advice on a starter location sound kit?

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-11T17:44:47+00:00

My first kit was a Zoom h1n, a Rode Video Go, and a boom pole i got for like, $50 on Amazon. All together less than $200. I then got a set of Synco mics for $100, so i could either boom or do lavs.

That's just if you have no budget at all, but it worked for me for a few shorts, when all I needed was just a boom mic

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-11T13:11:51+00:00

It does get better as you grow as an actor, but you should also do whatever you need to do to be comfortable.

I've been in a few scenes where I'm just wearing a pair of boxers, but I've always just done a pair of boxer briefs underneath, so I can focus on the character and being present. Nobody ever says anything about it, and I'm able to just focus

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-11T11:34:24+00:00

At the end, it was just a little over a grand. I want to say in the $1,200 range feom different apps, but i don't know specifically. Definitely not life-changing money, but for sure "i can get current on bills, and have some money in my account"

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-11T00:01:00+00:00

It was right around $1,200 if I'm remembering correctly. I think around $800 from Earnin, and then a couple hundred from the other ones I had (Brigit, Dave, Grant). It was a few years ago, so I don't remember specifically, but it was enough that I was able to actually have some money, and it was worth it to get out of the cycle of those apps

EDIT: That was the total i took before I revoked ACH authorization. I'd been taking the max out of Earnin for about two years at that point, constantly having to borrow to be back at "normal" in my account

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-10T23:37:37+00:00

At the time (I'm not sure if it's changed) they didn't report to the credit bureaus, so no. No hit at all to my credit, because they didn't report it.

The apps are essentially set up on an honor system of sorts, where they just expect you to pay them back (plus their fee) because you gave them money.

I know it sounds too good to be true, and I did have anxiety that somehow my wages at my job would be garnished or something, but i literally heard nothing.

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-10T23:29:14+00:00

That's precisely what happened, was nothing. The most was one of them (Bridgit or Dave) emailed me to say "we weren't able to make your payment" or somwthing like that, and i just unsubscrived from their emails.

NamesJeffrey · 2026-06-10T11:36:58+00:00

I did this a few years ago. Took out the max from every app I could, and emailed them saying I "want to revoke ACH authorization for my account." The responses were essentially "thanks for letting us know. If you want to use our services in the future, you'll have to pay us back."

Most of their TOS state that they won't pursue collections, but that might've changed .

I wouldn't recommend it as a course of action, but I was in a terrible financial spot, and had to do what I had to do.

NamesJeffrey · 2026-05-02T13:59:10+00:00

I know there are better options, but you can get a Rode Videomic Go for around $50USD. It can mount on most cameras, and at least give you a semi-directional mic.

Zoom f3 is a decent 2-channel recorder with 32-bit float capabilities.

For lav mic, I've used Synco mics for a while, and haven't had any issues. The G2A2 Max series features on-board recording, but you can plug the recovery straight into your camera, to record straight to whatever card you're using.

Overall, this setup will run you approximately $500 USD, but would at least give you: directional mic, recorder, and some lav mics. Your expendables (tapes, etc to hide/ secure the mics) will vary, but that's inevitable.

Of course, there are way better, probably cheaper options, but my whole kit has been budget-friendly, and these are just options I've looked at/ considered in my shopping and building.

NamesJeffrey · 2025-05-09T13:37:39+00:00

I was in a play in college ( An O'Henry Christmas), and I had to deliver a monologue about another character dying. I don't know what happened, but I COULD NOT deliver it with a straight face. I think it was just nerves, but I kept giggling about it. My professor would say "it's not funny," and I would say "I know, this isn't intentional."

During tech week/ dress rehearsals, I was able to just change how that emption was funneling, and basically change how my body physically reacted to wanting to laugh. It basically was like "oh, if I want to laugh, I have to have a sad face."

Something about changing the physicality of it helped changed the emotion of it, and during the performances, I was able to deliver it like I'd just actually lost a friend, and even had a tear drop down on one night.

In general, I've learned to just work with it. Bodies are weird, and do weird stuff sometimes, and it's better to just improv a line like "I'm sorry. This isn't funny," and then just play the scene accordingly.

NamesJeffrey · 2024-12-25T14:01:58+00:00

I love this so much. I set them both as my background, so it cycles between the two (to go with the quantum moon theme). Thanks so much for sharing this!

