NEWS AND REVIEWS PAGE:
This page will reflect any news or reviews relating to new equipment, work tips, items for sale or work relaterd info in general.
Contact my partner Alex Lamm from ROLL SOUND INC. At : 818-540-5979
NAB -LAS VEGAS APRIL 14-17 2008 DON"T FORGET!
THE NEW FOSTEX PD 606 ON THE WAY..........
Stay tuned for a
full report....... Some great updates and changes make a great location
recorder even better!
I really look forward to working with this new deck..... I will wait a bit for the kinks to be ironed out... if there are any!
MY PD-6 and EX 12 COMBO work so good, I just might wait even longer.... Not a single problem with these stellar FOSTEX units as of now...
********************************************************
FOR SALE:
FOR SALE:
EXCELLENT CONDITION........ $1,700.00
Includes Porta Brace bag with strap
MOTU TRAVERER MIXER/ DIGITAL COMPUTER INTERFACE
Great condition $ 700.00 and the box it came in!!!
**************************************************
UNITED STATES FREQUENCY ALLOCATION CHART
For larger and expandable chart, please use the link below. It provides a PDF copy for you to keep!
www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf
**********************************************************
HOT TIP:
FILE BASED RECORDING
"Naming your files"
With todays file based recording, the need to have a name for your scene and take on many shows can be difficult. Many times if you work on shows like I am on, there is simply not enough time to stop the filming process and re-name the scene and take number. On those takes where the script supervisor changes the scene number after you have started to record a file, it is especially a hassle. Now you must go back and re-name the file.... A pain in the ass to say the least....
I wish I could take credit for the solution, but I can't, I read it on the net so I will pass it on for those of you who might still struggle with this problem. For the rest of you, this is perhaps old news.First, The first file of the day, name (hedslt) and headslate as usual. If post wants the info, they will open this audio file.
Second, re-name the default file name, the show title and day # in a VERY short form
EXAMPLE: SPRINT DAY #1 would be.... Spnt1 The people in post will know that this is a file from the Sprint commercial, and it was from day #1.... It will look like Spnt1_001.wav
Spnt1_001wav
Spnt1_002wav and so on...... Get it.
Once you are set with this file name, let the file # just incriment forward each time a new file is recorded. At the end of the day you will have 120 files from #1 to #120. If you write each file number on the sound report, Post or editorial will easily look at the file number and the scene and take and know exactly what is what....So simple. During normal transfer the time code will sync it automatically, and again if they need to find a take after the fact, they compare the file to the scene and take.
Benefits include a format that keeps takes and scene #s in a one after another form, just like a analog tape.... otherwise the scene and take method can lead to a mismosh of scrambled files, hard for anyone to keep track of. At least with the system I am describing, one take is after another, just like they were recorded!
Gear Review:
COMTEK BST 50b Base station transmitter
For any professional mixer out there, your probably thinking " these have been out for a while" . Well they have and for good reason.... They work and work well.
My particular needs as a production sound mixer entail sometimes having to be let's say on the front side of a home, while the actual filming is in the backyard. That situation means that the director, script and clients and agency people are all over the property. This can be troublesome for the sound crew..... unless you have the Comtek BST 50b.
The 50b is a high power, frequency agile unit that can transmit in the 72 to 76 MHz range.
I love almost everyuthing about this unit. It can be rack mounted, or shelf mounted depending on your needs. It is housed in a sturdy enclosure with the option of either a aux. antenna or an antenna whip out the top of the unit. The whip which comes with the unit is neat due to you being able to adjust it by raising or lowering it a bit.
I really like the red readout on the front which gives info on frequency being transmitted and the gain of your transmission output. Also nice is the tone generator and XLR input jack. The 12 volt input 4 pin is an exellent addition to this unit which also boasts the ability to run off of AC with the included step down and plug...Nice.
I tend to run this unit off my cart due to me having so much electronics on my cart that I have found this a better way to go for me.... Once up and running it provides me with the comfort of knowing that the transmission of my sound will make it to all the receivers without any problems. In situations where you are really away from interfering frequencies, the transmission distance is awsome.
Situations like a process trailer with a follow vehicle are also much less of a problem with this unit. After a recent job on a process trailer, I was really happy that the BST50b performed so well.... The chase van filled with clients had no problem hearing the dialog, and at times they were VERY far back.
