has any one used the Rode Filmmaker wireless set?

jamedia.uk

jamedia.uk

Well-known member
I am looking for an inexpensive additional wireless mic set and saw the Rode Filmmaker set. http://www.rode.com/wireless/filmmaker


HAs anyone tried it at all? or hear any reports on it?

one down side I can see is it has a 3.5-3.5 jack output cable onthe RX. I would ideally need 3.5 - XLR. I am not sure of the Rode VXLR as the 3.5mm side is not locking.

The other thing is it mentions frequency hopping... If I am using it with some Sennheiser G3's will it hop over their frequencies?
 
Rode means it's hopping in the 22.4gHz band to find clear frequencies in-band. That's not even remotely close to the operating frequencies of Sennheiser G3s.
 
I have no experience with the Rode or the other (new) GHz systems. They are allegedly easier to set-up and should not interact with the G2/3 systems, which are in the 500-700 MHz range. Like other gear, you still get what you pay for. Cheap is cheap.
 
It's interesting. I've been thinking of making a cheap system from Bluetooth modules with lipo battery for power. Should be able to make it really small and should sound decent enough for voice. Need to look into this more closely.

My question about the Rode system would be, did they wire the transmitter to the Sennheiser pattern? It is the same screw locking 3.5mm connector.
 
Greg_E said:
My question about the Rode system would be, did they wire the transmitter to the Sennheiser pattern? It is the same screw locking 3.5mm connector.
Click to expand...

It is a "Sennheiser 3.5mm locking connector" However it is not clear if it is the same wiring. If it is I could use a Sennheiser cable. I will ping Rode and see what they say. Though I expect they will not discuss a competitors or other 3rd party equipment. (Most say that)
 
"Sennheiser" does not specifically manufacture the locking 3.5mm connector plugs/jacks. I recall the Sony UPM system transmitter uses the same size (locking 3.5mm) but is wired differently. The Sennheiser SK series transmitter uses the plug's 'Tip' for mic level; or 'Ring' for line (-10dB). The unused terminal should be shunted to ground/shield.
 
Rick R said:
"Sennheiser" does not specifically manufacture the locking 3.5mm connector plugs/jacks. I recall the Sony UPM system transmitter uses the same size (locking 3.5mm) but is wired differently. The Sennheiser SK series transmitter uses the plug's 'Tip' for mic level; or 'Ring' for line (-10dB). The unused terminal should be shunted to ground/shield.
Click to expand...

There is the rub... It may be a "Sennheiser" 3.5mm locking connector but is the wiring the same... Rode say it is an unbalanced output.
 
Greg_E said:
The Sennheiser output is balanced, so output is different. I would hope they made the mic input the same though.
Click to expand...
- The G2/3 EK 100 portable receiver is unbalanced, however the factory XLR cable is wired properly for unbalanced> balanced operation. Typicality less than 10 ft., but YMMV.
 
Sure would be nice if someone who has one of these AND a typical Sennheiser could weigh in on how good the Rode actually sounds.
 
Rick R said:
- The G2/3 EK 100 portable receiver is unbalanced, however the factory XLR cable is wired properly for unbalanced> balanced operation. Typicality less than 10 ft., but YMMV.
Click to expand...

So a Rode Filmmaker with a Sennheiser 3.5-> XLR cable would work?
 
mrveronn said:
A test ... of the distance performance...and swapping microphones between the sennheiser and rode units.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijri8QGky9g
Click to expand...

Okay - now we have a beginning.

This video shows a very sloppy test - but it's not without value.

1.) - Transmission distance reliability seems decent on the Rode - but this test is too sloppy to be super meaningful.

2.) - THE SOUND. Well - again we have a sloppy test, but here's what I'm getting from it:

The Rode TX/RX unit appears to be adding some high-frequency boost because the Rode lav on the Sennheiser unit sounds a lot more muffled than it does on its own TX/RX.
On its own unit the Rode sound is more comparable to the SANKEN than it is when it's on the Sennheiser TX/RX.
This test OMITS the fact that the Sanken Lav mic is better then the Sennheiser that comes with the TX/RX kit and it's more expensive.

