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Wireless Mic recommendation

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Mike

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Hi everyone,

I am trying to get a couple of wireless microphones for some of my upcoming shoot, including TV series and feature films.

Any recommendations on these that doesn't break the bank?
What's everyone using?


Mike
 
I also endorse the G2, just used a set on a reality shoot and was impressed with its performance. Lectrosonics is sort of THE standard, but pricey. G2 is I feel the next best alternative, with a real stress on value.
 
I have a Azden 325ULT set. Then run about $800. Dual channel, comes with lav mics. I've had some problems, that I don't know if they're my specific set or wireless mics in general, though. They will sometimes drop out (permanently, not just for a second or two) or broadcast a "farting" noise. So I would NOT recommend them.
 
Lectrosonics all the way. They make a low-end digital hybrid solution called the LMa series that just plain works like a charm. I have four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit and it's so simple and easy to use it is almost scary! As for lav mics, there are a lot of good choices, but it was recommended that we use the Sonotrim mics and we've been very, very happy with them. They cut very well with our Schoeps boom mics. I also have a couple of Countryman B6 mics and they are marvelous, as well.
 
Hi,

For the seinheiser wireless mic, which G2 model is it?
I am considering EW152, is this the G2 model you guys are referring to?
 
I've been a Lectrosonics user for the last seven years now... with a few features under my belt including a Sundance "official selection", and let me tell you, these are the finest radio systems you can get your hands on... and not only that; they'll hold their value for years to come. Put your money where your creativity is...
BTW, I'm NOT a Lectro dealer or employee.
:sorcerer:
 
G2 ew100

G2 ew100

I've had extremely good results with the G2 EW100 series, as well. I haven't tested higher end systems, but I really like this one. There's a great punch to the sound of the lav mic with very little noise. I'm sure there's better systems out there, but this one is great value.
 
I own Lectrosonics.

If I was buying from scratch, I'd probably take a long look at Zaxcom as well.

Lectro and Zaxcom are American made, and IMHO a better build quality than Sennheiser products.
There's something about the Lectrosonics transmitter as a milled out solid block of aluminum that I find pretty hard to beat.

Lectro customer service is first class, whereas I find Sennheiser's service to be a bit lacking in the speed and passion of the response the Lectro crew displays every time you talk to them.
 
I'm no expert at audio, but stay away from anything A or B band. Those frequencies are basically garbage now as they are being auctioned off to the telecommunications companies to supply high speed web service to phones and stuff. So if you get an old system you can bank on taking interference hits.

I think the new preferred bands are supposed to be J and L.

Well...in the US anyway. Can't speak for everywhere else.
 
Stephen Pruitt said:
Lectrosonics all the way. They make a low-end digital hybrid solution called the LMa series that just plain works like a charm. I have four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit and it's so simple and easy to use it is almost scary! As for lav mics, there are a lot of good choices, but it was recommended that we use the Sonotrim mics and we've been very, very happy with them. They cut very well with our Schoeps boom mics. I also have a couple of Countryman B6 mics and they are marvelous, as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight Stephen.

Can you give us a ballpark on the system you described (four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit plus mikes, etc)?

They seem a bit steep but, if they are worth it, I'll bite the bullet.
Which lavalier do you recommend. Any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.
 
Gary Stone said:
the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.
Click to expand...

I feel this is a bit of a simplification in comparisons or highlighting a platform, granted, I know nothing about the X2 and am certainly not an expert on wireless technologies... Zaxcom, Lectrosonics, Sony, and I believe Sennheiser all have their digital products too. In fact, Zaxcom had a Studioline set of units several years ago that had AES outputs on its receiver - which was encoded at the transmitter. Sony now also has a digital set that has AES outputs. Lectrosonics and current Zaxcom products are also digital, but they only offer analog outputs on the receiver. Lectro's new 4 channel hop has been shown with both analog and digital outputs. I believe that a lot of these platforms are hybrid, so that if the digital bitstream fails, it can still rock on with an analog signal - again, I'm no expert, so I get a bit fuzzy on these details. Or perhaps the hybrid nomenclature refers to the embedding of a digital signal on an analog carrier. Maybe someone else who understands this better can chime in, but I don't think that the X2 as a "digital" technology necessarily differentiates itself from the competitors.
 
Gary Stone said:
the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.
Click to expand...

I don't know man, that is what they said about cellphones.
 
For the HDCAM cameras we have the Sony WRT/WRR series as they fit into the camera slot, we also have some old Lectrosonics and they are excelent despite being almost 10 years old.
 
all i know is i hear what i would hear if a cable was plugged in and have had "ZERO" interference with these units. i can't say the same for the countless sennheiser G2 systems we've used over the years. we're using three X2 systems at one time and no problems. i'm sure one could find faults in anything and i'm not saying that they're different at a paradigm level, but they're relatively inexpensive and they have been truly solid. the real question now is "do the lav mics sound good or not?"
 
I own a couple of sets of the Sennheiser Evolution 100 G2. Can anyone recommend some better mics than the ones that ship with the kits? I shoot a lot of industrials, corporate-videos and sitting interviews and I'm pretty tired of these mics picking up every damn sound. Shot something in an office building 8 stories above street level and could hear cars on the street... Need something less sensitive, but with good sound quality.
 
Tony - Try the countryman B6. You can get a good deal on the lav from the guys at dvestore if you ask for it.
 
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