I was also in the middle of a field on the same job (one of those gigs) probably 1/2 mile or so from the agency van, and again, no problem with this unit.......
All in all, a great unit that I count on day in and day out to deliver my product to those people that matter.... The ones who many times hire me. That means I count on it.... I look forward to many of years of service from this unit. At least untill everything changes....again.... You must keep moving, to keep up....
For any questions about this unit or any other Comtek product, go to their website and look around for yourself: Comtek.com
FOSTEX FR-2 Time code, 2 -Track, File based recorder.
FOSTEX FR-2, My Review and impressions:
Well after unpacking my new Fostex FR-2 recorder with the Time code option, my first impression was it was a nice small size, but not too small, and it was really light. It was made of plastic, but that has its advantages. It will probably run a bit cooler, and is a bit lighter than other materials, that’s a good thing. As far as sturdy, it should be fine.
Before I began any real playing around with the recorder I quickly got on the phone to Professional Sound services in New York and ordered up a Porta-Brace protective bag for this recorder. I had as always checked around just for fun, but bought from them due to their having as always, the best price. They have not disappointed me once so far in any way…Delivery or price.
Once nestled inside it’s new home (the bag) the recorder should be safe from anything a production can throw at it. I then went out and purchased a Pig-tail 4 pin to small DC plug to power the unit from any of my favorite 12-volt power sources…. I prefer a couple of 12-volt belt batteries, and a small pelican battery capable of running the FR-2 for 15 hours straight! I also bought a set of (8) 2600 nimh AA batteries and an 8 hour slow charger for those quick, run and gun situations. Those AAs should give me 2 to 2 ½ hours of use time. That’s plenty.
After the accessories were rounded up I decided on 2 Sandisk Ultra II 2GB Compact Flash Cards. Although these cards were on the official list of compatible cards for this FR-2, Others will work as well. I was told that the shear number of cards on the market makes it difficult for Fostex to test them all. I also bought the 4GB card for day long recording, and if necessary, you could probably get 2 days out of it!
I do recommend a proper cardholder case to keep the cards safe and clean. I choose the CF cards rather than the 1.8 inch HD because of me wanting and liking the no moving part thing. I also liked reduced heat from the CF cards and a quieter overall operation, although the drive makes very little noise. Battery consumption was also reduced a bit with the CF cards from what I understand. The cost of the little HD was also an issue…
Now to the nitty gritty. I first read all the data, manuals and comments posted by all the users I could get my hands on before I ever took the unit out of the box, so I was well prepared to operate the unit. I was surprised though that that was probably not a necessity. The recorder is that easy to operate, right out of the box with only a little practice knowledge of file based recording. Easy, easy, easy. Everything that is pertinent to recording is right there in front of you clearly marked on all of the switches and dials. That I really like. Everything else is in menu form, which is really a pleasure to operate. The menu functions are quick and to the point. The Time code functions are also very quick to use with no wasted movements… Once set up, most of the functions will remain the same until you change them, making the whole system very fast to get going at a moments notice. The “home” button on the face of the deck is helpful to immediately get you right to the main screen, I liked that. Changing the file name data was also a breeze.
I recorded some tracks, and was very happy with the overall sound of the mic preamps…. I used a Scheops CMC-6 mic. with a MK-41 capsule for my test recording and again, was very pleased with the warm sound. I really liked the option to quickly flip the small and very sturdy toggle switch to go from stereo 2 track, to mono left track only recording. The mono option allows twice the recording time given the same Compact flash card….When recording wild lines, or sound effects, sometimes that’s all you need… I prefer most of the time to reduce the input of one of the two channels to record a poor mans safety track just in case something loud or unexpected happens. This way you have a back up.
The Trim pots on the top of the recorder are also a nice touch. Again, simple controls, simple use, quality tracks…
I then pushed the button, which unmounts the Compact flash card from the system, then released the card by pushing the release button on the right side of the unit. I then plugged it into a CF card reader hooked up to my Mac, and the files quickly showed up on my desktop. I then dragged the files to a folder marked simply “test” to copy them and store them. For a job, mark the folder with the job name and day# or date. I then opened the program Toast, clicked the DATA button (important, use data not audio) you want the data just as it was recorded… My next quick step was to drag the folder ” test “ to the Toast window and hit the record button. My computer said insert disc, which I did and the burn began…. Allow like 20- 25 minutes or so to burn 2 hours or so of BWF files, including the verification process. I do this when I am loading out and packing up. When the process was done, the disc loaded into my Mac, and everything was there and sounded great. I prefer to load the files first into a file or folder I can keep on my dedicated HD until the show clears post. Then I burn from there. That way, if there is ever a problem, I can use a FTP site the Post house has to send files directly to them or simply burn another disc. By not keeping a copy for you, this option would not be possible.
