Buying a Boom Pole

[Filter_5]

Can anybody give me some ideas of brands or model numbers and maybe some pricing info for a boom pole and shock mount. I've been asked to purchase a setup and i'm just trying to educate myself on the subject, i'm pretty sure we will be using a Sennheiser ME-60 or something similar. And is is possible to keep the purchase price for the pole and mount under, say, $500?
thanx

[Baltimore Shooter]

VDB poles from Fletcher Chicago are around $400 and the Rycote shock mount w/ Softie is about $266, or at least they were when I bought mine in 98.

Warren

[Hiding Under Here]

I have a used VdB. Sent it to the shop to have it checked out. It's a nine footer with scuffing on the pole from gaffers tape and hand wear. But it works perfectly. It was top of the line three years ago new. We're a network crew and use top-end gear. E-mail me if you have any interest.

[Shaky & Blue]

I personally like the VDB poles also. For the money, they're light and strong and are pretty good at dampening handling noise.

A non-cabled pole is going to be a little less expensive. A cabled pole is a lot easier to use, but if it's used by more than one person the cable inside won't last long at all before the connectors get buggered. You have to periodically open the bottom of a cabled pole and let the tension out of the coily cord inside; but with multiple users that rarely happens, and the connectors end up getting sheared off.

Go ahead and spend the money on that rycote rubber shock mount. The ME-66 mics are really bad about picking up handling noise. With a regular hard mount clip, every bump or twitch from the operator will go right into your audio. Even the sound of a sweaty hand unsticking from the pole will be picked up by the mic. That shock mount does an excellent job of isolating the mic from external vibration and will drastically improve your audio.

You might also try your question over at the Recording Arts Forum (http://www.recordingartsforum.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi). It's all audio guys on that board, and they may be able to point you to a budget pole if the VDB is too expensive. Even if you skimp on the pole, DON'T skimp on the shock mount and softie, because that's where the sound quality will be most affected.

[Audio Slave]

As a Network level sound man and equipment vendor, I would recommend against the Rycote shock mount. I've seen too many of them fall apart, plus they are relatively heavy, and you they are "one size fits only one diameter mic".

I prefer the Lightwave Universal Minimount or the K-Tek mount SM mount. K-Tek's new one piece Fuzzy is very well done and very cost effective.

I also like the K-Tek poles. Their Avalon series is a lower cost, internally wired carbon fibre pole that can't be beat.

[Deaf and Blind]

I am not sure when you last looked at Rycotes product range Audio Slave but the new mount comes as standard with various microphone mounts to fit sizes from the 25mm Sennheiser K-6 series to the smaller 12mm 416. The blimps are now sectional so you can build a blimp in size from say a 416 to a 816 the only single piece item you now need to purchase is the woolly to cover it.
The actual microphone suspension has also been re-designed to accomidate said size differentual with all construction in a light weight aluminium.
As for poles you could also check out the Manfrotto range, they don't just make light stands you know. Then their is good old Panamic who are considered by many to be one of the best out there.

BTW I am running a ME66 in a Rycote blimp and as far as handling noise is concerned it's not an issue.

I should be taking delivery of a Pin Mic next week. Those at N.A.B. may have seen them? will keep you posted on it's sound and ease of use.
you can buy direct from them at:
http://www.ricsonix.com/

cheers
D&B

[2000lux]

I haven't used the VDB's yet. My favorites were the K-Tek, internally wired poles with the Rycote mount and softie. We used MKH-60 mic's mostly, but one guy had an ME-66. With the 60's I could keep the pole lose and extend or colapse it a bit as needed durring a gang bang or whatever with out any handling noise.

[Audio Slave]

Deaf,

You are referring to Rycote's Zepellin shock mount, which is great for Zeps. I believe everyone else is referring to the Softie rubber mount, which has the drawbvacks I described.

You'll love the Pin Mic. U.S. customers can buy them from a U.S. dealer. I had them at my NAB booth. Info at http://ATSComms.com#PinMic

[Baltimore Shooter]

Originally posted by Audio Slave:
I believe everyone else is referring to the Softie rubber mount, which has the drawbvacks I described. Audio Slave,
I have the Rycote Softie, had it for almost 7yrs. And while it does have a slight tear in it, it still performs surperbly. $266 divided by 7yrs (so far) comes out to $38/yr, not too bad.

Warren

[Shaky & Blue]

We abuse the hell out of those Rycote Softies, and they don't seem to give us problems. When I say we abuse them, I mean that they don't live on the pole until we need them, but instead are found crushed in the bottom of a run bag with twenty pounds of cables, mixer, video monitor and various other junk on top of them. Ours are used by forty-some-odd people, not all of whom are very nice to the equipment.

From what I've seen, they seem to hold up pretty well.

How do those other mounts compare with the Rycote on price? With Filter_5's budget, I don't know that I would go with anything more expensive, but I do know I would want at least the same level of isolation from vibration that the Rycote provides.

[Run&Gun]

I have a K-Tek boom pole(K-102) with the right angle plug on the bottom(K-CCR) and K-Tek shock mount(K-SM) with a Rycote softie on the Senn. 66. I think the pole was in the $550-$575 ballpark(you pay extra for the right angle/side connector) and the shock mount was about $100. I don't remember what the Rycote was(way too much for what it actually is).

As far as VdB poles go, I know a guy that had several for all of his camera packages and there was always at least one or two sections of each pole that was locked up because of the crappy two-way locking collar design. Although, I think you can order them without the two-way collars now, which should make them good poles.

[Deaf and Blind]

Audio Slave,

Yeah the rubber mount does not work too well with the ME66, the thin skin of the microphone and it's exceedingly low weight actually work against it.
Now a rubber mount with a 416 is a great combination for general news work, pull off the short dog for inside pressers etc.
The Rycote stuff is well worth the expence & will pay you back with years of trouble free operation. Many have tried to copy but build quality always wins out.

If you want to save money in the long run, spend the money now and do it right from day one.

[Cameradude]

K-Tek is the way to go. VdB has way too many issues with their locking rings. Trew Audio in Nashville has them at as good a price as you will find. Be sure to get one with an internal cable; they are sold with and without.

The Rycote Softie is the cheaper way to go than buying the full zep. system. I just got a used Softie from Trew for 1/2 the new cost. They get used stuff in now and then and let it go at a good price.

If you go with a shorter boom pole and a Rycote Softie and mount you will be right around $500.