Decent wireless bodypack

Christopher Young · November 8th, 2016, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy Smith

but it has delay issues.

The Sennheiser AVX does have delay issues. Trying to mix it with other analogue UHF wireless mics we measured about a 20 milliseconds delay which is close to half a PAL frame. Half a frame out causes unacceptable echo issues. Most broadcasters would not accept this on signal QC.

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

Kathy Smith · November 8th, 2016, 02:45 PM

What would you recommend for over $1000? Lectros? Is there a wireless system that sounds almost as good as wire (is that even possible?)?

Rick Reineke · November 8th, 2016, 04:29 PM

You could get a used 200 series (UM200 transmitter; 211 receiver) for a little over $1k (usually w/o a mic). The receiver is kind of big for a small cam though and the internal batteries (two 9 volts) only run it for 3-4 hrs. There's usually some clean spaces in blocks 20 & 21 for Manhattan and those blocks are in the upper 400> 500 Mhz range so they'll be FCC legal for a few years anyway. If you upgrade to the 400 series, the receiver will also work with 200 series transmitters, not digitally though.

Kathy Smith · November 8th, 2016, 05:43 PM

What if money was not an issue?
How are wireless sets from Zaxcom?

Richard Crowley · November 8th, 2016, 06:58 PM

Over here on this side of the Pond, Lectrosonics and Zaxcom are at the top of the list, and over in the Old World they like Audio Ltd a lot.

Andrew Smith · November 8th, 2016, 07:01 PM

The Zaxcom gear is something that I had my heart set on due to the digital quality and also the TX pack having its own internal .wav recording of audio ... giving you the ultimate in bullet-proof audio capture.

The price was an issue, though. Just couldn't stomach it ... and I'm a person who believes in buying once and buying well.

The Rode gear gives me the digital quality that I was aspiring to have, and I can't fault it at all. I'm very happy with what I have now. By all means spend more money if you really want to.

Andrew

Gary Nattrass · November 9th, 2016, 02:19 AM

Totally Sennheiser high end where I work and we have lots of channels working great.

Paul R Johnson · November 10th, 2016, 03:28 PM

I've reversed my opinion in the past year. I bought a sackful of 2.4GHz radio systems and they perform really well. However, I won't be buying any more because 2.4GHz is simply too busy - and I'm not just talking about the usual users - Every lighting control and sound mixer, sound processor and video link is now using the band too. The mics, to be fair, seem to be the strongest and most reliable link, but the lighting guy is sending his DMX via 2.4GHz, and has another system to control the desk from the stage area, where the mic receiver racks are. The sound people wander around with iPads and somebody always drops their link - and has a panic attack trying to regain control. If you don't work in live events, maybe it's not so bad - but I do and the over occupancy of 2.4GHz is becoming a problem.

If it helps - I'm planning to buy another 6 channels of Sennheiser in ch 38.

November 8th, 2016, 02:45 PM	#17
Kathy Smith Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NY, NY USA Posts: 519	Re: Decent wireless bodypack What would you recommend for over $1000? Lectros? Is there a wireless system that sounds almost as good as wire (is that even possible?)?

November 8th, 2016, 04:29 PM	#18
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Decent wireless bodypack You could get a used 200 series (UM200 transmitter; 211 receiver) for a little over $1k (usually w/o a mic). The receiver is kind of big for a small cam though and the internal batteries (two 9 volts) only run it for 3-4 hrs. There's usually some clean spaces in blocks 20 & 21 for Manhattan and those blocks are in the upper 400> 500 Mhz range so they'll be FCC legal for a few years anyway. If you upgrade to the 400 series, the receiver will also work with 200 series transmitters, not digitally though.

November 8th, 2016, 05:43 PM	#19
Kathy Smith Major Player Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NY, NY USA Posts: 519	Re: Decent wireless bodypack What if money was not an issue? How are wireless sets from Zaxcom?

November 8th, 2016, 06:58 PM	#20
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Decent wireless bodypack Over here on this side of the Pond, Lectrosonics and Zaxcom are at the top of the list, and over in the Old World they like Audio Ltd a lot.

November 8th, 2016, 07:01 PM	#21
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,065	Re: Decent wireless bodypack The Zaxcom gear is something that I had my heart set on due to the digital quality and also the TX pack having its own internal .wav recording of audio ... giving you the ultimate in bullet-proof audio capture. The price was an issue, though. Just couldn't stomach it ... and I'm a person who believes in buying once and buying well. The Rode gear gives me the digital quality that I was aspiring to have, and I can't fault it at all. I'm very happy with what I have now. By all means spend more money if you really want to. Andrew

November 9th, 2016, 02:19 AM	#22
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Decent wireless bodypack Totally Sennheiser high end where I work and we have lots of channels working great. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

November 10th, 2016, 03:28 PM	#23
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: Decent wireless bodypack I've reversed my opinion in the past year. I bought a sackful of 2.4GHz radio systems and they perform really well. However, I won't be buying any more because 2.4GHz is simply too busy - and I'm not just talking about the usual users - Every lighting control and sound mixer, sound processor and video link is now using the band too. The mics, to be fair, seem to be the strongest and most reliable link, but the lighting guy is sending his DMX via 2.4GHz, and has another system to control the desk from the stage area, where the mic receiver racks are. The sound people wander around with iPads and somebody always drops their link - and has a panic attack trying to regain control. If you don't work in live events, maybe it's not so bad - but I do and the over occupancy of 2.4GHz is becoming a problem. If it helps - I'm planning to buy another 6 channels of Sennheiser in ch 38.