So far my take-away is that the Rode sounds about as good as the stock Sennheiser lav - but maybe a tad better.
The Rode TX/RX units are indeed a lot bigger - but performance seems solid, ease of setup appears great, and battery life may be substantially better.

PRICES: The Rode kit is $400.
The Sennheiser is $630 WITHOUT the upgraded Sanken lav mic used in this test.

Let's look at 2 sets: $800 for 2 of the Rodes vs. $1,260 for the Sennheisers. More like $1,500 if you want those Sanken mics.

It "seems" like we finally have a real serious contender to the Sennheisers at a far more affordable price.

So far Rode has not made "spectacular" anything. But as far as I can see Rode doesn't make anything that isn't at least professionally "decent".
 
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Hi

"Rode means it's hopping in the 22.4gHz band to find clear frequencies in-band. That's not even remotely close to the operating frequencies of Sennheiser G3s." From Steve House.

For the record just a typo correction. 2.4 GHz instead of 22.4 GHz.

A comment about 2.4 GHz (FCC Part 802.11) [speaking about wi-fi] ->
"In reality, the many other types of devices emitting in the unlicensed band dwarf the number of 802.11 devices. These devices include microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, wireless video cameras, outdoor microwave links, wireless game controllers, Zigbee devices, fluorescent lights, WiMAX, and so on. Even bad electrical connections can cause broad RF spectrum emissions. These non-802.11 types of interference typically don't work cooperatively with 802.11 devices, and can cause significant loss of throughput. In addition, they can cause secondary effects such as rate back-off, in which retransmissions caused by interference trick the 802.11 devices into thinking that they should use lower data rates than appropriate."

Source = http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/produc...t-wi-fi/prod_white_paper0900aecd807395a9.html

Almost all wireless work well in a clean RF environment. The test comes when the RF environment degrades. Sometimes after you have started recording. I would test with interfering devices. Of course with harmonics, wires acting as radiators, and much else it can be very complex to understand and solve interference. So you can read the reviews and know you generally get what you pay for. Rode really does a good job, but G3 is time tested. Somewhat of a toss up. Just remember at some point you will get done in by wireless. The trick is to have a plan for it. In the expensive present, and cheaper future wireless transmitters will record as well as transmit. That's a great plan for those with $$$! Hope something in this helped. I should disclose I have G3 but also Rode mics.

Best luck
 
Heya..another apples (Sanken) vs oranges (Rode lav) lav comparison. What the hell is going on with basic logic these days? At least compare stock vs stock mic/tx packages. Better yet..adapt one good mic for both tx and have at it. And show them under duress..when speech gets unexpectedly loud and you are at the mercy of the transmitter input limiter.
And by all means..explore multiple units in environments challenging to the transmission frequencies employed. For instance, a local ESPN cam op has a groovy HD/SDI cell phone multiplexer backpack for live uplinks. Works great generally..but rendered useless when a major public event congests cell transmission pipeline.

But hey..shouldn't RODE have proper demos online at his point? Hmm????? Is there a RODE rep in da house??
Meanwhile Sennheiser puts out that expensive but useless/misleading series of promos on their AVX...
 
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Gweilo66 said:
Heya..another apples (Sanken) vs oranges (Rode lav) lav comparison. What the hell is going on with basic logic these days? At least compare stock vs stock mic/tx packages. Better yet..adapt one good mic for both tx and have at it. And show them under duress..when speech gets unexpectedly loud and you are at the mercy of the transmitter input limiter.........
Click to expand...

This is why few bother to do any testing and share it with us on this forum. Rarely a thank you. Mostly, we get complaints about how it was done.
 
Oh geeze..sorry folks if that was too harsh. I've drummed up the "this is why we can't have nice nice things response", deservedly I suppose. It was the second comparison along these lines and it was a bit frustrating. Just seems to me using the same mic is as important as using the same class lens and pushing the known stressors etc when comparing a camera. Folks seem fairly diligent about those but not with audio lately.
But ultimately, as mentioned, I would hope manufacturers would provide more useful info..that AVX Oracle series being especially unhelpful.
But yes..thank you for the distance tests and giving it whirl. No need to use the tone I did.
 
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Erick Naso (member here) did a pretty good write up and uses both systems. Check out his blog for details or just PM him here. Always a good guy with lots of knowledge.
 
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