wireless audio

egproductions

egproductions

Veteran
1. what is the downswide to wireless audio? is their added noise? loss in quality?

2. If you have a mono mic and fill one of your channels of audio will there be added noise? what if my audio was too quite, and i duplicated the audio channel to a few other channels and then mixed it down it would add noise?
 
The two main disadvantages to wireless audio are:

1) dropouts from RF interference

2) much higher cost to obtain the same quality as a wired setup.

As to your second question, most (all?) dialogue on professional shoots is recorded in mono. Your signal:noise ratio will not change whether you record the same mic to both channels at the time of the shoot or duplicate the first channel to the second in post. That being said, anytime you increase the level of the dialogue (rubberbanding it up, duplicating channels) any underlying noise will also be increased. Thus most people's harping on capturing good audio to begin with.
 
Another problem with wireless, which may not quite be intuitive is clothing noise. Even the best, most experienced mixers will occasionally have clothing rub noises on the mic (which leaves the great majority of us with clothing noise more often than not.) ;-)

Can't get clothing rub noises from a mic on a boom pole (notwithstanding Yankee's post in another thread talking about how important it is to get the mic close...HINT: If you're getting clothing rub noise on the boom....it's a bit too close. ;-)
 
This is not wireless problem, that is lavaliere problem .
generally if you intend use good wireless, you will find that degradation in sound is nothing comparing the comfort ability to work without wires .
if your main market is tv ,the final product will mostly completely not recognized which method you did use in the field , but as i said with good system not budget solution.
 
i dont mind, used or new, but its harder to get used gear here in South Africa.

Needs to be a package I can keep for a long time, and use in varying situations:

TV field Links/Interviews
Short Narrative Films
Low Budget Feature Films
Documentary etc etc.

Needs to be strong, and something that wont let me down.
 
first rule which brake down everything i ll write later , only something that bring money , dont buy anything you will have to support production from your pocket ( if it your production-you will have to do the balance)
if we will ignore from the firs rule :-)
sound wise - lectrosonics 195 ,200 used ,range wise and build wise better then g-2 for everything you did mention with small exeption about number of channels for 195 .it is a single channel .
these systems has better front end if you work with feeds from your bag .
except the 201 which doesn't have tracking front end and much vounable to rf rejection , good as others in regular situation. ( going to be replaced by 401 which can except all the lectro range).
the 200,205,210 are good and solid receivers as well , from my experience ,the 200,205 had better front end and get me the most extensive range , the 211 is the quietest between the analog receivers and have better performers audio wise .
the AUDIO LTD 2000 diversity or not ( the receiver , the tx is the same)
excellent audio , better then 195 ,as good as 211/200,2 channels only , much less working range ( 50mw transmitters , but not only) and front end then 200
very reliable , less power hungry then the lectros ( tx mainly), the dyvercity recievers work on 3 3v batteries , which fu,,expensive and hard to get , but if you work with external power there is no problem , have get under 12 v external ( might be need dc converter if you power with lithium batteries).
the big plus the tx can suply 9v directly to additional plug which converts to 48 ph for condenser mikes ,also have tx which takes schoeps capsule directly .
the 2020 , same performers , just more channels(12) come in diversity or regular version .
the cix model the same but for camera mounting ,can accept ext battery box
both models sound wise and range dont good as lectro 400.
the micron 500 something like 195 less good then the audio ltd , dont get to many good points in any aria
senheiser - sk50/250 transmitters are good but not as good as audio or 200/400 , the new tx with 30 mw are pure in range , the receiver s are not comfortable ,
sounds good but not good as the others . the old one ( dont remember the number m) work ext power only .
money wise - dont worth the money
new- there is nothing that can beat the 400 series for range , sound quality, durability and company support in analog wireless domain ( the 400 are analog wireless with digital processing)
money wise - the others are even much fur away.
didn't check the micron 700 but i really dont think they are in the same level
if i had to do budget option i definitely will wait for 401 and check what tx to take ( you have 5 to choose from ) .in any combination they would better valiu then any other.
the price range in states would be around 1600-2400 depends on tx
or less if you go for used 200 tx .
the zaxcom only if you do high budget or need 2 channel to camera , audio wise - nothing around ( the best for condencer mic booming), have problems with some mikes or gear that cant reject am modulation ( not zaxcom problem , other equip problem), accept mic level only ( you need pads in cables if you like run line feed)
range as lectro , depends on rf out ( variable), less then um 250- 250mw lectro version of um 200.

