As a professional boom operator and instructor of sound in my union, I'm always looking at other instructors, and the videos produced about booming, and ripping their videos apart. That said, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this video. Anthony does a good job of explaining the basics of booming, reasons for doing things and the pros and cons of each boom position. The only things I would add are minor such as on what kind of productions you might be able to get away with certain booming positions. Most of the time the prop against the hip would be used in reality TV/ENG sound and the overhead position is almost always the position you need to be in on episodic television shows and features. That said, he didn't mention one of my favorite positions - rest the boom on top of your head. Similar to rest the boom on your shoulders, resting the boom on your head is something you can do when settling on an actor for a moment. It also means you're not lowering the boom below head height so the chance of clipping the edge of frame isn't as high as dropping the pole to your shoulders. His two things to keep in mind - as close to the frame as possible and being on axis are critical and if there's ever something I want people to remember - it's those two things. The reasons are simple. 1) Signal to noise ratio. The farther away the microphone is from the subject, the lower their volume is. the lower their volume is, the more it joins the background noise level. With distance you also lose the lower frequencies in the vocal range because it take more power to push a deep voice a given distance than a higher frequency voice. The lower the frequency, the closer to being omnidirectional the sound is. Higher sounds are directional and, for example, if the microphone is behind someone's head, you'll lose a lot of the higher frequencies because they are traveling away from the microphone while more of the lower frequencies will make it to the microphone because they aren't as directional. 2) If the microphone isn't pointing at the subject's mouth, you're missing many of the vocal frequencies that make up that voice. Post sound editors can remove some background noise and change the way a voice sounds but they can't correct off axis microphone placement during recording. All in all, I found this to be a very effective video at teaching the basics. As with any 14 minute video, or class in general, you're not going to get into everything (or even mention everything) but this video most effectively explains the basics of booming to a novice audience. If you knew nothing when you watched this video, work on remembering these things and you can earn your yellow belt. This is a well produced video and I enjoyed watching it. Anthony, you're someone that I'd enjoy talking about sound with.
actually, I watched a t.v. station boom operator work yesterday, and that's what the woman was doing to record an interview in city hall surrounded by a lot of people and a lot of noise... I'm learning.
Quick question, when recording audio for Episodic TV or Film, when you want the dialogue to sound far away, is it better to move the boom further away, or keep it close and change the sound in post?
@@andrewmccarty Good night Andrew. I think the best thing to do is to keep the mic close and edit in post-production, because then you will have the original sound and have a better chance of adjusting to the ideal level (including effects if you are interested), different from being distant, which will have less capture of the voice property . Allen or someone else who thinks differently, tell me, we're all here to learn together. :) Thank you.
I've watched probably thousands of RUclips tutorials over the years and can say with confidence after finding this video that Anthony is one of the best instructional presenters I have seen to date. He gets right to the point, covers the most important factors, speaks and moves with a clear intent and delivers a large amount of useful information with absolutely no B.S. I will use this video as a teaching tool for all of my new film students. Thanks so much Mr. Artis and keep up the great work!
His entire series on lynda.com is terrific! he does a great set of gear instruction, and tons of instruction type videos. I learned a TON from this guy. He's worth the price of Lynda.com all by himself.
Very helpful. I'm currently a student attending film school and I've chosen the boom operator as a position in our upcoming student film. I'll be needing these techniques.
Man you know this guy Anthony Q. Artis is a dream teacher that I always wanted to meet in life. Thanks to Lynda.com and youtube the dream teacher is now a virtual teacher. Great tips and pro techniques Anthony gives. This is the best break down of what a boom op does and why. Success productions to all that watched from start to fin.
I'm potentially going to be doing boom next month for a student film and didn't really know how, but this video helped immensely! Great knowledge and great tips
Hey man. Thank you so much for this video. I've been working as a boom op and sound recordist for a few years now and I love dipping back into this video whenever I feel I'm off my game. Thank you again. Love from Ireland :D
I've operated the boom pole on one student film and I just found out yesterday that I'm going to be working the same position again on a different set. So needless to say, this has been very helpful.
Such a great guide on the use of a boom. I'm not a professional boom operator but I've had some training as part of my uni degree that included sound design. When Anthony rested the end of the boom on his hip/groin area it reminded me of my days in the Boys Brigade. Bear with me as all will become clear later. Each Sunday we would march around the streets of Prescot behind the older boys in the band and it was important to troop the colour of the flag of our branch. The flag bearer would carry our BB branch's flag in a leather flag pole carrier as carrying a pole on a march can become heavy very quickly (as excellently demonstrated in the vlog). I'm wondering whether such an apparatus (available even through amazon) may be beneficial to boom work for novices?
