Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 9/29/2009, 9:12 AM
Most likely you are seeing a wireless headset monitor that is being fed by another piece of equipment; either that, or a wireless clearcom headset.
rs170a wrote on 9/29/2009, 9:19 AM
I know it is not a cassette recorder (or is it)

It's definitely not a cassette recorder :-)
The sound person of today has a wide variety of tools to choose from.
Nonlinear Production Sound Recording has links to most of what's used on a set these days.
Rec.Arts.Movies.Production.Sound (aka RAMPS) is an excellent newsgroup dedicated to this field.

Mike
Former user wrote on 9/29/2009, 4:25 PM
The little bag around the waist is a mixer...the headphone is to monitor/hear what he's getting (to make sure the microphone is positioned properly), and then the output goes to whatever the flavor of the day is...the guy I use for audio has a little zoom H4n, and he swears by it. A great microphone helps too. :-)
Spot|DSE wrote on 9/29/2009, 6:54 PM
Google RAMPS +Audio :-)

Likely, it's a mixer either feeding or being fed by others.
Audio units used to exclusively be Nagra systems, now there are several choices such as the bottom feeder Zoom, M-Audio, and the mid level Edirol, and high end Studio Design gear.
Yet we all seem to use the same ole' Sony 7506 headphones.
John_Cline wrote on 9/29/2009, 9:17 PM
The original Zoom H4 was a strange, but useful device. It had a decidedly cheap plastic feel, a really small display and was difficult to operate. It sounded pretty good though and I used mine all the time. The H4n fixed every complaint I had about the H4 and is the only reasonably priced flash-based recorder that will record 4 channels simultaneously.
bsuratt wrote on 9/29/2009, 11:44 PM
I use the Zoom H2 regularly for a one hour show each week plugged directly to house audio/PA system. Ultra reliable, lots of options, excellent sound!

baysidebas wrote on 9/30/2009, 5:23 AM
After many years of successfully using and loving the Sony TCD D10PRO2 Portable DAT Recorder I got myself an early Zoom H4 (at less than 1/10 the cost of the Sony). Even with its idiosyncrasies, the H4 has totally taken over my field recording needs and has given me 100% reliable operation. The H4n indeed has addressed the issues with the original and will be the next recorder in my arsenal. I also use an H2 for a dedicated setup recording telephone conferences and that too is a just setup and forget device. They just work!
farss wrote on 9/30/2009, 6:08 AM
"What kind of field recorder is it?"
If you mean a movie set where money gets spent at thousands per minute then it's going to be Cantar X ($15k) if it's a recorder although when I've seen them they're usually on the audio cart. They are the best, darn well want to be for that kind of money. If you don't need something that'll survive a nuke going off on set then the Sound Devices gear is half the price and half as confusing to drive. As other have mentioned there's heaps of cheaper alternatives but what seems to set the Sound Devices kit above the rest is the preamps.
The other requirement for field recorders for movie work is timecode. I think some units also support slate data which makes it easier to line everything up in post.

If you're just looking for something good enough rather than The Best Money Can Buy then you pretty much get what you pay for in the under $1K market. As others have said the Zoom H4n is good value for money and can do many things as it has a half decent XY mic built in. I'm looking to replace my Edirol R-4 with the R-44 because it has a few features that would have saved me a lot of grief on past jobs.

Bob.
musicvid10 wrote on 9/30/2009, 10:02 AM
I agree that the H4n is a big step up with 4-track simultaneous recording and BWF export. Neither feature is important enough to me to upgrade from my H4 right now. I'll be waiting for the thing I really need -- T/C sync. Not being able to slave to the cameras is the biggest PITA I face right now.

Of course, if I win the lottery, I'll be opting for one of THESE instead.
rs170a wrote on 9/30/2009, 10:53 AM
Of course, if I win the lottery...

At $2,895.00 U.S. / $3,300.00 CDN. there's no need to wait for a lottery win.
That's cheaper than a good 3 chip camera :-)

Mike
Opampman wrote on 9/30/2009, 11:25 AM
Not sure about the black bag, but when I was shooting features, our boom guy had a little box with a belt clip that basically broke the XLR mike cable and bridged it with a headphone amp. That way he could listen to what his boom was picking up over his (Sony) headphones.
rs170a wrote on 9/30/2009, 11:39 AM
...our boom guy had a little box with a belt clip...

Was it the Whirlwind MD-1?

Mike
Opampman wrote on 9/30/2009, 12:21 PM
Very similar, but no. It was a custom built unit my company (Cinema/Audio Designs) built. It did not have a preamp in the line to the Nagra, but a VERY high impedance bridge to a headphone amp to feed the phones. It was well shielded and had minimal effect on the audio coming from the boom but allowed the boom man to listen to what he was doing with a very high quality feed.
farss wrote on 9/30/2009, 2:35 PM
It might have been the Rolls PM50sOB. That lets the boom operator hear what the mic is hearing without messing with the signal going to the recorder. These can be had for around USD 65. Build quality is pretty cheap and you need to fit a belt clip yourself.They do work quite well though.

If you need belt clips then these work a treat and that 3M tape sticks extremely well.

Bob.
Cooldraft wrote on 10/3/2009, 6:08 AM
Wow, what brainpower here o th forum! Thank you for your answers!! H4 on the way, I will Never use the XY setup, when I finally learn why to use it, there will be an H29z out :)