Preparing Topstick For Lavalier Microphones -
I'm speaking to all my fellow production audio warriors...everyone else on set, close your ears...all you know is that us soundies are wonderful teammates, who are just futzing with the mic thingy really quick and we'll be right back at it, cool? 😅
Years ago, a friend of mine taught me how to prep topstick in a useful way that I still use today. It's great if you have to reposition a lav on talent, because the topstick part of that guaranteed uncomfortable/annoying short encounter is taken care of! Everyone has their prefered tactics when wiring up talent, I love how incredibly criucial a simple action can be. "Pin the tail on the talent", ok...but where you place it, how you affix it, when you choose to, how long it takes you...all while joyfully displacing attention while surveying wardrobe and deciding an action plan. It can get crazy...OR, I say (if possible) plan up front, and have conversations with those whom can help your cause...depending on the production of course... that may be Wardrobe, HMU, a Producer, the Director...doesn't matter really. No one's -most folks are not- thinking about how wardrobe will impact lav placement, so plant the seed and watch it grow. Were all in it together on set, so help them help you, and roll with the punches if the concerns fall on deaf ears! All good, we have custom little topstick sandwiches ready to go in our pockets and can repo that lav innasec...whooosh Sound Speed!
What are some of your preferred laving techniques or go to products? So far I find these useful: Joe's Sticky Stuff, Hush Lav's, The Mic Drop and it's various iterations, also I can't forget a good old Moleskin Sandwich! I've also 3D printed a few COS11D sleeves that have worked well (more on that topic later!)
Comments