Researching Lavs for Weeks - Still Lost.

T

trey

Well-known member
Forum,

I'm sorry if this post is viewed as clutter, but there is so much information on this subject that it becomes confusing.

I would like to run a WIRED lav into some kind of recording device in my actor's pocket.

I thought I found an answer in the Zoom H2, but now I read that this is not the best sound quality due to the H2's preamp.

Can somebody please help me come to a decision. I want something that sounds really good, and I'm hoping to keep the $package right around 500$.

Thank you all for sharing your advice.

Trey
 
Old minidisk recorders are plenty good enough for dialog, get one from ebay, add battery powered COS-11.
 
Your best option would be a Zaxcom ZFR100 - it adds timecode into the mix and is small enough to fit in a pocket. But, it runs about $1000.

Not sure why you want to record to a device in a pocket. Why not go wireless - you'll ultimately get much greater versatility (granted there are limitations to wireless, but overall, it's a good option if you can't get the boom in.)

Phil
 
Initially I read problems about interference when using wireless lavs.

However, I've recently been hearing that as long as you choose the appropriate frequency for the area you're working in it's not a problem.

I'm assuming that is the school of thought that you subscribe to?

Thanks to everybody here for your input.

I'm seriously considering going wireless at this point. I think a couple lavs combined with a boom will really take my audio production to a high level.

Thanks,

Trey
 
trey said:
I think a couple lavs combined with a boom will really take my audio production to a high level.
Click to expand...

Two wireless lav systems and a boom, plus a three-channel mixer, is a standard, basic ENG kit. You will find plenty of flexibility in that, and there's nothing to fear with wireless. Yeah, it'll crap out on you in certain situations, but those can be (normally are) minimized by about 98.8%.

And there's not a major motion picture made today that doesn't rely on wireless lavs for dialog (with coverage from shotgun mics and plate mics as well, but that's a whole different thread...).

So go for it. The other benefit is that you can actually monitor during recording, which is essential. If you plant a recorder in the speaker's pocket, you have to trust that you set s safe level at the start. You are then left to what could be an unpleasant surprise later when you listen back to the recorded audio.
 
Wireless....

Yes, but make sure you get the RIGHT wireless for the job/budget.

So many people throw their hard earned cash away by "cheaping out" here where it counts. G2 is the minimum wireless for pro work. We don't want to see a thread about which Azden system to get. Please??
 
Right. Wireless run from $600 (even less actually, but don't buy them) to $5k. And yes, you get what you pay for.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
tyreeford said:
Right. Wireless run from $600 (even less actually, but don't buy them) to $5k. And yes, you get what you pay for.


Regards,

Ty Ford
Click to expand...

Do you really feel that there's nothing out there for less than $600 that can produce high quality audio?

Trey
 
trey said:
Do you really feel that there's nothing out there for less than $600 that can produce high quality audio?

Trey
Click to expand...

Sorry man, it is the brutal truth.

Just think of how much time, MONEY and effort you saved not having to figure that out for yourself!
 
Pocket Recorder+Headphones

Pocket Recorder+Headphones

C2V said:
If you plant a recorder in the speaker's pocket, you have to trust that you set s safe level at the start. You are then left to what could be an unpleasant surprise later when you listen back to the recorded audio.
Click to expand...

This shouldn't be a problem if you run some test with some headphones attached to the recorder just prior to shooting. No?

Trey
 
Talent is talent. They frequently reinterpret the power and script. If the mic moves, you never know it. It's always seemed like a white knuckle ride to me, but folks do it fairly regularly.

One of the Zaxcom wirelss transmitters has a recording chip. If reception fails, the audio is recorded in the transmitter on the chip and is either replayable from the transmitter, or you can pull the chip and put it in a chip reader.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Last edited:
The Sennheiser G2 system is the best option for entry level wireless. Unfortunately, the stock mic that comes with the system is not so good, so you want to replace that with a lav wired for g2 like the countryman emw, b6, sanken cos11 etc.


Make sure you get the correct frequency for your area.
http://www.trewaudio.com/store/produ...&cat=77&page=1
hand mic for transmitter
http://www.trewaudio.com/store/produ...&cat=41&page=1
countryman lav wired for g2
http://www.trewaudio.com/store/produ...&cat=42&page=1
 
Smallest Wireless Lav

Smallest Wireless Lav

Can anybody suggest the smallest, high quality wireless mic available?

Also, how difficult is it to wire talent under the shirt without sacrificing quality?

Trey
 
The Countryman B6 is the smallest. It can be hidden behind a shirt button, or even in plain sight depending on what it's sitting on.

When it is exposed, however, it is susceptible to wind.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
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