How do you wear your IFB?

[jeremycohn]

Out of my randomness, I started this thread.

So, if you're a photog, chances are you've got the ifb earpiece reciever clipped to the front of your shirt. I had a co worker take a couple of photos of the different ways I typically wear the IFB. See below.

http://jrcnetwork.gotdns.com/public/PICT0007.JPG
http://jrcnetwork.gotdns.com/public/PICT0005.JPG

Feel free to post yours!

[David R. Busse]

I don't use the reporter-style IFB and I don't encourage our photogs to do it..

In fact, I'm old-fashioned and prefer only the reporter to wear this kind of setup, while the cameraman wears a single-muff headset connected to RTS.

I don't trust the wireless stuff 100-percent, so I like to have at least one person hard-lined to the truck. Additionally the RTS allows two-way communication between cameraman and truck...not possible with the earpiece illustrated above or the wireless IFB system we employ.

In noisy environments, the large headset often allows the cameraman to catch cues that the talent misses. That's simply another backup system that I like to have.

Now here's a really gross story about the IFB setup you pictured.

Couple years ago, I'm running satellite truck at a baseball playoff game, doing remotes for two stations...one big and one small. Had a lot of cable out; dual paths to the field, dual digital satellite paths in the sky and myriad cell phone problems. Then the sat phones quit. Bummed some Telco wire pairs from a friend running a production truck, did some splicing and dicing and suddenly had two solid hard-line IFB sources in the truck.

Big station gets ready to go live...I'm proud that IFB is coming in like gangbusters to the truck; both talent and cameraman for the big station are delighted that they hear everything well. I'm happy with my telephone installer skills.

Now it's time for small station to go live on path two. Their IFB sounds like gangbusters in the truck, too. Cameraman says it's wall to wall in his headest. Talent can't hear a damn thing and he's getting edgy. "can't you fix the damned IFB...?" the uppity sports guy from the small station shouts into the microphone. He's starting to get really pissed.

I check all IFB components in the truck...sounds OK everywhere. I grab a tool kit and some extra IFB stuff, throw spares of everything in my vest pockets and make the run 3-400 yards down to the field. I leave big station on "auto pilot" and keep my fingers crossed.

Get down on the field, check output of talent RTS box. Green lights all around and it sounds excellent in my headset after I plug in. I pull out little 1/4" jack and try IFB setup like the one pictured above...sounds good to me. The bastard is really getting uppity now and says "fix it...we're on in four minutes..."

Hmm...maybe it's a problem with the gray cord. Or the button on the clarifier. I grab my spares and replace his with mine (new ones, fresh out of the plastic bag). No improvement.

Then I stand up and look at his earpiece. Keep in mind that the mic is open and I am now on camera, with this clown, and anyone who is watching on Galaxy 11 is listening and watching along.

I shall never forget what the earpiece looked like. Let's just say it was Audio Implements meets biology project petri dish. You remember from high school biology? The dish that was left over from last semester...it was the most disgusting collection of ear jizz I had ever seen, and this guy had collected of a baseball season's worth and stuffed into his custom-moulded earpiece.

I gingerly picked the coiled plastic tube off the collar of his neatly-starched shirt and yanked the whole mess out of his ear. But I kept the whole thing elevated, so the world could clearly see this...and could hear my careful advice to the young sports guy.

"Dude...you gotta get this thing cleaned some time..."

I stuffed my brand-new earpiece into his ear. He almost jumped a foot into the air as the clear sounds of near-perfect IFB challenged his left eardrum.

"There's your IFB problem..." I said. Then I left the frame and jogged back to the truck, hoping there were sat truck operators throughout North America watching.

Moral...when there's a problem and IFB sounds fine in the truck, start with an earpiece check and work your way back. And carry spares of everything.

[2000lux]

I worked with an anchor who would clean out the wax in his ear piece by sucking on it. Not only was it gross to watch, but it made a horrific sound. :eek:

[David R. Busse]

I worked with an anchor who would clean out the wax in his ear piece by sucking on it. Not only was it gross to watch, but it made a horrific sound. :eek:

Yikes! Scary post...let's just say you probably cross paths with the subject of my story above. My lips are sealed, but his employer's four-letter name starts and ends with the capital letters "N."

[Workhorse]

Well the one you have pictured is fine for normal duty....that said wear it against the cam. Why you ask?...
Well if you are wearing it off to the street side or covering your observant ear then you will lose all protection when that crazy comes up on you!...or if I yell and say get outta my shot!!!lol!
Yes the curlys do plug up with the gunk. Check them frequently...and suggest that for your reporters too as stated in above post!

Now if you are using these you may want to upgrade to the form fit molded ones. The rubber nub is good...but to use the curly cord that drives the sound from the driver can be muddled. Get the form fit molded one and connect straigh to the driver. Clean sound and it fits you now you will hear hiss and shortcomings of your gear, but the bass reflex will be limited. If you are working for great audio get a pair of good quality headsets!

Just make sure you can hear the world around you...each IFB set up has its strengths. Just like any toy in this biz make sure it is the right fit for the gig!

By the way thankyou for being a photog that monitors your audio!!! No Auto LIMITER!!!

Peace!

Horse

[David R. Busse]

Uh, I thought this was a discussion of IFB (interrupted foldback) monitoring...not camera audio monitoring. Big difference.

[oldman]

i keep an on air one for the times that i do appear on cam....once is too often ;) ....but i like to hard wire into my camera so i can hear it in my earbuds or out of the monitor speaker if i am still running around.

as for the science experiments....i keep some alcohol swabs in the truck and a few paperclips....and let the reporters clean their own.

i try not to watch to closely...but thanks for sharing!

[Newshutr]

Forthose really problematic reporters.....STAPLE GUN!!

[jeremycohn]

I wasn't just referring to how photogs wear their IFB, but also their reporter(s), perhaps.

[photogguy]

Actually, I don't wear an IFB earpiece much anymore. I bought a small handheld television from Radio Shack, which is where I here off-air audio.

Why, do you ask? I have ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE in the producer of the morning show (which is the shift I work). The station uses two-way radios to communicate with the live shot (we also have dial-up IFB for the reporters, but they usually don't like to hear the producer in their ears...yeah, I know, but that's a different discussion), and the producer is question gives LOUSY time cues, LOUSY stand-bys, and frequently isn't around when the live shot is happening.

So, instead of fighting stupidity (which is what I had done in the past), I just circumvent the stupidity.