Sennheiser G-serie

Ferdi Willemse

Ferdi Willemse

Well-known member
Hello people,

I'm trying to figure out what equipment I should buy to get a decent set-up for my new camera. Now I was wondering if you can transmit two microphones to one receiver with the Sennheiser G-serie (Wireless).

Thanks!
 
No, you can transmit one microphone to two recievers, or you can send two microphones to two recievers, and put them through a mixer into one channel.
 
Ferdi,

The G2 is considered the minimum acceptable wireless set up by most in this group. I've been using them for some time with good results. But, I have replaced all of the stock lavalieres with Countryman B6's, which does improve the quality significantly. I suggest you do a search here for G2 - there has been lots of discussion on the G2's.

Phil
 
Ferdi here is a clip of my daughter's wedding using the g-series. This should give you a idea of how they work. The pastor just happens to lean to close to the groom and talkes right into the mic, this caused alittle over modulation but it did a good job of picking up everyone close to it. Hope this helps.

http://e-motionsmedia.com/Videos/Darcieshort.mov




Ferdi Willemse said:
Hello people,

I'm trying to figure out what equipment I should buy to get a decent set-up for my new camera. Now I was wondering if you can transmit two microphones to one receiver with the Sennheiser G-serie (Wireless).

Thanks!
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Ferdi Willemse said:
Sorry, I'm not really good at English expressions. You probably mean that it's not a decent mic set?
Click to expand...

What Phil said. G2 is the bottom of acceptable. "Decent" would seem to imply better then the bottom end but maybe that was not you were attempting to convey. To many video guys looking to buy their way out of thinking about audio, "decent" means "the least amount of money and effort I can put into this."

Really the question is, what are your expectations and how much are you will to pay to get them met?

Nice link, Newtodvx100a.

Cheers
 
Thanks for the link, Newtodvx100a! That really helps. I'm actually surprised that it picks up your daughters voice pretty good too. Do you happen to have some more clips of that wedding online?
Edit: I just found the full wedding clip on your webspace. It looks really great. I think the sound works well. Did the groom also have a wireless mic attached? Could you please explain what sound setup was used? That would be awesome :)

I think the G2 would be good enough for my purpouse. I'm just a beginner at and need to puchase everything at once, which gets pretty expensive. I think I'll just start off with the G2. Once I've earned some money with this I could always upgrade, if necessary.

Thanks a lot, everybody. This community is very helpful.
 
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Ferdi, the groom was wearing the mic. It captured everything. Glad you liked the footage. I have never had any interference, poor or lost reception, battery life is good. The cases are metal and rugged. The sound seems natural even with the mic supplied in the kit. Later I will get the countryman b6, the one everyone recommends.


Ferdi Willemse said:
Thanks for the link, Newtodvx100a! That really helps. I'm actually surprised that it picks up your daughters voice pretty good too. Do you happen to have some more clips of that wedding online?
Edit: I just found the full wedding clip on your webspace. It looks really great. I think the sound works well. Did the groom also have a wireless mic attached? Could you please explain what sound setup was used? That would be awesome :)

I think the G2 would be good enough for my purpouse. I'm just a beginner at and need to puchase everything at once, which gets pretty expensive. I think I'll just start off with the G2. Once I've earned some money with this I could always upgrade, if necessary.

Thanks a lot, everybody. This community is very helpful.
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Sometimes the snobism is a bit too much. I use 1st generation sennheiser wireless systems with Trams and they have worked well for me. Sure lectrosonics are great so is an AltaCine with primes but I shoot with a DVX 100b and I love my camera and have been very happy with my Sennheiser 500 series which I only use when I can't run a wire.
I often get the feeling when I read the audio section of DVXUser that I am entering a private club and unless I am dressed in the right outfit I am not welcome. I think this is a bad message to send to new users. There are lots of more than adequate products out there designed to fit different budgets and the Sennheiser wireless series is one of them. Not everyone needs to have an SD 424 or 302, mixers from PSC and Sign are excellent for many many of the users here and deliver many broadcast productions and indyfilms.
When I need to be a quality level that I can't support with my technology I do what I suggest others should do, engage the services and kit of someone who can supply it or rent it.
To justify $3500 to $5000 for one or maybe two wirleless kits will certainly mean you have to do a lot of business to pay for it and for some that may not be a problem. To them I say "Bravo" good on you and all the best . For those who don't need an atomic bomb to kill a fly, this round is on me.
 
I'm no expert, and the things I have leared were mostly from this site and people willing to tke the time to post to us wanabees. All I could do is post a clip of what the g2 sounds like for me. I am thankful for the peope who spend the time and effort to help others. Professionals of course use great equipment and they know the difference "trained ear verse untrained ear- experience verse no experience. Thank you to eveyone who has ever posted and helped someone.
 
