Topic: Sound Pro taper hat - DIY tips?

[sunjan]

Hey all,

Did you notice that SP now put out pictures of their taper hat:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-HMS-1

I know st**lth is always a touchy subject, but the SP pictures are out there, and won't go away.
The hat has also been mentioned here:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131431.msg1729329#msg1729329

Would it be kosher to discuss crafting one of these as a DIY project?

When measuring the distance of the holes, does it make sense trying to achieve a particular configuration (DIN, NOS, ORTF etc), or should I just put the holes at my own convenience?

And what kind of glue/tack would be appropriate when mounting the grommets?

If this info is too sensitive, PM me and I'll delete the post.

[nathan_g]

I made one. The grommets were purchased at an electrical supply house. As for mounting the grommets, I didn't use any glue. I just cut holes in the hat that were slightly smaller than the recessed inner ring of the grommet. This held them very firmly in place. Worked like a charm and cost a great deal less than $30. Most people have a suitable hat lying around and the grommets were less than $2 US. Took about 15 minutes to make.

[fandelive]

When measuring the distance of the holes, does it make sense trying to achieve a particular configuration (DIN, NOS, ORTF etc), or should I just put the holes at my own convenience?

I have a DIY stealth hat. Mics (MM-HLSC's) are mounted on forehead sides, so I'd say it's close to the binaural configuration.
Binaural doesn't really make sense if you use cardiod mics, but I've been pretty pleased with the results in terms of stereo-spacing.

Will send samples and info if you PM me

[Neilyboy]

I threw one together with wm-61a caps sounds great.

neil

[su6oxone]

You can also send Chris (of Sound Pro) any hat/cap you want (baseball caps would work best I would think) and he will install the grommets in it for a smaller fee ($15 I think he charged me) and send it back to you.  It's more incognito when you use a real baseball cap.

Incidently, one of my first posts in this board was asking about this same taper hat that Sound Pro sells (and has listed for years on their website with pics) asking about anyone with experience with it.  The post was of course promptly disposed of by good ol' Moke within a couple hours. 

[fmaderjr]

Wow-it sounds like some people here like those hats. IMO, those hats are worthless. I hated mine. It was obvious that there were mics sticking out (only omnis could be mounted flush to the hat) and the hot glue came loose after 2-3 uses.

Spend a few more bucks & get the Kangol Ventair  hat that has been much praised here instead. Then you don't need to worry about anyone wondering why your hat has horns.

[Belexes]

Then you don't need to worry about anyone wondering why your hat has horns.

[su6oxone]

IMO, those hats are worthless. I hated mine. It was obvious that there were mics sticking out (only omnis could be mounted flush to the hat) and the hot glue came loose after 2-3 uses.

The AT853 cardioid caps have vents that are behind the grommets when they are inserted into the grommets so they don't stick out.  If you're careful with them when you insert/remove them, they should last for a good amount of time.  Like any piece of gear, if you don't handle with care things are going to fall apart sooner. 

[fmaderjr]

I stand corrected on the hats being worthless then, but I'd still rather have a hat where I can mount the mics in the band. Then you have your head as a baffle when using omnis and you can angle cardiods out a bit by moving them farther back nearer the back of your head. 

[Giant_Rick]

I threw one together with wm-61a caps sounds great.

neil

Yum, nice idea.. I think time has come for me to buy a baseball hat, I don't usually wear anything above my chest.

[darktrain]

Kangol, once i went that route, i never went back, quality of recordings was so much better, i found the baseball hat option useless for me and i tried the at's and hlsc's in it, very uncomfortable, in the kangol very natural feeling, hardly notice they are there.

[willndmb]

i have a baseball hat with sp omnis on the "side" seems to work decent for me
i always wondered about the hat in the link as it does seem like the mics stick out and the lack of a design on the front i think would draw more attn then sending in your own and having the holes punched
as for a kangol, maybe its just me but i have only seen one person ever at a show with a kangol who wasn't taping - seems like the dead giveaway as far as hats go and security keeping an eye on you

[aleal5687]

I feel more comfortable with a baseball cap. I tried a kangol a few times but i felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb. maybe it was because my wife kept telling me i looked liked a dumb ass with it on. My tape sure did sound good though.

[nathan_g]

i always wondered about the hat in the link as it does seem like the mics stick out and the lack of a design on the front i think would draw more attn then sending in your own and having the holes punched

The hat does look entirely unnatural. Never did this but always wanted to try taking two identical 'logo' hats, converting one to the standard 'taper hat', carefully cutting the logo from the other and applying it to the front of the taper hat with velcro. Once you're in and the lights go down, peel the false front off and you're good to go...

[zeus163]

I tried the Kangol for the first time last week. When I tried it on at home, my wife burst out laughing and told me my normal attire wasn't "cool" enough to pull off the Kangol.

On the ferry on the way over, I saw a guy wearing a brown Kangol type hat. So, I figure people out there are wearing them.

My only issue was that I had some cabling slippage during the show. But nothing some velcro won't fix.

[mfrench]

[nickb]

[Scooter123]

So I was at a gig last summer with my Kangol, and two really cute young women stop me and tell me that I look really cute in the hat.  WTF.  I am 60yo.  Maybe I really am a chick magnet. 

[boa]

Hey all,

Did you notice that SP now put out pictures of their taper hat:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-HMS-1

I know st**lth is always a touchy subject, but the SP pictures are out there, and won't go away.
The hat has also been mentioned here:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=131431.msg1729329#msg1729329

Would it be kosher to discuss crafting one of these as a DIY project?

When measuring the distance of the holes, does it make sense trying to achieve a particular configuration (DIN, NOS, ORTF etc), or should I just put the holes at my own convenience?

And what kind of glue/tack would be appropriate when mounting the grommets?

If this info is too sensitive, PM me and I'll delete the post.

Here is my DIY instructions from 1998 - http://www.boa.com/at831b.html