KS-6
13 threads in the archive
AI draft, not reviewedDraft, written by AI from the archive, every statement linked to its source — not yet reviewed.
The KS-6 is a gyro you reach for when wind on an exterior dialogue scene beats everything else you've tried, though sound may not like it 1. Skip it on long live shows, since operators mostly steer you away from gyros because of the weight and the whistling noise 2. If you use it, mount it rigidly with no quick-release to limit vibration 5, and center-mount it between post and rack so the weight spreads better than at the bottom 3.
The questions 4
Does the KS-6 help for windy dialogue scenes or live shows?2 threads · latest 2021
In short
In strong wind on exterior dialogue, a gyro like the KS-6 helps when other methods fall short, but sound may not like it 1. For long live shows, operators mostly steer you away from gyros because of weight and whistling noise 2.
How the pros do it
- Reach for a gyro on exterior dialogue when antlers don't hold in the wind 1. For live shows, look at axis systems like Steadicam® Volt, Wave, Omega AR, Letus Helix Pro or Rock-a-bye first 2.
- Mount a single KS-6 vertically in line with the post, which stabilizes tilt and roll and still lets you pan fast without hitting the gyro limits 2.
- Let wind load pick the size, because a 4x4 handles normal breezes but is not enough on a beach 2. A single 6x6 on the sled alone is too heavy for long shooting periods 2.
- Talk to sound before you commit, since their tolerance depends on distance to the actors, wind, dialogue volume and gyro model 1. Sometimes they still have to loop the audio 1.
- Don't bother unplugging before the take, because the spinning itself makes the noise 1. The units stay useful for one to two minutes after you unplug them as they slow down 1.
- If you run two KS-6 units, split the weight between the top stage and the foot post 2. Expect resistance on quick pans, because you fight the gyro when you change direction 1.
What changed
Earlier (2011), gyros were the answer for windy exterior dialogue when antlers fell short 1, today (2021), operators prefer axis stabilizers for live-show work and keep gyros for fast hardmounts and strong wind 2.
Where should I mount my KS-6 on the sled?2 threads · latest 2017
In short
Center-mount the gyro between the post and rack, or clamp it to the center post halfway between gimbal and sled bottom 3. Both spread the weight better than bottom mounting 3.
How the pros do it
- Center-mount the gyro between the post and rack with an optical support mount or intersection plate, which distributes weight better than bottom mounting 3.
- Or clamp it to the center post halfway between gimbal and sled bottom with lightweight hardware 3. That gives you rigidity without excess weight 3.
- Bottom-mounting a single 6x6 gyro works, but it concentrates weight and can leave the sled bottom-heavy and hard to balance unless the camera is very heavy 3.
- With a lighter camera like an F55, put the gyro on top of the camera and keep batteries on the sled bottom for balance 3.
- Use rigid, flex-free mounting hardware so the gyro's stabilization actually reaches the camera 3. Attach it rigidly to the camera or post to keep oscillations and vibrations down 4.
- Close to the gimbal, a gyro keeps high rotational inertia for slow moves, but the effect fades in fast pans above roughly 30 degrees per second 4.
Opinions differ here
Operators disagree on whether mounting distance alone improves gyroscopic performance 4. One view holds that the gyro effect depends only on rotation angle, and that mounting farther from the gimbal adds stability only through dead weight 4.
How do I mount the KS-6 securely to my rig?2 threads · latest 2015
In short
Mount the gyro rigidly, without a quick-release, to limit vibration 5. If you have no post mount, bolt it to a custom aluminium plate on the V-lock battery plate and brace that with metal brackets 6.
How the pros do it
- Don't clip the gyro on with a V-Lock quick-release, because heavy gyros need a solid attachment to keep vibration down 5.
- Use quick-release for batteries, transmitters and other accessories, and give the gyro its own more secure mount 5.
- With no standard post mount, bolt the gyro to a custom aluminium plate that is bolted to the V-lock battery plate at the bottom of the sled 6.
- Fabricate metal support brackets on both sides of the battery, running up to the accessories plate above, for extra stability points 6.
- One Kenyon 6x6 setup powered the gyro by D-tap from the rear batteries, so no external battery unit was needed 6.
- For machining the plate and brackets, Mitchell's Engineering and Movie Camera Support in Uxbridge have experience with gyro mounts 6.
Mounting the gyro straight to the plastic V-lock plate puts excessive torque and stress on it, so add the metal brackets and bracing 6.
What changed
Earlier, in 2011, the advice was a rigid mount with no quick-release for gyros 5, today, in the 2015 thread, the Kenyon 6x6 setup bolts a custom aluminium plate to a V-lock battery plate and braces it with metal brackets 6.
Should I power my KS-6 from onboard battery or tethered?2 threads · latest 2012
In short
The archive says a gyroscopic stabilizer can run from an onboard battery with an inverter or from tethered offboard power 7. Onboard helps isolate the sled from operator and wind movement, and it lets you spread the weight onto your body 7.
