Wireless system under $750 at DVinfo.net

David Beisner · June 30th, 2008, 08:49 AM

Just starting up an HD video production program for a college. We'll be doing primarily documentary/promotional videos for the college. I've decided on a Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun and now I need a good wireless system. Budget constraints have put me at around $750 (I might be able to push it as high as $1k.

Right now I'm looking very favorably at the Audio Technica 1813D kit from BH. It's an omni lav with bodyback transmitter, camera mounted receiver, and an XLR transmitter for adapting a standard microphone to wireless. That'd be nice for interviews, etc. It's coming in at $697 which is perfect for my budget.

But, I've never had any experience with Audio Technica outside of their pro studio mics (which I really like). Anyone got any experience with Audio Technica wireless systems? Any experience with that particular mic?

Finally, if you had $750 to spend on a wireless system (must include at least a lav, bodypack transmitter, and camera-receiver and it'd be nice to also have the XLR adapter), what would you buy? I'll probably be shooting with the HVX200A.

Don Bloom · June 30th, 2008, 08:57 AM

I've been using the AT1800 series with 2 body paks and a plugin (dual channel receiver) for quite a while now and love it. I can run both channels and monitor them both.

I really like the AT stuff. Good solid performance for a decent price.

Don

Michael Liebergot · June 30th, 2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

I've been using the AT1800 series with 2 body paks and a plugin (dual channel receiver) for quite a while now and love it. I can run both channels and monitor them both.

I really like the AT stuff. Good solid performance for a decent price.

Don

Don, are you running the Dual wireless version of the AT1800?
If so, how large is the receiver,a s it looks rather large.

Don Bloom · June 30th, 2008, 03:25 PM

Yes, I;ve been running it since January this year. I love the thing. As for size the receiver is; approx 1 1/4" thick, 5" high not including the antennas of course and 3 1/4" wide.
It comes in a slip in soft case with a belt clip and is powered off of 6 AA batteries. Probably weighs in about 1.2 pounds. Fits nicely on the back of a DVMultirig and for tripod work I fashioned a piece of aluminum about 5 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, drilled a hole and plced in in between the pan handle of my tripod. Doesn't affect the operation of the tripod and fits nicely towards the rear of the camera so everything is accessible.

Don

Marco Leavitt · June 30th, 2008, 04:25 PM

The 1800 receiver is kinda large, especially compared to the Sennheiser G2, but it is well made, and having diversity is definitely worth it for me. It's tough too. Mine slipped out of the soft case and dropped from a height of about three and a half feet to a concrete floor a couple of weeks ago. It landed right on a corner too. Ouch! Barely made a scratch and everything works perfectly.

Ty Ford · June 30th, 2008, 05:26 PM

How was the floor?

Ty Ford

Guy McLoughlin · July 2nd, 2008, 12:14 PM

...One thing you might want to consider is that most of the kit lav mics are pretty bad. You might want to budget for a TRAM 50 wired up for your wireless system.

I've been very happy with my Sennheiser G2 100 kit once I added a TRAM 50 and a Sanken COS-11x lav mics to it. ( the kit mic was junk ) The TRAM 50 is for noisy environments, and the Sanken is for quiet environments. ( the Sanken sounds a lot like a HQ condenser mic, but it prone to picking up environmental sound, the TRAM is great at eliminating room noise )

Don Bloom · July 2nd, 2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy McLoughlin

...One thing you might want to consider is that most of the kit lav mics are pretty bad. You might want to budget for a TRAM 50 wired up for your wireless system.

I agree. When I got the AT system the first thing I did was ditch the mics that came with it. I use a couple of Countryman EMWs and the difference is amazing. A good mic can help make a mediocre system sound pretty decent and a good system sound really really good.
Good mics make for good long term investments.

Don

Marco Leavitt · July 2nd, 2008, 01:47 PM

Ditto here. The included mics stink. At the very least get the AT899cw. Big step up for a reasonable price.

Glenn Baren · July 2nd, 2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Leavitt

The 1800 receiver is kinda large, especially compared to the Sennheiser G2, but it is well made, and having diversity is definitely worth it for me. It's tough too. Mine slipped out of the soft case and dropped from a height of about three and a half feet to a concrete floor a couple of weeks ago. It landed right on a corner too. Ouch! Barely made a scratch and everything works perfectly.

Is there anything smaller & lighter that works consistently ?

Don Bloom · July 2nd, 2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Baren

Is there anything smaller & lighter that works consistently ?

are you referring to a dual channel system? If so to the best of my knowledge the only 2 out there are Azden and AT. I've had both and the AT IMO is a superior unit.
If you are talking about single channel there is of course Lectrosonics and Zaxcom. Both will set you back a lot more than 2 AT dual channel units with upgraded mics.

