onto som bobbins and get some fly tying bobbin holders as well. They really help with speed and precision.

[@MarcelHuguenin]

I LOVE these videos soooo much and great to see Adam is so passionate. They are a real treat. All these specialised tools!. Fantastic job Adrianna is doing, very skilled. A joy to watch.

[@EnigmaOfAnubis]

I haven't been fly fishing in years, but i absolutely recommend fly making as a small hobby. I think its pretty fun, creative and stress relieving.

[@LiveMusicOntario]

My first exposure to fly tying was in the highlands of Scotland, to visit a woman name Morag, in a small coastal fishing village, Helmsdale. She was packing up an order for a man in Japan. She had individual customers all over the world, out of this small place. My uncle was the area's gamekeeper so I was taken to see all kinds of great outdoors related activities. His father before him held the same position of gamekeeper. That was 1964 and I was only ten years old. It was very memorable for a city kid from Canada, as you can tell :)

[@Mechanicaa]

Wow, there sure is a lot of Hamilton videos lately....I LOVE THEM ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@deraldporter3828]

Wonderful to see a dedicated and skilled maker giving us onlookers an inside view. Have been backstage a few times with a local actor friend; the personnel and activity behind the curtain is simply astonishing.

[@esluv2laff]

Today i had to go to the hospital because this just BLEW MY MIND!!! I have so much appreciation for the Engineering Dept. You all should take a bow. Tku for bringing the sound so pitch perfect. Can't wait for July 3rd for Hamilton streaming at Disney+.. Great segment. Mahalo.

[@Jamie_kemp]

7:38 I'm pretty sure that if it's quiet, that's not good in the mic department!

[@smiddlehurst1]

IT / networks engineer in the server room 5 seconds after the ups runs out of juice in a power cut: “I like it quiet but not this bloody quiet!”

[@anthonyhall9453]

Fantastic, Adam! I loved both this and the mixing videos. Always wanted to do a backstage tech tour of a broadway production. Thank you for taking us with you. More, more, more please! Lighting, prop building, stage building, rigging, and the whole enchilada, telling us the professions of the various technical personnel so that would-be up-and-comers can pursue careers in these fields.

[@angelfigueroa6825]

I loved Adrianna's professionalism and confidence. Instead of getting offended when Adam suggested something she had never thought of, she wanted to hear more. It was all about making sure she did as good a job as she could.

[@TheGoatThatIsSour]

The pliers are Hellerman pliers, used them extensively during my engineering apprenticeship and in the workshop. Tricky but damn useful for what they do. I found a really old pair in someones draw that I was able to keep: Literally just 3 bits of metal with the tapered plier end that you manually separated.

[@seanloughran6714]

I have absolutely loved this series. I never knew so much was going on behind the scenes.

[@discorat7543]

That tool is fascinating. Thank you to bringing it to my attention. I need one, because I think it will give me some implementation ideas on some other tools I could make.

[@dbeach4044]

One of the best KZbin videos ever. Gets into an element of theatre seldom explored. Great job, Adam.

[@sadiqmohamed681]

I was really surprised that Adam had never encountered Hellerman Pliers before! I first met them in 1969! But I had no idea that there was a tool for whipping fishing line. I have made off ends off rope lines for sailing with fine twine by hand, and knew there were times when the whipping was done with very fine line, but a special tool. Wow! This series has been both huge fun, watching Adam's joy in talking about props, and educational about stage sound and the advances that have been made over the last 50 years. Forgot to mention that Adrianna seems to have the original Fly Toasters screen saver on her monitor! Serious nerd points!

[@Hi_Brien]

I love how Adam just throws out that 3D printing to relieve some strain, then I love her reaction. Then at my school we tend to split one mic to a few different people. It's kinda amazing to me how one actor can have so very many mics

[@Hi_Brien]

And you gotta love those tools

[@MadeByJoey]

Aaaah, I loved this. Adam's true appreciation of Adrianna's work was wonderful to watch.

[@adamconrad9223]

Loved seeing Adam Savage react to a piece of fly tying equipment.

[@86fifty]

Ohh, this was a delight! The cameo with the actor at the end was cute too. I'm always astounded by how many tools people use for 'handmade' items - it makes me feel a little better about my own skill level when I realize even the pros aren't using their own fingernails to tie knots and stuff!

[@gianfavero]

It would be' good to have a look at the RF system and fold back as well!

[@tekvax01]

The Sennheiser microphone system uses a large RF combiner and active RF signal mixing in a number of rack-mounted receivers, and custom Antenna arrays!