How the pros do it
- Choose between an onboard battery with an inverter and tethered offboard power, because both are used to run gyroscopic stabilizers 7.
- If you go onboard, put the inverter and batteries in a backpack worn on you instead of loading everything on the sled 7.
- Onboard gyro power helps isolate the sled from movement caused by you or by wind, so weigh that against the tether 7.
- For the inverter, Kenyon Labs makes smaller boxes with a 4-pin XLR input, which cost less but offer fewer elegant mounting options 7.
- GPI gold-mount inverters fit directly onto certain rigs, but GPI has stopped making them and they were hard to repair 7.
- If you plan to run a gyro alongside a Power Cube, know that no documented tests showed gyros, motors, transmitters and recorders running together on it 8.
Sources 8
- 1Using gyroscopic stabilizers for dialogue scenes in windy conditions and their impact on sound recording
- 2Gyro stabilizers (Kenyon 4x4 vs. 6x6) on a Steadicam® sled for long live-show work with a 5 kg camera package.Disputed
- 3Gyroscope mounting strategies for camera sleds
- 4Gyroscope mounting brackets and positioning strategies for Steadicam® stabilizersDisputed
- 5Mounting gyroscopes to camera sleds using quick-release brackets
- 6Mounting a Kenyon 6x6 gyroscope to a GPI Pro camera rig when standard post mounts are unavailable
- 7Powering gyroscopic stabilizers with onboard versus offboard power
- 8Lithium-ion battery technology for film production power demands
What operators found
- A lighter gyro (such as Kenyon KS-2 or KS-4, single unit) can be used for most shots, whereas a stronger unit (Kenyon KS-6) significantly restricts movement range and speed.2023 FacebookDisputed
- Gyroscopes remain useful with Volt systems in windy conditions, particularly when combined with wind blocking accessories to stabilize pan movement.2023 General DiscussionDisputed
- Post-production correction via tracking is possible but requires zooming in and requires an identifiable tracking point; success decreases with irregular motion, and true parallax caused by non-linear gimbal paths is rarely fully corrected, whereas pure pan drift stabilizes easily.2022 FacebookDisputed
- A single Kenyon gyro (for example, KS-4 or KS-6) often provides adequate tilt stabilization when mounted at the rear battery position; a KS-6 mounted vertically in line with the post stabilizes both tilt and roll while permitting fast pan moves without reaching gyro limits.2021 FacebookDisputed
- Mounting a single 6x6 gyro on the bottom of the sled works but creates weight concentration that can make the setup bottom-heavy and difficult to balance, unless the camera is very heavy.2017 Sled
- The Kenyon 6x6 gyroscope can be mounted to a Pro rig by attaching it to a custom aluminium plate bolted to a V-lock battery plate at the bottom of the sled2015 Brackets/Widgets
Still argued about
- 2023Flying the ARRI Trinity in X-Mode (Omega-style, camera lateral to body) for table-top passes using tilt control via post rotation.FacebookArri Artemis Trinity
- 2023Using gyroscopes with Volt camera stabilizersGeneral Discussion
- 2022Snaking (lateral drift and parallax) in ARRI Trinity Javelin mode: causes, post-correction limits, and mitigation techniques.FacebookArri Artemis Trinity
Often in the same threads
All threads
- 2023Flying the ARRI Trinity in X-Mode (Omega-style, camera lateral to body) for table-top passes using tilt control via post rotation.DisputedFacebookArri Artemis Trinity
- 2023Using gyroscopes with Volt camera stabilizersDisputedGeneral Discussion
- 2022Snaking (lateral drift and parallax) in ARRI Trinity Javelin mode: causes, post-correction limits, and mitigation techniques.DisputedFacebookArri Artemis Trinity
- 2021Gyro stabilizers (Kenyon 4x4 vs. 6x6) on a Steadicam® sled for long live-show work with a 5 kg camera package.DisputedFacebookSteadicam operators group
- 2017Gyroscope mounting strategies for camera sledsSled
- 2015Mounting a Kenyon 6x6 gyroscope to a GPI Pro camera rig when standard post mounts are unavailableBrackets/Widgets
- 2012Powering gyroscopic stabilizers with onboard versus offboard powerBrackets/Widgets
- 2012Optimal positioning and quantity of gyroscopes on Steadicam rigs for stabilizationBrackets/Widgets
- 2011Using gyroscopic stabilizers for dialogue scenes in windy conditions and their impact on sound recordingBrackets/Widgets
- 2011Mounting gyroscopes to camera sleds using quick-release bracketsBrackets/Widgets
- 2008RED Drive RAID compatibility issues with gyroscopic stabilization systems on camera rigsCameras (Film/Video/HD)
- 2006Lithium-ion battery technology for film production power demandsBatteries/Power
- 2004Gyroscope mounting brackets and positioning strategies for Steadicam stabilizersDisputedBrackets/Widgets