Topic: best gear bag for r44

[vegeta_ban]

  I had a drink dump an entire bottle of water down my r44 at Sundays MSG furthur show and am looking for a new bag so this doesn't happen again. We performed surgery on it and removed all water in it and it finished recording the show. I've since left it in a room open to the air to evaporate what molecule of water are left.

anyway I'd pike to know what knd of bag I should get that would hold the r44 a couple of RC car batteries, cables, a pair of nak shotguns and small Superluxe cm's. I've looked and portabtace doesn't have a bag designed for the r44

Any Thoughts would be appreciated,

thanks

Jeremy

[su6oxone]

You could try a used Sonicase which should give good protection (plastic window so you can see your gear) and fit all your stuff.  I really like the Lowepro bags, especially the Magnum 200AW which is a great roomy bag.

[DigiGal]

Sorry to hear about the spill.  Look at the Portabrace AR-7, this one in YS is sold but look at the pics and description for the sale it works with an R44.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=126959.msg1683479#msg1683479

[Shawn]

Sorry to hear about the spill.  Look at the Portabrace AR-7, this one in YS is sold but look at the pics and description for the sale it works with an R44.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=126959.msg1683479#msg1683479

the ar-7 is designed for the SD 702/722. I know that portabrace has the ar-4 which is designed specially for the R-4. I bet they have one designed for the r-44 too.

[DigiGal]

Sorry to hear about the spill.  Look at the Portabrace AR-7, this one in YS is sold but look at the pics and description for the sale it works with an R44.

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=126959.msg1683479#msg1683479

the ar-7 is designed for the SD 702/722. I know that portabrace has the ar-4 which is designed specially for the R-4. I bet they have one designed for the r-44 too.

Check the link provided - it is to an old YS description and yes it clearly states the case is designed for Sound Devices but also describes that it will work with an R44 and even includes a picture of an R44 in the case.

Portabrace website does not list a case specifically designed for the R-44 but they do offer custom case orders which are likely much more expensive.  It may be worth a shot to contact them directly since they are a US company located in Vermont. 

[vegeta_ban]

Thanks for all the help I'll be looking at all of 'em,

Did you make it to the NYC shows digi?

They sound great. I had my little H2 as a secondary recorder just in case as always. Wish i didn't need it this time though.

[rastasean]

What bag were you using the r44 with?

[vegeta_ban]

I usually have it in a case my dad got in the 80s with lab glassware. When it was dumped on it was sitting in my camera bag as i was backing up the data in the laptop. The minute it was unprotected it gets hit 

[Neilyboy]

I love my little Lowepro Photo Runner 100. It would not hold everything you listed there but it holds my R-44, 2xDVD batteries, 1xset of mics (my small patching kit - adapters and such as well as extra sd cards), and have the cables attached to the outside of the bag with carabiner clips. It is snug but works great and its small. I just attach my tripod or table mount pole to the bottom of the bag with the supplied clips (from lowepro) and sling it over my arm im good to go (could take pics tonight if interested)..

until then here is a manuf pic..



Neil

Neil

[Kush]

Won't the Portabrace bag designed for the r-4 work for the r-44? Aren't they identical in form/features except no harddrive in the r-44? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[flipp]

They are not the same. Whether the PortaBrace for the R4 would work I can't say.

R44 Width 6-3/16 inches Depth 7-1/4 inches   Height 2-7/16 inches Weight 2 lbs 14 oz including batteries
R4   Width 9-1/2 inches   Depth 8-9/16 inches Height 3-1/16 inches Weight 3 lbs. 12 oz.

for a side-by-side comparison:  http://www.rolandsystemsgroup.com/products/productlist/471

Seems lots of folks think the R4 and R44 are basically the same recorder, much as many folks also think the FR2 and FR2-LE are basically the same recorder. Unless you have one of those models or are very familiar with them it's easy to confuse them.

[rastasean]

(could take pics tonight if interested)..

I'm interested in some photos! its always interesting to see how people lay the equipment out in their bag.

[Neilyboy]

(could take pics tonight if interested)..

I'm interested in some photos! its always interesting to see how people lay the equipment out in their bag.

Here are a few.. Just some quick shots I usually arrange the bag a bit better but I had a few minutes before dinner guests come over so I snapped a few quick to get an idea..












Neil

[Neilyboy]

The strap on the bottom allows for something as thin as that matthews pole to be 'clamped' in or I can fit my full manfrotto stand under there as well. If I am heading to the venue I will then just attach the clamp to the end of the pole or dangle it from another carabiner clip off the side (or use it to hold another set of cables if I am running 4 mics)... It has all kinds of options but i personally feel its a great bag for the R-44 if you are trying to limit your bag size...

Neil

[it-goes-to-eleven]

You can make a clear vinyl splash guard for any bag.

You may want to use a waterproofing agent on your bag to help repel water.  Though if you have any scotch guard, especially older stuff, you may want to throw it away.  The active ingredient is evil, toxic stuff that has been banned by the Kyoto protocol.

I have wanted to cover the bottom of my bag with a hardcore rubber compound.  I was thinking of something like tool dip, or a silicone.  Something where it could sit in a puddle for hours and be just fine.

Finally.... if a bag gets damp you must remove your camera and recording gear from it.  There is a saying among serious photographers that bags are for transporting gear, not storing it (lenses get destroyed by internal fungus that etches the glass).  Even if the bag is waterproof, the risk is that once damp, the inside will become supersaturated with water vapor.

I once heard a jam cruise story about schoeps being stored in a garbage bag.  So, ya know... Consider any solution