Lavlier Purchase Descision Help

[MattRobertson]

Hey all,

Been a long time DVXUser member, but first time really posting in the audio forum. I am mainly a cinematographer/editor but its time that I step it up audio wise, and i've been putting more resources toward getting better audio and trying to learn more and more to take my work to the next level.

Currently what i've been doing is running my audio through my panasonic hmc150 with a senn. g3 system and a sanken cos-11d lavalier, and just sync up in post with my GH2. Its time to move on from this system haha.. Preamps in the hmc aren't very good, and its just not a very robust system.

I bought a fostex dc-r302 after lots of research and it really looks like it will fit my shooting style really well. I want audio that i can use during run and gun stuff (will just run it to my GH2 from the fostex) as well as critical audio that I can use during studio stuff. I film lots of spoken word videos such as this one and we are planning to put out lots more content where getting solid audio will be nessecary.

I'm looking to get a hardwired lav, and my head is telling me to get the sanken cos-11dbp hardwired version (I want to get a non-wireless wired lav) for critical stuff, and if I were to buy the hardwired sanken lav it would give me the ability to use the hardwired version for tied down shots and the wireless if I need to cut to it in a different setting, or if I need the cords to be out of the shot on something wide.

At the same time, the DPA 4061 really won me over in the audio tests by ken stone. It has the ability to be adapted to different plugs, has little cord noise (which is important because during poems he will be moving around alot), has lots of accesssories available) and I found the sound to be superious in my opinion to all others. Of course the sanken is still a great lav, but I almost feel as though moving forward i'd like to invest in the DPA. At the same time, I could just get the 3.5mm connector as well as the xlr so I could use it wirelessly too. Budget isn't really an issue honestly.

So what would you guys do? Does anybody know how the DPA sounds as far as wind noise? It is usable outside without a windscreen? Any gotchas about this mic? Also, for use with the fostex, which version would be best to use? i know there's a bunch of different sensitivity versions.

Thanks for the help! And yes, I have read all the stickies, and various threads on this topic haha..

 

[Gregg Juke]

They both sound like good plans. If budget is really absolutely no object, get the one that sounds best to you, that has features that you want (wired and wireless), that you can afford. Any mike outdoors will need a windscreen of some sort.

GJ

 

[Petrus]

I have both the Sanken Cos11 and a stereo set of DPA 4060 miniatures, and those DPAs really are much more versatile, from difficult lavaliere use (with longer grid), normal lavaliere use (short grid) with radio or hardwired (interchangeable plugs), and even as a high quality mic for classical recording (with short grid or without one). For spoken word and things which are not terribly loud I recommend 4060 which is has less self noise. I have recorded modern classical with those: piano, bass drum, modern singing (!) etc without overloading problems.

 

[David W. Jones]

Your mic choices are fine, but if you are going to take it up a level for critical stuff as you put it, your GH2 is not going to cut it as an audio recording device, even with the Fostex as a front end.

 

[MattRobertson]

Your mic choices are fine, but if you are going to take it up a level for critical stuff as you put it, your GH2 is not going to cut it as an audio recording device, even with the Fostex as a front end.

Oh no haha, i'm not recording into the gh2 for critical stuff. I would only be running it into the gh2 so it'll be easier to sync in post and possibly use it if its something run and gun where the quality isn't super important. But for critical stuff i'll absolutely be doing dual system.

What do you guys who have the DPA's use as far as mounting accessories? I really like the vampire clips for the sanken, are there any options like that for the DPA?