Recommended new lav mics for Sony UTX series

TubEfingers

TubEfingers

Well-known member
Hi,

got 3 x sets of the Sony UTX series radio mics, need new mics for them,
can budget approx £150-£200 per mic, open to alternative brands,
can anyone recommend good new mics in that budget range for for interview shoots,

Thanks

Luke
 
Save some cash and get OSTs. $100 or so US. Amazing mics for the money.

I like the 802 - it's a side-address with an HF bump that's nice when it's under clothes or a windscreen. The TL-40 is tiny and great for things like tie knots. They also sell a $100 XLR converter for when you don't need wireless but need a lav.
 
The current the street price Countryman B3 is around $200 (USD) with a wireless connector. It's a real nice mic and can be purchased in three sensitivity options, and has three frequency response caps. Same goes for the tiny B6, around $300.
Best bang-for-the-buck is the OST IMO. The 801 has more HF presents for hiding underclothes. The end-address OST TL40 has a flatter response than both the side address 801/2.
 
Did some reading on the OST's, seems like they're highly regarded considering the low price,
got a prompt response from Dave at OST and ordered a few sets of the 801's and an XLR convertor,
thanks all for the suggestions
 
Rick R said:
The current the street price Countryman B3 is around $200 (USD) with a wireless connector. It's a real nice mic and can be purchased in three sensitivity options, and has three frequency response caps. Same goes for the tiny B6, around $300.
Best bang-for-the-buck is the OST IMO. The 801 has more HF presents for hiding underclothes. The end-address OST TL40 has a flatter response than both the side address 801/2.
Click to expand...

Yep, I typo'd that the 802 has the bump. I have the 801.

I really, really dig that bump, too. Gives you a really crisp and present sound that's much more like a good hyper. And if it's too much, dialing down some highs usually kicks down any preamp hiss. (That was a trick in the tape days, going to tape with a little more high end in the hiss range, and then backing it off during mixdown to kill the hiss.) It's just a phat little mic with plenty of low thump - gives you plenty to work with when EQing. It's a steal.

The 801 can really get nailed with fabric and handling noise and takes a little more care when placing, in my experience.
 
Rick R said:
The current the street price Countryman B3 is around $200 (USD) with a wireless connector. It's a real nice mic and can be purchased in three sensitivity options, and has three frequency response caps. Same goes for the tiny B6, around $300.
Best bang-for-the-buck is the OST IMO. The 801 has more HF presents for hiding underclothes. The end-address OST TL40 has a flatter response than both the side address 801/2.
Click to expand...

Does the Countryman B3 sound better than the OST ones?
How would you describe the differences between them?
 
Joshua_G said:
Does the Countryman B3 sound better than the OST ones?
How would you describe the differences between them?
Click to expand...
The B3 may be somewhat more versatile with the frequency response caps, but it's about twice the price of the OSTs.
Does it 'sound better'? .. that's subjective. IMO, they both sound good and use robust low STL cable.
The B3 is an end-address design; the OST 801/802 is a flat rectangular shaped side address. OST's round (4mm) end-address TL40 has a flatter response, and therefore not recommended for use 'under' anything more significant than a tee shirt of other light fabric. However it's usually small enough to hide with the element exposed to direct air.
In my experience, CA based Countryman Associates has good customer service and makes other products such as DIs. OST's customer service is outstanding and is a small one or two person operation in NJ.
 
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Isn't an end address mic more versatile to begin with? Side address seem to be more problematic when trying to hide it and avoid clothing noise. B&h has the countryman B3 for $189 with sony connector. Ost with Sony connector $109.
 
"Isn't an end address mic more versatile to begin with?"
That's subjective as well. It's like a boom mic, a single mic is not adequate for all environments. Most film sound folks have both type lavs and numerous mounting accessories. Should I mention that hiding mics is a whole other skill set? (or art form)
 
I have both the OST 802 and TL-40 and the Countryman B3, but it's not a perfect comparison because the OSTs are for my older Sony UWP wireless and the B3 is for my Senn. G2. But they sound very close. The B3 is maybe slightly better but that may partly be the Senn. vs. the Sony. The 802 is a slightly darker sound, with the B3 slightly crisper. I like the TL-40 the least of the 3 - it's brighter than the other two and is not as rich a sound.
 
Thanks, I'll probably pay for that tutorial, can't put a price on good clean audio :)
and I keep reading about the benefits of moleskin, will look into that too
 
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