sound tests...I need help!!!

[kitkat]

Hello all,

I am new on this forum and I am also a real "beginner" went it comes to sound. But I want to learn so here are my questions.

I did some tests on my panasonic DVX 100B with the wireless Sennheiser G2 SK100.

The settings where the following (it was for an interview)

The transmitter was set at -10 dB and the receiver at -24 dB. It gave me a clear sharp sound without any feeling that the person I interviewed was talking in a "can".

In my opinion it was the best result I could get

I did other tests at -18 dB and -10, but the results where like if someone was talking "in a can".

At 0 dB it was really really horrible..big distorsion

I did the test in a silent enviroment without any surrounding sounds I must say. Is that the right way to test the mics or I should do test with lot's of noise around?

Are those setting normal? Because a friend soundman told me that both the receiver and de transmitter should be at 0 dB but I got horrible results.

And also I would like to know this....MUST the receiver and the transmitter be at the same dB? ot is it normal that during my tests, they where set at different levels???

Can someone who knows the sennheiser G2 help me ??

I read lot's of posts on this forum, wich is really good by the way, but I did not find this specific answer

thank you so much:laugh:

kat,

P.S I should add that I will be going to Afrika alone to shoot a project for many many weeks. I don't have budget for a sound man (unfortunately!!!) so I must do it alone...

so keep in mind that I am filming and that it must remain simple.

I plan to use a sennheiser ME66 as the external camera microphone so I can do "small" interviews on the spot.

I will follow poeple around and my main caracter will alway's have the lavalier mic on, so I can get clear sound.

I will also use this lavalier omni to record "general sounds" (put it somewhere in a corner) that I can mix later on with the general sounds that will be recorded with the hypercardio ME66..that I plan to leave on the cam on a mini mount

 

[timapter]

Good luck coming through to Africa... whereabouts are you shooting?

As far as wireless:
The setting on the transmitter will be an attenuation value: in other words, how much you pad down the mics response for a persons voice (cuz some people have loud voices and others dont).

I think your friend means that the audio LEVEL (not the setting), should be approaching 0dB.

I dont really use the G2, but you seem to have answered your own question: when it sounded good was when you were RIGHT. When it sounds bad, you're doing something wrong.

Tests can be done anywhere, quiet of noisy, but its more the mic you're testing then, not the transmitter.

Check out the lectrosonics website, where they tell you about the dreaded key test, walking test, bump test etc etc if you are keen to really analyse the abilities of your wireless system.

P.S - not too sure about using the lav for ambience. It wont sound great, and I can almost assure you wont use it when you hear the result. rather roll a separate track using the me66, or even the onboard cam for a stereo ambi.

tim