Decent inexpensive wireless lav system for weddings - under $500

roxics

roxics

Veteran
At the moment I've got about $500 to spend on a wireless lav system. Not a lot I know. I need it for weddings. I need to mic the groom and the pastor and send a signal back to a portable recorder. That recorder will probably be a tascam DR-100 I'm about to pull the trigger on purchasing.

Used mic systems are fine. I just need something that isn't going to fail on me and create a bunch of static in use. Can you recommend me something?

I'll probably upgrade to a better system once I make some money. As for renting, unless I can find a better rental house in the Detroit area, the one I normally deal with didn't have the wireless lavs in the morning of the shoot when we went to pick them up. Because the church that rented them didn't return them on time. Nearly screwed up our whole shoot. After that experience I'd rather own the gear and know I have it.

Weddings are new for me, I'm a corporate videographer that usually uses a boom mic and has only used a lav once (rented). So any other tips would be great. Thanks
 
First, use the search function. The "which wireless mic system" question is asked ad nauseum, and the answer never changes.

Second, buying something cheap now and then getting something better later is pretty counter-intuitive. Think about it. If you spend $450 on a POS wireless system now, and then go back and spend $600 on a good system later to replace it, that new system has effectively cost you over $1000. Either purchase now for the long term, or rent until you can. And that $1000+ could buy you a really, really nice used system from Lectrosonics.

As for rental, take a look at Trew Audio (trewaudio.com). They rent at a very nice rate and will ship rentals just about anywhere.
 
roxics said:
I just need something that isn't going to fail on me and create a bunch of static in use. Can you recommend me something?
Click to expand...

Nope, not with this as part of the criteria. Even the best wireless systems can fail/experience unexpected issues.
 
Sony is blowing out some B-Stock V1's.
http://prooutlet.sel.sony.com/SaleDetail.cfm?Rec_Num=14712
They are exceptional units for your budget. As others have alluded to, there are better options, however, to answer your question and get you going, I'd go with the Sony. C2V is right in his thinking as he has tried these out and thought that the Sennheiser Evolution series sounded better and returned the Sony's. Will it get the job done? Yes. Will it bite you? Possibly. Is the Sennheiser G3 series worth the extra coin? Yes. In my experience, we see a ratio of about 20:1 Sennheiser to Sony.

Here is my outdoor test of the Sony wireless with stock lav from a measured distance of 200'. Pardon my three legged dog, he likes to steal the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk1td5kAzoU

 
I usually rent from LensRentals, they have a G2 for four days, $80 with shipping both ways. Trew Audio is also good, but I once had a harder time contacting them, so I didn't bother. Just charge your client that much.
 
Can we just get a stick that is called "What is the best wireless system fro $500?" (or whatever amount they sell for)
and have ONE reply that just says the G3?

Maybe have the thread flash in neon red? Maybe a few explosions?
 
Guy_Cochran said:
Sony is blowing out some B-Stock V1's.
http://prooutlet.sel.sony.com/SaleDetail.cfm?Rec_Num=14712
They are exceptional units for your budget. As others have alluded to, there are better options, however, to answer your question and get you going, I'd go with the Sony. C2V is right in his thinking as he has tried these out and thought that the Sennheiser Evolution series sounded better and returned the Sony's. Will it get the job done? Yes. Will it bite you? Possibly. Is the Sennheiser G3 series worth the extra coin? Yes. In my experience, we see a ratio of about 20:1 Sennheiser to Sony.

Here is my outdoor test of the Sony wireless with stock lav from a measured distance of 200'. Pardon my three legged dog, he likes to steal the show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk1td5kAzoU
Click to expand...

Being the audio geeks we are and majority of the time we would just suggest the Senn G3 because of their price/performance. After what Guy had posted about these Sony V1, I suggest going with them for that price! 2 weeks ago my DP had his own units to use while I was gone and realized that he bought two sets of Sony V1. I lav the talents, tested the units, and left the set. With even the stock mics, I can't complain. It felt right at home with me, the units are solid, both antennas could swivel at will, stock mics sounded really good on its own. One particular design that I LOVE about these are the side-mountable AA compartments whereas the G3s are a bit flimsy and feels fragile. Mini 1/8" for mics with lockable collars. They are longer in length, about the same width as G3, yet lots slimmer to put 2 receivers in your jean pockets. Downsides are hard-to-navigate menus with limited user options. In order to change frequencies on the Rx, one must turn off the unit and turn back on while holding the menu/set button. The Rx will now go into changing mode. Outputs of the receivers are 1/8" with the 2nd output for Monitors so you could monitor what the receivers are picking up.

At about half the price of a G3, I would scream for these.
 
There is an important consideration regarding renting or buying. If your client is paying for it, it doesn't cost you to rent. So that's not a consideration. If you buy, you are immediately taking on the cost of depreciation, as well as the risk of asset damage, and you need to deal with wear and tear on a larger scale. Renting, you know you're getting a unit that is fully functional, and you're only using it for one day; there's no risk while it's in storage or anything else. And you don't have to store it. If you decide you don't want to use that system, it doesn't matter because the $600 purchase isn't still on your books. Now, if you're shooting every weekend using this mic that would be different, but if that you were the case I don't think you would have cut it off at $500.
 
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