Yeah okay its been a year now. So what. Do you realize that NY is 4th in cases still. With a new variant spreading. And NY is suing Amazon for lax covid protection for workers. Pick your poison pal.
Rode Wireless Go II
- Thread starter scorsesefan
- Start date
Yeah okay its been a year now. So what. Do you realize that NY is 4th in cases still. With a new variant spreading. And NY is suing Amazon for lax covid protection for workers. Pick your poison pal.
scorsesefan
Veteran
OK, so I received my Rode kit today. In limited testing (a few hours) I have to say I am very impressed with the features and overall sound quality. And I can confirm that TX units DO record a backup track that operates like a continuous cache as soon as the TX units are turned on. The option to turn on continuous recording is found in the Rode Central App.
As for connectivity and signal quality, the two TX units paired right away to the RX unit and I was able to maintain a strong and static free signal in my apartment and even OUT OF LINE OF SIGHT when I went upstairs into a hallway (closing the door) and walking about 40 feet or so away from the RX which was downstairs. @Jim I clipped the TX to the back of my GF's pants and recorded her from about ten feet away from the RX unit and the audio was clean with no dropouts.
The sound quality was very good to my ear. The built in mics on the TX units are clean and have decent tonal quality (for the price) and they're pretty sensitive. The units with the onboard mics have surprisingly low noise floors, too. Setting the gain to 0DB on the units and my A7SIII input vol to 5 I was able to get some really clean, low noise files. OTH when I plugged my lower sensitivity Oscar 802 I left the unit's gain at 0DB but had to bump up the gain on the A7SIII to 15 or so, which added a good deal of noise, but nothing unfix-able in post.
As for 32 bit, when I called Rode tech support they told me straight up that the unit records 32bit. I'm not clear how it works, but it only seems possible through backup recording option and the Rode Central app?
Anyway, so far I'm impressed. Not an audio guy or a techie, but if anyone has any questions I'll try to answer them
As for connectivity and signal quality, the two TX units paired right away to the RX unit and I was able to maintain a strong and static free signal in my apartment and even OUT OF LINE OF SIGHT when I went upstairs into a hallway (closing the door) and walking about 40 feet or so away from the RX which was downstairs. @Jim I clipped the TX to the back of my GF's pants and recorded her from about ten feet away from the RX unit and the audio was clean with no dropouts.
The sound quality was very good to my ear. The built in mics on the TX units are clean and have decent tonal quality (for the price) and they're pretty sensitive. The units with the onboard mics have surprisingly low noise floors, too. Setting the gain to 0DB on the units and my A7SIII input vol to 5 I was able to get some really clean, low noise files. OTH when I plugged my lower sensitivity Oscar 802 I left the unit's gain at 0DB but had to bump up the gain on the A7SIII to 15 or so, which added a good deal of noise, but nothing unfix-able in post.
As for 32 bit, when I called Rode tech support they told me straight up that the unit records 32bit. I'm not clear how it works, but it only seems possible through backup recording option and the Rode Central app?
Anyway, so far I'm impressed. Not an audio guy or a techie, but if anyone has any questions I'll try to answer them
As for 32 bit, when I called Rode tech support they told me straight up that the unit records 32bit. I'm not clear how it works, but it only seems possible through backup recording option and the Rode Central app?
Anyway, so far I'm impressed. Not an audio guy or a techie, but if anyone has any questions I'll try to answer them
Could you jack up the gain and test how well the 32bit feature deals with it in your audio software?
Thanks,
Steve
Jim Feeley
Veteran
Impressive!
How does it sound with your OST lav if you crank up the gain on the transmitter? So you wouldn't need as much gain on your Sony camera?
Thanks for your report!
How does it sound with your OST lav if you crank up the gain on the transmitter? So you wouldn't need as much gain on your Sony camera?
Thanks for your report!
Peter C.
