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Filming, Camera Setup, Lighting & Studio Audio

A lavalier cable passes near a noisy clothing zipper, producing repetitive mechanical clicks during movement.

Problem

A lavalier cable passes near a noisy clothing zipper, producing repetitive mechanical clicks during movement.

Solution

Root Cause / Diagnostic:
Metallic zipper teeth and pull tabs jingle against the lavalier capsule body or cable during natural respiratory and posture shifts. The resulting high-frequency metal-on-metal clicking stands out sharply against spoken dialogue.

Actionable Fix:
1. Tape the zipper pull tab immobilized flat against the garment lining using black gaffer tape or paper tape.
2. Route the microphone cable at least 5 cm away from the zipper track, adhering it securely with moleskin patches.
3. Perform rapid torso twists during soundcheck to verify zero mechanical contact or rattling between hardware components.

Pro Tip:
Wrap metal zipper sliders in heat-shrink tubing or a tiny strip of cloth tape to silence incidental contact permanently.