Audio
June 9, 2024
In this week’s episode we discuss why professional boom operators might choose a boom pole like the Ambient QP Slim. This boutique boom is made of a unique carbon fiber material sectioned into four extendable pieces that are connected with specially-engineered locks. Let’s compare it to some similar booms and examine the differences between a consumer and pro-level pole.
Full disclosure: the QP Slim Long was given to us by Ambient for the purpose of making this video review. Nobody has paid us further, told us what to say, or reviewed this video prior to posting. All opinions shared here are our own.
Check out the QP Slim’s detailed specs here: https://ambient.de/en/boompoles/quick...
Learn more about booming from a pro boom operator Sound Speeds: / @soundspeeds
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX. See https://school.learnlightandsound.com for more info!
Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com: http://ko-fi.com/curtisjudd
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Ambient QP Slim Short & Long Boom Poles — B&H https://geni.us/5BeewXZ
Some of my other studio gear:
- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon https://geni.us/8G8UdBB
- Sound Devices MixPre audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon https://geni.us/O8e0
- Sennheiser MKH50 microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon https://geni.us/iYb065
- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/8a8tt
- Aputure LS 600x Pro Bicolor LED Light — Aputure, B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/EreRQa
- Aputure Light Dome III Softbox — Aputure, B&H https://geni.us/AVHU1p
- Amaran 300c RGBWW Single-Point LED Light — https://geni.us/uGkDX
- Amaran Spotlight SE — Aputure, B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/4DuyTz
- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H https://geni.us/GWKt
- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H https://geni.us/ABYB
- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/qwsEs
- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/InspOl
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon https://geni.us/gr47
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: https://geni.us/G7by
Copyright 2024, Curtis Judd
A conversation with Allen (SoundSpeeds), a professional film/TV boom operator based in Atlanta who holds a boom pole eight-plus hours a day and has long recommended Ambient boom poles. This review covers the Ambient Quick Pole Slim, tested against the reviewer's own K-Tek Avalon graphite poles used for occasional location sound work.
The Quick Pole Slim is a 4-section pole with 3 locks (fewer sections than typical 5-section/4-lock poles), collapsing to 155cm and extending to 518cm (about 17 feet), made from a custom carbon-fiber formulation with "UHM fiber layering." It feels notably stiffer than the K-Tek graphite poles, which show visible bow and flex under a microphone's weight when extended — the Ambient pole is much more responsive when whip-panning between speakers. Pricing: $850 USD for the long version, $660 for the short — justified for working professionals holding a pole 8-12 hours a day, though not something a self-funded indie filmmaker necessarily needs.
Other advantages: fewer sections and a smaller diameter make it lighter (the long version is just under 30 ounces / under 2 lbs for a 17-foot pole) and stiffer, which matters even more when a wireless transmitter is added at the mic end. The locks use Teflon and silicone-infused felt, needing only a quarter-turn to fully lock with no twisting tendency, versus the K-Tek locks which require real effort to prevent the pole from twisting. The tips are matte black rather than silver/chrome (a design change requested by professional boom operators like Allen, since reflective tips can bounce unwanted light into a carefully lit scene). Ambient also sells maintenance kits to replace worn internal lock parts (like the felt) over years of use — not something offered on lower-end poles from Rode, Deity, or hardware-store painter's poles. It also has a substantial rubber foot for safely resting the pole on the ground between takes, unlike the reviewer's internally-cabled K-Tek pole with a more delicate metal/plastic end cap.
Bottom line: this is aimed at professionals booming all day, where these design nuances translate into real comfort and reliability gains that justify the price. Hope that satisfied some curiosity — get out there, make some great sound, and we'll talk to you again very soon.
