BirdDog
P240
A PTZ with a 40x zoom, for when the camera position is the back of the room and the subject isn't.
- Zoom
- 40x optical, 4.4–88.4 mm
- Outputs
- Full NDI, 3G-SDI and HDMI, up to 1080p59.94
- Power
- 12 V DC or PoE+ (802.3at)
Stoatworks Hire
Kit for hire
Cameras, switchers, converters, mics and the odd box nobody remembers to pack. There are no prices on here, because a quote depends on your dates and on what else is going out with it. Add what you need to a list, send it over, and I'll come back to you.
Cameras and control
2 itemsA long-zoom PTZ and the joystick that drives it. Both run on the network, so a camera needs little more than one Cat cable.
BirdDog
PTZ Keyboard
A joystick and proper buttons for the PTZs, because driving a camera with a mouse is a special kind of misery.
- Protocols
- NDI control, VISCA over IP, serial VISCA
- Ports
- RJ45 LAN with PoE, RS-232 and 2 x RS-422 on RJ45
- Power
- 12 V DC or PoE, 3 W
Vision mixing and processing
4 itemsFrom an ATEM that fits in a laptop bag to Analog Way's seamless switchers, which want a rack of their own.
Blackmagic Design
ATEM Mini Extreme ISO
Eight HDMI inputs, and a recording of every one of them as well as the programme, so the edit can fix what the live show didn't.
- Inputs
- 8 x HDMI, each standards-converted, up to 1080p60
- Outputs
- 2 x HDMI, 1080p
- Recording
- All 8 inputs plus programme (9 H.264 files) to a USB disk
Analog Way
NXT1604
NeXtage 16
Analog Way's LiveCore seamless switcher, for screens that want layers, scaling and more sources than an ATEM can take.
- Processing
- 8 seamless inputs, 16 scalers
- Outputs
- 2 main outputs, each with an SFP cage for fibre
- Input plugs
- 4 x HDMI, 6 x DVI-D, 2 x DisplayPort, 8 x 3G-SDI, 8 x analogue
Analog Way
NXT0802
NeXtage 08
The NeXtage 16's smaller sibling: the same inputs on the back, with fewer scalers behind them.
- Processing
- 8 seamless inputs, 8 scalers
- Outputs
- 2 main outputs; 2 mix layers plus background per output; SDI SFP cage on each
- Input plugs
- 4 x HDMI, 6 x DVI-D, 2 x DisplayPort, 8 x 3G-SDI, 8 x analogue
Analog Way
Pulse
A compact seamless switcher with programme and preview outputs, for one screen and a sensible number of sources.
- SDI
- 2 x 3G-SDI in, alongside DVI and analogue inputs
- Outputs
- Programme and preview, each on DVI-I and HD15
- Effects
- Live PIP over a live background, logos and keying
Playback, capture and I/O
5 itemsGetting pictures in and out of computers, which is harder than it has any right to be.
BirdDog
PLAY
Takes an NDI source off the network and puts it on a screen over HDMI, with no computer at either end.
- Output
- 1 x HDMI 2.0, with stereo audio; analogue audio out
- Decodes
- Full NDI up to 1080p60; NDI|HX2 and HX3 up to UHD
- Network
- Gigabit RJ45
Blackmagic Design
DeckLink Duo 2 in a Thunderbolt chassis
Four SDI channels for a laptop, each one in or out, by way of an OWC Thunderbolt box with the card already in it.
- SDI
- 4 x 3G-SDI, each set as input or output
- Formats
- SD and HD up to 1080p60
- Audio
- 16 channels embedded per SDI
Blackmagic Design
DeckLink Quad 2 in a Thunderbolt chassis
Eight SDI channels on one Thunderbolt cable, for multi-camera recording or playout from a laptop.
- SDI
- 8 x 3G-SDI, each set as input or output
- Formats
- SD and HD up to 1080p60
- Audio
- 16 channels embedded per SDI
Blackmagic Design
UltraStudio Monitor 3G
Clean SDI and HDMI out of a laptop, for playback and edit software that knows what to do with it.
- Outputs
- 1 x 3G-SDI and 1 x HDMI
- Formats
- SD and HD up to 1080p60
- Host
- Thunderbolt 3, powered by the cable
Blackmagic Design
UltraStudio Recorder 3G
The other direction: SDI or HDMI into a laptop over Thunderbolt, for recording, streaming or a video call that has to look like telly.
- Inputs
- 1 x 3G-SDI and 1 x HDMI
- Formats
- SD and HD up to 1080p60
- Host
- Thunderbolt 3, powered by the cable
Converters and sync
3 itemsThe little boxes every rig turns out to need about an hour before doors.
Decimator Design
MD-LX
SDI to HDMI and HDMI to SDI, both at once, with the 3G level A/B conversion that settles a surprising number of 'no signal' arguments.
- I/O
- 1 x HDMI and 1 x 3G-SDI in; 1 x HDMI and 1 x 3G-SDI out
- Modes
- Both directions at once, or either input to both outputs
- SDI
- 3G level A and B in and out, with A/B conversion
Blackmagic Design
Micro Converter BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G
SDI to HDMI and HDMI to SDI at the same time, in a box small enough to lose in a cable bag.