Veteran
That's great you got it and were happy with it. One question about the recording. What's the process of importing audio? Seems a little weird that its always recording. I'd imagine that's a little messy importing video with multiple takes. Also I remember them saying time gen is embedded in the audio.
scorsesefan
Veteran
@Steve. Yeah, I'll try clipping some audio and see how my NLE handles it. @Jim I had the Rode TX cranked up to 0db, which as far as I know is the highest gain setting but I'll check and test. @Peter, when you connect the TX to a computer and access the files via the Rode app, you can export the audio files from the internal cache. Every time you break (turn off the TX) it creates a sequential file XXX-01, XXX-02, etc. There is no video, only audio. I'd imagine most shooters will use it as a fail safe, so if your A audio (wireless) has issues you go to B (internal) and patch. Otherwise, I would think of it as a security camera that loops and if no crime is committed you just let the memory write over itself...
scorsesefan
Veteran
So the gain on the TX maxes out at 0db. On the RX unit you can adjust the gain in steps, High 0, mid -12, and low -24. In the Rode app you can adjust gain in "fine" steps in 3db steps down from 0 to -24... I work in Times Sq so I'm going to try the units out in a high RF environment in a few days to see how they stand up...
Jim Feeley
Veteran
I wonder how the unit will work with a lav with a higher sensitivity. Rode rates their Lavalier Go mic at -35dB (that's the model listed as an accessory for the GO II). That's pretty high. https://www.rode.com/microphones/lavaliergo
I don't see a specific rating for your OST 802, but it looks like it's about -59dB(ish). I could be wrong and maybe I missed the info, and I'd guess OST would tell you (since they give the info for their TL-40). http://oscarsoundtech.com/services.html
If you have another lav around that might be more sensitive, maybe try connecting that to your GO II transmitter and see if you get a clean signal that'll let you turn down the gain on the RX or camera?
Have fun in Times Square. You're a brave man!
(Actually, I hope it all goes well!)
I don't see a specific rating for your OST 802, but it looks like it's about -59dB(ish). I could be wrong and maybe I missed the info, and I'd guess OST would tell you (since they give the info for their TL-40). http://oscarsoundtech.com/services.html
If you have another lav around that might be more sensitive, maybe try connecting that to your GO II transmitter and see if you get a clean signal that'll let you turn down the gain on the RX or camera?
Have fun in Times Square. You're a brave man!
(Actually, I hope it all goes well!)
Peter C.
Veteran
I misinterpreted their features, it has time date stamp in the audio file, but not time/gen lock. Makes sense it doesn't have it, that's a high end feature. But I agree if it does a really good job wireless then the recording would only be used in case of dropouts or interference.
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ahalpert
Major Contributor
One thing I'm concerned about - perhaps this has been addressed already - is that since the transmission is digital, the preamplification must happen at the stage of the transmitter, right? (Audio people, forgive my ignorance)
Then one thing that concerns me is - how good are those pre-amps? I worry about a quality downgrade from my Sennheiser g3s going into my zoom f6 since the zoom f series has pretty decent pre-amps.
Would I be making a deal with the devil to get the convenience and compactness of the rode go but giving up the quality of a bulkier, more complicated set-up? And the go has no locking connector, right?
scorsesefan
Veteran
@Jim, I'll try it with one of my Sennheiser ME2 mics which have higher sensitivity. @Abe, yeah I wondered about that, too. At $300 I doubt the pres are on level with Lectro or even G3s. I wonder how the staging is - A/D or if it's all digital. Also if the limiters are D or A. TBH I foresee using these for personal projects, maybe street intvs where I could just use the TX as a handheld mic or put it on a podium. For paid work I would probably use my G3s...
According to this page on the Rode website, it looks like the on-board recording format for the Wireless Go II is only 24-bit @ 48 kHz:
https://www.rode.com/blog/all/Wireless-GO-II-On-Board-Recording-and-Audio-Export-Modes-Explained
Then when exporting the recordings through the Rode software, you have the following options (again according to the same page):
The units also have an option to record a safety channel which records a second audio track that is 20 dB lower than the main audio track that can be used as a backup in case the main audio track suffers from clipping or distortion. This seems like it would be an unnecessary option if the units recorded in a 32-bit float format internally (which would be nearly impossible to clip due to the greater dynamic range).
https://www.rode.com/blog/all/Wireless-GO-II-On-Board-Recording-and-Audio-Export-Modes-Explained
Then when exporting the recordings through the Rode software, you have the following options (again according to the same page):
- 24-bit WAV (PCM) - this is the current native recording format when recording in uncompressed mode
- 32-bit float WAV - this exports an upscaled 32-bit float format file, great for compatibility with similar files in a DAW environment
The units also have an option to record a safety channel which records a second audio track that is 20 dB lower than the main audio track that can be used as a backup in case the main audio track suffers from clipping or distortion. This seems like it would be an unnecessary option if the units recorded in a 32-bit float format internally (which would be nearly impossible to clip due to the greater dynamic range).