[@slowgold20]

agreed

[@calebbuswell]

Can you Imagine having Adam say "this is changing my whole reality" to you. What a compliment.

[@Yootoobsuchs]

I just finished making a whip-finisher from a clothes hangar, an empty ball point pen body, and a coupla beads. It works fantastically! I cannot wait to start miking actors again! I love my Hellerman, and that's not going anywhere, but I now have a new technique and a new tool thanks to Adrianna Brannon!

[@mattyoung3130]

Adam, this was soooooo cool! Thank you Adrianna for sharing your craft!

[@LightsEnd304]

love how genuine adam is with all of these things

[@jacksonhilbert7937]

For anyone looking for the whip finish tool, it comes in the Orvis Encounter Fly Super Slim Tool Kit. She is also using the scissors for that kit(they are attached to her lanyard). Additionally, the super thin monofilament she is using is fly fishing leader, based off the limited view of the packaging I would venture to guess is also from Orvis.

[@RidingChairProd]

These are great. So good seeing behind the scenes on audio setups.

[@seablaede]

Again, another great overview video for the sound department. I am likely to send this to a few of my students as well, and again it is not a complete video of everything that happens but it is a great general introductory video so congrats to Tested and Adam Savage on this. It is even more impressive when you consider this had to have been filmed a bit back, but still answered some of the more common questions that were on the mix video as well. By the way, word of warning, NEVER put a Hellerman tool in your back pocket, and especially never with the prongs facing in. I'll leave the why to an exercise for the viewer:)

[@sadiqmohamed681]

Back in the 70s I worked at the BBC's TV Centre in West London. One day I was replacing some old valve (tube) audio distribution amps in a rack with new transistor versions. I had a wireman making up a new harness, and he had taken up some of the computer floor so he could sit with his legs in the hole. He put a pair of Hellerman pliers down beside him and I stood on them! Luckily I was wearing good shoes and they only stuck in the heel. Could have been very nasty.

[@FigmentsMade]

It's so cool to see all the behind-the-scenes things one wouldn't normally. And I can't believe Adam hasn't gone into a rabbit hole yet of tying fishing lures. I suspect that will be coming soon!

[@aaronaustin7760]

As a seasoned A2, I never would have thought of the o-ring just above the capsule to help keep the sweat-outs from occurring. Brilliant. I need more info on that, please! Is it plastic/rubber, where do you get them?

[@closerthanabrother9703]

Man, I love adam’s positive attitude and personality. Such a nice person

[@ungartothemax20166]

I wonder if they took Adam up on his suggestion at 5:51 where he discusses 3D printing something

[@Craig_Anderson]

3:05 Ah I see they prioritize the most important parts of their equipment, RGB rack lighting!

[@PanzerFalcon2232]

Its awesome seeing someone who works with tech every day still geek out

[@RijackiTorment]

I've been enjoying this series immensely! Thank you.

[@oHeihei]

These Hamilton videos were incredibly interesting! Love the show, so thanks for sharing!

[@wienerstein2817]

Man Adam is asking all the right questions too. This is so cool.

[@JeremyCulbreath]

This is a fantastic video. I'm a long-time fan, as you do a lot of amazing stuff, but the series on Hamilton has been particularly enjoyable. Also, ironically, you might want your soundperson to check your levels. Bit of clipping, but not overly obtrusive.

[@stagesofcj]

This stuff is fascinating to me! I'm a musical theatre actor, but love the backstage magic just as much! Thank you for this!

[@baconcheesezombie]

The banding tools come in much larger sizes too, usually for the castration of livestock, like male cattle, but they're also great for applying high tension banding to large scale products as well.

[@noahlistgarten7832]

Amazing video. I worked as an A2 for a Bay Area professional theater (but nothing as crazy as this) and have used the Hellerman tool and Hellerman sleeves to make custom ear pieces, have run hair mics, etc. This is whole next level and I now have some crazy fun ideas for what to do for my future shows. Anyone know what transmitters they're using? The connectors on the Mics look like Shure but the packs look a bit more like Sennheiser. I don't recognize them as any models I know from either of those companies though. Love this video and love that Adam Savage can speak intelligently about mics (distinguishing the element from the rest of the mic cord, +1!)

[@kevinmccoy781]

The transmitters are Sennheiser SK 5212-ii and they have Lemo connectors. :)

[@noahlistgarten7832]

Ahhhh ok. Thanks so much! I’m used to using the EW 300 series, don’t know much about the 5212s. Love those. I think the Sennheiser gear sounds better than Shure ULXDs. MiPro ACT80 can also give the UXLD series a run for its money though. More dynamic range out of the pack (I regularly run EW 300s with -30dB pack gain). Lemo looks similar to TA4F from the distance in the video 😛

[@JulieHerrick]

Adam's enthusiasm and curiosity is contagious.

