Low Background Noise With Sennhesier G3 Wireless Lav

David Saraceno

David Saraceno

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Staff member
Just purchased this wireless system with the compact receiver and stock lav wireless transmitter.

Have sensitivity set to about -18db on both, and we notice some slight background noise when monitoring on our HPX170.

XLR goes to slot 2 and that is what the cam is set to.

Is this just the way it is, or should the sound be completely clean?

We're testing in a residence with the a complete reset and a new scan bank.

Anyone who can assist would be greatly appreciated.
 
Do you have both channels pushed to input 2?

Just wondered - because if you still had the internal mic coming through on the one channel that might explain it.

Also is there a gain on the mic transmitter? Is so having that up will increase the mic sensitivity - so you need to set it to normal.
 
It's conceivable that what you are hearing is noise from the camera's internal microphone preamps. Most cameras tend to add some hiss when using external mics because they are optimized for their own on-board mics. Proprietary vs. standard and all that.

One possible answer might be to turn up the gain on the wireless receiver, then turn down the mic gain on the camera by a corresponding amount. You still want the meter level to be around -12dB (or whatever you normally use) to give you some headroom. All you're doing when you do this is rebalancing the workload -- more gain from the wireless receiver, less from the camera. This should result in more signal / noise ratio -- pushes the hiss down away from the signal.

I had to do this when I got my G3. Sounds pretty good now that I've approached it like this. Of course, YMMV.
 
Bruce,

I don't really think the HPX preamps were designed to run the onboard mics since most folks don't use them with this caliber of cam. Note that in the HPX P2 workflow, there are 4 channels, 1 and 2 for external devices, 3 and 4 for the onboard mics, which are mostly used for reference, ambient or backup in a pinch.

In my experience with G2 systems, there is a sweet spot where the neither the wireless nor cam is heavily taxed and reasonable sound can be obtained. Maybe not like recording with a good mixer at high bit rate, but reasonable.

David, Are you using the ME2 that came with the G3?

Grant
 
Yes I am.

I've been playing with the sensitivity on the receiver and transmiter and things have improved.

Some are suggesting getting a Countryman or a Tram, but I'm priced out now.

Anyone using either one and can compare it with the stock lav?
 
David,

At the time, I couldn't afford anything like a COS-11, but I did replace the ME2 with a Countryman EMW and it was a large improvement. I couldn't say the EMW is any hotter which would allow you to reduce levels, but the overall sound is a huge improvement. They are also a little harder to hide. Have you worked on placement? If your mic is too far away, you will have to increase your levels and will pickup more ambient in the process. I know you don't hang on the Audio board as much as some other places, check out the stickies, there is a wealth of good info there.

Grant
 
The ME 2 is a good ittle tie mic. for the price - but the system will sound much better if you change the mic.

Personally I would use the Sennheiser MKE 2-ew as it's vastly better than the supplied ME 2 - but it costs...
 
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