How many Comteks does it take to......

A friend of mine once described them as "on-set fashion for agency
people". Douglas' estimation of the number needed for a big commercial
seems right to me, although I know we don't really NEED that many
judging by how often I find them lying alone on chairs,
in vans, on the ground etc.. Any more the first order of business
after wrap is called is to get production to do a Comtek sweep before
the clients leave wearing them. I've found that a casual mention of
what a new replacement Comtek receiver costs helps focus their
attention on getting them all back.

Philip Perkins
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

How many Comteks does it take to......

Group: rec.arts.movies.production.sound Date: Wed, May 11, 2005, 7:50pm
(EDT-3) From: ctkellett.RemoveThis@aol.com
I am just wondering how many comteks you bring to an large budget
commercial spot, I had a NYC producer this week give me what she said is
normal # and I was shocked. So let hear what is NORMAL for yours area. I
am not new to this type of job but I do think that this is an area that
is changing. Just curious.
All the best
Chris Kellett C.A.S. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

There is no _normal_ give them what they ask for and charge for each
unit. I've had 12 comteks on a commercial shoot and production paid $15
a day for each receiver and $25 for the tx.

Eric
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

ctkellett RemoveThis @aol.com wrote:

> I am just wondering how many comteks you bring to an large budget
> commercial spot, I had a NYC producer this week give me what she said
> is normal # and I was shocked. So let hear what is NORMAL for yours
> area. I am not new to this type of job but I do think that this is an
> area that is changing. Just curious.

You're leaving us hanging... So, how many did they ask for?

I usually bring at least 8 for suits, and 1 for director, 1 for video
assist, 1 for producer, 1 or 2 for wireless slates, etc. So, I
typically bring 3 transmitters and about a dozen receivers, but I'm in
the process of adding to that number just to be prepared.

John Blankenship, C.A.S.
Indianapolis
(email: my initials at mw daht net)


 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

I carry 8 Lectro R1s and a Furman headphone station with six pairs of 7506s.
This way those that truely care can hear what it really sounds like and the
boxes don't walk away. Most seem to like the station, but if they really
want a "backstage pass" they can have a Lectro. I don't know how many times
I had to repair Comtek recievers but so far I haven't had to do anything
with the Lectros, and I bought them when they first came out. I got a hard
time from a few guys for spending $400.00/box but they have been a great
investment and sound a hell of alot better.

Brad Harper


<ctkellett.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1115866238.448934.270240@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>I am just wondering how many comteks you bring to an large budget
> commercial spot, I had a NYC producer this week give me what she said
> is normal # and I was shocked. So let hear what is NORMAL for yours
> area. I am not new to this type of job but I do think that this is an
> area that is changing. Just curious.
>
>
>
> All the best
>
> Chris Kellett C.A.S.
>
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

Interesting. I actually find the Lectro IFBs to be WAY more fragile than
the Comteks. YMMV I guess. I now put the R1s in neoprene cell-phone
pouches and have had less issues with damage. The top knob/guard usually
takes the hit in un-pouched units for some reason.

D.


"Brad Harper" <bradharperOMITTHIS.RemoveThis@comcat.net> wrote in message
news:yJKdnYjF1L5iGR7fRVn-sA@comcast.com...
>I carry 8 Lectro R1s and a Furman headphone station with six pairs of
>7506s. This way those that truely care can hear what it really sounds like
>and the boxes don't walk away. Most seem to like the station, but if they
>really want a "backstage pass" they can have a Lectro. I don't know how
>many times I had to repair Comtek recievers but so far I haven't had to do
>anything with the Lectros, and I bought them when they first came out. I
>got a hard time from a few guys for spending $400.00/box but they have been
>a great investment and sound a hell of alot better.
>
> Brad Harper
>
>
> <ctkellett.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:1115866238.448934.270240@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>>I am just wondering how many comteks you bring to an large budget
>> commercial spot, I had a NYC producer this week give me what she said
>> is normal # and I was shocked. So let hear what is NORMAL for yours
>> area. I am not new to this type of job but I do think that this is an
>> area that is changing. Just curious.
>>
>>
>>
>> All the best
>>
>> Chris Kellett C.A.S.
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