Don

Glenn Baren · July 2nd, 2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

are you referring to a dual channel system? If so to the best of my knowledge the only 2 out there are Azden and AT. I've had both and the AT IMO is a superior unit.
If you are talking about single channel there is of course Lectrosonics and Zaxcom. Both will set you back a lot more than 2 AT dual channel units with upgraded mics.

Don

I dont need long distance tx/rx . I just need something light on my z1 as its already overburdened w a wideangle and a lightpanels, I shoot extremele run & gun as in Adult.

Marco Leavitt · July 2nd, 2008, 06:38 PM

You could always use the 1800 on a beltpack (that's actually what comes with it). I guess if you want smaller though, there's the Sennheiser g2, but it's non-diversity single channel.

Glenn Baren · July 2nd, 2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Leavitt

You could always use the 1800 on a beltpack (that's actually what comes with it). I guess if you want smaller though, there's the Sennheiser g2, but it's non-diversity single channel.

Thanks. Anyone have any luck w the Senn G2 in the LA area?

Don Bloom · July 3rd, 2008, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Baren

I dont need long distance tx/rx . I just need something light on my z1 as its already overburdened w a wideangle and a lightpanels, I shoot extremele run & gun as in Adult.

They Talk???

O|O
\__/

Don

June 30th, 2008, 08:49 AM	#1
David Beisner Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Dayton, TN (USA) Posts: 219	Wireless system under $750 Just starting up an HD video production program for a college. We'll be doing primarily documentary/promotional videos for the college. I've decided on a Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun and now I need a good wireless system. Budget constraints have put me at around $750 (I might be able to push it as high as $1k. Right now I'm looking very favorably at the Audio Technica 1813D kit from BH. It's an omni lav with bodyback transmitter, camera mounted receiver, and an XLR transmitter for adapting a standard microphone to wireless. That'd be nice for interviews, etc. It's coming in at $697 which is perfect for my budget. But, I've never had any experience with Audio Technica outside of their pro studio mics (which I really like). Anyone got any experience with Audio Technica wireless systems? Any experience with that particular mic? Finally, if you had $750 to spend on a wireless system (must include at least a lav, bodypack transmitter, and camera-receiver and it'd be nice to also have the XLR adapter), what would you buy? I'll probably be shooting with the HVX200A. __________________ David Beisner Media Specialist, Bryan College, Dayton, TN -- www.bryan.edu

June 30th, 2008, 05:26 PM	#6
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	How was the floor? Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

June 30th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I've been using the AT1800 series with 2 body paks and a plugin (dual channel receiver) for quite a while now and love it. I can run both channels and monitor them both. I really like the AT stuff. Good solid performance for a decent price. Don

June 30th, 2008, 03:25 PM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Yes, I;ve been running it since January this year. I love the thing. As for size the receiver is; approx 1 1/4" thick, 5" high not including the antennas of course and 3 1/4" wide. It comes in a slip in soft case with a belt clip and is powered off of 6 AA batteries. Probably weighs in about 1.2 pounds. Fits nicely on the back of a DVMultirig and for tripod work I fashioned a piece of aluminum about 5 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, drilled a hole and plced in in between the pan handle of my tripod. Doesn't affect the operation of the tripod and fits nicely towards the rear of the camera so everything is accessible. Don

June 30th, 2008, 04:25 PM	#5
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	The 1800 receiver is kinda large, especially compared to the Sennheiser G2, but it is well made, and having diversity is definitely worth it for me. It's tough too. Mine slipped out of the soft case and dropped from a height of about three and a half feet to a concrete floor a couple of weeks ago. It landed right on a corner too. Ouch! Barely made a scratch and everything works perfectly.

July 2nd, 2008, 12:14 PM	#7
Guy McLoughlin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 287	...One thing you might want to consider is that most of the kit lav mics are pretty bad. You might want to budget for a TRAM 50 wired up for your wireless system. I've been very happy with my Sennheiser G2 100 kit once I added a TRAM 50 and a Sanken COS-11x lav mics to it. ( the kit mic was junk ) The TRAM 50 is for noisy environments, and the Sanken is for quiet environments. ( the Sanken sounds a lot like a HQ condenser mic, but it prone to picking up environmental sound, the TRAM is great at eliminating room noise )

July 2nd, 2008, 01:47 PM	#9
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Ditto here. The included mics stink. At the very least get the AT899cw. Big step up for a reasonable price.

July 2nd, 2008, 06:38 PM	#13
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	You could always use the 1800 on a beltpack (that's actually what comes with it). I guess if you want smaller though, there's the Sennheiser g2, but it's non-diversity single channel.