Shahryar: Glad my comments were of use to you. I still love my K-Tek although I'm starting to see my Cavision shockmount coming apart at the rubber "welded" seam after only a few months of light use. We ABUSED the Rycote all-in-one version at my former 9 - 5 and to the best of my knowledge it still looks like new. Sorry for the hijack...

No problem. I do need to get a shockmount for my mic to use with my boompole. So.. avoid the cavision? I was leaning towards something from Rode.

Rycote | Large Hole Softie Mount & Pistol Grip | 033703

This, in the right size, will be my next mount. Same one I spec'd for the former 9 - 5. Inexpensive, it works well enough for my needs and simple. I HATE the cris-crossing elastic band mounts, but that's MY issue...

ah, ok. So you'd recommend this for me? - to use with my AT-822 and K-tek 110CCR?

$119 is a bit higher than what I would like to spend. I had been discussing that AT822 specifically in this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/canon-xh-...tml#post935680 and the Rode SM4 was recommended. After seeing the price of $50, I got my hopes up on buying something at that price level.

But if I was to venture out to the $100+ level, How would your suggested Rycote compare to the K-tek GPS? K-Tek | K-GPS - Universal Microphone Suspension Mount | K-GPS. I Ask about this particular model because the person I just offered to buy the used K-tek 100CCR from (and who I already bought my used Xh-a1 from - it arrived last week) is also selling this shock mount. I'm wondering if perhaps if I could work out a deal with him to include this shockmount with the K-tek boompole - but I wanted to make sure I definitely wanted to spend this amount - of course, I would love to spend less (w/ the SM4 that is). Even spending the $190 I'm planning to spend on the used K-tek 110 CCR required a bit of thought on my end but I figure it's worth it to spend an extra $40 for what seems to be the better boom pole.

Try this invision 7 | B&H Photo Video for shockmount and it will beat the others. But no windjammer for this one.

T

My used K-Tek | KE-110CCR Avalon Series Aluminum Boompole | KE-110CCR arrived today and seems to be in good shape. Hopefully i'll get to use it real soon - I still need to get a mic to use with the boom pole, a mount, and a windjammer thought. I've noted Toenis's advice for the invision 7 & Shaun's advice for the Rycote. When Toenis brought up the windjammer, I shot him an e-mail asking a bit more on it, and he gave me a nice, helpful response. I thought I'd post it here for other people to reference:

I myself am really not a DIY guy so I'm a little scared to try my own like Toenis suggested, but let me look at it some more and decide.

For using my stereo mic (AT-822) with my camera (XH-A1), I'm planning on getting an SM4.

Rycote's S-Series Windjammers incorporate the Invision lyre mounting system and are quite a bit less expensive than the full kit.

Shahryar, Did you buy the shockmount, windjammer etc?


I was planning to buy some sort of stand along with a boom pole. What is a C stand and how is it different from other stands? and what is a grip head and is it required to put a boom pole on a stand? And any suggestions? I am planning for dramatic short films (not professional work, but still want to achieve some quality). I don't have the luxury of boom boys and like, so I'll have to write scenes where the dialogue happens relatively in a fixed location and I can use a stand+boom to capture dialogue. Does that even make sense? I still haven't bought any equipment and was planning to buy during thanksgiving. Does anyone offer deals on professional equipment at all?

Here's an interesting video clip on C-stands, grip heads, and how to use them. PixelCorps.tv To fly a mic over the set, you add a holder like a fishing rod holder you'd use on a fishing boat ... Remote Audio: Boom Boy ... clamped in the grip head to hold the mic boom.

Like this: General Brand | Boom Pole Holder | REMBOMAST | B&H Photo Video

You can get the same thing at a sporting goods store that sells fishing gear for probably 10 bucks or so. Only difference is that the base is like a big screw instead of a rod, but it works equally well. If you don't have an extra C-stand, you can use a grip head on a light stand, but it's harder to sandbag a light stand.

Thanks Steve for the video, it gave me some idea. Thanks Bill, I presume the Boom will just rest in that holder because of its weight and not slide down.

Mic Accesories for $500
 

I am looking for suggestions to get all the items (new) below for $500 or less.

1. C-stand with grip head and arm
2. Boom Pole with xlr
3. shock mount
4. Zeppelin+deadcat
5. Boompole holder
6. mic shoe mount

BTW, I am planning to go for AT4053 hypercardioid as my only mic for now, put it on a boom pole and c-stand. Later, I'll add shotgun, lav and mixer to my kit, but right now with $500 on the mic gone, I want to get all the accesories under $500. Any thoughts?

Rode just came out with a Shock mount / Zeppelin / dead wombat .. a lot less than the Rycote system. Check Trew Audio for a review.
www.trewaudio.com/products/rode/blimp/

Going to need to add a bit to that budget. C-Stand with grip head and arm will run you about $250 or so, boom holder $25, the Rode Blimp system $300 and you're already over $500 before even looking at a pole. Add another $250 or so for a bargain boom.

Thanks Rick and Steve.


AT4053 is a pretty small mic (6.1") and I am not sure if it will be too small for the zeppelin. I asked RODE support and got a prompt reply that it should be okay, although not certain. It says that the RODE blimp is a handheld one with a thread for boom mount. I am wondering if I can directly mount it on a camera or would I need a shoe adaptor?

OK, this is what it looks so far(for all new, inclusive of shipping):
RODE blimp - $303
Matthews 40" C-stand with Grip head and arm - $172
K-tek 110CCR with internal cabled XLR from side** - $240
Boompole holder - $35

This makes it exactly $750!

** Any comments on benefits of side vs bottom XLR on boom poles?