There's a ton of great practical tips here already. To add to those: you shouldn't tighten the collars too tight - makes it more difficult to extend the pole and also wears the collars grooves out. More generally the boom op, while being the person whom nobody cares about, has to be thoughtful of every other department - costumes, lighting, camera, the actors, etc. Be invisible and stay out of the way, but also be able to "appear" when necessary - give somebody with a headache a painkiller, somebody with a cut - a bandaid. And so on... People appreciate a helpful person. To somehow sum up: the ideal boom op is the crew member who is best prepared for the shoot at all times. The ideal boom op doesn't ask for any help, but always helps when asked. And most importantly he/she is nice!
Not sure why audio people should be invisible and thoughtful to the other departments when they're never to us. Only hope is working with a director who knows and understand the value of good audio and protects you, and it happnes sometimes,, otherwise you should defend yourself and get credits and rights when there are not many. Or, it'll just be bad audio and it's not your fault.
You can add white tape to the tip of the foam wind screen to help you see the mic on the monitor, and add felt to the bottom of shoes to minimize shoe noise during the take.
Mic angle is everything! For walk and talks, be aware of where unwanted noise can come from and angle accordingly. Also for a two person walk and talk, angle the mic back and forth (smoothly) between subjects.
Tip: Handling the boom pole and mic does not solely come from arm strength and overhead extension - draw your belly in - engage that core and squeeze your upper back. Don't push the pole up, pull the shoulders back towards the core. Steady boom handling = great sound. Happy booming! :)
Love these vids! I would say, watch your shadow as well as framing, be aware of your surroundings. If you can, try to position unwanted ambient noise off axis (air con units, generators, roads etc).
There are easily another 200 need-to-know points that every professional boom operator has to have in their bag of tricks in order to capture the best sound. For a 3.5 minute tutorial, it’s a good “boom operating for dummies” tutorial. There’s just no way to explain in 3 minutes the numerous invisible demands a boom op is constantly serving and trouble-shooting. It’s a greatly underestimated job even on many large-scale professional film sets.
Very educational video! My thoughts, that boom operators also need to look out high temperature lights on set, they may cause fan noise issue. And also bring some short shotguns simultaneously, hide them in secure position to capture some surprising on set movement.
I have a little knitted beanie that I have reinforced at the top with gel pad from a mouse pad. Why? Because sometimes when I have to boom for a longer period of time I can rest the pole on my head on top of that gel pad. Makes no noise and doesn't slip while you are able to boom almost forever!
In this video I noticed you had a super cardiod shot mic. While a shot gun mic with a super cardiod pick-up pattern is great for exteriors, it's also always great to have an indoor shot gun mic with a cardiod or hypercardiod pick-up patern for interior locations. It's also allows you to place the microphone much closer to your subject in key moments. Lastly, great video, I'm excited and looking forward to your launch date!
the first is to know the characters and understand microphones, lighting techniques and camera lens angles, Read the script and familiarise themselves with the characters and their lines of dialogue. For the physical part, do weights. Especially focusing on shoulders, back and core and always practise booming,the more you boom, the easier you'll find it.
When I'm booming I'm usually pulling double duty as a utility as well. So I make sure to have my lav kit fully stocked. Mole skin, medical tape, under/over covers, and hand sanitizer.
Make things as comfortable to yourself as possible! Production days are long and you don't want to wear yourself out. Yes, you need to keep your mic out of the frame, but if the framing doesn't require you to hold the boom-pole your arms stretched up high, then... well, you don't have to! Same goes with boom length: if the location and the framing allow you to keep the boom pole short, then go ahead. Some shots can be very physically demanding and you want to retain your strength for those. Oh, and wear headphones. You need to hear what you're recording just like the camera op needs to see what he/she is shooting. So wear your headphones and listen critically.
Great safety tip: Grip head knuckles to the right!!!! What boom clip did he have on his harness? Looks like it mat actually work, I haven't found one that grips tightly.