In theory you could transfer the data to a folder on the computer of the Production Manager by way of a thumb drive and let them hold the back up. Then, if ever needed they could burn a back up themselves or send it FTP.
One note I would like to add. I actually called up a few major Post facilities in Los Angeles and asked about the data recieved by them in the file format. They told me in no uncertin terms the files recorded on the Fostex gear (all the recorders) was dependable, and they loved getting files recorded on those machines. They said that the decks used to accept the files were for the most part made by Fostex and the compatability was great. Sorry, but that matters to me.
The only cons about this recorder were really pointless. I did have some reservations about the plastic construction until I thought about it a bit. Once inside it’s little bag all fears quickly disappeared. The only other gripes I could muster were one concerning the style of DC input plug used. My Pigtail, with a little help from some soft-sided Velcro, bulletproofed that little situation in a flash. I now never have to use anything but my 4 pin. I also loved the combo main input pot, for mono recording. I did not however like it for stereo recording in a situation requiring a lot of constant input adjustment. You can’t have it both ways, once I got used to it, again, no problem.
After using the Fostex FR-2, I can say that for many reasons I again made the right choice by choosing this company and this product. The overall dependability of this product for me is unknown, I have only had it for a very short time. But given the track record of my other Fostex recorders, I am not in the least bit worried. The product is well thought out, and it works great. It is un- complicated and actually fun to use. The price is more than fair when compared to other products available, that is a bonus, and one I like. Are there more expensive recorders out there? Yes. Are there fancier recorders out there with fancy flashing lights, yes? Are there recorders out there with more tracks and features…? Yes. BUT, when all is said and done, this FR-2 is EXACTLY what is needed in a format that is well laid out and one that works in a beautifully simple way. And in the end, sounds awesome. I am keeping and loving my latest piece of gear. It is what I need for what I need it for, nothing more nothing less.... Good job Fostex.
WENDT X3 MIXER
My new X3 has arrived and so far I love it!
Easy to use, simple controls, Great sound, durability, and made by Bob Wendt, say no more.... I am happy and impressed.
With many mixers in this size catagory to choose from, I choose this unit for many reasons. I really liked the reputation of Mr. Wendt and liked the fact I could get him on the phone if need be. If you have read my web pages, you can see, to me that matters a great deal when choosing my gear.
But really, I liked the audio and flexibility it provided. It was no more or less than I wanted in a mixer of this size. And to boot, it is fairly priced.
I was looking for a mixer to use with my FR-2 in situations when I needed to send comtek feeds, have more than 2 inputs, and most important, to provide quality audio I can count on.
The headphone amp and it's overall quality sound really nice.... No problems here...
Locations way out on a beach, process trailers, and mountain tops scream for such a set up. And now with this Wendt X3, I have just the tool to use for the task.
Funny, but on a recent job that included as many as 5 location changes in small tight places, I opted for the smaller and lighter package which included this little but powerful mixer. I was rewarded with very high quality audio in a small package. It worked great. So good in fact, that I opted to stay on the system for 4 days instead of switching back to my "A" package!!!
I am very happy with this mixer.......
I ordered a cable, actually two of them, (one for back-up) (split XLR male outputs from a single TA-5 female connecter, wired to deliver the 2 mono feeds I need for 2 Comtek or hard wired feeds)... The cables and mixer I purchased from my friends at Professional Sound in N.Y.. As always, they came through in every way.
Comtek BST-75 Transmitter
In addition to my current M-72 Black transmitters in A-E-F and I channels, I have just received my new BST-75 transmitter.
The new BST-75 unit is either rack mountable (up to 4 in a single space) or cart top whichever you as the user prefer. I first noticed the new sleek and smaller size and the simplified overall look. I immediately liked it.
