Hardwired Lavs with wireless...?

petelms

petelms

Well-known member
:huh: Just a quick question about hardwired and wireless lavs...

If I buy a hardwired lav first and later want to 'upgrade' it to the wireless one, can I use the same lav-mic with the both systems? Can I just plug the wired lav to the wireless system and be happy? Or do I need separate lavs for both different setups?
 
ok, first off, it would 'technically' be a downgrade cuz radio is a step down on signal quality usually, (although its more convienient)... but i guess you know that.

there are several different connectors available on lavs that plug to wireless setups, most commonly (correct me if Im wrong please folks), stereo minijack and TA3 (like mini XLR type thing).

NOW, lavs need power, and thats why most Hardwired lavs have those little power supply/tube like things. Wireless systems usually supply power to the mic plugged to them too.

Too answer your question: If the mic you buy has the right plug for the transmitter you buy, it should work. BUT even if it doesnt you can probably get an adaptor built or buy one. AND you can always cut of the plug on the lav, and get it wired with the right connector for your transmitter...

So no, you dont have to get seperate lavs, but investigating into the plug compatibility will save you the hassle of adaptors and such down the line..

PLUS, one other thing: Hardwired lavs tend to have very long cables, but radio lavs dont. So worst case scenario, to use a mic for both you might be hiding a lot of cable sometimes.

I hope this answers the question, and what I just told you is as accurate as I'm pretty sure it is...
 
Guy_Cochran said:
You may want to give Countryman a call. They have excellent lavs and can put whatever end you wish onto their lavs. http://countryman.com/
Click to expand...

Aha! So, the Countrymans are the first choice for the lavs...? What are the other good pro-sounding lavs? I know these things have been here billion times, maybe I have to do some searching... :undecided
 
countryman seem to me to be just about the only make that are ever highly recommended here.... the b6 and EMW are both popular. Trams are also pretty good, I believe, as well as the higher end sony mics.
 
do you have the money for dpa? ( 4060,4071)- that's better sound then both the country, but that not the first choice for every aplication.
i dont have the ecm 88 so cant tell anything , but all other sony dont come even close to emw .
every lavaliere have little bit different characteristics so might be better some voices and worse on others
for day to day work when you dont have a large budget you look for some compromise , the the countryman and sanken is what i go first , if it doesn't work i start check others
 
Ou yeah, guys, here are some great advice for good lavs. Thanks. I have to start doing some price comparing. :thumbup:
 
With all the help you all have been giving me in setting my audio up, it's timer for me to give a little back here. I use the DPA 4060 BM (actually 4 of them; 2 on-board and 2 back-up) and it's because when I listened to them when selecting the lavs I wanted, I noticed that their response and color were really close to condenser microphones and really equalized which is why I've learned to use it as a permanent secondary mike. They have interchangeable protective grids that let me (or your) modify their treble response and a real upside is that for some reason I don't get alot of handling noise. The down side is that they're pricey. At $400 a piece, you can burn through alot of Ben Franklins but the sound is really comparable to non-lav mics...a wholer sound if I can make up a word and not so exclusive and flat as many lavs tend to be. Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps. And you should be able to get it for way less than $400 if you shop around. Try the Sound Room.
 
For what its worth, Lectro uses a TA5F generally.

Take a look at the Sanken COS-11 lavs.

I honestly think the TRAMS sound nicer than the Countryman B6, but the B6 is tiny and what easy to hide. If don't have to hide then TRAM all the way, or COS-11 if available.

I would say keep your hardwire hardwired and use it when ever possible, way better quality. Also might recomend getting a cardiod pattern lapel mic. They are kind of bulky but for docu work where hiding the mic is not critical, you may find yourself interviewing somebody in a noisy environment and it will save your ass.
 
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