Standalone preamp with phantom

J

Joshua_G

Well-known member
I'm going to shoot a video of a panel of lecturers, of which I want to have good sound of at least one speaker, preferably two speakers sitting apart. Me and the 2 cameras plus Zoom F4 will be placed at the back of the room, unable to place a mic cable across the room. So I'm looking for a decent, budget friendly, standalone preamp with phantom power to feed the Sennheiser G3/G4 transmitter(s).
What are your recommendations? Is there such a preamp with 2 mic inputs and 3 separate outputs?
 
In short, you could get a small mixer and use the L, R, and AUX outputs. Something like the Allen & Heath Zed-10 would work.

But I wonder if this isn’t overcomplicating things. You have multiple wireless channels, yes? My first question would be, why not lav the members of the panel? I know this isn’t always something the venue is happy to accommodate, but it’s worth asking if you haven’t already.

Another option, obviously, is to try and get a feed from the house system if at all possible. And sometimes that’s not possible.

So why not plant one in front of each person on the panel? Even better, if they already have house mics on tabletop stands in front of them, you can get away with taping lavs to the sides of those mics.
 
I would just put up a 57 or 58 with a SKP series plug-on transmitter, otherwise attach/tape a good quality lav to the speakers mic.
If you go the external-preamp-to-transmitter scenario with a SK100 body pack transmitter, you will need a custom line level cable (ring terminal= hot), since practically all pre amps output line level. BTW you will want a 10 or 15db pad as well, because the SK100 body pack transmitter in line level mode maxes out (clips) at +5dBu or so, whilst a (nominal) +4dB has peaks well exceeding that.. up to around +20dBu.
 
Thanks, Alex.
Alex H. said:
In short, you could get a small mixer and use the L, R, and AUX outputs. Something like the Allen & Heath Zed-10 would work.
Click to expand...

The Zed-10 is a four channel mixer and too expansive for me for one shoot, for personal uses, maybe YouTube. I'm looking for something cheaper, two channels will do. The sound quality need be only decent for the above requirements.

Alex H. said:
But I wonder if this isn't overcomplicating things. You have multiple wireless channels, yes?
Click to expand...
I have 1 Sennheiser G3, 1 G4 and 1 RODELink filmmaker kit and few good lav mics (Sankens, DPAs and OSTs).

Alex H. said:
My first question would be, why not lav the members of the panel? I know this isn't always something the venue is happy to accommodate, but it's worth asking if you haven't already.
Click to expand...
I deed only one panel member, maybe also the chairman introducing him. I'm not sure if it will be possible, so I want to be prepared. The member I'm interested filming and recording is a yoga Master from India. He'd probably say yes, but I'm not sure if it will be possible, since he may arrive to the venue few minutes before the conference will start.

Alex H. said:
Another option, obviously, is to try and get a feed from the house system if at all possible. And sometimes that's not possible.
Click to expand...
Feeding it to the Sennheiser transmitter? Would the level be okay?

Alex H. said:
So why not plant one in front of each person on the panel? Even better, if they already have house mics on tabletop stands in front of them, you can get away with taping lavs to the sides of those mics.
Click to expand...
I assume that cardio or super-cardio mic will sound much better than an omni lav.
 
Thanks, Rick.

Rick R said:
I would just put up a 57 or 58 with a SKP series plug-on transmitter, …
Click to expand...
I have none of those.

Rick R said:
… otherwise attach/tape a good quality lav to the speakers mic.
Click to expand...
See above: I assume that a cardio or super-cardio mic will sound much better than an omni lav.

Rick R said:
If you go the external-preamp-to-transmitter scenario with a SK100 body pack transmitter, you will need a custom line level cable (ring terminal= hot), since practically all pre amps output line level. BTW you will want a 10 or 15db pad as well, because the SK100 body pack transmitter in line level mode maxes out (clips) at +5dBu or so, whilst a (nominal) +4dB has peaks well exceeding that.. up to around +20dBu.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, useful and valuable.
 
Joshua_G said:
Feeding it to the Sennheiser transmitter? Would the level be okay?
Click to expand...

Should be fine if you have the proper cable (as Rick mentioned). And a pad if the output isn’t -10dB unbalanced. Just turn the input sensitivity almost all the way down. But ideally, the house system will be located in the back, near your cameras and your F4. At that point, it’s just a simple cable run from their board to your recorder. No wireless needed.

Joshua_G said:
I assume that cardio or super-cardio mic will sound much better than an omni lav.
Click to expand...

If you’re taping a lav to the side of a podium mic, cardioid can be okay but omni can be more forgiving. There’s no risk of feedback since the omni lav isn’t feeding the house PA system.
 
Thanks, Alex.
Actually, problem solved. Short-sighted me … if need will arise, I can use the Tascam DR-60D (MK I) as preamp and mixer, recording internally and feeding the Sennheiser body-pack transmitter.
 
Joshua_G said:
I'm going to shoot a video of a panel of lecturers, of which I want to have good sound of at least one speaker, preferably two speakers sitting apart. Me and the 2 cameras plus Zoom F4 will be placed at the back of the room, unable to place a mic cable across the room. So I'm looking for a decent, budget friendly, standalone preamp with phantom power to feed the Sennheiser G3/G4 transmitter(s).
What are your recommendations? Is there such a preamp with 2 mic inputs and 3 separate outputs?
Click to expand...

Why not a cable? If you run a very very long one along the edges of the wall with it taped down then that is normally always ok

Otherwise, if you want a pre amp the cheapest quality option will be a Sound Devices MP1 on eBay, there are better options but they'll be even more expensive. And if you're needing two or more, well you might as well just buy a 2nd F4!!

I reckon if you really really can not use a long XLR cable is that you should buy a could of RodeLink Newsshooter Kits, or even better getting an older Lectro UH200 can be got for dirt cheap
 
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