Recording Help

From the symptoms we have heard so far, it seems like a possibility that the transmitter is over-modulating and the receiver to mixer (or receiver to camcorer) link is set at a level too low. Some combination like that would explain why it is occasionally clipping, but still the overall levels are too low.
 
If the levels on the transmitter is peaking then turn the sensitivity setting on the transmitter down. Mine is set to -20.
Also the af-out setting on my receiver is set to -12 which is the best setting ( ive found) for my particular lav mic, the sennheiser mke-2.
I've seen a lot of people have problems getting good audio with their g2/3s simply because they haven't set the levels right.
 
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Ok, we've been testing. We walked through everything, reset to factory settings and then set the mixer according to the instructions above, and the transmitter/ receiver according to instructions online.

What we're noticing is that the Trim seems HIGHLY sensitive. We move it just a hair and it slides from being inaudible to distortion-city. What does that mean?
 
Correct; the trim setting is on the mixer.

Now we are testing without the mixer, inputting directly into the camera and we are not having the same issue as before. We are wondering if either the mixer is bad or if we're just that totally clueless (very likely!) on how to adjust it.

We went through Richard's instructions (thank you!!) as best we could and still haven't corrected the problem.
 
Was the mixer new or used? It could be you have a bad pot. Can you try another channel? And are you going in to the mixer as line or mic? (I suspect you have it on mic.....it should be line)
 
Doc Bernard said:
Was the mixer new or used? It could be you have a bad pot. Can you try another channel? And are you going in to the mixer as line or mic? (I suspect you have it on mic.....it should be line)
Click to expand...

So we're using an XLR from the mic into the mixer. How would we take it line-in?
 
Is there a switch on the channel for +4/-10 or mic/line? Many mixers have this. If it doesn't, do you have a 1/4" TRS input on that channel?

Just so you understand, the reciever needs to be treated as if it were a peice of equipment.....not a mic.
 
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You have not revealed enough information for us to know EXACTLY which wireless microphone model and variation you are using.

Is there a headphone or monitor output on the receiver?
Does the signal sound decently loud with no distortion at the receiver?
Is there an audio level indicator on the receiver? What does it say?
No mixer connected, no camcorder connected, JUST the wireless mic, transmitter, and receiver.

You must go through the audio chain link by link or you may never find the problem.
But if you break it down to bite-size pieces, it isn't too difficult to do.

Your symptoms with the trim setting suggest that you have the wireless receiver set for LINE LEVEL output,
and you are trying to feed it into a MIC LEVEL input (on the mixer, and on the camcorder).
Again, since we don't know EXACTLY which wireless system you are using we can't give you detailed
instructions, but there is typically a way to switch the receiver to output either MIC level or LINE level.
Since the XLR input of your mixer is MIC-level only, you must switch the receiver to MIC level output.
(Or else you could use LINE-level output from the receiver, but then you would need another different cable.)
When plugging the receiver into the camcorder, typically the camcorder XLR inputs can be switched
between LINE level and MIC level. The input setting on the camcorder (or mixer) must MATCH the
output level on the wireless receiver.

If you have the wireless receiver set for LINE level into a MIC level input, indeed, you will need to crank
the TRIM all the way down, and even that probably won't work very well. In fact, I would expect exactly
the symptoms you presented with.
 
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EW 100. Can be G2 or G3. No difference in this aspect. Problem is between mixer and reciever. If mixer can switch input levels....easy fix. I think the G3 can atten to line level......but dont have one to confirm. One button/switch on the mixer is easier than going through a menu and selecting........just trying to make it as easy and painless as possible for the OP here. If not you are just an adapter or a setting away to being on target.

We probably had him pulling out his hair, between the two of us throwing tech talk at him.

Jared, please understand, audio is not an easy game. And those of us in the game have our terminology. We sometimes have the tendency to talk in what we consider everyday language, and forget that others around us without the level of knowledge and experience.....say "WTF did you just say?"

But dang it, color me impressed that you are asking the right questions and have the right attitude. Strangely absent in other threads.
 
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Like most small mixers of that ilk, That Xenyx 1202 has an XLR input which is mic-level only, and 1/4 inch input which is line-level only. It does NOT appear to be switchable at all. I strongly suspect that the wireless receiver is set for line-level output.
 
Hi

I downloaded and looked at your waveform. I am going to respectfully suggest a completely different take. In simple terms I think you have electrical interference (technically RFI, Radio Frequency Interference). Most likely getting into your wireless. Most likely from a cell phone. Also a chance it could be coming into any of your electrical or audio cables. LOL sometimes we set our cell phones down next to the equipment. Phones off during webcast is a good practice.

The waveform shape and the sound are familar to me.

I will say that the advice you have gotten is excellent and the attention you have paid to it will help you immensely in general.

Best of luck.
 
