Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1451070
48 S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 I C A S Q U A R T E R L Y Charlie's kit includes several "modularized" rigs, each encompassing a different size that may be suited to certain SFX recording scenarios. The first rig shown was a beautiful eight-armed mic array based around a Sound Devices MixPre-10 II. This recorder has easy access and full- size XLR inputs. This gives Charlie the ability to input an AMBEO VR mic in the first four inputs and four Sennheiser 8020 omni mics all pointed in different directions in inputs five through eight. The modular attachments allow for quick release of the mics, which are all properly wind protected. The blending of these five mics (including the discrete recording of the raw Ambisonic plus the omni mics) creates amazing, beautiful, wide-sounding backgrounds. Next to this rig sat a much cuter and smaller rig based around a Sound Devices MixPre-3 II that also has a small Rycote zeppelin which houses a dual M-S mic array. Even cuter than the rig was Leland, the dog, who was assisting Charlie in the production of this video. We learned that Leland was the voice of the NeverBeast for a Disney movie! Next in our tour, Charlie showed us his two older rigs based around Sound Devices 700 series. While understandable that Charlie upgraded/cross-graded to the MixPre line given their newer features and versatility, once you own 700 series recorders, you realize they are like Toyotas and won't ever die on you. They are absolutely bulletproof and it makes sense that they are still in heavy use by him and many other SFX recordists. Charlie relies on IDX Lithium ION NP-1 batteries to power these rigs. His collection of 10 (which is plenty), are long-lasting and durable and serve him well as he rotates a few over the course of a day of recording. Charlie showed us his DPA 5100, among many other mics he uses. The way Charlie has set himself up with these arrays of mics, Sound Devices recorders with threaded rig points, modular arms, etc., have allowed him to tailor the rigs to the specific needs of each SFX shoot, whether its outdoor ambience or outdoor "panic-group- reaction" bys. He looks at each individual need before he sets them up. I feel better informed having watched Charlie explain his rigs and feel inspired to build my own SFX recording rigs to carry with a production sound package. And I know I'm not alone in that inspiration. Thanks Charlie, for showing us your truly inventive and rugged rigs! Now onto Marcos Contreras CAS, who is a production sound mixer also here in Los Angeles. Marcos sat in front of his beautiful set of sound carts and began with his main sound mixing cart, which is the fairly newly developed Inovativ Deploy upright DIT cart. Charlie Campagna