Topic: Self-contained stealth set-up

[urobouros]

Is this possible or been done before?  By self-contained I mean no wires extending out of a collar or hat.  I was thinking about a zippered pouch inside a hat.  One of issues I see with this is that, since I run a MD for stealthing (First show this weekend!!), the occasional sound of the deck spinning the platter might be loud enough to be picked up.  Another problem is changing disks.  I'd rather not run compressed but then I have to change disks every 74 minutes.  Also, would coiling the mic and battery box cables cause a hum due the fields generated?  Any thoughts?

Todd

[Brian Skalinder]

Stealthing with mic cables running from hat to pocket really isn't that big of a deal.  Honest.

[bhtoque]

I've seen otter box rigs made so that you could just point it at the sound source, but that is more for sit-down shows, as opposed to a wearable rig.

I'd think that you'd be more likely to get busted, or have problems with everything in a hat.
At least around here some venues ask you to take them off during the pat down.

JAson

[urobouros]

Stealthing with mic cables running from hat to pocket really isn't that big of a deal.  Honest.

True, but I shave my head sometimes and was hoping to get around running cables down a bare neck yet still get the hat mount advantage.  We'll see how this weekend works. 

[Sean Gallemore]

I'm not sure what the infatuation is with having the smallest stealth rig ever.  Try to go for quality and not quantity (or lack of).

[Sean Gallemore]

Stealthing with mic cables running from hat to pocket really isn't that big of a deal.  Honest.

True, but I shave my head sometimes and was hoping to get around running cables down a bare neck yet still get the hat mount advantage.  We'll see how this weekend works. 

it's almost winter time, wear a hoodie

[Brian Skalinder]

True, but I shave my head sometimes and was hoping to get around running cables down a bare neck yet still get the hat mount advantage.  We'll see how this weekend works.

Yeah, me, too - I shave my head (well, no longer with a razor, just elec clippers without the guard) every week.  I find a simple hat, like a Kangol, plus some kind of jacket / shirt with a collar (I usually wear a black fleece) works well.  In the dark, not many people are going to notice the cables running out the back.

[bmr]

True, but I shave my head sometimes and was hoping to get around running cables down a bare neck yet still get the hat mount advantage.  We'll see how this weekend works.

Yeah, me, too - I shave my head (well, no longer with a razor, just elec clippers without the guard) every week.  I find a simple hat, like a Kangol, plus some kind of jacket / shirt with a collar (I usually wear a black fleece) works well.  In the dark, not many people are going to notice the cables running out the back.

You mentioned the Kangol-style hats...is there any reason to go with something like that over your regular baseball style hat? I clip my omni mics to the side of my hat above my ears, and when I had cards I ran the cables alongside the gutter of the sweatband with the two mics peeking out the front, about 3" apart. I've seen that other people usually set the mics inside the hat, toward the top of the head...is this easier to do or something with the Kangol-style hats or are there better mounting options with those? I'm just curious, as I know that the guy who has done some of my favorite recordings by a band wears one of those...didn't know if it was some sort of trade secret...

[Ed.]

you can't clip schoeps onto a baseball hat...well you could, but you'd look weird.  with the kangol hat you can put the mic caps in the hat and secure them with elastic.

and yeah, if you're running the little tiny stealth mics, why not just wear a baseball hat backwards, it'll cover the wires running down your neck.

[silverbullet]

I'd hide the mics under the collar before having "everything" in a hat. You can hide the wire down you back and place you md in your pocket and have a second shirt over your first to hide everything.

one of my outfits 

[gewwang]

with the kangol hat you can put the mic caps in the hat and secure them with elastic.

I secure my mics in elastic in a baseball cap. Works much better than the kangol and you blend in with the crowd much better.

[pfife]

I just clip them to my stocking cap.  No one says a damn word.  The only time anyone knows is if I am looking at the njb3.  Even then, on quick glance, people usually think thats a cell phone.

I used to rubber band my sony mic to this buckle on my jacket taht was on my shoulder- it was obvious, but no one ever noticed it.

[Ed.]

with the kangol hat you can put the mic caps in the hat and secure them with elastic.

I secure my mics in elastic in a baseball cap. Works much better than the kangol and you blend in with the crowd much better.

my head is too big or my hat is too small cuz thats not even an option for me with the micros, however, the micros are a bit longer than schoeps.

[gewwang]

my head is too big or my hat is too small cuz thats not even an option for me with the micros, however, the micros are a bit longer than schoeps.

True, with longer mics, you might not be able to use the trucker cap - especially if you wanted to run ortf or xy. I wear my cap as loose as I can and the elastic is sewn into the top of the cap so the weight of the caps are suspended above my head.

[Ed.]

nice.

yeah, i wear a trucker hat or a baseball style hat everywhere, except for in the winter when i'm wearing a stocking hat.  i've been trying to find something that matches my style and will hold the mics, but so far no luck.  i'm thinking i'm just gonna suck it up and go with the kangol eventho i'll prolly look like an idiot.

[The Kilted Taper]

This is what I use as a hat, and I think the straps help hide the cords pretty darn well:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=25442.msg319432#msg319432

(hat pics are after the bag pics). Just wear a hoddie to help, and you're good to go. Hasn't failed me yet.  (knock on wood).

[urobouros]

and yeah, if you're running the little tiny stealth mics, why not just wear a baseball hat backwards, it'll cover the wires running down your neck.

Good call bro!  That sounds like the winner.

[spyder9]

True, but I shave my head sometimes and was hoping to get around running cables down a bare neck yet still get the hat mount advantage.  We'll see how this weekend works.

Yeah, me, too - I shave my head (well, no longer with a razor, just elec clippers without the guard) every week.  I find a simple hat, like a Kangol, plus some kind of jacket / shirt with a collar (I usually wear a black fleece) works well.  In the dark, not many people are going to notice the cables running out the back.

I used the Kangol hat design that was posted on this site.  I absolutely love it for my AT853RXs.  I stitched in 4 elastic hangers, so I can run my mics DIN on top of my head.  The cables layer perfectly when leaving the back of the hat.  I wear an oversize black pullover with the collars up, and during winter time, I wear a short jacket with the collars up as well.  The mic cables run to a hunter's waist bag that I bought at a local sporting goods store.  The hunter's waist is nice and roomy and the JB3 and the AD-20 fits easily.  I clip the PS-2 to the side of the bag.

[spyder9]

BTW, I walked all around the arena for each Bob Dylan show, including close to the SBD, and not a whisper.  My friends weren't sure if I was setup, until I told them.  And that was with the lights on, standing 2 feet away from me.

[nickgregory]

you have to be careful though...it is not exactly a secret to some bands that the kangol is the stealthers hat of choice

[spyder9]

True.  And I'll go one step furthur.  I;m sure some bands' security (taper haters) probably come here to see what we're up to.  This site is not exactly Fort Knox.

Thanks to Samuel L Jackson, the kangol's popularity has gotten to a point where an average show would have the look of 200 tapers sitting in the audience

[Sean Gallemore]

I stick out like a sore thumb when I'm the only backwards baseball cap weariing mofo at a metal show. Eh, whata you gonna do

[MattD]

Right. A pair of Kangols at A Perfect Circle didn't attract any attention either. I have the recording to prove it.

[spyder9]

I actually sewed a small "Steal Your Face" patch over the kangaroo.  Most of the shows I tape have a lot of Deadheads (including me).