Lav Article Debuts

Hi:

I have just sent an inquiry to DPA USA on package costs and overall cost structure, I will let you all know what they say. The pricing structure for all lavs are different and seem to be pretty confusing.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Hi:

I just received this exact price list from DPA USA. Please adjust accordingly for your market, if you are not located in the U.S., your DPA distributor my have different prices.


4061 (available in black, brown, beige, white) - $443.00

DAK4060 (ENG type acc. kit) - $109.00
DAK4071-F (Film/hidden mic acc. kit) - $125.00

DAD6001-BC (XLR adapter) - $107.00

So it looks as if a DPA 4061 w the ENG acc kit and the XLR adapter would list out at U.S. $659.00 Typically, one can locate usually around a 20% discount at retail although this may vary. With a 20% discount, you would be looking at $528.00

Hope that this helps. I will change the list price in the article to reflect the additional $107.00 for the XLR adapter.

Best,

Dan
 
timapter said:
pricey... keep in mind that lavs definitely DO have a usage life before they DIE.
Click to expand...

Yes, it did surprise me that the price was not including the XLR adapter and accessories kit, my fault for the confusion. But it did sound very good. I think the DPA is the lavalier equivalent of the Schoeps mics, quite expensive but worth it to some users.

I have had two Trams and a Countryman B6 for about ten years. The only thing that has happened was that an executive snagged the cable and ripped the head off of the Tram. I learned from LSC that a Tram head can only be attached once, so if you rip the head off of your Tram or Sonotrim, you only get one shot at repairing it.

On the shows that I shoot on like Prison Break, they go through lavs pretty quickly. Water, dirt, sweat, sand and lots of stunts and fights, yep, they rip up their mics pretty quickly.

D
 
DPA 406X comes actually in three basic varieties 4060, 4061 and 4062 ( and even some more). The only difference is sensitivity, 4060 is most sensitive, 4061 medium and 4062 extra low sensitivity for loud applications.

Their sets also include matched stereo sets of all these models. I have the SMK4060 set, which has 2 lavaliers, boundary plates, lavalier clips, rubber, sticky & magnetic mic holders, 5 wind protectors, 2 XLR connectors etc. As an extra I got the microdot to G2 connector.

The high frequency lift, if wanted, can be had with a longer protection tube on the mic.

These mics are not really just lavaliers, they are hi-fi miniature mics which can be used for almost anything. I have used them for stealth recording (just had them taped on my helmet side edges while on assignments in Mosul, Iraq. I am typing from there trying to get a flight out...).

All the different accessories are also available separately.

AND they work just great as lavaliers, by the way...

Bruel&Kjaer used to be, and still is, an audio measurement instrument maker, and classical recordists started using their measurement microphones for their accuracy, low noice and extended bandwith. After a while they realised at B&K that this was something worth following. DPA was started to market and design new mic models for audio but kept the quality and ideals of B&K. I would almost place DPA #1 among the high end no nonsense mic makers of the moment.
 
Tim,

Good point. I think you mean after extended period of normal use (not accidental abuse) lavs do lose their "quality" and just sound unuseable.

I'm about to replace my Sanken lavs soon with new ones as they are getting to that point. The DPAs are nice but not worth the price in my opinion as they eventually need to be replaced at one point. Sankens are cheap $250 where I live as I don't need the rm11 or any of the accessories that come with the whole pack as I never use them.

Dan, great article by the way.



timapter said:
pricey... keep in mind that lavs definitely DO have a usage life before they DIE.
Click to expand...
 
If it hasn't been said yet, when a polar pattern is described, use omni-directional, cardioid, super-cardioid, figure 8, or hyper cardioid.

The type of element in the mike does not help as a polar pattern descriptor. Otherwise, good article.

Sorry, I come from the audio world.

Doc
 
Doc Bernard said:
If it hasn't been said yet, when a polar pattern is described, use omni-directional, cardioid, super-cardioid, figure 8, or hyper cardioid.

The type of element in the mike does not help as a polar pattern descriptor. Otherwise, good article.

Sorry, I come from the audio world.

Doc
Click to expand...