- Directions
- SDI in to HDMI out, and HDMI in to SDI out, at once
- Formats
- SD and HD up to 1080p60, plus 2K DCI
- Power
- USB-C, 5 V, 2.5 W
Blackmagic Design
Mini Converter Sync Generator
Black burst and tri-level sync for kit that wants to be told when a frame starts.
- Outputs
- 6 x reference, black burst or tri-level
- Formats
- 525i NTSC, 625i PAL, 720p, 1080i and 1080p (incl. PsF)
- Input
- None: it's the house reference, not a genlocked one
Desks and Dante
3 itemsAn Allen & Heath SQ-5, plus Dante cards for it and for the X32 that's already in the venue.
Allen & Heath
SQ-5
A 48-channel digital desk that's quick to walk up to, with 16 preamps on the back and room for stageboxes.
- Channels
- 48 inputs, 36 busses, 96 kHz
- Local I/O
- 16 XLR mic/line in + talkback; 12 XLR + 2 TRS out; AES out
- Expansion
- SLink (dSnake, DX, gigaACE) and an I/O port for option cards
Allen & Heath
M-SQ-DANT64
SQ Dante card
Puts an SQ on a Dante network, 64 channels each way.
- Channels
- 64 x 64 at 48 or 96 kHz
- Ports
- 2 x etherCON, redundant or switched
- Fits
- The I/O port on any SQ (or AHM)
Behringer
X-DANTE
Gets an X32 onto Dante, for when the house desk is a Behringer and everything else isn't.
- Channels
- 32 x 32 at 48 kHz
- Fits
- X32, in place of the X-USB card
- Ports
- Primary and secondary, for a redundant network
Microphones
8 itemsDynamics for the loud end of the stage, condensers for the quieter bits, and goosenecks and boundary mics for when people talk instead.
sE Electronics
V Pack Arena
A whole drum kit's worth of mics in one case, so for once the drummer's mics all match.
- Kick
- 1 x V Kick: dynamic, supercardioid, two voicing switches
- Toms
- 3 x V Beat: dynamic, supercardioid, with V Clamp mounts
- Snare
- 1 x V7 X: dynamic, supercardioid
Shure
SM58
The SM58. You know what it is, and it has probably outlived a few of the venues it's been in.
- Type
- Dynamic, cardioid
- Response
- 50 Hz – 15 kHz
- Connector
- XLR3M
Shure
Beta 57A
A supercardioid instrument mic for snares, guitar amps and anything else that's loud and close.
- Type
- Dynamic, supercardioid
- Response
- 50 Hz – 16 kHz
- Connector
- XLR3M
Shure
Beta 52A
The kick drum mic, with its stand adapter built in so there's one fewer clip to lose.
- Type
- Dynamic, supercardioid
- Response
- 20 Hz – 10 kHz
- Mount
- Built-in locking stand adapter with integral XLR
Sennheiser
e 609 silver
A flat, side-address dynamic made for close-miking guitar cabs.
- Type
- Dynamic, supercardioid, side-address
- Response
- 40 Hz – 15 kHz
- Connector
- XLR3M
Deity
S-Mic 3S
A short shotgun for interviews, presenters and anything that needs a mic just out of shot.
- Type
- Condenser short shotgun, supercardioid
- Response
- 50 Hz – 20 kHz
- Power
- 24 or 48 V phantom
Shure
Microflex MX418 and MX412
Lectern goosenecks in two lengths, for speeches and for the vote of thanks that goes on a bit.
- Type
- Electret condenser gooseneck
- Lengths
- MX418: 18 in (about 568 mm); MX412: 12 in (about 428 mm)
- Power
- Phantom, 11–52 V
Crown
Boundary microphones
Boundary mics for tables and stage fronts, where a stand would be in the way, or in the shot.
- Type
- Boundary condenser
- Power
- 12–48 V phantom
- Placement
- Flat on a table, floor or stage front
Cabling and stageboxes
1 itemFour XLRs down one Cat cable, for when the multicore is in the other van.
the sssnake
Cat Snake stageboxes
Four mic or line feeds down one Cat cable, and back out to XLR at the far end.
- Channels
- 4 x XLR3 each end, over one RJ45 run
- Type
- Passive: one channel per pair, pin 1 on the cable's shield
- Cable
- Shielded Cat5e or Cat6
Assistive listening
1 itemInduction loop drivers, for venues where the hearing loop is more of a rumour than a fact.
Ampetronic
Induction loop drivers
Drives a hearing loop round a room, so anyone with a hearing aid on its T setting hears the PA straight in their ear.
- Type
- Audio-frequency induction loop driver
- Coverage
- Depends on the model, the room and the metal in the building
Nothing on the shelf matches that. Not everything is listed yet, so ask anyway and say what you're after in the notes.
How hire works
- 01
Make a list
Add whatever you need from the catalogue. Quantities can be a rough guess for now, and I'll ask if something doesn't add up.
- 02
Send it with your dates
When it's going out, when it's coming back and where it's headed. Anything you already know about the job helps, especially what it's plugging into.
- 03
Get a quote
I'll come back with what's free on those dates and what it'll cost. It's just me and I'm often on a show, so give it a day or two.
Not everything I've got is listed yet. If you need something that isn't here, put it in the notes when you send your list and I'll tell you if it's on a shelf somewhere.
Your list