the used lectro 200/205/211( i dont like the 210 , it had allot of problems during the years ,i had 3 like that) can answer almost every application ( 200,205 extern power only), the audio 2000d or regullar are good if you find them in really good price , otherwise why ?the 2020 you cant find in a good price since they still popular in England and Europe because restriction for some lectro units and taxes on US products , the microns - the same for 700 , i was not even thinking about 500 since i dont KNOW what is company policy about old products .
for new - like i sad nothibg come close to 400
 
few clarifications , not every brand was directly checked with every brand .
the stuff i wrote came from self experience with gear i owned in different times so never checked directly everything in the same situation or same location .
i owned audio 2000 regullar 2000D and 2020 the time i had lectro 200,205 and 195 .
i did work in some configurations where the 2020 and 211,210 where involved directly.
the sennheiser were only checked against 210,205 ( the 30mw new transmitters with new eng receivers )- the statement by hunch .
the old sk50 where used by me allot with gear which came from tv stations on doco and news .
the micron 500 where belong to ABC ENG crews here in "whatever ", never been used in dramatic shootings .
the comparison between my 211/411 and friend's 2020 was made on drama shotes with same mics, ( sankens), and where allot of time i worked in documentary which was involved 2020 and 211 ( the 2020 lost every time for rang ,espacilly football field situations).
the comparison between zaxcom 2020 and 411 was made as a test and not in real shooting .
the 211,411 and zaxcom are now working regularly in my set up .
all the comparisons for range where made without external antennas .
all the sound quality comparisons are by ear only( my).
if any one have any different experience it might be also true since the consistences are nt equal in any situation and the gear could be defected in some way .
i use wireless mics since 1991, i own them from 1994 .
in that period of time i had lectro vhfs185 ,sony 810,820 , audio2000,2000d , lectro195, audio 2020,lectro 200,205 ,210,211, senheiser g-2( for ifb work or tc feed) ,zaxcom dual channel digital eng style ,and lectro 411 with um 400
the wirelesses where bought in the order they appear
 
thanks george, that helps... now i just have to rob someone. If you ever feel like shipping some used gear to South Africa, let me know. :)

for me, it looks like lectro is the way to go...
 
Zaxcom ENG mixer to camera hop

Zaxcom ENG mixer to camera hop

Inerested to hear from folks with field experience using the zaxcom eng 2 channel transmitter/reciever. Any drawbacks in terms of range or quality with the full digital system? Is it unable to handle a line signal? Battery usage running on AA or NP-L7S 71W Lithium ion pack. Looking for querks and or praises. Pretty tempting to simplify the mixer to camera hop from 4 to 2 devises.

Also is the me66 a good mic? Just kidding.

 
zaxcom cant acsept line input signal staright forward - you need external pads is it aproblem - not for me .
you can make line to mic cable with padd own if you dont have mic level outs .

battery run time - about 4.5 with 2500ma aa , the new modwel take less power .
the reciever - i just dont care -it sits over the external voltag the internal batteries good for 4-5 hours its about 2,-2.5 w so the 71 w battery will last for 25-30 hours
 
More questions about the zaxcom eng 2 channel transmitter/reciever...

They just look so 1975 in terms of design and display. The physical cases seem very poorly designed. They don't close up nicely or appear well machined.... D- for industrial design. Is this to be expected on the inside as well?

Would you recommend them for a two channel mixer to camera hop over a comprably priced lectrosonics setup?
Wanting to pick up a zaxcom but just not quite sure I can trust it. Thanks for your help exileonthemainstreet.
 
highproof said:
More questions about the zaxcom eng 2 channel transmitter/reciever...

They just look so 1975 in terms of design and display. The physical cases seem very poorly designed. They don't close up nicely or appear well machined.... D- for industrial design. Is this to be expected on the inside as well?

Would you recommend them for a two channel mixer to camera hop over a comprably priced lectrosonics setup?
Wanting to pick up a zaxcom but just not quite sure I can trust it. Thanks for your help exileonthemainstreet.
Click to expand...
never had a problem with realability it works for me over 2 years -
but be carfull with wrong polarity for external dc , it cost me send the tx to new jersy .


, the new model pull less power on transmitter and its fixed for 60 mw - good enouth since i usially work 50 to the camera .
.
the battery chamber is closing when the battery inserted and yes it wasnt desighnd well to be closed without them :-), dont bother me at all - the gaffer helps .
and there is no something similar from any other company as well so there is no real comperation .
check carfulluy your setup since not every mixer or microphone will work with zaxcom tx - and it is not becouse zaxcom ,its becouse they just not rf friendly .
if you are thinking to buy it , check their new model which can record the audio as well might be nice solution to record back up with tc
 
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