Dad and I have been watching Three's Company and there are many shots where the boom pole sneaks in. Also, I remember seeing a shot at the bar where the camera got a bit too high and we could see the set equipment behind the roof of the set.
***** I believe it's a K-Tek Avalon series boom pole but I could be mistaken. It looks and sounds like an aluminum pole to me plus the cable that comes out of the end reminds me of the way K-Tek does it. I'm not an expert on K-Tek booms. Personally, I'm a huge fan of Ambient carbon fiber boom poles (I own 6 Ambient booms - 4 QS series and 2 QP series) and internally straight cables. Coiled cables jam up inside the pole and make more noise during fast moves than straight cables although they are easier to deal with.
you are good man. thanks. looking forward to seeing all your videos. as an independent film maker in the republic of panama, I want to specialize in documentaries. i find your stuff very helpful. thanks. ive been using a canon 7d. now im moving on to the blackmagic 4k production camera.
The 'Shut and Shoot Documentay' !! I've been wondering where else have I seen this face? In the book ,the pic of himself, seated in the train with a laptop ...Great book by the way
After twenty years as a sound recordist, tell me why, please tell me why, a boom operator working inside would have a Rycote over their mic. Yes it does add additional weight, but it's a simple fix, "Take it off" and add a foam. Unless I'm running from outside to in, I never keep it on.
I am thinking if all theses techniques have some drawbacks, how about wear a helmet make a hole in it and you can put the boom stick into it controls in your head and there you go boom, hands free .. now you got much better things to do with your hand..,, Use your head
Correct me if i am wrong but the other con of having the boompole in the low angle position is that the mic will inevitable be further away. Generally you can get closer from uptop because most dps try to avoid head room. Therefore, the frame tends to include more of the body of the actor than the space above her head, so your mic would have to be further back, and as we know proximity is everything.
Sir I did a job recently and I used a limiter in my zoom H6 to avoid peaking. Because it had a lot of yelling and shouting. Is it professional to use limiter ? I know it’s not good to use a compressor since that can be achieved in post
![CHILE vs. BRASIL [1-2] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 9](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5ObJt_71AYc/mqdefault.jpg)
Straightforward, informative, not condescending at all - excellent work.
As a professional boom operator and instructor of sound in my union, I'm always looking at other instructors, and the videos produced about booming, and ripping their videos apart. That said, I can honestly say that I enjoyed this video.
Anthony does a good job of explaining the basics of booming, reasons for doing things and the pros and cons of each boom position. The only things I would add are minor such as on what kind of productions you might be able to get away with certain booming positions. Most of the time the prop against the hip would be used in reality TV/ENG sound and the overhead position is almost always the position you need to be in on episodic television shows and features. That said, he didn't mention one of my favorite positions - rest the boom on top of your head. Similar to rest the boom on your shoulders, resting the boom on your head is something you can do when settling on an actor for a moment. It also means you're not lowering the boom below head height so the chance of clipping the edge of frame isn't as high as dropping the pole to your shoulders.
His two things to keep in mind - as close to the frame as possible and being on axis are critical and if there's ever something I want people to remember - it's those two things. The reasons are simple. 1) Signal to noise ratio. The farther away the microphone is from the subject, the lower their volume is. the lower their volume is, the more it joins the background noise level. With distance you also lose the lower frequencies in the vocal range because it take more power to push a deep voice a given distance than a higher frequency voice. The lower the frequency, the closer to being omnidirectional the sound is. Higher sounds are directional and, for example, if the microphone is behind someone's head, you'll lose a lot of the higher frequencies because they are traveling away from the microphone while more of the lower frequencies will make it to the microphone because they aren't as directional. 2) If the microphone isn't pointing at the subject's mouth, you're missing many of the vocal frequencies that make up that voice. Post sound editors can remove some background noise and change the way a voice sounds but they can't correct off axis microphone placement during recording.
All in all, I found this to be a very effective video at teaching the basics. As with any 14 minute video, or class in general, you're not going to get into everything (or even mention everything) but this video most effectively explains the basics of booming to a novice audience. If you knew nothing when you watched this video, work on remembering these things and you can earn your yellow belt. This is a well produced video and I enjoyed watching it. Anthony, you're someone that I'd enjoy talking about sound with.
actually, I watched a t.v. station boom operator work yesterday, and that's what the woman was doing to record an interview in city hall surrounded by a lot of people and a lot of noise... I'm learning.
