It's often been guessed at but never before quantified exactly how much weight a boom operator holds over his or her head. In this video I investigate just that... how much weight does a boom operator hold?
I start by measuring a very light combination of microphone, shockmount and wind protection - a DPA 4017B microphone in a Cinela Osix shockmount and wearing the softie included with a Rode NTG5. For this test I'm using a Camry Luggage weighing tool with a tare feature which allows me to zero out the empty weight of the device before placing a boom in the loop to be weighed. For the last tests the long shotgun microphone is a Rode NTG8 inside a Rycote Windjammer and a HWC.
Links to products used in this video:
DPA 4017B:
https://geni.us/4017BCinela Osix shockmount:
http://www.cinela.fr/catalog.phpWindscreen from the Rode NTG5 kit:
https://geni.us/RodeNTG5Deity HD-TX Transmitter/Recorder:
https://geni.us/DeityHD-TXRode NTG8 Long Shotgun Microphone:
https://geni.us/RodeNTG8Rycote WS11 Zeppelin Kit:
https://geni.us/RycoteWS11Rycote Hi-Wind Cover:
https://mymic.rycote.com/products/windshield-solutions/hi-wind-cover/Camry Luggage weighing tool:
https://geni.us/CamryScaleShowMaven C-Stands:
https://geni.us/CStandThe microphone, shockmount and windscreen weight 5 ounces together!
Results for 2 feet between hand and the pole extended 13 feet to the microphone:
Base - 10.8 lbs downwards (base)
External wrapped Canare cable with Neutrik EMC-F connector - 12.3 lbs
Retest base - 10.6 (2% difference)
HD-TX - 13.5 lbs
Small Zepp - 13.5 lbs
Long Zepp - 17.1 lbs
HWC/Cat - 27.2 lbs
Full stick with everything - 42.7 lbs
I also measured the up/down force on the rear/front hands...
2 feet between hands, boom extended 9 feet:
Front (holding up the pole) = 6.4 lbs, Back (pulling down on the pole) = 3.4 lbs
3 feet between hands, boom extended 9 feet:
Front (holding up the pole) = 5.6 lbs, Back (pulling down on the pole) = 2.3 lbs
2 feet between hands, boom extended 14 feet:
Front (holding up the pole) = 10.6 lbs, Back (pulling down on the pole) = 7.5 lbs
3 feet between hands, boom extended 14 feet:
Front (holding up the pole) = 8.8 lbs, Back (pulling down on the pole) = 4.6 lbs
For this test I used an Ambient QSM, QS and QS inside a QP-120 extension.
To watch my 3BO Boom Operator Training Series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpPR2HcQu7YIYoynp0ULZ8BY53Pgj0HbJGear Commonly Used In My Videos:
Panasonic Lumix FZ-80:
http://geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixFZ80Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7:
http://geni.us/SoundSpeedsLumixDMCG7Aputure Amaran AL-MX LED Video Light:
https://geni.us/AputureLightTascam DR-40:
http://geni.us/TascamDR40Sound Devices MixPre-6:
https://geni.us/SoundDevicesMP6Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and if you purc
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