Wireless lav help

C

cacerescf

Member
I am thinking of purchasing a Hisonic HSU8800L 4 X 16 Channel UHF Wireless Microphone System, and I have the Panasonic AG-DVX 100b. I will be having 4 actors in several of the scenes so that is why i would like to purchase this system. My question is , how do i connect the receiver to the camera so that i can record all of the actors in the scene. This system has a total of 5 outputs, one of which is a mixed standard 1/4" outputs, the other 4 are individual balanced XLR outputs. Could someone please help? I am no audio or sound guy, but I want to improve the sound.

Thanks
 
a direct "mix" from 4 outputs is going to sound like dog-doo.
4 fully open mic's at the same time with zero mixing.

Ive never heard of that brand in my life. I would be very leary of it..whatever it is.
At $500 dollars for 4 channels, I just cant believe its very good.

"I am no audio or sound guy, but I want to improve the sound."
Great to hear, but realize there is more to "sound" than just buying 4 microphones.

You mention the word "scene" so im assuming this is not a doc, or interview situation?
So you'll be hiding the mic's.
Hiding 4 lav's, even with the best lav's money can buy is still a very tricky situation so
I hope you know what you're doing.

Also if you're going to try to mix those down to 2 tracks, and onto a "prosumer" level camcorder that sounds ok
when you nail the correct levels, but if you're a little too low you're going to be adding a lot of noise...etc..once again..i hope you know what you're doing.
Either way you're going to need to put a mixer into the loop to even attempt at getting close to acceptable results.

Why are you going wireless rather than a single overhead mic?
Is this a one time gig?
I know its more "fun" to buy the gear yourself but I really think it would be much wiser to rent decent stuff rather than purchase crap.

Also, if this was a for fun project, or something a little more simple audio wise I wouldn't have to say the following..
but mixing and hiding 4 wires is no beginner stuff, and you should seriously concider bringing in someone who has a bit more
experience than "im not a sound guy, but want to make it good".

Watch them, learn from them.. eventually do it on your own.
 
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If you want just the cut and dry answer to your question.
Buy yourself a 1/4" to xlr adaptor from many places online.

You might as well, use 1 channel of your camera for that "mixed" output
and the other channel of your camera for 1 iso mic (of your most important person)

(by giving you the direct answer I am in no way saying this going to get you acceptable audio)
 
cacerescf said:
I am thinking of purchasing a Hisonic HSU8800L 4 X 16 Channel UHF Wireless Microphone System, and I have the Panasonic AG-DVX 100b. I will be having 4 actors in several of the scenes so that is why i would like to purchase this system. My question is , how do i connect the receiver to the camera so that i can record all of the actors in the scene. This system has a total of 5 outputs, one of which is a mixed standard 1/4" outputs, the other 4 are individual balanced XLR outputs. Could someone please help? I am no audio or sound guy, but I want to improve the sound.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Adding to Rippie, consider using a multi-track recorder in addition to the camera. Send the mixed tracks on the 5th output to your camera as a guide track. Record the other four iso's for each actor's mic channel to its own track on the multitrack as the production sound you'll actually use. Decide on the mix in post. Never try to mix production sound on location as you shoot.
 
ok Rippie. got you. i will be bringing a sound guy on OF COURSE, because believe me, i know the consequences of not doing such. I just want to purchase my own equipment to not have to depend on people and be able to do my "thang" whenever I want. What wireless lav mic system would you recommend then?
The reason i am using lavs because on my previous shoot i just used a shotgun mic and the sound was echoy and frankly at times you couldn't hear some of the actors. Now i know i don't have the highest end of shotgun mics, but for 280 that I paid it should have done better i think. I have also purchased a field mixer. So now i just need help with the lav mics. Is there a wireless lav mic system you recommend?
 
cacerescf said:
ok Rippie. got you. i will be bringing a sound guy on OF COURSE, because believe me, i know the consequences of not doing such. I just want to purchase my own equipment to not have to depend on people and be able to do my "thang" whenever I want. What wireless lav mic system would you recommend then?
The reason i am using lavs because on my previous shoot i just used a shotgun mic and the sound was echoy and frankly at times you couldn't hear some of the actors. Now i know i don't have the highest end of shotgun mics, but for 280 that I paid it should have done better i think. I have also purchased a field mixer. So now i just need help with the lav mics. Is there a wireless lav mic system you recommend?
Click to expand...

how far was your boom mic the last time?
Dont tell me it was on the camera.

Unless you were ultra wide or recording in a cave you should have gotten acceptable results.

If your budget is $500 dollars for 4 channels, I dont know what to tell you.
I dont use them personally but it seems that the Sennheiser G2 systems
are about lowest price acceptable units. I believe they run for around $500 each. You would need 4.