[@michellefoster1020]

Very impressed the way you handle thisIt’s good to know that somebody cares about the way things are done and about the people who do it top marks

[@norcaldeemichaels]

I’ve used a very similar variation of the Hellerman tool on the farm for banding lamb testicles. It’s for castrating them. Put the rubber band over the sack, it falls off several days later.

[@shadowknowsjo]

Dee Michaels many shepherds also use them to dock tails. As a side note, I was hoping someone would mention this tool. Fellow shepherd here :)

[@laartje24]

It is straight up animal abuse to castrate them like that. Studies have proven the suffering for if it wasn't obvious already. Sedate them if you want to castrate them and give them pain killers afterwards.

[@IndyJaner]

I still can’t compute how Adam managed not to show and discuss his glasses-mic he made for his stage shows. This blew my mind when I‘ve seen it first.

[@TravelingCello]

Thank you for taking us behind the scenes. All the videos were interesting.

[@Lego51]

The whip finishing tool is great but once you have tied a few you can get much better and more accurate results doing the same knot without the tool. Check out any fly fishing shoo. Creative Sports in Pleasant Hill has a couple different versions of the tool and most of the staff can teach you how to use it too. Also Adam, check out a fly tying vise for holding tiny objects that you need to tie things onto or just hold while you work. :) thread bobbins for fly tiers are also awesome tools

[@tduncanphoto]

That was the comment I was gonna make. I used a whip finisher for years until mine broke in the middle of a massive order. It didn't take more than a couple times doing it by hand with no tool, and I never looked back.

[@jimmycmartinez]

I’m so fascinated!! So cool to understand what happens in the background.

[@joshzuckermanerd6817]

As someone who ties flys for fly fishing I loved this on so many levels

[@simoneanne01]

This is really amazinng. Her whole job is making her work invisible to the audience! But without what she does, no one can hear the actors. Wow!

[@mennoduk]

Please, also do a video on the lighting (don't forget the spot ops...)

[@Pinkyshy101]

I would love to see stuff with the spot op! I’m 19 years old and a freshman theatre (design/tech) major in college, but I’ve been a spot op since my grade school let you join the drama club in 5th grade, so I suppose I’m on my 9th year of theatre? I haven’t had a chance to run a follow spot yet at my college, but I really love doing it and I think I’ve gotten quite good at it! I’m not sure how much of a career I’d be able to make off of just being a spot op, I’ve heard mixed opinions from various other students I’ve talked to (tech and non tech), but I really love it and would *love* to see how it’s done in the professional world!

[@mennoduk]

I used to be spot op at Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Wicked and a few other less well known shows here in Holland. @Pinkyshy101 you can make a carrier out of it. I love to hear how much you love it! Find a rental company or a community theater near you so you can do it more often. Get to know other ops, learn from them. And try to learn about the rest of lighting as well. You'll love it!

[@petelip]

Thank you I will be trying that with my microphones ASAP and if I get time I might even try and 3D print something.

[@farmer-jon]

Peter Liptrot I have no affiliation with the company, but “SUGRU” is a moldable silicone glue that can be used to reinforce connections like the mic’s have. It can also be color matched to skin tones. sugru.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwu6fzBRC6ARIsAJUwa2SGL5QgQqbipbIaLx5KjwmgTpw8ZUQC_KoWkeDjzxhj_EUUKBgK2xcaAgzQEALw_wcB

[@paulgracey4697]

"How are you going to hear the show" was answered much differently in musicals 50 years ago. Ethel Merman was not a particularly great singer, as any listen to the show album of, for instance "Annie Get Your Gun" will prove, but she was renowned for her ability to fill a house with her amazingly loud voice. Those were not Rap or Rock Musicals of course, they were more related to Grand Opera which also is performed sans microphones. I once had the chance to sing along side John Raitt, Bonnie's Dad, and the original Billy Bigelow in Broadway's "Carousel". His voice could fill an opera house too. Of course Musical Theater is much more of a nightly athletic contest these days, and the musical genres are much harder on the vocal cords, if much closer to natural human speech than the pretentious sounds we associate with opera and old fashioned declamation theater, so i appreciate what modern wireless microphones can add to the ability to use just good singing actors and not vocal freaks of nature to "sell" to the nosebleed seats.