Wireless Mic recommendation

[Mike]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to get a couple of wireless microphones for some of my upcoming shoot, including TV series and feature films.

Any recommendations on these that doesn't break the bank?
What's everyone using?


Mike

[Alexis Hanawalt]

The Sennheiser G2 wireless sets are about $400 and do a darn good job.

[Tom Visser]

I also endorse the G2, just used a set on a reality shoot and was impressed with its performance. Lectrosonics is sort of THE standard, but pricey. G2 is I feel the next best alternative, with a real stress on value.

[bobaandy]

I have a Azden 325ULT set. Then run about $800. Dual channel, comes with lav mics. I've had some problems, that I don't know if they're my specific set or wireless mics in general, though. They will sometimes drop out (permanently, not just for a second or two) or broadcast a "farting" noise. So I would NOT recommend them.

[Stephen Pruitt]

Lectrosonics all the way. They make a low-end digital hybrid solution called the LMa series that just plain works like a charm. I have four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit and it's so simple and easy to use it is almost scary! As for lav mics, there are a lot of good choices, but it was recommended that we use the Sonotrim mics and we've been very, very happy with them. They cut very well with our Schoeps boom mics. I also have a couple of Countryman B6 mics and they are marvelous, as well.

[Mike]

Hi,

For the seinheiser wireless mic, which G2 model is it?
I am considering EW152, is this the G2 model you guys are referring to?

[Sound Sorcerer]

I've been a Lectrosonics user for the last seven years now... with a few features under my belt including a Sundance "official selection", and let me tell you, these are the finest radio systems you can get your hands on... and not only that; they'll hold their value for years to come. Put your money where your creativity is...
BTW, I'm NOT a Lectro dealer or employee.
:sorcerer:

[BradWright]

I've had extremely good results with the G2 EW100 series, as well. I haven't tested higher end systems, but I really like this one. There's a great punch to the sound of the lav mic with very little noise. I'm sure there's better systems out there, but this one is great value.

[Jeremy Wiles]

I sold my G2's and bought Lectrosonics. There's a world of difference. definitely worth every sacrificial penny of investment.

[Chosei Funahara]

Lectrosonics is the industry standard.

[Roger Morris]

I own Lectrosonics.

If I was buying from scratch, I'd probably take a long look at Zaxcom as well.

Lectro and Zaxcom are American made, and IMHO a better build quality than Sennheiser products.
There's something about the Lectrosonics transmitter as a milled out solid block of aluminum that I find pretty hard to beat.

Lectro customer service is first class, whereas I find Sennheiser's service to be a bit lacking in the speed and passion of the response the Lectro crew displays every time you talk to them.

[Craig A. Macon]

I'm no expert at audio, but stay away from anything A or B band. Those frequencies are basically garbage now as they are being auctioned off to the telecommunications companies to supply high speed web service to phones and stuff. So if you get an old system you can bank on taking interference hits.

I think the new preferred bands are supposed to be J and L.

Well...in the US anyway. Can't speak for everywhere else.

[Frank Weeks]

Lectrosonics all the way. They make a low-end digital hybrid solution called the LMa series that just plain works like a charm. I have four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit and it's so simple and easy to use it is almost scary! As for lav mics, there are a lot of good choices, but it was recommended that we use the Sonotrim mics and we've been very, very happy with them. They cut very well with our Schoeps boom mics. I also have a couple of Countryman B6 mics and they are marvelous, as well.

Thanks for the insight Stephen.

Can you give us a ballpark on the system you described (four transmitters running into a VR Field receiver unit plus mikes, etc)?

They seem a bit steep but, if they are worth it, I'll bite the bullet.
Which lavalier do you recommend. Any other suggestions?

Thanks

[Gary Stone]

the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.

[Tom Visser]

the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.

I feel this is a bit of a simplification in comparisons or highlighting a platform, granted, I know nothing about the X2 and am certainly not an expert on wireless technologies... Zaxcom, Lectrosonics, Sony, and I believe Sennheiser all have their digital products too. In fact, Zaxcom had a Studioline set of units several years ago that had AES outputs on its receiver - which was encoded at the transmitter. Sony now also has a digital set that has AES outputs. Lectrosonics and current Zaxcom products are also digital, but they only offer analog outputs on the receiver. Lectro's new 4 channel hop has been shown with both analog and digital outputs. I believe that a lot of these platforms are hybrid, so that if the digital bitstream fails, it can still rock on with an analog signal - again, I'm no expert, so I get a bit fuzzy on these details. Or perhaps the hybrid nomenclature refers to the embedding of a digital signal on an analog carrier. Maybe someone else who understands this better can chime in, but I don't think that the X2 as a "digital" technology necessarily differentiates itself from the competitors.

