Working "Over-the-Shoulder"

What we used to call "over-the-shoulder" work has evolved into what is generally referred to now as "bag work" or "ENG" or "Run-N-Gun" type work. In the old days, it used to be we just put the Nagra recorder in its case and carried it over the shoulder so that we could move with the camera to make our recordings. Almost always it would be just one microphone either held in the hand or in a short fishpole. This is the way documentaries were done. In today's world, the bag that is worn over the shoulder (or often mounted to a sophisticated multi-strap support system) may contain one or two multitrack recorders, six, seven or maybe up to ten wireless mic receivers for talent and camera hop, communication to multiple people (director, producers, video village central command, etc.). This is a whole new ball game for sure and is the primary work for so many of our sound people these days.

Vancouver, BC with Rob Young booming - 1976