15+ year IATSE journeyman sound mixer and boom op here. These are wise words from a wise man. I always want to make it as easy as possible for my boom operators (use a boom mate if possible… etc). Don’t kill yourselves out there if possible. Your body will thank you. Also never underestimate the effectiveness of resting it on your head and one arming it.

Every production sound person needs to see this! So much wisdom in here.

41:25 “Know your lenses, know your lens sizes…” This is true but you can only go as far as knowing it until the camera-operator decides to change a little bit of the shot while you weren’t looking for one split second. This thing with seeing the frame live is amazing, it really helps being as tight to the frame as possible even when the frame changes just before shooting.

What a great interview! Thank you so much for sharing. Ken has so much valuable insight, this was a real treat to watch! 👏

Every Ken's video or masterclass is such a treat. A well of knowledge from a true Sound Ninja.

Big fan of Ken, this is a great watch, kudos to Simon & URSA crew, respect all round!

I'm seeing this right before starting work on a show. So much insight and gems shared here. Thank you so much for this

I so much agree with the in ears. Especially wearing on ears in the summer ,,,,, hot hot hot… I use shure se215 and se 315. Robust cable that can take some abuse and good enough sounding. What he mentions about switching ears is spot on. I switch ear every day. When i was starting and after wearing the headphone on the right ear only for 6 months my hearing was panned to the left and theright side sounded muffled and then it took me another 6 months for my hearing to return to balanced . It was scary. In addition to what Ken is saying i always wear the cable under my t-shirt and it only comes out of the neck hole. This way when you are working in tight spaces with chairs or branches in the forest etc.. Much less chances for the cable to get caught somewhere. Ken seems like a very cool and knowledgeable colleague.

My boom ops are rocking the Ultimate Ears. They love them.

Very generous guy to share his hard earned knowledge!

Definitely bringing this back to Australia, I was taught to boom up over to... Last year. Its still going. I trust he knows more than my Uni lecturer does haha

I'm relatively new to sound (2 years) and have mostly OMB. It's lonely so to hear similar problems that I have be addressed here is incredible. Definitely want to pick up Ken's book!

This is such a great video! So insightful, full on proper hands on experience “value bombs” from someone who really knows their craft! Thank you!

Another URSA gem of a video! Thank you Simon and team URSA for getting such a legend.

One of the best discussions on location sound I’ve seen! Thanks so much

I'm only a few years into production sound, so this video was absolute gold! I'm pleased Ken mentioned his booming stance - this is the stance I always end up in!

GREAT!!! Txh Simon & Ken!

I quit my sound career ages ago, but glad to see I was instinctively picking up some stuff Ken said. I dreamed about having my own wristband smartphone monitor, and I am glad to see someone took it to fruition. If I ever go back to booming, I'm going to remember all this.

Loved this, thanks. I started as a PSC recordist to learn the system from recorder to wires to mics and what the mixer wants to hear. I love to be in charge of radios and let the mixer and boom operator know what's for who and learn what is best for whom depending what my 1st and mixer want wire wise & if it doesn't sound right, they let me know what to do or if they change it, what they did. I love to 2nd boom also, there is nothing better than being told by your mixer and or key boom that sounds great, keep doing that. If my team is happy at the end of the day or each scene then I know I've done my job and fingers crossed I'll be asked back. I like to listen and observe the set over talking about what I had for tea last night. I also like to try and get the mic on the artist before set time so maybe the mixer can listen to the rehearsals and then its just adjustments over putting on that requires attention. I look forward to the scene talk and maybe the mixers kit video.

Thank you Simon and Ken for this brilliant video!! Such a wealth of information. I wish I had seen this years ago 🙌

Love listening to Ken talk about booming. Great video x

Great Video, with loads of insight! Thank you Simon, Ken and the Ursa team for putting this together!

Ken, thank you for the insightful interview about the booming. I really enjoyed it and gained valuable knowledge.

What a great, thorough lesson on how to boom! This is everything I have ever tought to my trainees and more but in 1 film I'm just gonna make all of my trainees whatch this video first. :D

Amazing video full of tips. Wow, thank you for this!

thanks for the tips ken, i know if i ever got the chance to utility for you i wouldn't let you down!!!

Thank you Ken!!

Great insights! Really enjoyed this interview and hearing more about the craft....great work all round!

Another amazing resource! Thanks so much Ken & Simon :)

So so so good! So prodessional, so wise, so experienced. Well done. Just about everything a location operator needs to know before getting on set. Bravo.

Love this!! Such an amazing insight into the industry from a seasoned pro, thanks for sharing your knowledge with people starting out in the industry! Always love these URSA videos!

Fantastic to get such an in-depth perspective, thanks for putting this together Simon!

Amazing video thank you!

This was very helpful. Thank you. 🙏

Fantastic!! Thank you

great insight...excellent interview.

Amazing video! Well done team

GREAT interview - thanks for sharing!

Amazing interview, thank you for sharing!

Just every info is on spot ! Thanks

Ken has so many little nuggets of great advice and anecdotes. Take note kids

Great video Simon

Great video, it puts the whole booming into prespective!

I want to make a test with BoomRight. Thank you Ursa!!!

any stick related sports can help your cordination as well. Check out hockey or Naginata if you are into martial arts.

I am 1,63 and I have been booming having to boom in some of my audio jobs. And man, I wish I was as tall as he is, cause in small rooms (where length cannot be that much of a help) rising my arms is almost unavoidable and it gets tiring!

Ken is legend!

Incredible resource!

Thank you for all this wise advices. BTW, finaly a video where it's ok to have the boom in the shot for more than one hour 😅

Thank you for this great video

@Ken Strain, what is the foam you're using for your MKH50? It seems wider than a basic sennheiser foam.

any chance you have any info on the app you use for the video feed to your iphone? I saw someone mentioned "wide shots", not sure if that is accurate... cant find anything on that. Would love to look into that! Thanks for all your helps guys, this was a great watch and I learned so much!

It's a University That's you Guys doing... Great Job...

Some nice tips from Ken; but seems to have limited experience regarding shooting outside from comfort zone.

I don't know if I missed it or what, but what is the application for the wireless video monitoring? 39:51 I'm curious..

regarding the cradle, keep in mind Ken is 6'5" lol

gracias!

what foam does he have on that MKH50?

Hi ! Thx for this itw, it was so interesting and instructive. As a rookie boom op, I would appreciate some opinion about the choice for a first versatile mic : would it be preferable to choose a short hypercardioid one (mkh50, mk41, ...) or a shotgun mic (cs3e, cmit5, ...) to cover both int & ext (obviously it's not optimal but which solution would be the least restrictive according to you ?) Thanks in advance !

I’m just ken❤

Isn't that a left handed way to play pool? I'm right handed and the cue rests in my left hand. Or do i play pool left handed?!

This beautiful art is dying out due to camera shots getting wider with more camera shot sizes for a simple interview. They’re killing this art form. Everything needs to be on wires. Camera folks don’t hear the difference.

Boom operator.. boooooooom operator

He's also tall lol