New Rode Lavalier Microphone

YOu know what they look like. It all depends on what you want to do. When you want it under clothes, get the lav. Whenn you want it hidden in plain sight, use the PinMic.
 
sometimes in a scene where there is running or fighting or a lot of body movement you can forget a regular lav, because everything is just moving too much. In a situation like that a Pinmic might be a great thing, especially since it's easily hidden when the talent is moving a lot.
 
What's the disadvantage of the pinmic then? I don't have much bodymovement in my stuff, it's more a replacement for booming.
 
The disadvantage is that you can usually see it. Sometimes you can pull it off but other times people will wonder what that little metal cap is. In those cases you will have failed to do your job right.
 
Well, take an industry standard lav like the COS11d. You make a loop in the wire to stop wire sound, you wrap the mic in lamb skin to protect from clothing rustle, tape the mic & cable inside the shirt and you have a pretty dang good setup for moving around with a hidden mic. On top of that you boom too. That's how it's done. Most "reality" shows have CLS11Ds taped up under the clothes, or hidden in the buff or whatever. There is no one solution.

A pinmic is nice but if you are shooting a close-up in a movie, the cap will be seen. But when you paint the cap (it comes with one extra) to match the clothes and you shoot from a bit further back, the mic can disappear. Also you can disguise the pinmic with actual buttons, or pins. I'm not sure how, but it's It all depends on the shot. These accessories are available with the original Ricsonix PinMic, and I believe work with the Rode version, which was designed by the same man. The best sound is going to be a boom, but if freedom is more important than sound quality the lav under shirt method is the way.

The key is to have more than one mic. Have some lavs. Have some PimMics. Have some plant mics. Have a shotgun. Have a hyper. Have a tool kit that allows you to adjust to the situation.


Ricsonix PinMic for 150.00 used, with button covers. Looks like it's wired for Lectro...

Here's the Ricsonix site, but at this moment the site is under maintenance: http://www.ricsonix.com/

There you can see the things they have to hide the mic.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ricsonix-Pin-Mic-wired-Lav-Microphone-/230587035499

Here's a recent shoot where I used the PinMic. For smething like this it's easy to hide. I just put the mic where a button normally is. But his vest and the shade also hid the mic. It sounded pretty good too.
 
Hi all

I finally got my 2 Rode Pin mics a few days ago, I also got the Micon 1 and 5 connectors to use the mics in the meantime Rode releases the Micon7 for lectrosonics. I'm facing some problems with the Micon1 and my Sennheiser SK100 G2 transmitters, as the screw thread in the micon1 connector is wider than the one in the G2 TX and doesn't lock. On the Rode website I now read that the Micon 1 is designed for

  • SK 500 G3
  • SK 300 G3
  • SK 100 G3
  • SK 500 G2
  • SK 300 G2
  • SK 2 Freeport
Are the screw threads on these models different? Since I only own a pair of SK 100 G2 I can't tell, but I would be surprised that Sennheiser decided to change that.

One of the first dealers I tried to buy the pin mics from told me that he hadn't stock of the micon 1 because of manufacturing problem. Could it be that there is a batch of Micon1 with problems ? Anyone else facing this problem with their Micon 1?

Thanks

Eric
 
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Hey Eric,

I have had exactly the same issue, though I was using a SK100 G3! Here's the thing: Rode has revised the Micon-1 since they realized it doesnt fit well with some Senn receivers. I contacted them directly through their website and they said they'll send me a new one for free, since it isnt clear which retailer has the new and who sells the older version. But don't worry, Rode will help you I'm sure.
Chris

efksound said:
Hi all

I finally got my 2 Rode Pin mics a few days ago, I also got the Micon 1 and 5 connectors to use the mics in the meantime Rode releases the Micon7 for lectrosonics. I'm facing some problems with the Micon1 and my Sennheiser SK100 G2 transmitters, as the screw thread in the micon1 connector is wider than the one in the G2 TX and doesn't lock. On the Rode website I now read that the Micon 1 is designed for


  • SK 500 G3
  • SK 300 G3
  • SK 100 G3
  • SK 500 G2
  • SK 300 G2
  • SK 2 Freeport

Are the screw threads on these models different? Since I only own a pair of SK 100 G2 I can't tell, but I would be surprised that Sennheiser decided to change that.

