need wireless audio buying advice (<$250)

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
Making some short films, would like to try using two wireless lavs and a receiver somewhat to learn to the use of such equipment. I see various budget systems on Amazon. Any recommendations for a package (receiver and 2 lavs/transmitters) for less than $250?
randall
 
Any wireless system (microphone, transmitter, receiver) that costs less than $500 each is a disposable, fiddly, unreliable plastic toy. Don't waste your money.
 
Your best bet, especially since you are wanting to learn your way around wireless mics, is to rent. Without knowing where you're located, I will say that Trew Audio (trewaudio.com) will ship rentals far and wide.

Again, you're most likely going to end up with two transmitters and two receivers... not sure how many dual-receiver units are available for rental. Rent, figure out your comfort level, learn a bit about how they work... then, when you're ready and a bit more experienced with them, figure out what/if you need to purchase for your own.
 
It is just not practical nor affordable to rent here in northern Minnesota. I envy people who live in LA or Chicago or NY and have access to plenty of film equipment rental companies. Okay so I was willing to to $500, what could I buy that would suffice for short films?
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
It is just not practical nor affordable to rent here in northern Minnesota. I envy people who live in LA or Chicago or NY and have access to plenty of film equipment rental companies. Okay so I was willing to to $500, what could I buy that would suffice for short films?
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Honestly, $500 was the old benchmark for "the least you can spend on a decent wireless system." That's gone up a bit. The Sony UWP-V1 system may be closer to that goal, but my experience with those units was not favorable. The Sennheiser G3 systems are $600 each, and worth every penny.

However, Trew Audio will rent and will ship that rental to you in Minnesota. They have rental houses in Nashville and Toronto, and the Toronto house has a couple Lectro 200 systems for $50-$60 (ish) per day.

Even better, they have a Sennheiser G2 system for under $30/day (after CAD>USD conversion). Try those out and see if the replacement G3 systems are worth it to you.
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
It is just not practical nor affordable to rent here in northern Minnesota. I envy people who live in LA or Chicago or NY and have access to plenty of film equipment rental companies. Okay so I was willing to to $500, what could I buy that would suffice for short films?
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As C2V said ... there's nothing you can get for $500 that would offer two channels. The G3 is the least expsenive unit worth having and that will run you about $600 for EACH channel. Since you feel you need two channels, your budget needs to be revised into somewhere in the range of $1250 to $1500 for the pair. Anything less will be a waste of money.

Are you sure you need wireless? If so, why? Most pro sound mixers will use a boom mic instead of wireless if there's a choice. Radios are the option of last resort.
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
It is just not practical nor affordable to rent here in northern Minnesota. I envy people who live in LA or Chicago or NY and have access to plenty of film equipment rental companies. Okay so I was willing to to $500, what could I buy that would suffice for short films?
Click to expand...

My wife and I just shot a documentary in Minnesota (she grew up there) and we rented lights from this place called Lights On (near the U of M.) The have a decent selection of audio gear including a Lectros 400 system for $60 a day. And the guys here are real nice and helpful. Good luck.

http://www.lightson.com/rental/minneapolis/video/audio.html
 
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