Cheap wireless director's feed

[Kevin Kelly]

I'm looking for an inexpensive wireless audio feed for a director. Receiver must have a good volume head phone output, transmitter good for bag work. Working distance will be less than 50 feet. Any options to consider below $400?

 

[TheDingo]

If you are already using a Sennheiser G3 wireless system, they make a wireless audio monitoring receiver that has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack with volume control.

Sennheiser EK 300 IEM G3 : $500

 

[Kevin Kelly]

Unfortunately, I don't have any Sennheiser transmitters.

 

[TheDingo]

What system are you using ?

 

[Kevin Kelly]

I just bought a Lectrosonics SRc and two LT. So I need keep the budget low on the director's feed. I thinking about Listentech, but is there anything else? 2.4 gHz?

 

[TheDingo]

I'm not up to speed on Lectrosonics gear, but it appears they make something similar to the Sennheiser device I posted previously...

Lectrosonics IFB-R1a UHF Belt-Pack Receiver

 

[davefisk]

Is your budget for transmitter AND receiver, or just one or the other. Transmitters are typically more expensive than receivers, an you can have one transmitter and a bunch of receivers. I you can find some used Comte PR-72B receivers and an M-72 transmitter you'd probably be good.

 

[Rick R]

Commonly refered to as an 'IFB', Comtek are more or less the typical IFB on film sets. Some are using a G2/3 transmitter with the above mentioned IEM receiver. The more affordable 100 series G2/3 portable recv does not have a HP amp. A cheap wireless mic system could be used (providing the recv. has a HP out .. or ext. HP amp) but they usually take a real beating and probably would not last long. They are frequently lost (misplaced) as well.

 

[Batutta]

If it's only for monitoring and not recording, these are as dirt cheap as you can get. I own a pair and they are surprisingly decent. Not for pro recording use but you'd probably be surprised by them.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=600120

 

[Noiz2]

wow that is dirt cheap.

 

[davefisk]

wow that is dirt cheap.

I was thinking the same thing, and they may serve the purpose pretty well for what is needed. I'd be real interested in testing these out against something like a comtek. Even if the range isn't as good and the audio quality isn't as good...that price...it makes it real hard to ignore. You'd make good money on the gear rental on those. Do a two week shoot and charge 5 bucks a day to production and you'll pay for them and make money on it.

 

[Kevin Kelly]

If it's only for monitoring and not recording, these are as dirt cheap as you can get. I own a pair and they are surprisingly decent. Not for pro recording use but you'd probably be surprised by them.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=600120

Thanks, that is definitely within my budget!

 

[Batutta]

Here's an audio sample of the cheap-o monoprice. I used it as a backup to the shotgun mic on a shoot. Taped to the actor's chest. First clip is raw. You can hear the noise the unit makes. Second is the same clip with some mild noise reduction and EQ to reduce the low end.

http://pixultronik.com/mono_test.wav

http://pixultronik.com/mono_test_cleaned.wav

 

[Noiz2]

The one draw back using it for monitoring is you can't broadcast to more than one unit so practically you are going to be able to only use one set. For low budget work that is going to be fine probably. And I guess if you are doing a bigger budget shoot you won't be handing out $20 wireless sets...

 

[graywolf]

Here's an audio sample of the cheap-o monoprice. I used it as a backup to the shotgun mic on a shoot. Taped to the actor's chest. First clip is raw. You can hear the noise the unit makes. Second is the same clip with some mild noise reduction and EQ to reduce the low end.

http://pixultronik.com/mono_test.wav

http://pixultronik.com/mono_test_cleaned.wav

Actually, they would probably work well for my non-professional use. I find the AT4073A works okay for me (on camera) from up to five feet out, so those probably would be about the same audio quality, without recording people talking a block away as well your talent.

$40 for a couple of channels? WOW! I bet a lot of amateur stage companies use those.

 

[Rick R]

Sounds damn good for $20, certainly ok for a non-critical monitor. Has a walk test been done for dropouts and range? The specs state about 150 feet, which is usually adequate.
As Scott stated, the downside is multiple receivers with a single transmitter is not possible.

 

[Batutta]

Sounds damn good for $20, certainly ok for a non-critical monitor. Has a walk test been done for dropouts and range? The specs state about 150 feet, which is usually adequate.
As Scott stated, the downside is multiple receivers with a single transmitter is not possible.

I went to the far corner of my backyard and back, probably 50 feet without a problem. Used them for three days on the shoot and didn't have a single drop out, but they weren't in challenging locations with a lot of signals flying around. They are digital, so it will just cut out. You won't get static. There is a slight delay, which I could hear in the difference between this unit and the wired boom, although looking at only the wireless isolated with the picture it didn't seem to affect lip sync.

 

[Batutta]

The one draw back using it for monitoring is you can't broadcast to more than one unit so practically you are going to be able to only use one set. For low budget work that is going to be fine probably. And I guess if you are doing a bigger budget shoot you won't be handing out $20 wireless sets...

You can use two of these at a time and they don't conflict. You just have to make sure you power on one matching set at a time, have them pair, then power on and pair the other set.

 

[Kevin Kelly]

Is the headphone output strong enough?

 

[Batutta]

Is the headphone output strong enough?

I never used the headphone output. I used the line output into the camera, and you can adjust the volume of that, loud enough to put the GH4 mic input volume at minus 12.