Topic: Taping in high wind/rain conditions?

[Gr8ful98]

Hey ya'll,
  I'm headed to Austin City Limits fest this weekend & it looks like hurricane Rita may be coming too!  I'm running a Shure tripod mic stand with AKG 481's and SHURE windscreens(the big thick ones)>Dmod Ua5>JB3 and I keep my gear in a RakGear backpack.

I've only been taping since March '05, and never taped in the rain or high winds before.  Can any of y'all more experienced tapers give me some advice, or tips on what to do if it rains during the show...or high winds? 

I was thinkin' bout bringing trash bags to put the backpack in to protect my gear...but what about the mics? I want to record the show, but I can't afford to lose my AKG 481's to damage because of rain etc...

What would you suggest?   

[F.O.Bean]

nice umbrella
duct tape
contractor bags(thick garbage bags)
camping stakes for the stand

LOTS of garbage bags

maybe even a walmart camping table so you can put your bag up on it and just cover everything with the contractor bags!

[Nick Graham]

Get a clamp on umbrella. There's several threads on here about 'em.  Many folks seem to have good luck at places like Toys R' Us, the kind made to attach to a stroller work well.

As for heavy wind, not much you can do except use the big Shure screens. If you wanna protect your stand from wind, either duct tape on concrete, or if you're gonna be set up on ground - use tent stakes.

[F.O.Bean]

Get a clamp on umbrella. There's several threads on here about 'em.  Many folks seem to have good luck at places like Toys R' Us, the kind made to attach to a stroller work well.

As for heavy wind, not much you can do except use the big Shure screens. If you wanna protect your stand from wind, either duct tape on concrete, or if you're gonna be set up on ground - use tent stakes.

i wouldnt doubt if those clamp on cheapie umbrellas would come right down in heavy winds, but i guess if it gets that bad, i would teardown!

[Gr8ful98]

  Thanks y'all.  I'm a little nervous...electronics & water don't mix very well...but I'm determined to do it!

I usually learn by making mistakes...let's hope I don't make any expensive mistakes this weekend.

[JackoRoses]

whateveryone else stated.
I have done this in snow and high wind/rain. tapinfool will attest as he was there toughin it out in the wind and rain as well.
I used a nice 4' golf umbrella from wally world, it works nice for keeping the gear bag somewhat dry.
Not very much water even driving rain made it to the mics with this.
I don't know about smaller footprint umbrellas though.
Tent stakes are essential and take something to drive them into the ground.
I used clothesline for my stakes not to say you need clothesline but you will need some kind of rope.
I clamped my ubrella down as tight as I could than backed it up with some duct tape.
My stand would go down before the umbrella would break loose.
I would for sure look into bringing something to get your bag off the ground if at all possible.
I had a stream running under mine.
Garbage bags are a great idea, especially if your bag does not have a all weather storm flap for it.
Don't forget a towel to lay down over the cables where they enter your bag.
Good luck and don't forget your own raingear.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Stick your UA5 and JB3 in ziplock bags - hang the wires out the zipper and duct tape it shut.  Cover the whole thing with garbage bag.  Elevate your gear...

As for your stand, a too big or too stiff of an umbrella will act as a sail, and may cause your stand to tip.  Def secure-secure-secure to the ground.  Also try and get your mics as far up under the umbrella as possible.  Bad tapes are better than wet mics...

Good luck!

Terry

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

Or get some of these bitches:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrophone

T

[JackoRoses]

Stick your UA5 and JB3 in ziplock bags - hang the wires out the zipper and duct tape it shut.  Cover the whole thing with garbage bag.  Elevate your gear...

As for your stand, a too big or too stiff of an umbrella will act as a sail, and may cause your stand to tip.  Def secure-secure-secure to the ground.  Also try and get your mics as far up under the umbrella as possible.  Bad tapes are better than wet mics...

Good luck!

Terry

I would be lery of sticking the jb3 in a bag, it needs room to breathe
also that is why you use tent stakes, if my 4' umbrella can deal with strong gusts of wind and not take the stand down I think that is a testament of how important staking the stand down.

[F.O.Bean]

Stick your UA5 and JB3 in ziplock bags - hang the wires out the zipper and duct tape it shut.  Cover the whole thing with garbage bag.  Elevate your gear...

As for your stand, a too big or too stiff of an umbrella will act as a sail, and may cause your stand to tip.  Def secure-secure-secure to the ground.  Also try and get your mics as far up under the umbrella as possible.  Bad tapes are better than wet mics...

Good luck!

Terry

my umbrella is a nice one i got at wlamart,a nd has air flaps in them so they can be open and not get sucked away by the wind, the wind goes right thru the umbrella, and no rin enters and gets onto your mics, best 12 bucks ive ever spent

worked like a charm at moedown!

and like jackorose said, stake down the legs good and you dont need rope/bungees to tie the stand down

[Nick's Picks]

IMO...
dont tape. 
Jerry's dead. 

I certainly wouldnt risk my gear for the likes of any band out there.

[tapernewb]

big windscreens and a low cut filter in addition to advice already given. It would be THAT much more shitty to risk your gear to get a tape blown out by wind noise.

[JackoRoses]

my umbrella is a nice one i got at wlamart,a nd has air flaps in them so they can be open and not get sucked away by the wind, the wind goes right thru the umbrella, and no rin enters and gets onto your mics, best 12 bucks ive ever spent

worked like a charm at moedown!

and like jackorose said, stake down the legs good and you dont need rope/bungees to tie the stand down

exactly bean my umbrella has those too, it helps let the wind through.

IMO...
dont tape. 
Jerry's dead. 

I certainly wouldnt risk my gear for the likes of any band out there.

that quip about Jerry was really uncalled for IMO.

[creekfreak]

my recommendation is not to tape if the weather sucks...some other poor soul will tough it out and tape it, why risk your gear....I fucked up some of my stuff at the Vibes during ratdog...camera got messed, DAP1 wouldn't eject the tape...etc. sucked bad

[F.O.Bean]

my recommendation is not to tape if the weather sucks...some other poor soul will tough it out and tape it, why risk your gear....I fucked up some of my stuff at the Vibes during ratdog...camera got messed, DAP1 wouldn't eject the tape...etc. sucked bad

were you prepared