For most mics what you say is true, but lavaliers are either omni or cardioid. There may be other patterns made but I've never encountered any. And to further narrow it down, virtually 100% of the lavs used for film and video work are omni - cardioids are pretty well restricted to sound reinforcment applications where feedback control is an issue. So for an article dealing with lavalier mics, omitting the polar pattern from the description isn't as much of an oversight as it would be for other mics since their being omni can be assumed.
 
Yes, that's why in the manufacturers description, I list the copy exactly from the maufacturer. It is interesting to see how the different mfgs describe things.

D
 
DPA 4060 or DPA 4061 for interviews?

DPA 4060 or DPA 4061 for interviews?

Hi,

Was just about to purchase the DPA 4061 which I plan to direct inject into the HVX and use predominantly for interviews.

Sales rep has just informed me:
[FONT=&quot]"In you application you may prefer to look at using the 4060 as the 4061 is a low sensitivity mic typically used for instruments or when stuck to the side of the face when loud singing and shouting is used. "

Is he right? Is the DPA 4060 a better choice for using in interview situations?

I just want a good quality, general purpose lav...but will be used mainly with speech.
 Thanks for any advice!
[/FONT]
 
Last edited:
Mavoz said:
Hi,

Was just about to purchase the DPA 4061 which I plan to direct inject into the HVX and use predominantly for interviews.

Sales rep has just informed me:
[FONT=&quot]"In you application you may prefer to look at using the 4060 as the 4061 is a low sensitivity mic typically used for instruments or when stuck to the side of the face when loud singing and shouting is used. "

Is he right? Is the DPA 4060 a better choice for using in interview situations?

I just want a good quality, general purpose lav...but will be used mainly with speech.
 Thanks for any advice!
[/FONT]
Click to expand...

Hmm...good question.

All I can tell you is that I requested mics to review from DPA that would be useful for recording talent and actors in interviews and in narrative scenes. I found the 4061 to work very well for both so I didn't hear any problems but I did not test the 4060. I am sure it sounds good but the downside is, unless you can get a loaner or go to a dealer that has one, you will not be able to hear exactly what it sounds like until you buy it.

Best,

Dan
 
Thanks Dan,

From what I've been able to glean the 4061 is less likely to have distortion issues....and is probably the one I will go with. The fact that you also tested that particular model and was impressed with it is also a strong argument.

An Australian distributor of DPA mics here has responded to my question with the following comments:

"The differences between the 4060 and 4061 is that the 4061 has 10dB less sensitivity ( output ). So whatever the source level it will be 10dB lower than the 4060.
I actually recorded an interview with a 202 and a 4060 last week and although the meters on the camera looked fine on playback the audio was slightly distorted - hence my recommendation for the 4061."
 
Last edited:
did you use mixer or direcly ?
wierless ?
mixer then camera
to distort the capsule it self you need to shout
 
4060 is better for ambience and nature stuff, max peak amplitude is still well over 130 dB SPL, not likely to be reached with lavalier use. Also the noise level and dynamic range is better than on 4061 and 4062.

4061 and 4062 are preferred for close miking instruments. Certainly 4061 works also as a lavalier.
 
Dan-

Thanks for putting together this article- very helpful. I have a Sony ECM-44
I have used for years for interviews and it does fine. After reading your article, though, I'm wondering about another mic I own, but do not use for videography
because it is rigged for PA use - a Countryman E6 (basically a B6 designeded to be
earworn). I'm thinking maybe I should use it with my HVX since it seems to have a fuller sound. How would I go about converting it for XLR cable use? Right now it's rigged to an ATW 3000 transmitter.
 
mainstreetprod said:
Dan-

Thanks for putting together this article- very helpful. I have a Sony ECM-44
I have used for years for interviews and it does fine. After reading your article, though, I'm wondering about another mic I own, but do not use for videography
because it is rigged for PA use - a Countryman E6 (basically a B6 designeded to be
earworn). I'm thinking maybe I should use it with my HVX since it seems to have a fuller sound. How would I go about converting it for XLR cable use? Right now it's rigged to an ATW 3000 transmitter.
Click to expand...
Hi Fred:

You would want to contact Trew Audio to find out about re-wiring your mic.

Dan
 
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