Likely pulling trigger on Sennheiser EW112P G3s...Questions...

T

thoomp

Member
Hi guys,

After 6+ months of agonizing over the decision to go with a pair of wireless lav mics this weekend, I think I'm going with two sets of the Sennheiser EW112P G3 as opposed to the Sony UWPV1.

* These will largely be for TV interviews (One for myself as the host; one for the interviewee).

* Shooting will be largely indoors. I want small, light, portable, and powerful.

* I figured that both lav receivers would go directly into each channel of a Tascam DR-100, with a possible JuicedLink CX231 that I have here, to lower the noise floor. (Is this even necessary?)

* Ambient sound would be captured directly on the 5DMkII, using a Rode VideoMicPro, with Magic Lantern at +20db on this new mic.

1) Overall thoughts on this workflow?

2) Any idea what a really good price for a set new/used G3 Sennheisers should run each?

3) What blocks should I get? Block A, B, or the new G? I've checked out the Sennheiser website frequency locator, and I'm not quite sure. I'm up in Boston; I'm assuming I should chose one set from one block and one from another block. Kind of confused.

4) Am I crazy to go with the Sennheiser over the Sony? This will put a bite into my budget, but apparently good sound is apparently vital.

So many thanks!

- Seth (Thoomp!)
 
I have a pair of G3s, both Block A. They have been flawless for the last 6 months. I used Tram TR-50s and Oscar Soundtech 801 for the lavs.

Regarding whether you need the Juicedlink. I don't think you do. I used the G3 directly into my DR-100 XLR inputs for several months before getting a mixer.
 
That's great initial news. Any reason you decided to go with Block A? Also, should i get both pairs to work in the same block? I get the sense that it would afford me quite a bit of flexibility...
 
I think that's a great workflow. And it's totally worth the extra money to get the G3 wireless. You are much less likely to have dropouts and static. And for TV you don't want to mess around. It would probably be cool to go straight into the DR-100. I'd say try it out, and if you think you need a mixer, the little JuicedLink DS214 would work for 150.00. It takes 3.5mm inpts, which the G3 units provide. I featured that mixer in this thread if you want to check it out: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?243285-JuicedLink-Preamp-amp-Barcket-DEMO-Chad-Johnson I also featured the XLR/phantom/meters/preamp - JL-DT454 in the same video in the thread.
 
Love mine, just make sure they are not coming in too hot or you get humm. I use mine on one channel and a sennheiser 416 on the other. pretty nice coverage.
 
If I remember correctly, the US can use blocks:-
A = 516 - 558 MHz
B = 626 - 668 MHz
and
G = 566 - 608 MHz (G is between A and B).

The UK now use block GB = 606 - 648 MHz
This covers frequencies in both blocks B and G.
This would also be OK for the US, but with the added advantage in that is also covers the new UK frequencies for mobile location work - these fall in the gap between G and B, so a normal US system would not be usable in the UK.

But with a block GB system you can work in both the US and the UK.

Just a thought for those that work both sided of the pond.
 
This is cool...I doubt that I'd be fliming in GB (although you never know!), but I like the idea of flexbility by using both B and G blocks. I'm hoping in the long run to use this in interviews all across America, so I don't know if there's a common block that would be the best case in most US locations.

The other thing is that I already have the JL CX231 already, which has 2 XLR inputs and a 3.5mm out. Again, wondering if I should just sell it off.

Any other thoughts, guys?
 
I think it's always good to have a preamp/mixer around. If you need to get an XLR mic into a DSLR - bam, need a preamp. The JL stuff actually adds clean gain, so if you have a camera that has noisy pres, the JL will help minimize that because the increased gain allows you to turn down the noisy pre on the camera/recorder etc. It's also putting out both mic & line level signal. Do what you want, but I would think that little box may come in handy at some point. Even with wireless stuff.
 
I recently invested in a Senn G3 kit thanks to great advice from Chad. I am absolutely thrilled with the performance. You will be too.

Good luck!
 
Sennheiser USA does not sell block GB, I really don't know why since it's a perfectly legal frequency range, but for whatever reason they don't.

thoomp, I know you said you said you've been to the Sennheiser frequency website... what it boils down to is how many open frequencies there are. In a big city like Boston, there may not be a heck of a lot of difference from the website, so it may be worth a call to a local dealer to find out what they recommend. (And of course as someone who works for a "local dealer" in another locality, I'm always a fan of buying from a local dealer... :) )

Finally, with regards to buying two systems, there's no need to buy them from different blocks. Even the 100 series can run multiple systems in the same block together, I forget the exact number, and having both systems in the same block gives you the option of doing something like setting both receivers to pick up the same transmitter, which can be a handy trick (although sadly the reverse, setting one receiver to pick up two transmitters, isn't possible).
 
thoomp said:
Any more thoughts as to which particular Block to get? A/B/G? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Don't forget that block GB is also good for the US and has frequencies in both blocks B and G and fills the space between them - GB is also good in the UK if you ever cross the Atlantic.
 
Captain Pierce said:
Sennheiser USA does not sell block GB, I really don't know why since it's a perfectly legal frequency range, but for whatever reason they don't.
Click to expand...

But they can certainly get it for you without any problem if you ask them to.

Block GB was originally made specially for Sennheiser UK as the mobile country-wide frequencies are changing and there was no evolution system that covered these frequencies.

But as block GB has frequencies common to both blocks B and G and the space between them and is usable in the UK as well as the US, then it would be a good idea for Sennheiser USA to be able to sell these as well, especially the "p" versions with the camera receiver as these will not come with a UK mains unit.
 
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