No BS Wireless

PerroneFord

PerroneFord

Deals in Lead
Ok guys,

So far this site has been awesome. I have two questions tonight and this is the first.

I need a wireless mike solution. This has to be something you'd bet the farm on. It's got to be tough, reliable, good manufacturer support, awesome sound characteritics (more on that in moment), and I am not quibbling over price.

Application:

Live sound, indoor, large room. User will generally not be moving around much, but will be in a room with other amplified signals. User will be in reasonable proximity to another microphone. Not REAL close, but maybe 8-12ft. RF interference should not be a problem, and lighting is on a seperate circuit.

I would LIKE to have the option of having that mic broadcast on a signal that could be picked up by more than one reciever so that in a multiple camera scenario, I could feed audio to them all.

So far, I like the digital Lectrosonics series (MM400 or something like that) with the aluminum bodypack transmitter. I would entertain the Sennheiser Evolution series I think, but I don't have a lot of experience with them.

As for sound quality, I am an audio guy just really coming into video. This mic application is live for TV sound as well as live for audience in a critical listening environment. Sound breakup is BAD. Cut outs or drop outs would be the end of the world nearly. We had some drop outs last week in our wired system and I was afraid I was going to lose my job. Going to wireless worries me, but I've got to do it for this application.

So lets hear it. What say you?

-P
 
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The closest thing your are describing is this: http://www.theultimatewireless.com/

It is the best and even with the very rare dropout (sorry the very nature of wireless means you can never get 100% guarantee) you have a CF backup. RF hits will always threaten a single frequency transmission. With proper attention you can avoid most tripwires.

The only downside to these is cost. If it is not a factor then you have your choice, there is no other.

You can get multiple receivers if you want to send to multiple cameras.

Consider the farm betted.

In the coming years there is hope for spread spectrum technology to give us true reliablity but as has been theorized and is the case with the one wireless of this type near completion (http://www.gracedistribution.com/) the range will be greatly limited.

Cheers
 
Although we use Lectrosonics exclusively in the field, our stage sound guys use Sennheisers. But every ENG crew I know uses Lectrosonics.
 
For a critical situation like this I wouldn't even think of using the Sennheiser evolution series. At a minimum go with the Lectrosonics or preferably the Zaxcom. Just be sure to research the block frequencies for your area and buy one that is least used in the area. Your local Pro sound dealer should know or you can check the frequency charts at Lectrosonics website.
 
you can pick up venue lectrosonics system if you need multiply solution and good sound .can work on dc /ac and be hooked up to pc , they just came up with one that can go inside the bag as well if you intend go outside .
about 10000 us ( or less depends on receiver and tx type) for 6 channels .
.if you have more money , zaxcom may be the way to go , but frankly i dont see any benefit for that one for your application, except you can send ifb signal to your transmitters if you need your talent would be able listen to program or director, good also if you need 2 lavaliers on the presenter( stereo tx).
i see people who use or buy sennheisers these days working with enercia from the past decades when it was the only system suitable for multiply channel in the studio and there was nothing around .today it is quit waist of money ( no , iam not talking about g-2 bullshit).
for cheap solution you can check the mipro - not bad at all for studio - i know a studio here which runs 24 ch setup in large studio - no problems
 
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Thanks for the updates guys.

A few tidbits of info.

1. RF interference I am not concerned about. This building was built as a bomb shelter. The walls are concrete and over two feet thick. Fortunately the doors are wooden and there are skylights otherwise we'd never get ANYTHING in or out unless by wire.

2. I am not going direct to camera. This is going into the house mixer, so I don't really need the features of the Zaxcom. I just need clean audio. I don't need timecode.

3. I think I read some literature about Senn. wireless being used at the superbowl recently or something. Given what those guys have to deal with in terms of RF interference and channel issues between security, police, and other users, I know it can't be easy. I saw an application of the lectrosonics for on-field miking during a professional soccer match. My distance from transmitter to reciever would be about 25-50ft max in open air. That thing was broadcast clean over 50 yards.

4. I'll do an RF scan tomorrow to see what I can come up with in the range, just on the odd chance that I might find something. I'll ask our building security folk what they are talking on.


Thanks again everyone, I love this site. Wish I had found it sooner.

-P
 
The Audio Limited wireless have two hits against them.

A. they are analog
B. in the USA they are a ***** to get serviced.

Other then that they are very nice. One of my earliest wireless was a AL 2000. Battery door broke within the first 2 months but still really solid piece of gear.

Cheers
 
wabbit said:
The Audio Limited wireless have two hits against them.

A. they are analog
B. in the USA they are a ***** to get serviced.

Other then that they are very nice. One of my earliest wireless was a AL 2000. Battery door broke within the first 2 months but still really solid piece of gear.

Cheers
Click to expand...
c- you will pay more then zaxcom :-)
 
If you absolutely have to guarantee that there will be no drop outs or RF hits of any kind, then you have to go Zaxcom - Not sure of the model number, but the new Tx with record capabilities. This way, if you do experience RF hits or dropouts, you can always go back to the recordings on the Tx. That being said, the Lectro 4xx series is generally the standard for most reality and ENG work, so you'd be pretty safe there too. The tradeoff here is primarily price. If I had unlimited budget, there is no question I would go Zaxcom all the way.

Phil
 
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