[Craig A. Macon]

the X2 systems are amazing. they're just coming out with lavalier units. they're digital so there's no interference. they're either off or they're on. i've never had an issue with my bass using one and there's no loss of tone because it's a data stream, unlike any other wireless i've tried. i don't know how good the mic itself is though, but i'm going to try them out. they're distributed by line 6.

I don't know man, that is what they said about cellphones.

[Marcus Olsen]

For the HDCAM cameras we have the Sony WRT/WRR series as they fit into the camera slot, we also have some old Lectrosonics and they are excelent despite being almost 10 years old.

[Gary Stone]

all i know is i hear what i would hear if a cable was plugged in and have had "ZERO" interference with these units. i can't say the same for the countless sennheiser G2 systems we've used over the years. we're using three X2 systems at one time and no problems. i'm sure one could find faults in anything and i'm not saying that they're different at a paradigm level, but they're relatively inexpensive and they have been truly solid. the real question now is "do the lav mics sound good or not?"

[Tony Lorentzen]

I own a couple of sets of the Sennheiser Evolution 100 G2. Can anyone recommend some better mics than the ones that ship with the kits? I shoot a lot of industrials, corporate-videos and sitting interviews and I'm pretty tired of these mics picking up every damn sound. Shot something in an office building 8 stories above street level and could hear cars on the street... Need something less sensitive, but with good sound quality.

[Carl Larsen]

Tony - Try the countryman B6. You can get a good deal on the lav from the guys at dvestore if you ask for it.

[Stephen Pruitt]

Hi there, Frank.

The Lectrosonics VR Field with four VMS receivers and four LMa transmitters will run you about (and this is just a quick and dirty guess) $5500, including the Lectrosonics M-152 lavs. But that's four world-class digital hybrid systems that work like a charm.

As far as microphones, there are lot of great choices here. . . the TRAM, the Countryman B6 (which I have two of for sale just now), the Lectrosonics M-152, the Sonotrim, etc. We are using the Sonotrim exclusively at this point and just love them. They cut amazingly well with our Schoeps CMC641 and CMIT5-U boom microphones. We are very, very happy with the set-up and plan to lav all of our lead actors on every shot every time from now on. I just love the sound. We'll no doubt expand the VR Field up to 6 channels before summer.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Stephen

[Andrew J.]

Lectrosonics 411A with 401A work great.

Sanken COS-11 lavs are great, however they pick up quite a bit.

[Frank Weeks]

Thanks again Steven

Thats a good chunk of change but not out out of the question. Quality isn't cheap.

One more question. Are the M-152 lavs included in the package? The Sonotrim"s sound like a great fit but I doubt we need (or could afford) both.

[Brian Ferguson]

Most of the pros I work with use Lectrosonics.
http://www.lectrosonics.com/wireless/wireless.htm
Very durable and quality transmitters and recievers, you can use their mics or others wired for their transmitters. Lots of people like the Sanken line of lavs easy to hide.
http://www.sanken-mic.com/en/info/news.cfm?id=37

[Stephen Pruitt]

The Sanken COS-11s are great lavs, and I was remiss to not mention them. The M-152s don't have to be purchased as a package, and they aren't worth much, economically, either, so that shouldn't enter into the equation all that much. (As an aside, I don't think that the COS-11 lavs are any easier to hide than the Sonotrims, which I have been told are the Hollywood staple these days, but nothing is easier to hide than the Countryman B6.)

I would recommend that you call Trew Audio or some of the other location recorder sources (TAI, etc.) and see what type of a deal you can get on the Sonotrims (you can save money if you don't get the XLR connectors for wired use), the LMas, the VR Field, and the VMS receivers. It's an amazing package, and it's incredibly easy to use. Earlier this week, we ran the VR Field straight into the RED without going into our preamp/recorder (Sound Devices 788T) and it sounded amazing.

I recommend the VR Field because it gets you 100% of the quality of the 400 series in 95% of all situations at 1/2 the price. It is unlikely that you'll ever run into the 5% of the situations where you'd be sorry you didn't have four 411s.

Good luck!

Stephen

[Sound Sorcerer]

the LMas, the VR Field, and the VMS receivers. It's an amazing package, and it's incredibly easy to use.

BTW there's NO such a thing as a Lectro VMS... Maybe you were thinking VRS as on Venue Receiver Standard. Anyhow, I personally own a Lectro VRField fitted with 6 VRT ( Venue Receiver Tracking) modules and a combo of um400, mm400c & sma transmitters... Honestly the LMa transmitters are good but they sit on the Lectro lower shelf product line...

[Dave Blackham]

Audio 2020 with Tram Mics.

RF wise Audio are the best here is.

[Matthew Greene]

I agree, Audio Ltd. systems are probably the best sounding, most reliable RF systems I've ever heard. They aren't very commonly seen in the US, which is a shame. I also have a thing for Micron.

