One man army: wired Lavs

Spartacus

Spartacus

Veteran
I´ve been using only the G2 wireless since it came out, along with MKE2s.
Now I always read, wired are better than wireless mics (due to bandwith, modulation, transmition errors...? Please explain if there really is a big advantage over wireless) so I was thinking about getting a pair for locked down interview situations (one person headshots I´ll still boom...)
What do you guys reccomend?
Countryman?
Sennheiser?
Do I need preamps for the Lavs? Thanks! :undecided
 
I got sanken cos11 wired for lectro with breakaway xlr power supplies. I also got lectro to g2 adapters so I can use them wired, with g2 or rented lectro systems (when I want to make sure it dosen't drop out).

I think you mean power supplies, not preamps. these are powered by phantom +48

http://www.trewaudio.com/store/product.php?productid=661&cat=43&page=1

Remember you have to specifically ask for them to be wired for lectro w/ breakaway xlr power supplies and the adapter for lectro ta5 to 3.5mm locking plug for g2 (adapter about $30)

I sold my mke2 lav when I got these. They are great! very open sounding and intercut well with a hyper or shotgun!
 
Do I always need a powersupply, when I either go directly to the HVX w/+48 or a field mixer w/+48?
I thought the "metal tube" was a preamp, like with shotguns, so it only hosts the XLR and a battery...?
So for maximum versatility, I get the lavs with a 3,5mm plug for my G2s, and then a XLR to 3,5mm female plug audio cable?
I don´t think I´ll ever rent lectros, if so, I probably rent mics with them...
How much of a step up in audio quality are the Sankens compared to the MKE2, the B3 or a Tram (I don´t want to go cheap, but since for important jobs I´ll always hire a soundguy I´m looking for a stepup or sth comparable to the MKE2s, which I actually really like...)
One more thing, does B&H have all of this, since I´m preparing an order from the US from them?
Thanks!
 
trew is a better place to get stuff since they really know what they are doing (unlike B and H... is that a mic??). The metal barrel is a power supply (it still needs +48 phantom to power the power supply). The preamp brings the audio signal up from mic level to line level for recording.
I am not sure if you can get the sankens with breakaways wired for g2 without an adapter, but you should ask. Trew can do anything.

The sanken is much preferable to the mke2 in my opinion (and many of the pros on this board). The only exception being the clip that comes with the mke2 is easier to mount in different directions and the mke2 mic is smaller than the sanken (the b-6 is damn tiny). People also think highly of the countryman b6 (and they are nice too).
I have not seen people using the trams as much as they used to since the introduction of the sankens. The big time mixers around here all use sanken (or b-6 if they need to hide them).

www.trewaudio.com talk to John

Trew Audio Nashville

220 Great Circle Road, Suite 116
Nashville, TN 37228-1798
Map this location 800-241-8994 (Toll-free)
615-256-3542 (Tennessee)
615-259-2699 (Fax)
615-289-3374 (Emergency Rentals)
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday: 7:30am-6:00pm (CST)
 
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Thanks Mike,
since I have a B&H order soon, I wanted to buy everything there to save postage and deal with customs only once, but I will consider Trew now...
But I really think the Cos11 and the B6 are too much for my needs - any opinions on B3s, EMWs or other Lavs around 200$ (best compared to the mke2...)?
And where can i get a 3,5mm crew plug to Xlr connector?
 
saneproductions said:
If you have mke2 lavs wired for 3.5mm g2, why not just get xlr power supplies? You really mean mke2 right? Not the stock me2 mics that come with the g2?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387918-REG/Sennheiser_MZA900P_MZA_900_P_.html
Click to expand...

Countryman, an American product, is cheap in the US and expensive in the EU, people here mostly use Sennheiser...
If I order from the states, I get the Countryman for a good price, hence my interest in them (B3...)
Yes, I have the mke2 (and keep the stock me2 for emergencies...).
So the MZA900P is a preamp, not simply a power supply?
Can´t I just get a simple XLR to 3,5mm plug adapter, given that phantom power is comming from the cam/mixer? I´m still confused...
 
Ya, I guess it is listed as a preamp/powersupply, but it is not how i understood it (and I doubt it is bringing it up from mic to line level). This is what you want though (if you want to keep using your mke2 wired). I think that is your best bet, unless you need wired and wireless at the same time. people love the emw for the price. I don't know about the b3 (I have heard it is good). I do know that there are two or more kinds (shelved and normal) and some types are more for presentations than video production, so beware (I am not sure which one you need ask ptalsky). I would say get the sennehiser adapter I suggested for the mke2 you have or just go with emw if you want good on the cheap.
 
I don't think that any other xlr adapter is a good idea. Call Sennheiser

If you are in Europe (not Hell on Earth), stick with Sennheiser and save the shipping!

The MKE2 is a nice lav.
 
OK some info. The body of condenser (and related) mics is often referred to as the preamp in the mic literature. This is sort of a pre, pre amp. It is taking the microscopic signal that these capsules generate and bringing it up to a mic level.
They also power the capsule. The capsules are not directly powered by phantom power. Phantom power is converted to what the electronics of the mic actually neets by the "preamp / power unit" of the mic. With wired Lavs this is usually in the "barrel" where the battery goes. In a wireless unit the capsule is powered by the transmitter. which is also doing the pre amping of the capsule. If you take the small connector and some how adapted it to an XLR and plugged that into a mixer and switched on phantom power you would probably blow the mic. and in any case you would not get much useful signal. Countryman, and I assume others, make wired lavs where the "barrel" is all in the XLR connector. These mics can be plugged in directly and are phantom powerable.

You still need a mic preamp with all the above since the "preamp" that is part of the mic is the capsule preamp not a mic preamp and only gets you to mic level.

Hope that clears some confusion and saves a lav from a nasty death.
 
BTW, Sennheiser makes great mic (obviously) sometimes they get a bad wrap here because of price/performance in the US, but they are still great (especially if you can get EU prices).
 
Hey,
thanks for all the input guys, for now I´ll most likely go with the Sennheiser preamp like mike suggested and wait what sanken clause is up to this x-mas (pun intended...)
 
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