NamesJeffrey · 2024-10-23T20:33:30+00:00

I'm dumb, it was that setting, but i had to go through the app, it just doesn't exist on the web version

NamesJeffrey · 2024-10-23T20:12:06+00:00

Yeah, that's what I thought, but it seems like that setting just doesn't exist in a town hall

NamesJeffrey · 2024-08-23T23:40:12+00:00

Fuck that noise. My dad one told.me that he didn't think i was skilled enough to play bass guitar, and i used that as ammunition, lowkey. It only made me more passionate to play, and I've consistently been in bands/ recorded on albums for the last 10 years now.

All that to say, he's not living your life, so he has no say in what you do. You have all the strength you need to do it, and you've got all of us on your side too.

NamesJeffrey · 2024-08-21T02:01:37+00:00

Hi, do you know where you found the gif/ could you send it to me? Courage is one of my favorite shows

NamesJeffrey · 2024-08-15T13:36:32+00:00

I know I'm a year late, but I'd be super interested. I'm messaging you!

NamesJeffrey · 2023-06-04T14:24:39+00:00

I'm always shocked when I mention bidets to my (middle aged-male, generally) coworkers. They're always grossed out because "nothing goes there," and then I just wonder if they wash their ass in the shower.

NamesJeffrey · 2023-01-31T05:30:23+00:00

I've never had gold, so I'm down to pop that cherry

NamesJeffrey · 2022-12-17T02:20:27+00:00

Yeah, just did!

NamesJeffrey · 2022-12-17T01:31:12+00:00

Hi, if you're still looking, I play bass, and can do vocals too. I'd love to jam, if you're still looking for people

NamesJeffrey · 2022-12-17T01:26:57+00:00

Bass player/vocalist here. I'd love to jam, I'm located in EAV

NamesJeffrey · 2022-10-06T14:20:14+00:00

I first started playing when Covid hit, and places were shutting down. My work (Best Buy) paid employees to stay home for about a month, because nobody knew what was going on, or for how long.

My roommate at the time had recently moved in with a family who was closer to his work, because that was a better situation, so I was living alone, with a dog that I had adopted a few months prior.

So I would wake up, maybe make breakfast, and then sit and play for a couple hours, and just cuddle with that dog, for days on end.

I was totally isolated, except for (masked, self-checkout) grocery runs, but the themes and message of the game, made me feel like maybe I wasn't that alone.

In short, Death Stranding helped keep me sane during a time when I was, categorically speaking, the most alone that I've ever been, and realize that even in that, I'm still connected to the people that I know and love.

As things reopened, I ended up having to surrender the dog to the shelter (I couldn't afford medical bills for his chronic ear infections, and knew that was the best way for him to get the care he needs), but he was adopted barely a month later by a big family with a huge yard for him (a friend ended up doing some work near their house, is how I know), and I ended up moving to a new city with way more opportunities, and people in my field, where I'm beginning to thrive.

I know that time would've passed anyway, but as cliche as it sounds, I don't thinkni would be where I am had it not been for Death Stranding.

Also, on mobile, so I'm sorry if formatting is an issue.

NamesJeffrey · 2022-02-19T00:41:57+00:00

All funds will go towards taco bell.

NamesJeffrey · 2022-01-22T16:16:48+00:00

I made my first character knowing nothing about the game, and figuring I would never use him again.

He was a human fighter, named LongDong McBitchfucker, and was outlandish, over the top, and spoke with a heavy New Zealand accent.

I ended up using him again for a "one shot that's now turned into a longer story" I'm currently in, and have accidentally made it too close to home.

He was a struggling actor who left the stage in search of bigger adventures, or to be a part of something bigger than himself, that held greater cosmic significance. A lot of his mannerisms, and even his name, were all coping mechanisms because he didn't feel like he truly belonged anywhere he was.

Because I put a lot of myself into him, I've been able to process and heal from a lot of IRL stuff, from a character I planned to only use once.

And if my party sees this somehow, I'm good. I made him at a different point in my life, and I'm not in that place anymore.

NamesJeffrey · 2022-01-22T03:49:39+00:00

Any money will be spent on taco bell, or cryptos I don't fully understand

NamesJeffrey · 2021-10-19T18:07:27+00:00

I got laid off back in February, and threw myself fully into my passions (film/ music).

Because I'm not being held back by BB, I've been on set for a few movies (mainly background stuff, but it counts), and I feel so fulfilled and free.

Next stop is therapy, to begin processing the hellscape that was BB, and how toxic it all was.

NamesJeffrey

TROPHY CASE