To power the unit, it will either work via an AC power supply or with a DC 12V through the power jack.
The transmitter can be used with the stock telescoping antenna, or with the optional Phase Right antenna from Comtek using the BNC output on the rear of the transmitter. If you choose the later, make sure you try to keep the antenna at about 25' or greater for optimum performance, and , knock down the RF power output switch a notch per Comtek. They recommend the high power for the stock antenna only. It has three power output positions. You should also remember to keep the transmitter away from any large transformers to minimize any 60 cycle hum that might make itself present. This is sometimes difficult on a cart filled with electronics.
The BST -75 can operate on any of the letter channels A through J and has a nice little pod to switch them per the frequency chart on the top of the unit. A=1, B=2 and so on. There are also @ 100 "Flash Memory" programmable channels as well.
Like most multi operation wireless units operating at the same time, you must group the channels to prevent unwanted noise and to optimize performance. This is VERY important. Please go to the Comtek website Comtek.com to make sure you are grouping the channels correctly. The info can be found in the easy to read manual for the BST-75. READ IT! The nice folks at Comtek really helped me out to maximize my units performance, on both my M-72 and the new BST-75.
COMTEK PR-75a RECEIVER
Along with my new BST-75 Transmitter, I am trying out some of the new PR-75a receivers offered up by Comtek. There is of course the nice 216 series of Comtek receivers and transmitters also on the market, but for reasons already stated on this web site, I prefer the lettered channel receivers. They sound just right for doing the job of letting the Client, Agency, Script and Director hear only the dialog they should be concerned about. The rest of the mix is up to me to decipher. Too much clarity is sometimes a bad thing.... Actually these PR-75a's sound a bit too good for my taste. The 216s sound is far too good for monitoring purposes, at least for me.
It should be noted that the "a" stands for automatic. The unit can find by itself the frequency being broadcast and lock onto it. It actually tunes itself. By plugging in the headsets the unit turns on and tunes in. If you need to program the unit to lock onto only one channel, you can use the optional remote FP-75, which will program the unit or many units, to any channel you wish. Nice feature.
The overall look and robust design of the new receiver were the first things I noticed when I received my unit. It sports a much stronger, more ridged casing, and a slimmer overall feel. But there is much, much more... I am sure there are numerous changes under the hood, but those are for more technically minded people than myself. All I know is it is stronger than it's predecessor, looks good, sounds good, has better functioning controls, better battery life (100 hours), and a battery warning system. All good!
The new volume control is a blessing compared to the old one. It is bigger, stronger and has a much better feel to it. The battery warning system consists of an audible warning, and a rapidly flashing light. It is actually the Power receiver status indicater, but whose keeping track. This should keep the folks listening on the units from thinking they are "broken" if the battery should fail. Something we do not allow to happen, but it is good to know there is a back up now. The PR-72a takes either NI-Mh or alkiline AA batteries and as I stated, the claim is for a long 100 hours of operation with high quality alkaline batteries. Another huge improvement to this receiver is believe it or not is the battery cover! No kidding, this new one is attached for one, and locks closed with a dependable looking latch switch. This little unit is also rechargable by itself using Ni-Mh batteries with the optional NBC-3 charger, or the cool 12 unit cased bay charger NBC-9-3-12.
The new clip is also very useful. It is really strong and sleek, although I still prefer the little black pouches for those often and unexpected drops by those using them.
To close, I am sure as I said that there are numerous technical changes to the guts of this receiver. All I know is the improvements are all in my opinion great ones. They sound better, are stronger, more dependable, have better functioning controls, status lights, and improved battery life. What more do you want.
I really like this piece of equipment, and look forward to many years of dependable service.
Like any product I purchase, work or otherwise, the company matters and the people at Comtek are to be mentioned here for their continued support of me and many other sound professionals. They do a great job at taking care of us, and taking care of their gear. They actually care, you matter to them, that's evident every time I have a question or need something repaired ( remember the dropped comteks ?). When I needed help optimizing my systems, they were polite and took the time necessary to help out and make sure I was a happy customer.
If you have any concerns or questions on Comtek items you would like to buy, Please contact Jon Belgique at sales@comtek.com
Mr. Belgique has been incredibly helpful in sorting out my communication needs.
Talk to you again soon,
Bob Dreebin
Roll Sound Inc.