Which union are you with, la Atlanta?
Like.
Quick question, when recording audio for Episodic TV or Film, when you want the dialogue to sound far away, is it better to move the boom further away, or keep it close and change the sound in post?
@@andrewmccarty Good night Andrew. I think the best thing to do is to keep the mic close and edit in post-production, because then you will have the original sound and have a better chance of adjusting to the ideal level (including effects if you are interested), different from being distant, which will have less capture of the voice property .
Allen or someone else who thinks differently, tell me, we're all here to learn together. :)
Thank you.
I've watched probably thousands of RUclips tutorials over the years and can say with confidence after finding this video that Anthony is one of the best instructional presenters I have seen to date. He gets right to the point, covers the most important factors, speaks and moves with a clear intent and delivers a large amount of useful information with absolutely no B.S. I will use this video as a teaching tool for all of my new film students. Thanks so much Mr. Artis and keep up the great work!
This guy rocks, best presenter on youtube.
His entire series on lynda.com is terrific! he does a great set of gear instruction, and tons of instruction type videos. I learned a TON from this guy. He's worth the price of Lynda.com all by himself.
Traunch Trauncher That's cool
Learning a lot more from this man than from college. Literally.
Definitely the best YT tutorial I have seen. As someone just getting into ENG, I appreciate it. Thank you.
Very helpful. I'm currently a student attending film school and I've chosen the boom operator as a position in our upcoming student film. I'll be needing these techniques.
This is a superb guide to booming. Done with charm and style, and filled with great tips.
Man you know this guy Anthony Q. Artis is a dream teacher that I always wanted to meet in life. Thanks to Lynda.com and youtube the dream teacher is now a virtual teacher. Great tips and pro techniques Anthony gives. This is the best break down of what a boom op does and why. Success productions to all that watched from start to fin.
I'm potentially going to be doing boom next month for a student film and didn't really know how, but this video helped immensely! Great knowledge and great tips
Hey man. Thank you so much for this video. I've been working as a boom op and sound recordist for a few years now and I love dipping back into this video whenever I feel I'm off my game. Thank you again. Love from Ireland :D
I have watched numerous videos on how to operate a boom on RUclips, but this one I keep re-watching.
Excellent tutor. I'll totally look forward to the complete course
Your tips are awesome I just purchased a boom and mic rig.
Thanks very much for this video, I was able to use the techniques today in a boom recording that would've been difficult to work out on my own.
First rate advice and perfectly timed, i'm about to use a boom pole for the 1st time tomorrow
This channel needs to be more popular. Great stuff!
he's such an excellent tutor
4:02 I love this word
I've operated the boom pole on one student film and I just found out yesterday that I'm going to be working the same position again on a different set. So needless to say, this has been very helpful.
Such a great guide on the use of a boom. I'm not a professional boom operator but I've had some training as part of my uni degree that included sound design. When Anthony rested the end of the boom on his hip/groin area it reminded me of my days in the Boys Brigade. Bear with me as all will become clear later. Each Sunday we would march around the streets of Prescot behind the older boys in the band and it was important to troop the colour of the flag of our branch. The flag bearer would carry our BB branch's flag in a leather flag pole carrier as carrying a pole on a march can become heavy very quickly (as excellently demonstrated in the vlog). I'm wondering whether such an apparatus (available even through amazon) may be beneficial to boom work for novices?
Another drawback not mentioned to aiming the boom up, particularly in a real room, is echo from the walls. That's why I pretty much never do that.
He's real good I swear I've done it once it's tough but it's cool at the same time
This looks very simple but requieres a knowledge to do a good job. Thanks for the very useful tips you have showed here.
Dad and I have been watching Three's Company and there are many shots where the boom pole sneaks in. Also, I remember seeing a shot at the bar where the camera got a bit too high and we could see the set equipment behind the roof of the set.
My guy! Thank you so much! I'm going to be the boom operator on a shoot tomorrow! Thank you for this!
great demo--packs in lots of clear helpful guidance for boom operating--thanks!
Added this video to one of my lectures @ Full Sail. Nice job Mr. Artis.
Excellent tutorial, Sir! Exactly what I have been telling my assistants for a long time!
This is an excellent video.Which mic and boom pole are you using?
Just a great video on booming! Thanks!
