Hey guys,

I am looking for a wireless setup to replace an XLR cable that goes from my Sony Z1U to mic w/ boom pole. I am steadicam operator and cannot have wires attached at all. This transmitter needs phantom power. It be perfect if it had and have a headphone jack. The boom operator needs to be able to monitor the sound and transmit to the Z1U. I am looking to spend as little as possible without losing too much. What specific equipment should I be looking at? What else should I be looking for in a wireless setup? What’s a good place to buy this equipment? EBay?

Perhaps you might consider something like the Sound Devices MM-1 mic preamp and headphone amp on the boom operator's belt providing phantom for the mic and monitoring for the operator, feeding into a plugon wireless transmitter plugged into the output.

I'd start by looking at this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/388431-REG/Sennheiser_EW501PG2_B_Evolution_G2_500_Plug_In.html

it's not the cheapest, but as an owner I can tell you this works great for your purpose. the receiver is one of the smallest/lightest available-important if you are flying your camera. it also has a headphone jack.

the transmitter powers all of the phantom mics I own, with the one exception of my neuman U87a-it's a power hog.

you'll have to add something like a shure fp-12 (bridging headphone amplifier) for the boom op to hear the mic. there is no transmitter i know of that has built it monitoring (Hello manufacturers-take note!!).

i doubt you'll find the sennheiser 500 series on ebay, not that i'd buy electronics on ebay anyway (all must be sold as is-no warranty). B&H is excellent-i use them frequently.

Perhaps you might consider something like the Sound Devices MM-1 mic preamp and headphone amp on the boom operator's belt providing phantom for the mic and monitoring for the operator, feeding into a plugon wireless transmitter plugged into the output.

I used this setup when I boomed an MTV pilot in November. I wasn't super crazy about the MM1. I thought it sounded fine, but in order to have IFB, you have to have the unit setup so your boom mic is in one ear of your headphones and the IFB in the other ear. I simply found this annoying, I found it very hard to get into that sweet spot with the mic 100% of the time. If you're not doing IFB, then it's great because you have a single input and can put that into both ears.

Wayne

Hey guys,

I am looking for a wireless setup to replace an XLR cable that goes from my Sony Z1U to mic w/ boom pole. I am steadicam operator and cannot have wires attached at all. This transmitter needs phantom power. It be perfect if it had and have a headphone jack. The boom operator needs to be able to monitor the sound and transmit to the Z1U. I am looking to spend as little as possible without losing too much. What specific equipment should I be looking at? What else should I be looking for in a wireless setup? What’s a good place to buy this equipment? EBay?

Zaxcom has it, and I think Lectrosonic

Regards,

Ty Ford

I used this setup when I boomed an MTV pilot in November. I wasn't super crazy about the MM1. I thought it sounded fine, but in order to have IFB, you have to have the unit setup so your boom mic is in one ear of your headphones and the IFB in the other ear. I simply found this annoying, I found it very hard to get into that sweet spot with the mic 100% of the time. If you're not doing IFB, then it's great because you have a single input and can put that into both ears.

Wayne

I am an audio noob. What is the advantage of shooting IFB?

sennheiser 500 looks great. anywhere I can get this thing used?

Kyle,

IFB is a form of return audio to the boom op, interruptible so you can talk them into where to be. Usually only used in a broadcast environment, i've never seen it used in a single shooter scenario.

Good luck finding the Sen. 500's used. Most people buy into the 100 series because they are cheaper, but they lack the performance/features of the 500. With audio-you get what you pay for...

Wayne,

I know you prob don't get to choose your equipment on your MTV gigs, but try out the Shure FP-22 if you can. While the amp is a tad noisier than the MM-1 (it only affects the headphone out, the mic is a true pass-thru) the mix can be adjusted better-and mono'd to both ears if you like.

Zaxcom has it, and I think Lectrosonic

Actually as of right now, Zaxcom doesn't have it. At least not shipping. The TRX990 starts shipping at the end of next month. However, just yesterday I received one of the first units from them. I didn't dare try to use it on my gig yesterday evening since I haven't had time to do anything with it but look at the menus before I had to leave, but it's smaller than the MM-1 and it's both digital and stereo. I have no idea on the pricing yet. I'll write more abut the unit once I get time to play with it.

Wayne

Kyle,
Sounds like you just need to hire or make a deal with a soundguy. He would have gear and make your life a lot easier.
Good luck

Actually as of right now, Zaxcom doesn't have it. At least not shipping. The TRX990 starts shipping at the end of next month. However, just yesterday I received one of the first units from them. I didn't dare try to use it on my gig yesterday evening since I haven't had time to do anything with it but look at the menus before I had to leave, but it's smaller than the MM-1 and it's both digital and stereo. I have no idea on the pricing yet. I'll write more abut the unit once I get time to play with it.

Wayne

Hmm. I've had one here for about three months. It does not like my 416, although it powers it. RF issues.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Hmm. I've had one here for about three months. It does not like my 416, although it powers it. RF issues.

Interesting... Colleen told me I had one of the first units out the door. I guess you must really have one of the first ones!

Wayne

I lied. The one I have is the Zaxcom 700 plugon.

It does have Phantom. My 416 does not like it.

Regards,

Ty

I forgot all about the TRX700... I suspect because I never wrote a manual for it. Which means, that's yet another document I have to put in my queue.

Wayne

Ok I am going with either the
G2 Sennheiser Evolution 500
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/388431-REG/Sennheiser_EW501PG2_B_Evolution_G2_500_Plug_In.html

or
Sennheiser EW100ENGG2 Wireless System
http://www.coffeysound.com/product.php?productid=51&cat=0&page=1

what is the difference in these systems?

This is a heck of a system http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/332380-REG/Lectrosonics_411AUH40026_400_Series_Wireless.html

Okay, I'm unfamiliar with IFB. Is there any reason you couldn't just go into the monitor input with the MM1? It's designed to allow a return feed for monitoring.

Okay, I'm unfamiliar with IFB. Is there any reason you couldn't just go into the monitor input with the MM1? It's designed to allow a return feed for monitoring.

What you would do is take your IFB output (comtek, or otherwise), run that into the monitor input. However, there is a challenge doing that, the way the MM1 is designed is stupid. If you want to monitor both the input monitor and the standard input, you have to put the headphone monitoring into a split mode, so you have one input in one ear and the other input in the other ear. What they really should have done is put a switch on the unit so you could flip back and forth between the two, because you don't always need to listen to the IFB channel when booming, but you do need to monitor where the sweet spot is when booming.

That answer your question?

John- I have the 400UH on order, combined with my 411 system, it should be very nice for wireless booming.
Wayne

Ok I am going with either the
G2 Sennheiser Evolution 500
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/388431-REG/Sennheiser_EW501PG2_B_Evolution_G2_500_Plug_In.html

or
Sennheiser EW100ENGG2 Wireless System
http://www.coffeysound.com/product.php?productid=51&cat=0&page=1

what is the difference in these systems?
I have two sets of G2 500 wireless and use G2 500s and 100s at work. The 500 receiver had a headphone jack (great for troubleshooting), balanced output and apparently can send line level (though I've kept it at mic with my 302). It has 20 selectable channels per bank compared to the 100's four. The 500 plug-on transmitter gives phantom power, which the 100 does not.

As far as I know, with settings matched you will not get any different sound between 500 and 100 components. I spent the extra money for the plug-on transmitter phantom power and balanced receiver output.

Good luck!

Also, if you do go the G2 500 route, consider this package as it's much better value:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/388401-REG/Sennheiser_EW500ENGG2_B_500_G2_Series_Wireless.html