Run&Gun
Veteran
Recording in 24-bit and then exporting(if you choose) in 32-bit float makes zero sense from my perspective, since you will have none of the advantages of a 32-bit float recording available to you in post(since it was, in-fact, a 24-bit recording). This seems like a marketing feature to help sell these to people who don’t know any better. I presume the only thing you’ll gain is a bigger file than you started with(but with no extra ‘real data/information’), unless it’s somehow combining the main and safety track into one file and giving you a file that sorta behaves like a 32-bit float file in the sense that you can “recover” a blown-out track.
Throwback
Well-known member
It's pretty buried and obscure for a marketing feature for those 'who don't know any better' and, of course, there is plenty otherwise in the mk2 version to ensure that these will sell like hot cakes. It is odd all the same, I grant you, but the reference to 24-bit being the 'current' native recording format and 32-bit being related to possible feature expansion via firmware, does make one wonder if the hardware is 32-bit: if so, goodness knows why not implemented at launch. Needless to say, wise to buy on the assumption that 24 bit will be its limit. Mine arrives from CVP this afternoon, so I look forward to some testing at the weekend, not least the actual audio quality of the 24-bit recorder.
Cheers,
Roland
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scorsesefan
Veteran
Yes, doesn't make much sense to record in 24 bit and then "upscale" to 32 bit. I asked Rode tech support directly if it records in 32bit and he said "Yes" So maybe like Run n Gun says it behaves like 32 bit or it's coming in a firmware update? Then there's this disclaimer on BH's product page:
In any case for $300 it's worth it just for the back up recording function.
So maybe like Run n Gun says it behaves like 32 bit or it's coming in a firmware update? Then there's this disclaimer on BH's product page:In any case for $300 it's worth it just for the back up recording function.
Attachments
Jim Feeley
Veteran
"only 24-bit @ 48 kHz" <-- You are so jaded. :cheesy:
Also: thanks for digging up that info.
Considering the low-cost 32-bit recorders already out there. Maybe 32-bit recording is planned for a firmware update?
Jim Feeley
Veteran
OTOH, considering how crowded the UHF bands are these days, it's probably pretty smart to have a 2.4GHz system on hand if you can't find clear frequencies for your G3s.
Once work picks up as we move out of the pandemic, I need to give serious thought to what wireless systems I'm going to get next. Uhg.
JAMedia
Well-known member
[/QUOTE]OTOH, considering how crowded the UHF bands are these days, it's probably pretty smart to have a 2.4GHz system on hand if you can't find clear frequencies for your G3s.[/QUOTE]
I was going to say very unlikely but given their range if you are in some parts of some city's it could be a problem very occasionally. Of course if that once is a bule moon is your once in a lifetime interview....
[/QUOTE] Once work picks up as we move out of the pandemic, I need to give serious thought to what wireless systems I'm going to get next. Uhg.[/QUOTE]
Given the cost of them it would be silly not to have them in the bag as an alternative. The chances of a problem with both UHF and 2.4Ghz are highly unlikely (unless it is my one shot at a Pulitzer prize)
I was going to say very unlikely but given their range if you are in some parts of some city's it could be a problem very occasionally. Of course if that once is a bule moon is your once in a lifetime interview....
[/QUOTE] Once work picks up as we move out of the pandemic, I need to give serious thought to what wireless systems I'm going to get next. Uhg.[/QUOTE]
Given the cost of them it would be silly not to have them in the bag as an alternative. The chances of a problem with both UHF and 2.4Ghz are highly unlikely (unless it is my one shot at a Pulitzer prize)