Are you using an internally coiled boom pole? If so what brand is it?
im not sure what he's using, but I have one and it's a k-tek. It is VERY nice
***** I believe it's a K-Tek Avalon series boom pole but I could be mistaken. It looks and sounds like an aluminum pole to me plus the cable that comes out of the end reminds me of the way K-Tek does it. I'm not an expert on K-Tek booms. Personally, I'm a huge fan of Ambient carbon fiber boom poles (I own 6 Ambient booms - 4 QS series and 2 QP series) and internally straight cables. Coiled cables jam up inside the pole and make more noise during fast moves than straight cables although they are easier to deal with.
I wish he was my teacher.
KPS me too 👏😄
Cool
he is
"- Hey, Anthony!"
"- Huh?"
"- FFPSHHH"
OUCH!!
oh, sorry
This video was extremely informative. Thanks!
your voice is so calming... great tutorial
you are good man. thanks. looking forward to seeing all your videos. as an independent film maker in the republic of panama, I want to specialize in documentaries. i find your stuff very helpful. thanks. ive been using a canon 7d. now im moving on to the blackmagic 4k production camera.
Thank u. I too hope u have lots of luck with your pole. Great tutorial
So well spoken and funny and educational as well! Great job, helped me out :)
These are very useful professional tips, thank you!
WOW! Totally awesome man. Great presentation, direction and information.
He just gave me the best tips i could ever have 💪
Very good and educating film.
Thank you very much! Great video and a superb teacher! Greetings from germany!
Such a good tutorial!
super presentation--very practical, very helpful.
cool video by a profesional audio boom operator. Very informative
pause at 6:39 :}
great video!
This was just superb, thank you!
Great video and great advice superbly delivered, thank you very much for sharing this, much appreciated.
Very helpful! You’re a great instructor
Super great video!
Wonderful video,Thank you Anthony Q.
Thank u so much sir. I’ve been looking for this kinda video
The 'Shut and Shoot Documentay' !! I've been wondering where else have I seen this face? In the book ,the pic of himself, seated in the train with a laptop ...Great book by the way
After twenty years as a sound recordist, tell me why, please tell me why, a boom operator working inside would have a Rycote over their mic. Yes it does add additional weight, but it's a simple fix, "Take it off" and add a foam. Unless I'm running from outside to in, I never keep it on.
Rock and roll....loved it. Thank you..from boom op to boom op
Great tutorial! Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you so much!
Good day Anthony. You didn't mention putting the mic on a stand. Is that not an option?
Oustandingly helpful. Thanks!
Great tips
Incredible video. Very informative!
I really enjoyed this video. Thanks.
Fantastic tips
Really good advice!
lovely stuff thanks mate
Great vid
3:15 good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the video, many thanks
Really excellent. Thank you.
You are so smart, thanks for the tips
Great video, very insightful
God bless you!
I am thinking if all theses techniques have some drawbacks, how about wear a helmet make a hole in it and you can put the boom stick into it controls in your head and there you go boom, hands free .. now you got much better things to do with your hand..,, Use your head
Bahahahaha
Excellent thank you !
this helped me a lot thank you so so much
Maestro!!!
muito bom este vídeo, pode ir fazendo mais, ganhou minha inscrição
Salutations Artist, I'm looking to by my first boom pole and microphone, what or who should I go with? I was told Sennheiser but not sure???
Thank you very much. it helped me a lot.
TRUE KNOWLEDGE
Exelent tutorial! Thanks!
i dont hold it up ... i hold it down baby!
Thank you so much!!!!
Awesome!
Good job!
great vid...
it's really really helpful thanks so much!!!
nice video..very helpfull thnx 🖒
Great !
very helpful!
Bad audio doesnt need to be reshot. 80-90% of all set audio is ADR'd in.post. But still get the best audio possible.
Thank you
Where do you guys prefer to place the audio recorder?
Correct me if i am wrong but the other con of having the boompole in the low angle position is that the mic will inevitable be further away. Generally you can get closer from uptop because most dps try to avoid head room. Therefore, the frame tends to include more of the body of the actor than the space above her head, so your mic would have to be further back, and as we know proximity is everything.
If its a low angle shot.. looking up to subject and you see above their head. Booming from underneath is better.
sir can you suggest the good sound card , mic as well as the audio recording app which will come under low budget
Sir
I did a job recently and I used a limiter in my zoom H6 to avoid peaking. Because it had a lot of yelling and shouting. Is it professional to use limiter ? I know it’s not good to use a compressor since that can be achieved in post
Best
When using a boom mic, do you also need a lavaliere?