Lectrosonics and Zaxcom are more popular Film/TV location units and Shure and Sennheiser dominate in television studios.

For the low end, the Sennheiser G2 systems offer good price/performance.

[Tim Whitcomb]

Lectrosonics is the industry standard.
AGREED for sound pros...

but for Indies on a budget I recommend the Sennheiser's G2 receiver transmitter with Sanken COS 11 Lavs... (Senn lavs are the weak link)

The Sennheiser are clear, solid, sturdy and better than anything else in the price class. The Sanken COS lav mics are TOP SHELF and used by the pros.

Save the money on the trasnmitters and put it into the LAV Mic is my advice
if you are on a budget.

[Michael Panfeld]

Any recommendations for a lav mic in the sub-$100 category? I've checked on the B6, COS11, and Sonotrim and was shocked at the prices. BTW, I am using the Azden 325 system. Works fine.

[Heyan]

I own a couple of sets of the Sennheiser Evolution 100 G2. Can anyone recommend some better mics than the ones that ship with the kits? I shoot a lot of industrials, corporate-videos and sitting interviews and I'm pretty tired of these mics picking up every damn sound. Shot something in an office building 8 stories above street level and could hear cars on the street... Need something less sensitive, but with good sound quality.

There is a Sensitivity setting in MENU.

You can try a MKE2-ew mic. :)

[Jon Frost]

I'm using upwards of 6 G2 Wireless Lavs with Countryman B6 mics... Make sure you are using either A or B band so you are below 700Mhz... which was auctioned off to the broadcasters and DHS, EMS, PD/FD for emergency comms in the USA.

I have used these mic/wireless combos since 2006 and haven't had any problem with hits, dropouts, etc. They are 30mw transmitters so you can't go as far away as you could with Lectrosonics or other vendors systems which start at 50mw and jump to 100mw or even 250mw.

I plan to switch over to Lectrosonics Venue system in 2010 if at all possible.

[Jason Hemmerlin]

Lectrosonics if you are in a major metropolitan area like NYC, Chicago, Miami, or LA. Smaller areas you could get away with the Sennheiser G2's. If you're looking at the Lectrosonics 100 series then just get the Senn. G2's. If you have the bones for the 400 series Lectro's or used 200 series lectro's( the 200 series is discontinued) then go for it. The 400 and 200 series wireless systems from lectrosonics are Diversfied systems which give better range. They also have a "pilot tone" which lets the reciever differentiate between what the transmitter is sending and any other possible transmissions that may be on the same frequency. You can also scan for available frequencies which is very handy in high RF areas. The Lectro's are uber sturdy. I've dropped my transmitters many times and they never falter. But be careful with sweat and water. It's always a good idea to put the transmitter in a pouch if the talent is sweating alot or in a non-lubricated condom if the weather is going to rainy or the environment is wet.

There is also Zaxcom. They are about the same price as Lectro's. Lots of good ideas that seem to be executed poorly. You have to baby Zaxcom units. That can work very good for you but you have to make sure that they are well maintained and looked after. Much like a fine Italian sports car. They'll cost you alot money and may just crap out on you because they didn't like the way you treated them on that particular day.

The most iportant thing to do when getting your wireless is to find out what the best Frequency blocks are for your area. All of the manufacturers seperate the freq ranges into blocks and you need to choose the one that will work the best for you. I would look for the closest store that specializes in Field audio to help you with this decision. Some of the bigger shops like Professional Sound Service in NYC or Location Sound Corp in LA could help you with this decision. The last thing you want to do is buy a wireless set that you'll use in an area that has alot of transmissions in the frequency range that your wireless setup is in.

Best of Luck,

J. Hemmerlin

[Jason Hemmerlin]

I feel this is a bit of a simplification in comparisons or highlighting a platform, granted, I know nothing about the X2 and am certainly not an expert on wireless technologies... Zaxcom, Lectrosonics, Sony, and I believe Sennheiser all have their digital products too. In fact, Zaxcom had a Studioline set of units several years ago that had AES outputs on its receiver - which was encoded at the transmitter. Sony now also has a digital set that has AES outputs. Lectrosonics and current Zaxcom products are also digital, but they only offer analog outputs on the receiver. Lectro's new 4 channel hop has been shown with both analog and digital outputs. I believe that a lot of these platforms are hybrid, so that if the digital bitstream fails, it can still rock on with an analog signal - again, I'm no expert, so I get a bit fuzzy on these details. Or perhaps the hybrid nomenclature refers to the embedding of a digital signal on an analog carrier. Maybe someone else who understands this better can chime in, but I don't think that the X2 as a "digital" technology necessarily differentiates itself from the competitors.

Lectro uses a Hybrid system that sends the digital info via an analog transmission I believe. This allows for a better Freq. response and dynamic range for the audio while giving a greater range for the radio transmission. The actual audio inputs and outputs of the Lectro units are analog.