One of the first dealers I tried to buy the pin mics from told me that he hadn't stock of the micon 1 because of manufacturing problem. Could it be that there is a batch of Micon1 with problems ? Anyone else facing this problem with their Micon 1?

Thanks

Eric
Click to expand...
 
Hi Chris

Thanks a lot for your answer! Ok, so I see that it's "official" that there is a batch of Micon 1 with problems. Will contact Rode ASAP

Eric
 
I decided to return my Rode Lavalier. I liked the sound and build. Alos the accesories were great. It cut well with an Oktava hyper on a boom stand for an interview. But eventually I realized I can get three oscarsoundtech.com lavs for the price of one Rode so there you go. I like the Rode but I think they should really lower the price on the PinMic and Lavalier. Considering Rode's other mics are usually way below comparable competitors' models, other lavs like the MKE-2, Tram, Countryman etc. are in the same price range as the Lavalier.
 
Well I can agree at some point with the Lavalier model, but the Pin Mic is complete different design and concept, and IMHO a great tool/option to have in your sound kit. So unless you can find the original model made by Ricsonix, RODE is the only option...
 
Actually the Rode PinMic IS the Ricsonix PinMic. Same guy made both. Those oscar soundtech look like Trams. You'll have to make a demo and show us how they sound sonidista.
 
Chadfish said:
Actually the Rode PinMic IS the Ricsonix PinMic. Same guy made both. Those oscar soundtech look like Trams. You'll have to make a demo and show us how they sound sonidista.
Click to expand...

Ironically I've been trying to get a Pin Mic since the Ricsonix days and thought it would be easier since Rode started making them. Still haven't been able to score one, and I'd have to get it hard wired for a Lectro since that Micon isn't available yet. I have five Oscar Sound Tech mics and I'm very happy with them. Of course the price is great but so is the service. I have the 802's in every color and one TL40. The 802's have a Sonotrim type response curve, and the 801's have a Tram like curve. The TL40 is a more full frequency range mic in a form factor that is between a Countryman B3 and B6 size. I also have Countryman b6s and Sonotrims. I like them all for different applications. The pricing of the Pin Mic is ok given its unique design, but I have to agree on the regular lav pricing but its still a good value. Chad your Folgers video was great! Best of luck in the contest.
Best,
Bernie
 
sonidista said:
Really? The 801 has more high end, I thought the Sontrim are more in that vein than the Tram...
Click to expand...

The Sonotrim is said to be a good lav match for the Schoeps MK41 hyper. They have a more natural less hyped upper mid range. To my ear the 802's sound very close to my Sonotrims and I've mixed them at times and couldn't hear much difference.
 
another thing on the Micon-1 that is used with the Rode Lavalier: It's the shortest TRS/Sennheiser connector I know, shorter than the ones on an MKE-2 for example. Which is nice since those longer connectors are somewhat prone to being bent and broken when in an actor's pocket or something like that. Time well tell how the Micon screwing connections will take such abuse.
 
There was an original batch of Sennheiser connectors from Rode. They didn't connect too well. Now they have a new version out. If you had problems you can get yours replaced.
 
I just got a PinMic (from Adorama) and the Micron-1 from B&H. It works great with the Micron-5 XLR adapter, but not the Micron-1 plugged into the Sennheiser SK 100 (G3). It plugs in just fine and the connection feels just as solid as the lav that came with the Sennheiser, but I get no signal from the PinMic at all. Does this sound similar to anyone else's problems?
 
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