Either way you go, im sure people would be interested in hearing
how it turns out for you.
 
Rippie said:
how far was your boom mic the last time?
Dont tell me it was on the camera.

Unless you were ultra wide or recording in a cave you should have gotten acceptable results.

If your budget is $500 dollars for 4 channels, I dont know what to tell you.
I dont use them personally but it seems that the Sennheiser G2 systems
are about lowest price acceptable units. I believe they run for around $500 each. You would need 4.

Either way you go, im sure people would be interested in hearing
how it turns out for you.
Click to expand...

What Rippie said.

Boom it with an appropriate mic for the environment. If the camera is rolling, the boom is up, JUST outside frame.

If you simply must have your own wireless kit, then you're looking at $500/channel for the G2s, and tack on another $300 each for better lavs.
 
cacerescf said:
ok Rippie. got you. i will be bringing a sound guy on OF COURSE, because believe me, i know the consequences of not doing such. I just want to purchase my own equipment to not have to depend on people and be able to do my "thang" whenever I want.
Click to expand...
Well you wont be able to use four wireless while doin your own thang, so I would recommend maybe one. In terms of multi track recorders I would vote for Boomrecorder and an interface. You could get an Alesis and BR for around your budget. You would need AC or someone to cook up a batt power supply for it but... There is a lot better but it's affordable and decent. Having done a fair amount of theatre with places that had a hodg podge if less that great wireless I would, as others have said, not step below the Senn. Cheap wireless are a curse and don't sound good.

What you paid for the shotgun was quite low so it could be crap??? But the echoey sound isn't the mics fault its some bad booming, or no booming. And you probably shouldn't be using a shotgun indoors. A lav also doesn't sound as "natural" as a boom, so 9 times out of ten I will use the boom if I have a choice (in post). Some times you don't have a choice and sometimes you want that too close ADR like sound. But you need to think about the differences and use what fits.

I don't do that much narrative production work, mostly post and concert and doc production, so YMMD.
 
Steve House said:
...Never try to mix production sound on location as you shoot.
Click to expand...

Rippie said:
??
Click to expand...

What I mean is, for example, if you have a lav on each talent, never try to mix them each other while shooting, keep each mic to its own separate mono track. Or if you are using both a boom plus some lavs on the talent, never mix them while shooting. Keep all of the mics on isolated tracks and do all the mixing in post. Mixing while shooting means if later on you decide it just doesn't sound quite right, you've burned your bridges. It's okay to mix for dailys as long as you also record the iso's for the production tracks you'll actually use for the mix in post.
 
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I have to disagree with you there.
I obviously understand what you're saying.. and in a perfect world thats what can be done.
But up until a few years ago..it was only 2 tracks you had period..
so you mixed and you became good at it.

Also its still much more common to record audio directly to camera with no separate recorder
which usually only has 2 tracks.

Not everything goes through extensive post audio work as well.
I personally mix 4 wires down to 2 tracks, or down to 1 track (mono) on a constant basis
so I just wondered why you said "never".

I think in this case where the OP has no budget..the 4-500 dollars spent on a non timecode
recorder would be better spent on the actual wireless or lav's.
Not to mention the recorder is going to be yet another "tool" they dont know how to use.
I went many years before I ever bought an external recorder.
And I know plenty of eng guys that are fabulous at their job who dont own recorders.

Obviously just my opinion.
 
cacerescf said:
What would you use to record audio in doors?
Click to expand...

If this is what you are looking at for wireless... as found on Amazon:

Hisonic HSU8800L 4 X 16 Channel UHF Wireless Microphone System with 4 Headset & 4 Lapel Microphones

Product Features

* UHF system, 740.15 - 850.00 MHz professional frequency
* Long-range transmission, up to 300 feet
* Compatible handheld microphones can be purchased separately
* Multiple frequency available for easy system expansion
* 30 day money back guarantee & 1-year manufacturer's warranty
---------------------------------------------------------------


The important note that is the 740.15 - 850.00 MHz, which is being reallocated, and no more equipment sold for that range in the US.

If you are outside the US, well, milage may vary...

This brief description of course does not address anything about the characteristics of the units, quality of audio, transmission capability, etc...

Will the FCC send out the Black Marias for you if you use it... probably not...
 
Forgive the stream of conciousness post, the coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

What shotgun did you buy?

When shooting indoors a hypercardiod will (generally) give better results than a shotgun. Of course if you're not booming properly, then neither will give the desired result.

As for your wireless.
1 - $399 isn't going to get you one channel of decent wireless gear, let alone four.
2 - Don't buy new gear in the 700MHz spectrum.
3 - Don't buy gear for production from a Karaoke equipment manufacturer.

j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Will the FCC send out the Black Marias for you if you use it... probably not...
Click to expand...
There's an idea for a short.
 
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