A Christmas present for my sound person...

[dhart]

Actually this all started when I had to unexpectedly run sound. My current sound setup sucks. My neck was killing me after hanging all that audio gear around my neck for 10 hours. Here's what I have to house: Shure 33 mixer, ENG mixer to camera cable, 2 wireless systems, Frezzi NP-1 power, 2 chest mics, headphones, small transsription recorder, fishpole and shotgun. Spare cables and batteries.

Did some research and I'm leaning towards what Kata calls "Audio Set Operating Bag" Everything all in one place permanently hooked together. I'm leaning towards that solution but it looks like you pay a weight premium. That can be offset by a harness but it looks kinda of dorky. Anyone use it and is it worth the shame :)

Other way to go is to continue with mixer case and hang a bunch of wireless and battery add ons. Draw back is you're constantly hooking and unhooking to fit back into sound case.

Okay oh wise ones which way is the best to go and which is better gear Porta Brace or Kata?

[Flaca Productions]

greetings - for the 33, I'd go with a portabrace AO-1 and a harness. proven winner. my partner and i at cnn built this same rig when i was there. check with REI for a great little brace that is used for climbing. no leg loops. it's their 'REI' brand. you can find it on their website - under 40 bucks, i think.

if your partner has been REALLY good this year, check out a BDS system from peter engh or trew audio. its the best.

[2000lux]

The harness the other Brian refered to is a chest climbing harness. It looks like a figure 8. Mine cost less than $30. You'll aso need a couple of carabiners. The small ones you get from the hardware store are fine (mine say they're good for 150 lbs each). The harness really helps distribute the weight. I also used a fanny pack to keep bateries, mic's, tapes, etc in. It helped to balance me out with the mixer.

[dinosaur]

Here's the REI (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=1112&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1) harness.: $22.00

or the Versa-Flex (http://www.versa-flex.com/html/film_video1.htm) harness:

http://www.versa-flex.com/html/images/harness_thumbnail.jpg

[Todio]

I built one myself from two wide, sheep-skin-padded guitar straps and a hiking fanny pack. it took a bit of futzing and adjusting but it's VERY comfortable. I can shoot all day out in the hot sun with it (Hey, I did just that this summer with a garden design series) I carried a large mixer (much bigger than the 33) 2 RF kits, 2 BP90 batteries, cables and other assorted accessories. The best thing was that the fanny pack had two pouches designed to hold water bottles, holster-style. I designated one for the shooter and one was mine.

I was sound AND grip on that shoot ALL summer!

Just call me the mule.

[Run&Gun]

The Petrol Eargonizer 2 is a nice bag. A little smaller than a Porta Brace bag, but it has a lot of nice features like a false floor to help organize cable clutter and it's bright orange inside to help you see. It holds my 442 nicely. Definetly get a BDS, it's nice having everything powered from one battery that will go all day and then some. As far as a harness goes, spend the loot and get the Versa-Flex. I've used it a couple of times when I've done audio and it makes the job a lot more enjoyable. One of my audio guys used mine for a shoot we did last week, shooting all night and he loved it. I think he's gonna switch from his wimppy littl Kata harness.

[Deaf and Blind]

I run to all intents and purposes the same sort of set up. FP33 two radio mikes, boom, camera link,MP1 & cup for power,ME62, two MKE2-60 Gold lapel mikes, Shure dynamic mike,assorted plumbing, wiring etc.
To carry it all around I use the Porta Brace audio organizer with shoulder strap's & belt arrangement (AO1?)which I wear all day with no discomfort. During ENG / EFP work I remove the front pouch which I use to store connectors, bits and general stuff which I can then either throw in to a back pack with a ME66 or in to a belt pouch to keep weight low.
The girls at Rocket just custom made me some "double piggin straps" for want of a better word for them to carry cables on my belt (will supply a photo soon) but in effect it's a piggin strap joined to another with a rectangular joiner so one end is on the belt the other carrying cables which puts the weight on my hips rather than my back. In this way I can carry two of everything be totally mobile yet have enough stuff on me to conduct any sort of interview using a combination of what ever best suits the situation.
Rocket: http://www.rocketfilmequipment.com.au/home_pc.htm

hope this helps.