I did not mean to leave you hanging John, They said that 20-22 was the
norm, this is both a company and a producer that I work with 5-6 times
a year. Although it has been 6-7 months since I last work with them.
I, too, have the the lectro's and although they do sound great, man do
they eat batteries up, it is a job in itself just keeping up with them
during the day. I have 12 lectro on this job along with 5 old style
comtek. I did a last minute Sub rent (thanks Gotham) of a set of 6
comtek 216's that I liked very much. They had better range then my
lectro's in both Phila and NYC. I think that I may make a switch over
to them @ some point in the near future. It is day 4 of 9 on this spot
and most of the clients have lost interest @ this point so the sub
rented 216's have gone back, plus we are down to 1 Camera from 3 the
first day. We are now just using 6 units per day. We did use all 23
units on the first day. Anyone have a set of 216's they want to sell?


All the best,

Chris Kellett
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

ctkellett RemoveThis @aol.com wrote:
>
> I, too, have the the lectro's and although they do sound great, man do
> they eat batteries up, it is a job in itself just keeping up with them
> during the day.

At the past two NAB shows and one AES, I've made the suggestion to
Sennheiser that they could make some minor changes to their EK100G2
receiver and make it into a nice little IFB receiver. Adding a
headphone driver and a volume control should take care of it. The
EK300IEM-G2 is too pricey and has features that are overkill for IFB use.

Anyone else think this might be a good idea?
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

Ka-ching!!!!

Enough of those 20-22 Commie jobs and you can retire<g>.

D.


<ctkellett.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:1115938393.226245.67820@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I did not mean to leave you hanging John, They said that 20-22 was the
> norm, this is both a company and a producer that I work with 5-6 times
> a year. Although it has been 6-7 months since I last work with them.
> I, too, have the the lectro's and although they do sound great, man do
> they eat batteries up, it is a job in itself just keeping up with them
> during the day. I have 12 lectro on this job along with 5 old style
> comtek. I did a last minute Sub rent (thanks Gotham) of a set of 6
> comtek 216's that I liked very much. They had better range then my
> lectro's in both Phila and NYC. I think that I may make a switch over
> to them @ some point in the near future. It is day 4 of 9 on this spot
> and most of the clients have lost interest @ this point so the sub
> rented 216's have gone back, plus we are down to 1 Camera from 3 the
> first day. We are now just using 6 units per day. We did use all 23
> units on the first day. Anyone have a set of 216's they want to sell?
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Chris Kellett
>
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

"Normal" is however many they are willing to pay for. When this is
mentioned, "normal" usually becomes a much smaller number.

I usually tell commecial clients (who always want to skim the equipment rate
down) that the rate will include six Comteks, and they will be charged extra
for each one over six.

GT


"Philip Perkins" <spamiser.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1115871424.567040.59840@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> A friend of mine once described them as "on-set fashion for agency
> people". Douglas' estimation of the number needed for a big commercial
> seems right to me, although I know we don't really NEED that many
> judging by how often I find them lying alone on chairs,
> in vans, on the ground etc.. Any more the first order of business
> after wrap is called is to get production to do a Comtek sweep before
> the clients leave wearing them. I've found that a casual mention of
> what a new replacement Comtek receiver costs helps focus their
> attention on getting them all back.
>
> Philip Perkins
>
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

I've experimeented with the AKG PR40, it's very small and sounds decent
but they use a sub-mini input and provide a squirelly cable to
accomodate. Because it is very tiny, I'm doubtful of the robustness of
it - agency folk can treat these things worse than rock bands! They are
pretty inexpensive, about $189 a piece, but they probably are also not
easily repaired.

Bruno
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

Bruno:
The transmitters they sell to match with them are only 10mw, so they
can't be that great for covering a large set. What are you using to
transmit to these devices? They cute little guys, aren't they.

George
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

One of their standard bodypacks. You're right, no good on a big set but
OK for maybe one or two people on a small set. Best to stick with the
standards (Comtek, Lectro) I think.

Bruno
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to...... 

On or about Sat, 14 May 2005 12:03:58 -0500, Peter allegedly wrote:

> I may have told this story before here, but once a few years ago a
> director invited me to his house after we had not worked together for a
> while. We went for a walk and the weather had grown chilly. He lent me a
> jacket and one of my Comteks was in the pocket.

Was it still turned on, with batteries dead and leaked?


Noel Bachelor noelbachelorAT(From:_domain)
Language Recordings Inc (Darwin Australia)
 >> Stay informed about: How many Comteks does it take to......