They are called Garfield Headphone Softies. They keep your eyes from getting hot when wearing headphones for long periods of outdoors in summer. They also help keep your eyes warm during winter. amzn.to/2E8eyti
is it normal to have the boom so close to the subject and directly overhead (with only a slight 10degree tilt towards the mouth)? ...i thought it was more 12-19" from mouth w the mic roughly 10" back from the subject and aimed at a more severe, almost 45 degree angle towards the mouth. dang, looks like i been doin it wrong
There's a ton of great practical tips here already. To add to those: you shouldn't tighten the collars too tight - makes it more difficult to extend the pole and also wears the collars grooves out.
More generally the boom op, while being the person whom nobody cares about, has to be thoughtful of every other department - costumes, lighting, camera, the actors, etc. Be invisible and stay out of the way, but also be able to "appear" when necessary - give somebody with a headache a painkiller, somebody with a cut - a bandaid. And so on... People appreciate a helpful person.
To somehow sum up: the ideal boom op is the crew member who is best prepared for the shoot at all times. The ideal boom op doesn't ask for any help, but always helps when asked. And most importantly he/she is nice!
Not sure why audio people should be invisible and thoughtful to the other departments when they're never to us. Only hope is working with a director who knows and understand the value of good audio and protects you, and it happnes sometimes,, otherwise you should defend yourself and get credits and rights when there are not many. Or, it'll just be bad audio and it's not your fault.
duuude it was so cool to read your description!! I also went by these thoughts so it's awesome to read it from others!
You can add white tape to the tip of the foam wind screen to help you see the mic on the monitor, and add felt to the bottom of shoes to minimize shoe noise during the take.
Mic angle is everything! For walk and talks, be aware of where unwanted noise can come from and angle accordingly. Also for a two person walk and talk, angle the mic back and forth (smoothly) between subjects.
Tip: Handling the boom pole and mic does not solely come from arm strength and overhead extension - draw your belly in - engage that core and squeeze your upper back. Don't push the pole up, pull the shoulders back towards the core. Steady boom handling = great sound. Happy booming! :)
Love these vids! I would say, watch your shadow as well as framing, be aware of your surroundings. If you can, try to position unwanted ambient noise off axis (air con units, generators, roads etc).
There are easily another 200 need-to-know points that every professional boom operator has to have in their bag of tricks in order to capture the best sound. For a 3.5 minute tutorial, it’s a good “boom operating for dummies” tutorial. There’s just no way to explain in 3 minutes the numerous invisible demands a boom op is constantly serving and trouble-shooting. It’s a greatly underestimated job even on many large-scale professional film sets.
Very educational video! My thoughts, that boom operators also need to look out high temperature lights on set, they may cause fan noise issue. And also bring some short shotguns simultaneously, hide them in secure position to capture some surprising on set movement.
I have a little knitted beanie that I have reinforced at the top with gel pad from a mouse pad.
Why?
Because sometimes when I have to boom for a longer period of time I can rest the pole on my head on top of that gel pad. Makes no noise and doesn't slip while you are able to boom almost forever!
Wow!
What a mental image I got of that!
Nice work Andrew and Paul! Good practical advice.
In this video I noticed you had a super cardiod shot mic. While a shot gun mic with a super cardiod pick-up pattern is great for exteriors, it's also always great to have an indoor shot gun mic with a cardiod or hypercardiod pick-up patern for interior locations. It's also allows you to place the microphone much closer to your subject in key moments. Lastly, great video, I'm excited and looking forward to your launch date!
Great stuff for us aspiring Boom Operators thanks Deity, I like those funky ear covers on the 7506's
the first is to know the characters and understand microphones, lighting techniques and camera lens angles, Read the script and familiarise themselves with the characters and their lines of dialogue. For the physical part, do weights. Especially focusing on shoulders, back and core and always practise booming,the more you boom, the easier you'll find it.
Thanx for the info guys. I have the basic minimal but Captain Boom is taking no prisoners in this sound war. Im ready coach!
