Great headphone amp for wireless audio/Steadicam

S

SantaCruzMichael

Well-known member
Hey everybody,
The best new piece of gear I have bought in months only cost $60, so I thought I would share it with you guys.
The Rolls PM50sOB headphone amp was the missing link that makes my wireless mic setup extremely versatile.

I have been using a Sennheiser wireless, not just for lavaliers, but also to get the audio from a shotgun to the camera when it's on the Steadicam Merlin. Obviously, no cables can run directly to the camera when you're using a Steadicam.

This worked great for some of the documentary work we do. Problem was the boom operator can't hear what they are picking up.

I fantasized about a belt mounted box that would fit between the mic and the wireless transmitter, with a volume control, XLRs, battery powered, etc.
The Rolls turned out to be exactly what I envisioned and more.

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I can forsee a variety of ways this will be useful on shoots. For the most part, it allows a boom op to move independently and hear the audio, all without the need to slate a seperate recorder, deal with cables and sync sound in post.

And, no, I have no connection with Rolls. Just stoked on this piece of gear.

Cheers,
Michael
 
To the same purpose, you may also want to look at those products:

Studio 1 Productions AM-300
http://www.studio1productions.com/am300.htm
Pretty expensive compared to the Rolls.

Shure FP-11
http://www.rule.com/productDesc.cfm?productID=29&categoryID=6#
Out of stock now as it has been replaced by the FP-22, but a great deal if you can find one on eBay. Sturdy professional construction and a few nice additional features such as switchable mic-line level inputs and switchable low-and high-impedence headphone outputs.
I've got one, use it all the time and it works great.

Lutnik
 
So compared to the others the Rolls is pretty cheap - but does it also sound cheap?
Does the Rolls somehow alter the signal or also just passes it though like eg the Shure?
 
Spartacus said:
So compared to the others the Rolls is pretty cheap - but does it also sound cheap?
Does the Rolls somehow alter the signal or also just passes it though like eg the Shure?
Click to expand...

Good point. There's an old post about that topic at dvinfo.net

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=41043

From the circuit diagram, it would appear that the Rolls is also pass through
Yet, I'd do a search for a used Shure FP-12. I paid mine less than 30 bucks.

Lutnik
 
Can´t find one on ebay...
The Rolls doesn´t seem to have a european distribution though...
BTW could I just plug the G2 100 transmitterblock into the Rolls to sent the signal from the boom-op to the camera?
 
yes - but it doesnt supply phantom ,you will need separte phantom sourse,
the rolls doesnt effect on the output , it is paralel device .
 
Spartacus said:
Can´t find one on ebay...
Click to expand...

You mean the FP-12,? Yep, not a common item any longer.

Spartacus said:
The Rolls doesn´t seem to have a european distribution though...
Click to expand...

Where are you based in Europe?

Spartacus said:
BTW could I just plug the G2 100 transmitterblock into the Rolls to sent the signal from the boom-op to the camera?
Click to expand...

Don't know about the Rolls, but that's just the way I'm using my Shure unit.
You can even add a portable phantom power generator into the chain.
I've set it up with mic--->FP12--->AKG PS--->transmitter block plugged in the output of the PS.

Lutnik
 
Oleg 2 said:
yes - but it doesnt supply phantom ,you will need separte phantom sourse,
the rolls doesnt effect on the output , it is paralel device .
Click to expand...
So another reason to get a +48Ph power device for me, right oleg;o)?
 
lutnik said:
You mean the FP-12,? Yep, not a common item any longer.



Where are you based in Europe?



Don't know about the Rolls, but that's just the way I'm using my Shure unit.
You can even add a portable phantom power generator into the chain.
I've set it up with mic--->FP12--->AKG PS--->transmitter block plugged in the output of the PS.

Lutnik
Click to expand...

Do you have a link for the AKG PS?
how much is it?
 
Spartacus said:
Do you have a link for the AKG PS?
how much is it?
Click to expand...

http://www.akg.com/site/powerslave,id,2,nodeid,2,pcategory,41,_language,EN.html

Beware you'll need the B18 + the A48V module, if your mic requires 48V .

How much? As rule of thumb, a good quality battery operated phantom PS (AKG, Sennheiser, Denecke, Canford Audio, to name a few) for a single mic could be around 100-120 euros new and 50-60 euros used. On the low end side you may be able to find cheaper products from Art, Behringer, and similar brand.

Again, tell me where are you based in Europe and I'll post some links where to buy from. Personally, I've always bought my PS used on eBay and stuck with top brands.

A different approach would involve getting rid of the extra PS and use a transmitter block that provides +48Ph like the Sennheiser SKP 500 instead.

Lutnik
 
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I have the RA53b Rolls headphone amp and it sounds great! The PM50m looks really interesting.

My question for all of these "pass-thru" boom/mic/headphone boxes is, will they pass phantom through them from the mixer (when tethered via XLR cable) to the mic.?

IOW; can you set-up like this: Mixer (w/ phantom) --> boom/mic/headphone box ---> mic.
 
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