Problem w/Channels on Audio-Technica ATW-R1820

8string

8string

Well-known member
So I've been noticing an odd problem since I've bought my Audio-Technica ATW-R1820 which is a stereo wireless receiver to be used with two lavs. I've set the lavs at two different frequencies, and am experiencing a problem. I am monitoring off my HMC 150 and the 1820 receiver seems to 'hunt' on occasion, with Lav1 being moved to Ant B from A or vice versa, and also Ant b moving to A and vice versa. This is after I get everything setup fine, the mics start out great, everyone is stationary, and the mics have a hard time keeping in the right channel. I can hear shifting going on in the headsets, and one mic will cut out when the channel shifts. The main mic on the primary subject seems to get a bit fainter when this happens. Does this make sense? Has anyone else experienced this?

I have tried various frequencies, with no real change to the problem.

Does this happen with all wireless lavs? Do I need to start looking for alternative channels when this happens?

Ideas?
 
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I think you're misunderstanding how that receiver is meant to operate; the antennae aren't dedicated to either channel. That's a diversity receiver which basically means the receiver is constantly picking which antenna is getting the best reception from each transmitter.

I'd check you audio in whatever audio software you're using to see if the audio is really being impacted in any measurable way. I don't want to say it's all in your head, but it might be all in your head; our brains can play tricks on us. :)
 
Could it be your headphone plug is dirty/loose? Try different headphones. Then try a different camera/recorder.
 
Well, perhaps it's only my misunderstanding of their manuals, but I talked to tech support at Audio-T today, and it's apparently due to radio interference at any specific location. True enough that the receiver might hunt and switch antennae, but apparently it *can* affect the output, I do hear it, and the tech said in some cases it can impact the quality of the feed from the mic, as in that if there is interference in the frequency, from TVs, phones, whatever, that it could have an impact. He suggested that when I show up at a shoot, I have the AT receiver scan the 'scan groups' (there are three) and pick out a clear channel (he said to start with scan group 1, and if it doesn't find one, try 2), and then set the lavs to those channels, rather than picking something random to try, which is what I was doing.

The manual does not clearly state to work this way, and that's why I was probably getting wrapped around the axle with this. It seems to say to only use that method of using the scan groups if you are using a single lav, or at least it seems to say that. I've not worked with wireless stereo lavs, as most lavs I've worked with, like the older Sennheisers or Sony's are single lavs.

Anyway, I thought the tech support was great, and I'll try it out Monday on a shoot.

Headphones are brand new Sony's, and seem to work fine. In fact, they are great.
 
Just tried this today, and it "sort" of worked. Hunted and found a second channel on Scan 1 and it 'seemed" to stick, no ant switching at all for 5 minutes. I started the interview, got about 30 minutes in and bingo, it started switching again. This was in a house a long ways in the backcountry. I might try turning off my iPhone, and getting everyone else to, also. I just don't know how much time I have to spend finding a damn clear channel that won't clobber my signal.

To be clear, mic 2, when this happened, faded. mic 1 went right on trucking. When the signal went back to the opposite ant (the original one it had) the mic volume came back up. Every time it moved it had this effect. But it was better than before, so this must be a trail to the answer. I sort of would expect this kind of signal behavior in the city, or near a military base, but heck, I'm a long ways from anywhere and experiencing this!

Have any of you experienced this (not just ant switching but some problem with fading when it happens?)

Seems like wired lavs are the way to go. (?)
 
8string said:
Just tried this today, and it "sort" of worked. Hunted and found a second channel on Scan 1 and it 'seemed" to stick, no ant switching at all for 5 minutes. I started the interview, got about 30 minutes in and bingo, it started switching again. This was in a house a long ways in the backcountry. I might try turning off my iPhone, and getting everyone else to, also. I just don't know how much time I have to spend finding a damn clear channel that won't clobber my signal.

To be clear, mic 2, when this happened, faded. mic 1 went right on trucking. When the signal went back to the opposite ant (the original one it had) the mic volume came back up. Every time it moved it had this effect. But it was better than before, so this must be a trail to the answer. I sort of would expect this kind of signal behavior in the city, or near a military base, but heck, I'm a long ways from anywhere and experiencing this!

Have any of you experienced this (not just ant switching but some problem with fading when it happens?)

Seems like wired lavs are the way to go. (?)
Click to expand...

Cell phones in general are anathema on-set. Make sure ALL of them are turned completely off, NOT just set to silent, whenever your are rolling. You and the rest of the crew can wait 15 minutes for the next tweet. Don't know if that's the source of your problem but it is a possibility.

Check the antenna alignment between the transmitters and receiver - are they parallel? Is the mic cable brushing against or crossing the transmitter antenna?
 
Some small tips and tricks about wirelles stuff:

- don't twist the cable around the receiver or transmitter
- if a cable is too long, don't "coil" it.
- at receiver, avoid putting 2 wires next to eachother (contact)
- give the antennas 'free space'.
- try to point the antennas of the receiver to the transmitter
 
dre83 said:
Some small tips and tricks about wirelles stuff:

- don't twist the cable around the receiver or transmitter
- if a cable is too long, don't "coil" it.
- at receiver, avoid putting 2 wires next to eachother (contact)
- give the antennas 'free space'.
- try to point the antennas of the receiver to the transmitter
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure about that last one. When you point the antennae of the receiver at the transmitter, you are effectively making the receiver's antennae smaller. It your transmitter is pointing straight up the receiver should too, or at least make the receiver's antennae point sideways at a 90 degree angle, but never straight at the transmitter.
 
It turns out the reciever was defective, probably shipped that way...sigh...but I want to commend Audio Technica for jumping in and allowing me to overnight the gear to them at their cost, and they have shipped it back within two days, apparently fixed. Their tech support rocked... now how did that problem get by QA? Or did it happen in shipmement or at EVSonline? Or did I screw it up? My guess is that it was defective on shipment as I've had this problem since day one and my lack of knowledge on these stereo units made me doubt what I was seeing/hearing...sheesh. hours of footage is problematic. I might be able to salvage a lot in post, but it's going to throw my profit margin into the sewer. Oh well. I could be working at McD's for the hourly I made, but this is more fun!
 
Wow, $314.00. Ok, I am working my way up to the expensive level with all you guys but is there anything in the $100.00-150 range that would hold me over until I become rich like the rest of you experts? :)
I need something to fall back on such as this post program in case I screw something up. LOL. By following your guys advice I have been able to avoid most audio issues but I've had one this year and it was a pain.

Yes, I know you get what you pay for. Familiar with that lecture. But at the moment I have next to nothing for post repair software. Something to hold me over until a few more paying gigs come my way this year.

Thanks,
GLB
 
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It looks like there's only 2 packages under 314.00


eMedia Music
Music & Speech Cleaner - Audio Clean-Up and Enhancement Software 29.00

And

Sound Soap 2 79.00

SoundSoap is probably better.
 
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