[Ben Bayliss[_2_]]

Hey all.

So I figure it's time to invest in a set of slings that I can use for
location recordings. I work in a number of venues, so the ability to set
up different arrays with different lengths etc.. is essential.

So far in my travels I've only seen two extremes, the extremely
expensive sort with pvc-coated steel wire, rings and other assorted
rigging/climbing gear, or the uber cheap bit-of-rope with stereo bar
tied to it (with all its associated problems of sagging etc..

Is there a package somewhere in the middle that I could put together
which will last but which will cope with different venues etc?

In a similar related question, what mic cable does everyone use? Mini
quad would be nice, but there doesn't seem to be much choice over here.
Again the balance is quality vs. diameter + weight.

For both questions, any UK-based links would be awesome.

Cheers,
Ben.

[Richard Crowley]

"Ben Bayliss" wrote ...
So I figure it's time to invest in a set of slings that I can use for
location recordings. I work in a number of venues, so the ability to set
up different arrays with different lengths etc.. is essential.

So far in my travels I've only seen two extremes, the extremely expensive
sort with pvc-coated steel wire, rings and other assorted rigging/climbing
gear, or the uber cheap bit-of-rope with stereo bar tied to it (with all
its associated problems of sagging etc..

Is there a package somewhere in the middle that I could put together which
will last but which will cope with different venues etc?

In a similar related question, what mic cable does everyone use? Mini
quad would be nice, but there doesn't seem to be much choice over here.
Again the balance is quality vs. diameter + weight.

For both questions, any UK-based links would be awesome.

I use non-coated 3/32" diameter "aircraft cable" which is small-
diameter "wire rope". I get it at my neighborhood hardware store
which stocks 6~8 different sizes. They also sell the U-clamps,
etc. needed to safely tie-off the ends. I would think that kind of
"aircraft cable" is a generic product available in most places
(perhaps under different names?)

Some of my microphones came with an adapter for the clip
which has a 3/8" threaded hole in the middle and the outside
is the 5/8-27 thread that the mic clips use. I got some short
3/8" bolts and drilled a hole just under the hex head which
the aircraft cable fits through. When threaded onto the cable,
you can use one of those "adapters" to screw up against the
cable and secure the gadget along the cable wherever you
need. Then thread the mic clip (or bar, etc.) onto the 5/8-27
outside of the adapter. Works like a champ for me and I
don't think I spent more than 10~15 USD on the whole kit.

[Ben Bayliss[_2_]]

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Ben Bayliss" wrote ...
So I figure it's time to invest in a set of slings that I can use for
location recordings. I work in a number of venues, so the ability to set
up different arrays with different lengths etc.. is essential.

So far in my travels I've only seen two extremes, the extremely expensive
sort with pvc-coated steel wire, rings and other assorted rigging/climbing
gear, or the uber cheap bit-of-rope with stereo bar tied to it (with all
its associated problems of sagging etc..

Is there a package somewhere in the middle that I could put together which
will last but which will cope with different venues etc?

In a similar related question, what mic cable does everyone use? Mini
quad would be nice, but there doesn't seem to be much choice over here.
Again the balance is quality vs. diameter + weight.

For both questions, any UK-based links would be awesome.

I use non-coated 3/32" diameter "aircraft cable" which is small-
diameter "wire rope". I get it at my neighborhood hardware store
which stocks 6~8 different sizes. They also sell the U-clamps,
etc. needed to safely tie-off the ends. I would think that kind of
"aircraft cable" is a generic product available in most places
(perhaps under different names?)

Some of my microphones came with an adapter for the clip
which has a 3/8" threaded hole in the middle and the outside
is the 5/8-27 thread that the mic clips use. I got some short
3/8" bolts and drilled a hole just under the hex head which
the aircraft cable fits through. When threaded onto the cable,
you can use one of those "adapters" to screw up against the
cable and secure the gadget along the cable wherever you
need. Then thread the mic clip (or bar, etc.) onto the 5/8-27
outside of the adapter. Works like a champ for me and I
don't think I spent more than 10~15 USD on the whole kit.



Thanks, Richard. That made very interesting reading. I especially like
your adapter gadgets for mounting the clips to which I imagine can be
slid back and forth along the entire sling until its in the right
place?.. Oddly I've not ever seen mics mounted directly to slings, but
always hanging well (2-3m) below the actual sling which is kept as high
as possible and out of the way. Do you never find that your main mics
are too high this way?

How do you deal with different venues (and so needing different lengths
of sling) with the mounts / u-clamps in different places etc..?

Ben

[Scott Dorsey]

Ben Bayliss wrote:

So I figure it's time to invest in a set of slings that I can use for
location recordings. I work in a number of venues, so the ability to set
up different arrays with different lengths etc.. is essential.

So far in my travels I've only seen two extremes, the extremely
expensive sort with pvc-coated steel wire, rings and other assorted
rigging/climbing gear, or the uber cheap bit-of-rope with stereo bar
tied to it (with all its associated problems of sagging etc..

Look at some of the hangars from Sabra-Som. They are kind of cheap, but
they should work.

In a similar related question, what mic cable does everyone use? Mini
quad would be nice, but there doesn't seem to be much choice over here.
Again the balance is quality vs. diameter + weight.

Belden has a nice mini quad you should be able to get from any Belden
dealer. Also Gotham has a siamese quad cable.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Richard Crowley]

"Ben Bayliss" wrote ...
Thanks, Richard. That made very interesting reading. I especially like
your adapter gadgets for mounting the clips to which I imagine can be slid
back and forth along the entire sling until its in the right place?..
Oddly I've not ever seen mics mounted directly to slings, but always
hanging well (2-3m) below the actual sling which is kept as high as
possible and out of the way. Do you never find that your main mics are too
high this way?

Depends on where you can rig the cable and where the mics
need to be. I tend to end up with venues where I can't fly the
cable much higher than the desired mic location, so the mic
is pretty much up against the cable.

How do you deal with different venues (and so needing different lengths of
sling) with the mounts / u-clamps in different places etc..?

I have an extra-long piece of cable to accomodate different
installations. I use three (for safety) U-clamps on each end.
I frequently secure one end, and loop the cable around the
other end and then pull on the excess (from the ground) to
tension the cable while someone else tightens the U-clamps
on the remaining end. Then I just roll up and stow the excess
cable.

Sometimes I can wrap the end of the cable completely
around a structural member (beam, post, etc.) But other
times I must use a screw-eye, etc. I am very careful about
safety: using over-rated hardware, avoiding end-on use of
screw-eyes where the tension wants to pull the threads
out of the wood, etc.

For safety, I also use gaffer's tape to secure the mic in the
clip, and the mic connector onto the mic. This provides a
second (and third) way of making sure the mic doesn't
fall. For both the safety of both the people, AND the mic. :-)

[Hal Laurent]

"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...

Look at some of the hangars from Sabra-Som. They are kind of cheap, but
they should work.

I've never seen any Sabra-Som hangers, just shock mounts, etc. Are there
hangars new?

--
Hal Laurent
Baltimore

[Scott Dorsey]

In article ryJAi.15$CO5.1@trndny01, Hal Laurent wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...

Look at some of the hangars from Sabra-Som. They are kind of cheap, but
they should work.

I've never seen any Sabra-Som hangers, just shock mounts, etc. Are there
hangars new?

I don't think so. They're just a little hook with a 5/8-27 thread on one
end... you screw the shock mount into the hook, hang the hook on some
monofilament and go.

Schoeps makes something similar, which is far better-made and costs far more
but won't sound any better.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."