How many wireless transmitters can a typical $500 wireless system receive with its one receiver? Is it always one transmitter for every receiver, or can one receiver pick up 2 transmitters (ie., two seperate wireless lavs?) Thanks.

How many wireless transmitters can a typical $500 wireless system receive with its one receiver? Is it always one transmitter for every receiver, or can one receiver pick up 2 transmitters (ie., two seperate wireless lavs?) Thanks.

One. You can try this, but it's inevitable that you'll have problems at some point. Get the actors/body packs too close together broadcasting on the same frequency, you'll have dropouts on one or the other.

One receiver=one transmitter for happy audio.

Douglas, what is your overall view of using $500 wireless lav kits for dialogue recording in DV movies? I'm hearing a lot of conflicting things, some people say using wireless lavs are nearly as good as using a boomed mic (when using a top notch lav) and some people are saying that wireless lavs should only be used as a last resort because they cause all types of problems. What is your overall take on this issue? Thanks.

I'm in the camp (as are most professionals, likely) of never using a wireless unless prudence demands it. The price of the wireless isn't really a factor. True, a 500.00 wireless isn't usually as good as a 5000.00 wireless, but why insert potential troubles when you don't need to? Phasing, dropout, companding; all are potential issues that are avoided when using wires. Wireless is convenient, sometimes necessary.

Boomed mics sound different than lavs, wireless or not. Each has its place. I'm not sure why some folks would "compare" the two, you might as well be comparing hammers and screwdrivers.