When I'm booming I'm usually pulling double duty as a utility as well. So I make sure to have my lav kit fully stocked. Mole skin, medical tape, under/over covers, and hand sanitizer.
Make things as comfortable to yourself as possible! Production days are long and you don't want to wear yourself out. Yes, you need to keep your mic out of the frame, but if the framing doesn't require you to hold the boom-pole your arms stretched up high, then... well, you don't have to! Same goes with boom length: if the location and the framing allow you to keep the boom pole short, then go ahead. Some shots can be very physically demanding and you want to retain your strength for those.
Oh, and wear headphones. You need to hear what you're recording just like the camera op needs to see what he/she is shooting. So wear your headphones and listen critically.
0:24 ok, what is that orange clip called and where can i buy one??!!!
It's called cable cuff.
Ran to the comments for the same thing! Worth the whole video. Haha.
wait i need that exact holder for the cart at 3:00
Id love to seea video on using siolence cloth correctly. thanks for this video!Great
what is all the equipment is he using tho
I'm on a low budget and I don't have a crew yet so I just put my takstar sgc-598 on my camera but I'm looking for a better Mic this might be the one
Thank you so much for sharing this video.
Do you have information you could post on the boom pole clamp and holder Paul had on his cart?
Great safety tip: Grip head knuckles to the right!!!! What boom clip did he have on his harness? Looks like it mat actually work, I haven't found one that grips tightly.
A cable cuff.
Cheers guys, love this !
Additional knowledge and technic, well done bro.🙂
Great i have lean. can i use boom directly to my laptop if i have no Boom machine instead
What are those red headphone fabric covers for the Sony MDR called? Thanks a lot guys, great videos
They are called Garfield Headphone Softies. They keep your eyes from getting hot when wearing headphones for long periods of outdoors in summer. They also help keep your eyes warm during winter. amzn.to/2E8eyti
@@DeityMicrophones Thanks, was wondering the exactly same. Now I can replace my summer sunglasses and my winter goggles!
what’s the cart he has at the end? looking to purchase a similar one!
For walk and talk it can be nice to try to match the pace of the footsteps that talent.
My thoughts exactly. Anyone that has done work on gravel or underbrush has already figured that out.
What is in the bag. A small pc?
is it normal to have the boom so close to the subject and directly overhead (with only a slight 10degree tilt towards the mouth)?
...i thought it was more 12-19" from mouth w the mic roughly 10" back from the subject and aimed at a more severe, almost 45 degree angle towards the mouth.
dang, looks like i been doin it wrong
Thanks! Great channel
very nice pro work, liked it!
When a boom operator its my job to scream "boom, I sunk your battleship" every time the talent flubs a line. How can you not like that job!
Can anyone know and reply me all of the equipment of the boom operator and how it connects to the camera?
I watched this video hours before after lying about boom experience for my first gig on a porno shoot
how can a person be a good sound operator
What kind of cart is that?
www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0V5PWA?tag=hold0a-20
Tnx a lot.
How can i find that Orange Clip for holding The Boom or at least what should i looking for?
A cable cuff.
Where did you get the curly mic cord?
K-Tek makes it
Good video
Whats that pack hanging around his neck?
Mantap kang
dans la même lancé
Andrew, I'm surprised you didn't describe this as a "Facebook video"! ;-)
Do i need some degree or some shit ?
What is inside the bag that he carrying
" a big thing about houses is the trees. got big trees...."
My tip? Don't use only boom pole ( whether you can ), take also lavalier mic to have rescue option.
Boom is still King!
Sound Speed! I didn't say the opposite ^^
Video of Japanese sound operator speaker tuning contest
youtu.be/8Mq5N19a
3K8
DID SOMEBODY SAY BOOM?!
The guy looks like Notch
He's technically a sound mixer, not a boom op. There's a hugh difference.
One thing, this guy is not a boom op. See the gear, that makes him a sound mixer. More expensive, sir.
boom ttauck operitor
Ok boomer
This is not a boom operator. Using C-stand for long takes, what a cobart.