Oscar Sound Tech - OST 801 vs 802 vs TL-40

The digital Lectro 400 series doesn't have the issue. Niether does the Zaxcom.
But these cost much more.. yo' get what yo' pay for.
 
Rick & TheDingo - Thanks for the replies. I ordered the 801, as I will likely use it under clothes at some point.

Regarding the companding artifacts, would it be hard (or advisable) to disable the companding circuit in the Sennheiser? I generally loath auto-anything, but as I have no experience with wireless systems I don't know if the companding circuit is crucial to wireless transmission.

BTW, does the G3's squelch control have any influence on companding? I have mine set to low.
 
Companding is used to increase the usable dynamic range of the system. Without it, we wouldn't have the dynamic range that would be acceptable for typical speech signals at a "popular price". By using more expensive components and construction and bandwidth, we can get wider dynamic range without using companding. But like most things in life, it is a tradeoff between performance and cost. The parameters for the companding used in popular-price wireless systems is optimized for the kind of levels and frequencies encountered in normal speech. That is why doing the key-jingle or cellophane-crumple test demonstrates high-frequency content beyond the design limits.

Squelch and companding are two different and independent concepts.
 
I don't normally post anything negative about anybody, but the experience I had with Oscar Sound I thought I'd share just FYI "Buyer Beware" - I ordered one of their mics with the understanding that I could return it for a full refund if returned like new in 7 days. I compared it to an AT899 in my studio for one brief test and didn't care for it so I boxed it back up to return. When OST received my package they said they would not accept my return because the mic looked like it had been used several times and the power supply had scratches on it. I implored the contact (Dave) to investigate my return for himself. It was only after I filed a claim with paypal that they agreed to issue me a refund (minus shipping) but Dave said it didn't look like scratches on the power supply but more like adhesive. Not sure what he was trying to imply, but this mic never even left my studio & was used for one 20 minute test. So shop with them with that in mind. Good luck.
 
Sorry Karl,
You are one of the very few of I've heard of who didn't like the mic AND had issues with OST's customer service.
 
I am totally happy with my OST 801 mic. Sounds good, performs well, and everything is interchangeable with my TRAM TR50 mic.
 
1. i've been very happy with my OST - I don't use it under clothing and I don't prefer a bright sounding mic so I got the 802. I appreciated the charts shown on the web site in helping make my decision.
2. Mine is for my Sony UWP. That option was not listed on their price sheet, so I contacted OST. I got a prompt reply telling me the price and more details. I also got the product quickly. I've been happy with the quality. Counting the more expensive Sony connector, accessories, and shipping, it was still only about $120. Plus, I think the prices have been the same for the past 2-3 years.
3. Now I'm in the market for a lav for a G2 system. I may give the TL-40 a go. I like the small size, and an older message in this thread praised its fuller sound.
 
Recently picked up the OST802 to replace a dead ME2... quite simply, I didn't know what I was missing. Very glad to have it, especially for such a reasonable price (considering the beating my wireless lavs take). Plan to pick up a couple more and two of the XLR units
 
I have a couple of TL-40s as well and like them too. They are a end-fire mic design so differenct mounting options are available... under buttons and such.
The 'Hush Lav' foam sleeves work good with the Tl-40 as do a few other mounting accesories for the Sanken.
FWIW, the TL40 is a slightly smaller than the Countryman B3 but larger than the B6.
 
"Now I'm in the market for a lav for a G2 system."
Dave, if it's in your budget, get a G3 system, it has improvements over the G2, the most significant being the portable EK100 receiver now has diversity reception... the audio output cable acts as the secondary antenna.
 
Richard - Thanks for taking time to reply. Until further notice, keys and cellophane are banned from the set!
 
davidp158 said:
Richard - Thanks for taking time to reply. Until further notice, keys and cellophane are banned from the set!
Click to expand...
I assume you are saying that tongue-in-cheek.

If you actually need to record a sound like key-jingling or celophane crinkling (or similar odd sounds), you probably don't need to use a WIRELESS microphone.

Key-jingling and celophane-crinkling are rather common ad-hoc audio test "signals". Sometime when you have a spare hour and access to a bumch of different microphones, try them with these sounds and compare their performance.
 
Richard - I have used key jingles to "audition" high frequency content of mics before. I just wasn't aware of using it to test the compander issue. Thanks for the tip!
 
ddixon said:
I got it hard wired for my Sony UWP wireless - should be a huge improvement over the kit mic.
Click to expand...

Do they sell any of them wired like this? (can't seem to find it)
Or did you make up the wiring yourself from the pigtail model?

And which of TL-40 or 801 would be better I wonder with it for use under clothes? (802 I understand would be better if worn in plain sight)
 
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OST can wire them for most transmitters. Contact OST for conformation, Dave usually responds quickly. Yes, the 801 is preferred for under clothing usage. See other OST thread.
 
Yes, just contact OST. Since my last post here, I bought a used G2 system and a new G3 and stopped using my Sony UWP. I mailed my Sony-wired OST 802 back and had it rewired for Sennheiser for about $25. I also got a TL-40 and personally found the audio quality (perhaps due to the tiny size) was not as good overall as my 802. This was confirmed by a local pro who has done sound for network TV. He agreed that the 802 sounded very good, with the TL-40 not the same caliber. I also eventually added a Countryman B3. The B3 sounds even better than the 802, but at 2x the price it should. So now I use the 802 with my older G2 wireless and the B3 with the G3 system.
 
ddixon said:
I also got a TL-40 and personally found the audio quality (perhaps due to the tiny size) was not as good overall as my 802. This was confirmed by a local pro who has done sound for network TV. He agreed that the 802 sounded very good, with the TL-40 not the same caliber.
Click to expand...

Yes, I can confirm this too. I have both the 802 and the TL-40 ( along with a Sanken COS-11x, TRAM TR50, Sennheiser MKE2 Gold, Countryman EMW ), and the TL-40 I have never used on a job because of how it sounds. I was expecting something that sounds as good as the 802 and was quite disappointed with the poor results.
 
ddixon said:
Yes, just contact OST. Since my last post here, I bought a used G2 system and a new G3 and stopped using my Sony UWP.
Click to expand...

Why did you stop using your Sony UWP over a G3 and even a G2? As I just started using a Sony UWP-D11 very recently, and so far am preferring it over the G3 systems I've used in the past.

ddixon said:
I mailed my Sony-wired OST 802 back and had it rewired for Sennheiser for about $25. I also got a TL-40 and personally found the audio quality (perhaps due to the tiny size) was not as good overall as my 802. This was confirmed by a local pro who has done sound for network TV. He agreed that the 802 sounded very good, with the TL-40 not the same caliber. I also eventually added a Countryman B3. The B3 sounds even better than the 802, but at 2x the price it should. So now I use the 802 with my older G2 wireless and the B3 with the G3 system.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... thanks, kinda leaning towards getting a Countryman B3 now I think.
 
My Sony was the older system, not the current one. It doesn't sound as good as the Sennheiser. I did try the D11 Sony but must have gotten a bad unit, as the range was poor - about half as far as my old G2. I thought the sound was equal to the G2 but returned the Sony and got a G3 on sale. I've read several accounts that the Sony works well, so my experience may not be typical.
 
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