Hey Brian, I think you missed an important point in my post - I'm using G2's as my primary wireless in my kit. I did upgrade the lav's because the stock lav's really were terrible (as did you with the Trams). I have said all along, I don't buy new equipment until my existing equipment is paid for (well, I have a major exception today, I'll post in another thread). But, for wireless, I'm using G2's right now. Would I prefer Lectro (or even better, Zaxcom)? Of course. But, my business level doesn't justify either of those at present. Do I hope that changes, you bet your tush. ;-)

And, BTW, you can get "the best" and not have to pay full price. It's called ebay. I have a Senn. 416 (considered "the best" by many) and I got it for less than a new AT4073a. I picked up a SD 302 for $800 (not much more than the PSC's). There's nothing wrong with used "bests".

Phil
 
Brian - lets say that snobism and work with better equip are 2 different things .
when you do documentary and relay on your equip the smartest thing is to eliminate to zero problems which may or may not appear .
so invest in better wireless is not snobism , it is the right thinking imo .
no need to get zaxcom or 411 ,but for little more to get diversity receiver and much powerful transmitter then g-2 garbage ( yep this the right word ) .
especially for these moments you cant dub or loop later .
and yes , the weddings are the part of it , so maybe you dint been hit this time and next 50 ,but there would be time you will curs the moment you didnt have better system .
about your filling about dvx privet club - i dont mind if you will come naked as long you have something to show :-),
 
Sorry if that is your read on the attitude in here, Brian.

I think you find a pretty fair cross section of budget levels here and the G2 is very popular for the budget filmmaker. But as I said before, it all depends on your expectations and budget.

As Oleg points out, a working professional really needs to rely on his gear. Your gear fails you; your clients leave you; you need to find a new line of work. It does not take much to get a reputation for producing shody work.

So, the G2 does perform OK if not pushed too hard and has worked for many people. Therefore it is recommend for those professionals that can't afford better. If a poster is not a professional then obviously they could get even less then the G2 but that is just a decision on what they want to invest into their hobby.

Might I suggest that what you read as "snobbism" is more the responses to a plethora of posters who want to buy the cheapest gear available and have someone reassure them they are doing the best thing. I don't think it is snobbism to inform them that most of the cheaper gear will get you "cheaper" results (all other things being equal).

When all is said and done good audio comes down to technique, attention, and care. That is the main message I think we try to impart here. If you are taking the time to learn then you are aces in my book. Afterall, we were all audio noobs at one point or another (although I think Oleg came out of the womb holding a boom pole :-) ).

Of course the constant "I just spent $6000+ on my DVX and camera gear so I only have <$1000 to spend on audio" questions do get tiresome. I think we can call these people "video elitists." What else would you call someone who spends a ton of time, training, and money on video but won't walk across the street to spit on audio? :)

Again, I am sorry you have interpreted some sort of exclusitory attitude in here. It is certainly not the intention.

Cheers
 
Wabbit, Thanks for the reply, I can understand the frustration sometimes and could but won't dispute your definition of snobism. But a quick point. The Sign mixer got a good review from a respected souce, here it gets slammmed. The Sennheriser wireless systems have had the same result. But I understand what you are saying about what is the cheapest way around this and that and what I didn't mention is I also two sets of Micron Explorers my second sets are Sennheiser 500's and 2x100's.
They work very well.
As for EBAY I bought my U87 on ebay from a studio in 1998, My company (which I closed in June of this year) bought in excess of $150,000. in used gear from 1999 to 2005. So I am sorta familiar with ebay.
And Oleg.....what can one say to Oleg...other than the lyrics of that famous song:"...don't go changin' to try to fool me...."
Brian
 
Wait a minute, I don't think the Sign mixer has been slammed here (maybe someone did in a post I didn't read). As I remember it, a link to Ty Ford's review of it was posted and Oleg gave it a moderate review for a bargin mixer. Short of that, there has been very little talk of this mixer as it is pretty new and does not have much of a track record.

And as for the Senn G2, overall you won't find a friendlier website to the G2 then right here. If this website got a nickle everytime someone recommended the G2 Jarred would be a rich(er) man. The fact that it's weaknesses are also pointed out is a pretty "fair and balanced" approach. Even the Lectros and Zaxcom have their weaknesses that every buyer should know about before investing.

Now if you were to make an argument about the disdain expressed here over the Senn ME66, I will not disagree with you at all. I am proud to call myself a anti-ME66 snob. I could wax poetically for days about my passionate hatred for this mic. :furious3:

But even that is just one man's opinion

Cheers
 
Wabbit,

I don't have the ME66, but I do own their ME2 and ME6 which I intend to include in my samples as well as the Sennheiser G2 with the Countryman. And I look forward to both your and Oleg's submissions based on your strong views.

Warm Regards, Michael
 
You know I took a bunch of time on set last spring when I got my first 401 to do a pretty nice A/B test against a G2 I had available to me at the time. I had intended to post in here but was distracted. I seem to have misplaced it since (file was not well named).

Anyways, as soon as I have some time and get my hands on a G2 w/B6 mics again I will do another comparison. I will say this, you will not like how the G2 does on the key test. Also had a lot of trouble in reflective environments but surprisingly kept up with the Lectro on distance. I remember they were both holding up well all the way out in the parking lot about 250 yards away.

Until then, Phil did some nice A/B lav comparisons: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=45427

Should be an eye (or rather ear) opener for those considering using the stock mic.

Cheers
 
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