far too basic wireless question.... at DVinfo.net

Dennis Stevens · August 17th, 2006, 01:23 PM

I'm looking into wireless systems....

I'm thinking I'd want 2 microphones, attached to 2 different people.

Do you buy one receiver, and 2 of the same transmitter? They don't interfere with one another? You don't need one receiver and one transmitter for each person do you?

Gracias as always.....

Nick Weeks · August 17th, 2006, 01:32 PM

Azden makes a wireless setup (UHF is what you want for best quality and range), that comes with 2 wireless lavalier mics and one receiver that I guess work together.

I use the Sennheiser Evolution G2 wireless with the 1 camera mount receiver and lavalier transmitter. On mine, I'm pretty sure I would need a second transmitter and receiver combo for this to work. If you have 2 like this, you would set one trtansmitter and receiver to 1 frequency, and setup the other combo for a different frequency.

Azden:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Sennheiser:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Dennis Stevens · August 17th, 2006, 02:33 PM

Thanks! that Azden looks like just the thing. Pricey, though. Guess that's what you pay for more functionality.

All the people who record weddings, I thought a lot of people put wireless lavs on the bride and groom. Are you all using dual channel for those? Or just 2 receivers and 2 mics?

Nick Weeks · August 17th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Well, for all the weddings I've done, I just put one on the groom because it can easily be hidden in his suit (unless it's a white suit/tux). This seems to pick up the bride and officiant just fine. THe officiant normally has his own mic for the church sound system, and there's no point to double-mic him unless you want that extra reliability in case one of your mics went out.

I also think 90% of people in this forum recording weddings will also suggest putting it on the groom only.

As far as the price goes, you can get VHF systems for considerabily cheaper, but the UHF sound better, are more reliable, and have less interference. I think for something as important as the wedding, it would be best to use UHF to get the best quality and reliability.

I'm not sure about the Azden or any other wireless system, but the Sennheiser has a connector that screws on to the transmitter, so it can't be unplugged without unscrewing it first.

Don Bloom · August 17th, 2006, 02:46 PM

First, I don't know anyone that regularly mics the bride-I did once some years ago per her request and it was a royal PITA. You need a white mic AND someone to place the bodypak on her in a place that it won't show OR be TOO uncomfortable and frankly thats not somewhere where most of us guys are allowed to go ;-)

Most of us DO however mic the groom and the lectern and occasionaly the officiant if you have 3 systems. At an average of about $500 per system unless you go to Lectrosonics then its an average of about 12 to 1400 each. So most folks that I know use 2 systems. One on the groom and the other generally on the lectern mic. That will generally cover pretty much all that needs to be covered in a wedding ceremony.

Don

David Ennis · August 17th, 2006, 03:16 PM

I'd recommend against the Azden for several reasons. First of all the Sennheiser is a better brand. Secondly, you want one system to back up the other. If the Azden receiver failed you'd walk out of there with nothing--an unrecoverable disaster. Backup would be accomplished better with a digital recorder on the lecturn or in the officiator's pocket. The two systems would then be completely idependent.

Steve House · August 17th, 2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Stevens

I'm looking into wireless systems....

I'm thinking I'd want 2 microphones, attached to 2 different people.

Do you buy one receiver, and 2 of the same transmitter? They don't interfere with one another? You don't need one receiver and one transmitter for each person do you?

Gracias as always.....

I'll second Fred's comments- though I don't have any direct personal experience with Azden they don't have the best of reputations.

With the exception of the rare dual units that put two receivers in one box, you do need a receiver paired to each transmitter and generally that means a transmitter/receiver pair for each microphone.

Dennis Stevens · August 17th, 2006, 05:42 PM

Ah, I see. I've never done a wedding, I just always wondered. I've been using shotguns + boompoles. I have a new project where wireless lavs might be more appropriate.

I'm doing interviews, probably regular sit-down, interviewer and interviwee across a table. But they might get up and be mobile, also I'm trying to make the subject as comfortable as I can. So I'm thinking maybe a wireless mic will be less obtrusive. Knowing the interviewer, getting good audio from her might be really valuable.

If a Sennheiser UHF can pick up someone fairly close, then maybe tha's the way to go.

John M. McCloskey · August 18th, 2006, 07:12 AM

Lectrosonics with Tram TR50 lavs. Get two jimmiy Boxes to house the receivers under the camera. This setup makes it so easy to make battery changes and also when your done shooting just remove your antennas and XLR cables and leave the receivers in the metal jimmy boxes and they are protected.

Beth Dill · August 20th, 2006, 10:36 PM

I have had nothing but trouble using Azden wireless lavs, just fyi. Within the past year, I had one die and replaced it and the other is completely unreliable. I will never buy Azden again.

Don Bloom · August 21st, 2006, 05:39 AM

Depends which Azden you use. I use the 500s (for about 5 years trouble free) abd the 1000U about 6 months (again-trouble free). The lower end stuff I agree is not that good but I know the better stuff is just fine and I know far too many folks that also use it with out a problem. Please be more specific about WHICH model has caused you problems.

