Wireless Boom for winter exteriors?

U

USLatin

Panamaniac
I will be shooting a feature in Detroit Lakes in the middle of the winter. It is a lake resort and the closest TV stations are not only 45 miles away but also in select channels, and there really aren't many of them at all. It isn't like a big city where you have all kinds of strong signals saturating the air going around like crazy, maybe I'll get someone's walkie talkies or some sort of radio or wireless phones though?? Is that sort of a dumb question?

So I was wondering... for convenience, should I look for one old Lectrosonic rental and transmit from the Mixer to the HPX-170? I will only have the boom... we can't really afford anything else, so all of my audio will be from the boom, and going to a MixPre hanging from the boom op's shoulders. It is a one man show if you don't count the wrangler that we might have for him here and there when applicable. The boom op booms it all and sets the level for the single channel we'll be using. I have plenty of XLR which we'll use for interiors for sure, but for convenience, given that due to the location it should be so reliable, and since we'll be doing a lot of exterior stuff in the snow, I thought that one transmitter receiver might be a great idea... especially if I get a second receiver so I can monitor the audio from the production monitor... so I need help going over this setup and figuring this stuff out.

The place where I could pick these wireless Lectros would probably be Cinequipt.com in Minneapolis:
http://www.cinequipt.com/rental_catalog_equipment.aspx?cid=1&tid=16

They have the URC100 + UM100 for $50 a day(It would be $100 per week for my long term rate)
Or I could get the URC401 + UM400 for $60 just $10 more (or $120 per week for my long term rate)

(I have a few more questions that I'll save for a little later.)
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For sure get the 400 series for what you're doing. You can change frequencies on the 100 series but you won't be able to scan for clear frequencies like you will be able to with the 400. Plus the 400 will sound much better than the 100, its a digital hybrid system. The 100 receivers have a non locking 1/8 inch connector not an xlr so its not as secure a connection for use at the camera and with the 400 you can set the output any where from mic to full line level. There is even tone available to line up your camera input. I'm in the twin cities, near St. Paul. I've been up there in the winter. Bring your long underwear. Cinequipt is a very good rental house.
Regards,
Bernie
 
About the cold, don't get that started yet, that was the question I was saving for later :)
Then PM me your info and maybe we can work together! (If I can afford you)


So if the 100's don't scan I guess the 400's are well worth the extra $10 a day or $40 more a week once you count two of them at our long term rate. Say something get's in the range, it would be real nice not to have to fiddle with them as much when we are in a rush. Especially if it is a one man show.

So will setting them to Mic level be best as I'll save more batteries? Or is the Line level best? And will I be able to get headphones running straight from the second receiver?
 
USLatin said:
About the cold, don't get that started yet, that was the question I was saving for later :)
Then PM me your info and maybe we can work together! (If I can afford you)


So if the 100's don't scan I guess the 400's are well worth the extra $10 a day or $40 more a week once you count two of them at our long term rate. Say something get's in the range, it would be real nice not to have to fiddle with them as much when we are in a rush. Especially if it is a one man show.

So will setting them to Mic level be best as I'll save more batteries? Or is the Line level best? And will I be able to get headphones running straight from the second receiver?
Click to expand...

Please pm me with your email address and I will send you my resume and gear list. Even if you can't fit me into your budget I would be glad to offer whatever advice I can.
Regards,
Bernie
 
Ok, so I have one more question about the wireless and then I'll move on.
How would I get from the receiver to the headphones?

I will probably have one of those Sony 20" CRT production monitors but I don't know if they have any audio inputs and outputs... I have Sennheiser HD-280 64 Ohms and Sony MDR-7506. Or I could just get little mini headphones too..?
 
USLatin said:
About the cold, don't get that started yet, that was the question I was saving for later :)
Then PM me your info and maybe we can work together! (If I can afford you)


So if the 100's don't scan I guess the 400's are well worth the extra $10 a day or $40 more a week once you count two of them at our long term rate. Say something get's in the range, it would be real nice not to have to fiddle with them as much when we are in a rush. Especially if it is a one man show.

So will setting them to Mic level be best as I'll save more batteries? Or is the Line level best? And will I be able to get headphones running straight from the second receiver?
Click to expand...

Yes, the ten dollars a day would be well worth it if for only the difference in sound quality, let alone all the other features. I would go line in on the camera, and you shouldn't notice any noticeable difference in battery consumption. Are you shooting and directing this? If you're shooting just monitor from the camera on headphones, if you're not then you could monitor from an ifb instead of another tx/rx if you just want to listen on headphones. If you want to feed a speaker then a wireless feed would be better. I would also recommend a back up recorder so you don't lose a good take to random interference. Would gear do you have on hand? Do you need to rent anything else for audio? What is the project exactly? I know its low budget but is it a scripted feature type thing? Does the boom op have experience? There are too many issues to get into here so lets get into via email.
Regards,
Bernie
 
USLatin said:
Ok, so I have one more question about the wireless and then I'll move on.
How would I get from the receiver to the headphones?

I will probably have one of those Sony 20" CRT production monitors but I don't know if they have any audio inputs and outputs... I have Sennheiser HD-280 64 Ohms and Sony MDR-7506. Or I could just get little mini headphones too..?
Click to expand...

See my post below. For monitoring you could go with a wireless ifb instead of another wireless tx/rx. If you have an audio input for a speaker then you could go xlr from the transmitter to the speaker, or a headphone distribution box. I'm not sure but the 100 series 1/8 inch ouput might be able to drive headphones if you don't use an ifb. Remember also, that you will still need the Mixpre to power the mics and provide level control to the transmitter. Be sure you get the xlr to TA5 so you can get from the Mixpre into the transmitter.
Bernie
 
I would be happy with an IFB since it sounds like those are the little director/producer boxes with headphones and they are bound to be less money... but I am not sure if Cinequipt.com has them... their audio gear is pretty limited, just some ENG type stuff really.

I just got the PDF for the 100 reciever and it does have a phono jack... if that is enough to power it then I could just get a 400 set and one single 100 reciever for me so long as I can somehow find the frequency that the Boom Op selected for the transmission... right?

About the TA5, I just searched Google images and yes, I was going to make sure I had that cable when we picked up the gear.

I guess I'll probably be replacing the batteries on the MixPre three times a day at least to make sure I don't get any low battery phantom power issues... sometimes the MixPre's low battery light doesn't stay on...


To answer your question, no I will not be shooting this, I will be 100% directing, I might operate one or two to show them what I want, but I won't be the shooter at all... just the Director. It is a feature. To me it is a reunion, winter-springbreak, ensemble that turns into a non-gory supernatural suspense thriller. But for all purposes it is a suspense thriller.
 
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