Is the Movicam supposed to be silent?

[Mix Master Marty]

A while back I was told by a very reputable Cinematographer that the Movicam is supposed to be silent. However, I've been on quite a few productions on which the Movicam was loud enough (even when covered) to ruin a signigicant number of takes. Can someonne shed some light on this issue?

[oleg kaizerman]

sometimes the problem is the magazines that not in grate shape ,sometimes it the film it self ,sometimes someone didnt do the maintens in time ,some times its silent :)

[pauladlaf]

Be sure to have the Focus Puller adjust the "pitch" control after each reload. It's a simple & routine adjustment that makes a night & day difference for your sound. Good film stock (ie Kodak) doesn't hurt either...

Regards,

Paul Adlaf

[Mix Master Marty]

That's exactly what the DP who explained it to me said, but whenever I mention it to the camera crew on a set, they act as if there's no such thing. It would really help if I had a picture or diagram, so that I could physically point to it when I talk to the camera guys.

Not all Movicam's are quiet. The smallest one, i believe it's the SL, is not ''designed'' for sync sound.
So, what model are you working with ?

Roberto van Eijden

[thesound crew]

pature at the end of last year "ONE LAST CHANCE" a moviecam was the main camera with SL as back up / second camera, the problem I had was that when using 1000 feet mags ( loaders preference obviously) the motor noise was huge !!, ( dodgy motor I thought) I ended up having to barter with the camera crew through the thankfully co-operative Norwegian Dop as to which scenes I could have the 400 ft mags used on ( which were quiet ) at least compared to the 1000 footers, I even had the camera rental guys come up from London to check out the noise, they just hummed and hawed and said that what we were hearing was normal, it was NOT NORMAL it was crap, every interior scene was a Barney and leather jacket scenario,and I could still hear it, I had worked with the Mociecam Compact before a few times, and it had been fine-ish but this was grief big time.

Regards
Brian Milliken AMPS

[thesound crew]

pature at the end of last year "ONE LAST CHANCE" a moviecam was the main camera with SL as back up / second camera, the problem I had was that when using 1000 feet mags ( loaders preference obviously) the motor noise was huge !!, ( dodgy motor I thought) I ended up having to barter with the camera crew through the thankfully co-operative Norwegian Dop as to which scenes I could have the 400 ft mags used on ( which were quiet ) at least compared to the 1000 footers, I even had the camera rental guys come up from London to check out the noise, they just hummed and hawed and said that what we were hearing was normal, it was NOT NORMAL it was crap, every interior scene was a Barney and leather jacket scenario,and I could still hear it, I had worked with the Mociecam Compact before a few times, and it had been fine-ish but this was grief big time.

Regards
Brian Milliken AMPS

[Mix Master Marty]

Thanks for the responses, guys. In response to Roberto's question, we're using the Movicam Super.
Also, does anyone know of a website that contains diagrams and schematics of the Movicam Super?

The Super ( America ) should be dead silent, or at least as silent as a Arri 535B. ( All Movicams exept the SL should be very good to work with )
If not, and indeed a cassete can be tricky, there is defenitly something wrong.

In the manual should stand how much DB they are allowed to make, but that is not much of a help now..


Good luck


R