Don

Beth Dill · August 21st, 2006, 01:29 PM

Pardon me - it was the Azden 111. Yes, perhaps if I had spent $500 a piece the quality would have been better. But just IMHO if I were going to invest that I'd just go ahead and get Sennheisers (G2 100 to be exact). I'm glad you've had great results with them, though.

August 17th, 2006, 01:23 PM	#1
Dennis Stevens Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 425	far too basic wireless question.... I'm looking into wireless systems.... I'm thinking I'd want 2 microphones, attached to 2 different people. Do you buy one receiver, and 2 of the same transmitter? They don't interfere with one another? You don't need one receiver and one transmitter for each person do you? Gracias as always.....

August 17th, 2006, 03:16 PM	#6
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	I'd recommend against the Azden for several reasons. First of all the Sennheiser is a better brand. Secondly, you want one system to back up the other. If the Azden receiver failed you'd walk out of there with nothing--an unrecoverable disaster. Backup would be accomplished better with a digital recorder on the lecturn or in the officiator's pocket. The two systems would then be completely idependent. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

August 17th, 2006, 01:32 PM	#2
Nick Weeks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL USA Posts: 722	Azden makes a wireless setup (UHF is what you want for best quality and range), that comes with 2 wireless lavalier mics and one receiver that I guess work together. I use the Sennheiser Evolution G2 wireless with the 1 camera mount receiver and lavalier transmitter. On mine, I'm pretty sure I would need a second transmitter and receiver combo for this to work. If you have 2 like this, you would set one trtansmitter and receiver to 1 frequency, and setup the other combo for a different frequency. Azden: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation Sennheiser: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

August 17th, 2006, 02:33 PM	#3
Dennis Stevens Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 425	Thanks! that Azden looks like just the thing. Pricey, though. Guess that's what you pay for more functionality. All the people who record weddings, I thought a lot of people put wireless lavs on the bride and groom. Are you all using dual channel for those? Or just 2 receivers and 2 mics?

August 17th, 2006, 02:45 PM	#4
Nick Weeks Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL USA Posts: 722	Well, for all the weddings I've done, I just put one on the groom because it can easily be hidden in his suit (unless it's a white suit/tux). This seems to pick up the bride and officiant just fine. THe officiant normally has his own mic for the church sound system, and there's no point to double-mic him unless you want that extra reliability in case one of your mics went out. I also think 90% of people in this forum recording weddings will also suggest putting it on the groom only. As far as the price goes, you can get VHF systems for considerabily cheaper, but the UHF sound better, are more reliable, and have less interference. I think for something as important as the wedding, it would be best to use UHF to get the best quality and reliability. I'm not sure about the Azden or any other wireless system, but the Sennheiser has a connector that screws on to the transmitter, so it can't be unplugged without unscrewing it first.

August 17th, 2006, 02:46 PM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	First, I don't know anyone that regularly mics the bride-I did once some years ago per her request and it was a royal PITA. You need a white mic AND someone to place the bodypak on her in a place that it won't show OR be TOO uncomfortable and frankly thats not somewhere where most of us guys are allowed to go ;-) Most of us DO however mic the groom and the lectern and occasionaly the officiant if you have 3 systems. At an average of about $500 per system unless you go to Lectrosonics then its an average of about 12 to 1400 each. So most folks that I know use 2 systems. One on the groom and the other generally on the lectern mic. That will generally cover pretty much all that needs to be covered in a wedding ceremony. Don

August 17th, 2006, 05:42 PM	#8
Dennis Stevens Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 425	Ah, I see. I've never done a wedding, I just always wondered. I've been using shotguns + boompoles. I have a new project where wireless lavs might be more appropriate. I'm doing interviews, probably regular sit-down, interviewer and interviwee across a table. But they might get up and be mobile, also I'm trying to make the subject as comfortable as I can. So I'm thinking maybe a wireless mic will be less obtrusive. Knowing the interviewer, getting good audio from her might be really valuable. If a Sennheiser UHF can pick up someone fairly close, then maybe tha's the way to go.

August 18th, 2006, 07:12 AM	#9
John M. McCloskey Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Point, MS Posts: 313	Lectrosonics with Tram TR50 lavs. Get two jimmiy Boxes to house the receivers under the camera. This setup makes it so easy to make battery changes and also when your done shooting just remove your antennas and XLR cables and leave the receivers in the metal jimmy boxes and they are protected.

August 20th, 2006, 10:36 PM	#10
Beth Dill Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 45	I have had nothing but trouble using Azden wireless lavs, just fyi. Within the past year, I had one die and replaced it and the other is completely unreliable. I will never buy Azden again.

August 21st, 2006, 05:39 AM	#11
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Depends which Azden you use. I use the 500s (for about 5 years trouble free) abd the 1000U about 6 months (again-trouble free). The lower end stuff I agree is not that good but I know the better stuff is just fine and I know far too many folks that also use it with out a problem. Please be more specific about WHICH model has caused you problems. Don

August 21st, 2006, 01:29 PM	#12
Beth Dill Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 45	Pardon me - it was the Azden 111. Yes, perhaps if I had spent $500 a piece the quality would have been better. But just IMHO if I were going to invest that I'd just go ahead and get Sennheisers (G2 100 to be exact). I'm glad you've had great results with them, though.