Here are the reasons I immediately rejected the possibility of Cell phone interference specifically, or RFI in general...
1) The anomoly happens ONLY at audio peaks. This is NOT the kind of behavior you would see with RFI. It is entirely consistent with signal clipping from improper gain staging, however. (Or from over-modulation in the wireless transmitter). But over-modulation is not the same as RFI.
2) The anomaly happens only in single, isolated spots. This is NOT the kind of interference you hear from cell phones. You typically hear repeated (3x) bursts of identical-sounding data-sounding hash. Example: http://www.freesound.org/people/RutgerMuller/sounds/50699/
3) The extreme sensitivity of the TRIM control is a classic hallmark of feeding a line-level signal into a mic-level input.
 
The g2/3s produce a mic level output. The issue here is puzzling but the only issues I have with my sets is distortion from rf hits which seem to have become more common over the past 3 years. It's making me consider a used lectrosonic set.

Perhaps try a different lav mic.
 
I can replicate the distortion by the method Richard suggests - My Soundcraft does not do it, but a Peavey and Behringer do. A very slight over level and the distortion is abrupt and nasty. It is also worse as frequency lowers. Apart from a microphone, I also tried instruments and on bass, just a very tiny excursion into the red produced a kind of nasty buzz style distortion. I'm confident the distortion is level related, and in the example never occurs at low points in the waveform, only on plosives.
 
After listening to the sample clip, I would concur with Richard's last statement. (#33)

Regarding "The g2/3s produce a mic level output"
-- Yes.. but.. if the EW100 receiver's AF level is raised it can easily feed a -10dB input. If set to the max, +4 too, but the mixer or recorder's preamp gain and record volume would need to pushed, which can cause a noise issue with budget gear.

Sort of off topic: 'Zipping' a wave file does very little to make it smaller.
 
Greetings gentlemen. I apologize for disappearing-- busy day at work.

We've been messing around with things as per suggestions posted here (thanks again!).

There's a 1/4 input on the mixer for that channel. We don't have a 1/4 male-male, though we do have a 1/4-3/4 male-male cable that we threw a 1/4 adapter on. Not sure if that's any good since the adapter seems to be mono while the cable itself is, I believe, stereo.

We're also seeing this terminology of balanced and unbalanced coming up (it's on the back of the receiver and it's something we've googled out a bit). How do we tell which is which? I get that balanced phases out noise (would this be noise from electric interference?). It seems like the TRS output on the receiver is unbalanced only (as per the nifty diagram in the manual). The XLR is balanced only.

Oh, I should mention here-- we have both the G2 and G3 systems. Though we're testing primarily with the G2 at the moment.

Now, I notice there are also XLR to 1/4 cables. Is that preferable over a male-male TRS cable since one is balanced and the other isn't?

I hope I'm asking the right questions! My head's spinning a bit! I do thank you for your patience, though! This is much appreciated.

Also, I'm heading out here shortly for the weekend. I will return on Monday! Monday and Tuesday are both busy and so I don't know that we'll have much time to test out further advice until probably Wednesday.

Thanks again!
 
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What model receiver are you going to be using? What make/model mixer?
The G2/3 EW100 portable receiver output is un-balanced.. which should not be a problem, if the cables that came with the system are used, and the cable run length is relatively short. The Sennheiser G series A/C powered base-station receiver, (I believe) will work at either balanced or un-balanced @ line level via a 1/4" TS (guitar type) or 1/4" TRS audio cable. If it has an XLR output, that is likly balenced microphone level, and should not be plugged into a 1/4" input on the mixer.. unless it's specifically labeled or can be switched to 'Line' level on the reciever.

"we do have a 1/4-3/4 male-male cable that we threw a 1/4 adapter on".
-- Never heard of a 3/4" connector.. ???
 
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Rick R said:
What model receiver are you going to be using? What make/model mixer?
The G2/3 EW100 portable receiver output is un-balanced.. which should not be a problem, if the cables that came with the system are used, and the cable run length is relatively short. The Sennheiser G series A/C powered base-station receiver, (I believe) will work at either balanced or un-balanced @ line level via a 1/4" TS (guitar type) or 1/4" TRS audio cable. If it has an XLR output, that is likly balenced microphone level, and should not be plugged into a 1/4" input on the mixer.. unless it's specifically labeled or can be switched to 'Line' level on the reciever.

"we do have a 1/4-3/4 male-male cable that we threw a 1/4 adapter on".
-- Never heard of a 3/4" connector.. ???
Click to expand...

Whoops! Friday afternoon syndrome.

1/8! Not 3/4. Neither audio nor math, clearly, are my strong points.
 
Rick R said:
What model receiver are you going to be using? What make/model mixer?
Click to expand...

Were you going to answer these? We are trying to help you, but we are completely in the dark without important information only you can provide.
If you don't understand a question, we are happy to help. But it is frustrating when communication is so irregular and incomplete.
 
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