mic check 1,2,1,2

B

balrais1

Member
Just got my DVX and now need to complete phase 2 of my 4 phase process: sound.

I'm interested in a wireless lavalier microphone and was hoping to get some recommendations here.
Filming will be mainly for auto reviews and I have the new Corvette convertible coming up soon - yes, I'm just as excited as you - and need one that's good enough to pick up my voice while driving top-down.

And while I'd love to fork over $1,500 on one, I simply can't. If I could find one that'll do the job for $150-200 I'll be laughing.

What's the Azden 111T or the Samson Aireline system like? Will they do the job and still be able to maintain sound quality?
 
You got a two part problem.


First off, cheap quality wireless is a fantasy. You basically have 4 price points

Cheap(under $500): total junk; can use for home movies but not for broadcast. Noisy as hell and subject to channel interference and dropouts.

Prosumer($500-$800): Useful for industrial and low-end ENG. A little less noisy, noticable companding, multi UHF channels, but still get frequent drop outs.

Professional analog($1000-$2500): Film level and TV broadcast. Very little noise. Multi-UHF channel and dropouts are rare.

Digital (+$2500): Frickin sweet! :) No added noise or companding. Very rare dropouts.

Good quality audio cost money; unfortunate but the reality.

Your second problem is getting sound in a moving convertible. You get a mic right up on them, and have them talk loud, you will be probably be able to understand them but it will sound horrible. If you see people talking in a moving covertible in a movie, it was either done blue screen or ADR. Maybe if you can keep the car under 20MPH you can get some acceptable audio, but it will be tricky. You could also try to just narrate the scene or ADR on a wide so you can't even see the speaker's mouth, no problem.

Good luck.
 
hey wabbit,

Great advice. I had a feeling that would be the answer to my question. I guess I was hoping for some easy shortcut or trick to getting great sound for a cheap price.... pipe dreams.

I'm curious to what you would do about the convertible car situation.

Narrating is going to be a big part of post-production so what would you do to get premium sound from that situation?
 
Actually, the zaxcom digital are pretty much equal with a cable. You still have the danger of drop outs, but no extra noise. ANYTHING below the zaxcom is lesser to a cable, including Lectro hybrids (still pretty good though).

Without known what you are shooting in the convertible (off-the-cuff responses, specific script, etc) ideas to help improve your situation are limited. Are you shooting from the backseat, shotgun position, car mount, or chase vechical? Can you limt the speeds you are traveling? Does the top HAVE to be down?
 
We both know a single channel Zaxcom system is $3300.. Frankly, I can't justify that.
Bet we'll see a Digital Hybrid complete field package for about $1600 within two months.
 
Some good suggestions here. I also question why you need a wireless set for your production. The driving bit is not only difficult for the wind noise, but you'll be driving through a constantly changing RF environment. Power lines, emergency vehicles, couriers, and hundreds of other sources constantly changing as you drive--yikes!

If you do absolutely need a solid set, here are two for about $500 that are proven solid performers. I diasagree with Wabbit on one point--$500 sets are not necessarily prone to dropouts or interference. I use the AT U101 set below around DC (very crowded RF traffic) and it's rock solid. Also, compander artifacting is very dependent on the combination of mic and wireless set, so getting the wireless set/mic as a package usually ensures good quality sound. Are these as good as a $2000 Lectro set? No, but you're getting 75% of the quality for 25% of the price.


SENNHEISER EW112P-G2
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EW112PG2

AUDIO-TECHNICA ATW-U101X
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...=ATWU101X&Category_Code=3A2A1&Product_Count=1
 
I checked out the:
SENNHEISER EW112P-G2
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...t_Code=EW112PG2

And was wondering why it offers a choice of three frequencies while:
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATW-U101X
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...Product_Count=1

offers only one?

Does that mean one is better than the other because of it?

And Barry btw you are right about the constantly changing RF environment. I guess I am prone to thinking a wireless mic produces better quality audio. As for the shooting it's a good mix between off the cut responses and following a script and while the convertible doesn't have to be down, it sure makes the video better.
Heck, if I start driving too fast I'll just scream into the camera...
 
Barry_S said:
I diasagree with Wabbit on one point--$500 sets are not necessarily prone to dropouts or interference.
Click to expand...

Reread the way I worded my post. My bad, I meant, the $500 do have multiple channels so interference is almost never a problem. The drop out thing I think depends on use. I have been given a lot of footage to be cleaned up that was recorded with the Senn 100 and have heard enough drop outs to make me concerned to use those in mission critical application (documentary, new gathering). For budget independent pictures I believe they are a reasonable choice (noise comparable to the 100 lectros).

Know nothing personally of the AT 101 model. I think someone did an A/B of the AT against the Senn wireless and found the AT to have amazing range in comparison.

Anyways....
 
I think both models offer a choice of units that use different chunks of the UHF spectrum. The idea is to find out which spectrum option is the least crowded in your area. You can go to the Sennheiser or Lectrosonics web site to check the spectrum in your area. The biggest future threat to these UHF sets is (ironically enough) digital tv transmissions.

Wireless is usually the option of last resort because of the compromises in sound quality and potential for interference (although less so with the digital sets). So I'd strongly recommend you skip the wireless set and buy a high quality lav with a windjammer.


balrais1 said:
I checked out the:
SENNHEISER EW112P-G2
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...t_Code=EW112PG2

And was wondering why it offers a choice of three frequencies while:
AUDIO-TECHNICA ATW-U101X
http://www.evsonline.com/merchant2/...Product_Count=1

offers only one?

Does that mean one is better than the other because of it?

And Barry btw you are right about the constantly changing RF environment. I guess I am prone to thinking a wireless mic produces better quality audio. As for the shooting it's a good mix between off the cut responses and following a script and while the convertible doesn't have to be down, it sure makes the video better.
Heck, if I start driving too fast I'll just scream into the camera...
Click to expand...
 
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