Topic: The Perfect Stealth Rig ??

[jefflester]

I'm looking for something really compact.  Most of the venues I go to search and have metal detectors, so I'm interested in equipment that will be easy to get through security.  The smaller and easier to explain away, the better.  Going undetected is probably the most important factor for me.  Simplicity would be another great plus (especially at my recording stage now lol).  Of course, its sound quality is important, too.

Thanks

Your sig line has it, no?  A wee bit more compact would be a small recorder (F3, VR, Deity, M10 type- With headphones plugged in for security to see), and without the pre or bodies. my experience is the active caps, custom cables and km100 bodies have been unseen by the detector.  The F3, that is a big flag...headphones in place.
The best one, is the one that always pulls it off.

Original post is from 2004. Yes, that is the rig she ended up with.

[daspyknows]

I'm looking for something really compact.  Most of the venues I go to search and have metal detectors, so I'm interested in equipment that will be easy to get through security.  The smaller and easier to explain away, the better.  Going undetected is probably the most important factor for me.  Simplicity would be another great plus (especially at my recording stage now lol).  Of course, its sound quality is important, too.

Thanks

Your sig line has it, no?  A wee bit more compact would be a small recorder (F3, VR, Deity, M10 type- With headphones plugged in for security to see), and without the pre or bodies. my experience is the active caps, custom cables and km100 bodies have been unseen by the detector.  The F3, that is a big flag...headphones in place.
The best one, is the one that always pulls it off.

Original post is from 2004. Yes, that is the rig she ended up with.

2004 versus 2026 is very different.  There was an event in NY that changed things and a second series of events that changed things more.  Between 9/11 and the proliferation of firearms venue security and the insurance companies upped their game.  Case in point Madison Square Garden.  On event days you could walk up to box office at 5pm unsearched and then wait and walk right in.  Has anyone been to Madison Square Garden recently?   When its not Phish or something similar getting in larger pieces of gear is as much luck as anything.  Getting in the 3 flavors of rigs described as ideal stealth rigs you even need to me on your A game.  From talking with a taper who knew her personally she had a concealed carry permit as a judge I believe and stealth meant fitting gear in her gun pouch.  Now that would be examined.  There were also minimal use of metal detectors and no weaponds scanners.  They have evolved and so have we. 

[todd e]

A Zoom F-3 is not going to get into a locked down US venue a 100%.  A weapon scanner, metal detectors and wand search with an attentive security force with catch that a moderate amount of the time.  I know, I own one and do not use it in those situation.  The perfect stealth rig will sound at least as good and can get in anywhere.

I'm voting this...

Schoeps MK41 > nbobs > Riotbox > Deity PR-2. 

The riotbox and deity have plastic shells, so the only metal to speak of are the capsules and the nbob collette connectors.  If the deity had two channels of 32-bit float capability, that would be all I could possibly ask for.

mk41 > kcy > riotbox > a10

[jbell]

^ This right here!

[chewed]

This

[daspyknows]

Is that a micro zoomie or are plugging mics in? 

[chewed]

Is that a micro zoomie or are plugging mics in?

It is an Instamic Pro Plus. More info in this thread - https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=208310.0

[Gutbucket]

^ Pretty good already with lots of future development potential there.  Multiple units can be controlled wirelessly, but record locally.  Have schemed about a way to do that for a couple decades.

[meltycrayon]

Is that a micro zoomie or are plugging mics in?

It is an Instamic Pro Plus. More info in this thread - https://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=208310.0

I've got one coming today. Can't wait to play with it. Had been thinking about it and the current sale got me to pull the trigger.

[Gutbucket]

Is that a micro zoomie or are plugging mics in? 

Micro zoomie using built in MEMS mic elements.  Would be especially cool to be able to plug in other mics, but far easier for them to manage as proprietary walled garden.

I've not seen one yet, half tempted to see if a DPA miniature element (omni or cardioid) can be hacked in.  The MEMS is probably 5V power which would work, not sure the available current though.

[mrfender]

Has anyone tried out those wireless XLR connectors? I know they're a little on the bulky side for this kind of discussion but do they actually work without any real issues?

[gdrfbnfa]

I’m following the discussion about the ability to pass a F3 thru aggressive security. Now that we’ve gained some experience with the Tascam FR-VA2, I’m wondering whether we think it does any better passing detectors? It’s slightly bigger than the F3 but seems to have less metal in its build. Thoughts?  Please PM if this is better addressed that way. Thx

[hoserama]

Metal detectors sensitivity varies from place to place. I wouldn't count on any setup that you need to "hide" beating the metal detectors. Just figure you'll set it off and what you do after the fact. That's why the DPA d:vice setup was so attractive, it just looks like a small metal disc and mics could be headphones. You could throw in bin along with phone + wallet + keys and waltz right through.

[beroti_music]

Just wear a belt buckle.

[opsopcopolis]

Has anyone tried out those wireless XLR connectors? I know they're a little on the bulky side for this kind of discussion but do they actually work without any real issues?

Not for taping, but have used very similar products in a live setting. They're decent, not the most reliable thing in the world, nor the best quality. I don't think they'd be much help for stealth because they're so large, contain lots of metal, and you'd need 4 of them