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Working with cables.


Gus Trivino

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Hi all,

 

I usually work with video cameras, and always I have to deal with cables.

After years, I feel more comfortable using the cables in this way:

I use 90 degrees BNC adaptor in the camera, pass the BNC and audio cables under the camera, do a big loop and after going to my shoulder, under the vest.

That´s in regular mode.

 

In Low mode, I couldn´t find a comfortable way, and the cables are always pushing the camera. I´d wanna know how you are you using the cables in Low mode.

Best to all,

 

Gus

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Not a direct answer to your question, but those cables look unnecessarily thick. Why don't you make up a set of super lightweight thin cables?

 

A few years back, I made a little adaptor box for audio tails, big heavy thick cables in one end, then left channel, right channel and return all going to the camera on tiny thin headphone size cable. It all worked great when I had to use it.

Makes everything much easier to work with, and you won't get the twisting action of the larger cables, so you won't have to route them as strategically as you do with bigger ones.

 

Rick.

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Hi Richard

 

yes, this is my classical discusion with the video HD operators here.

All cameras rental companies have cables made all togheter (audio & video) and covered.

I have my thin cables set for audio & video, but always they are complaining against my cables.

Anyway, they use the remote -and I don´t have remote cable- and the remote cable that they use is inside in the covered cables (with 2x BNC, and 3x Audio cables)

I have not a lot of chances, and I have learned to use the steadicam with cables, but Low Mode is a nightmare...

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Hi Gus:

 

I'm sorry to hear that you are having issues with the engineers on set and that they are making you carry this absurd looking rat's nest of cables.

 

For an engineer to be "happy" is no more important than you to be "happy". They are simply monitoring the signal, and as long as you have delivered a solid image for them to look at, they should be satisfied. However, you having to carry these cables will (no matter who you are) compromise the actual shot in some way, and unlike the monitoring function, that will go down on tape. If this is something you have to deal with on a regular basis, I would look into a fiber system that is compatible with all of the needs of the production. Camera control can be included in this (don't know how many brands of camera you use, that may get complicated, but even if the single cable outside of the fiber is the remote cable, that's still an improvement).

 

I know you are simply asking how to deal with cables in low-mode, but the best solution, as I'm sure you are aware, is to reduce the burden of the cable in the first place.

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Hi all,

 

I usually work with video cameras, and always I have to deal with cables.

After years, I feel more comfortable using the cables in this way:

I use 90 degrees BNC adaptor in the camera, pass the BNC and audio cables under the camera, do a big loop and after going to my shoulder, under the vest.

That´s in regular mode.

 

In Low mode, I couldn´t find a comfortable way, and the cables are always pushing the camera. I´d wanna know how you are you using the cables in Low mode.

Best to all,

 

Gus

 

Gus, . . . .Gus . . . .Gus . . .

 

I have to proclaim, low mode will be a breeze if you deal with that, as Charles said, Rats nest of cables . . . .Blaaagth . . . Ok we get it, your used to it but really, . . .really!?

 

I fly cabled Video cameras every day, Triax, Fiber, HD , ENG HD made into multicam with the Everts, god forsaken looms and remote cables. So I get it too, but there definitely is a better way, adapt the small bncs along with the baby audio cables, and the hardest one is that aweful remote cable. The remote cable can be re-made using the 12 pin hirose (or whatever that pin out is) , end wired into a Cat-5 ribbon cable super flexible . . . . .I am trying to get some made and selling the idea to all the rental houses around town to start making them and having them for the steadicam ops.

 

Panasonic was out at a shoot I was at last week while shooting a concert with the new HDX 3000 cameras, the remote cable sticking out of the 2 inch round cable loom was aweful and I showed them how it all would work better for steadicam they were amazed at how much the remote cable affected the rig and agreed a new system should be designed.

 

So there you go, my 2 cents

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  • 2 weeks later...
Thanks for the answers.

I think next time in low mode, I will work without cables.

If they don´t wanna work in this way: regular mode.

Best to all,

 

Gus.

 

Gus , sometimes I need to work with cables and for this I have special thin 2,5 mm in diameter and 1,5 m lenth cables and connectors at my vest . For low mode - 1,9 m lenth . For sound : XLR-BNC(2,5 mm in dia, 1,5 m lenth) + BNC-XLR( usual dia , 0,5 m lenth) cables .

BUT do not forget : THE BETTER TO WORK WITHOUT CABLES !

 

Fly save and be attentive ,

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