What the ?? mic problem

Jared Meyer · March 5th, 2008, 09:51 PM

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your sound, Matt, but it's really good to see I'm not the only one with this problem. :)

I have the G2 and have seen the exact same symptoms since I purchased it last year. Happened on about 3 or 4 different wedding shoots last season.

I use brand new batteries for each ceremony. Positive it's not battery-related.

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/9324/1187726869.mov

It starts slow and builds, but it also occasionally pops really loudly and then clicks off. There's two different segments from the ceremony joined together in this audio clip, listen all the way to the end for the pop where the static completely shuts off.

I'm not much of an audio guy, sad to say, but I'm hoping the more info we're able to compile on this problem the better chance someone wiser will be able to diagnose it...

Matt Bishop · March 5th, 2008, 09:54 PM

which g2 frequency model are you using A, B or C ?

Thanks for the clip...sounds EXACTLY like what I'm getting. Annoying isn't it!! :-)

Jared Meyer · March 5th, 2008, 10:00 PM

Yeah, it's absolutely infuriating. And I hate knowing that it could be any one of a number of different things.

This is the "A" model, 518-554 MHz.

Mike Bisom · March 5th, 2008, 10:33 PM

Well that stinks... I have a Sennheiser G2. But I also have a Lectrosonic's and I can tell you that is the ONLY wireless system I will purchase going forward. I had trouble with my original wireless and I finally sprang for the Lectrosonic. Definitely the best out there.

Mike

Peter Ralph · March 6th, 2008, 11:24 AM

lectro are top banana no question. The G2 is a budget product but it's none too shabby. For weddings? Who can afford all those lectros?

This problem can be solved in a few minutes:

change the battery
change the frequency
if the problem is still there go to a clean location or run it alongside another g2

- if that doesn't pinpoint the problem - send the unit in for service or replacement.

Millions of these units have been sold - and 99.9999% of users are happy.

Matt Bishop · March 6th, 2008, 12:10 PM

I do appreciate all the help and your suggestions but they wouldn't be able to fix the problem in the situations that I've had them...

I ALWAYS test the mics before hand and as I have said, usually have new to fairly new batteries in them. When I test them and everything is great, I have no reason to adjust anything. Then halfway through the vows it starts cutting out, I cant do anything about it. I can't change out the batteries or change frequencies in the middle of that so I'm stuck.

That's the worst part about this whole situation...it's so random that it's hard to determine or even narrow down a cause.

Michael Liebergot · March 6th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Bishop

I do appreciate all the help and your suggestions but they wouldn't be able to fix the problem in the situations that I've had them...

I ALWAYS test the mics before hand and as I have said, usually have new to fairly new batteries in them. When I test them and everything is great, I have no reason to adjust anything. Then halfway through the vows it starts cutting out, I cant do anything about it. I can't change out the batteries or change frequencies in the middle of that so I'm stuck.

That's the worst part about this whole situation...it's so random that it's hard to determine or even narrow down a cause.

Matt forgive me if you mentioned that you did this, but did you do a frequency sweep before using the wireless. I don't mean a test of the mics, but rather a frequency sweep of the venue to see if there are no shared frequencies being used.
If you have never done this, you should, as this is a must for wireless work in the field.

Again forgive me if you know how to do this, but in case you don't...

1. Turn off ALL of your transmitters
2. Make sure that ALL transmitters that will be used are turned on (except yours)
3. Turn on your receiver and see if there is any activity going on
4. If your receiver shows there is activity, then try another band
5. Once you find a good band (with no activity), then set your transmitters accordingly

Again, this is not a mic test, but a wireless test.
Your mics and wireless will work just fine, until another transmitting device is turned on (could be another wireless system the church has, Wifi etc.). This is why it's important to make sure that all transmitting devices are turned on (except yours) when testing.

Again sorry if you already mentioned that you did frequency sweeps. But this might still be useful for those who don't.

Peter Ralph · March 6th, 2008, 12:53 PM

ok - if you only shoot weddings you can't troubleshoot on the job.

Here is what I would do -

hook the senn up to a laptop and record ambient sound direct to disk using an audio app. Leave it run for a few hours. When recording is finished check the audio waveform - any noise will be immediately visible. Checking 2 hours of video this way will only take a few seconds.

repeat with different variables until the problem is pin-pointed.

One thing - as mentioned receivers eat up batteries much faster than transmitters. So if this problem does come up during a wedding and you are not sure you have fresh batteries you can always try switching out the batteries in the receiver.

Mike Bisom · March 6th, 2008, 02:04 PM

Lectrosonics are top banana!

And they aren't really that expensive, all things considered. Meaning you will never need to replace your Lectrosonic. You will have them longer that ANY camcorder. You save yourself a lot of these headaches (how much is that worth). We had a priest mic'ed with the G2 and the groom with the Lectrosonic. When the priest was at the other end of the sanctuary, but still in the sanctuary, the Sennheiser started to break up. The groom was outside the church and I still got a clear, clean signal from inside the sanctuary. For me, that's priceless. Especially when you don't have the opportunity to "tweak" many things during an event. I am be no means an audio engineer, but I have spoke with audio professionals enough to know that there is just too much for me to know/understand about build quality. Sure, I can find an open frequency, but if the unit doesn't provide a strong enough signal, with decent pre-amp connections, noise rejection, off-axis whatever... then what is it worth? And I don't know squat about all that. Find an open frequency & work. That is why I love the Lectrosonics!

March 5th, 2008, 09:54 PM	#32
Matt Bishop Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Moline, IL Posts: 231	which g2 frequency model are you using A, B or C ? Thanks for the clip...sounds EXACTLY like what I'm getting. Annoying isn't it!! :-) __________________ www.mediainnovations-online.com www.mediainnovationsblog.com

March 6th, 2008, 12:10 PM	#36
Matt Bishop Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Moline, IL Posts: 231	I do appreciate all the help and your suggestions but they wouldn't be able to fix the problem in the situations that I've had them... I ALWAYS test the mics before hand and as I have said, usually have new to fairly new batteries in them. When I test them and everything is great, I have no reason to adjust anything. Then halfway through the vows it starts cutting out, I cant do anything about it. I can't change out the batteries or change frequencies in the middle of that so I'm stuck. That's the worst part about this whole situation...it's so random that it's hard to determine or even narrow down a cause. __________________ www.mediainnovations-online.com www.mediainnovationsblog.com

March 5th, 2008, 09:51 PM	#31
Jared Meyer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 9	I'm sorry you're having trouble with your sound, Matt, but it's really good to see I'm not the only one with this problem. :) I have the G2 and have seen the exact same symptoms since I purchased it last year. Happened on about 3 or 4 different wedding shoots last season. I use brand new batteries for each ceremony. Positive it's not battery-related. http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/9324/1187726869.mov It starts slow and builds, but it also occasionally pops really loudly and then clicks off. There's two different segments from the ceremony joined together in this audio clip, listen all the way to the end for the pop where the static completely shuts off. I'm not much of an audio guy, sad to say, but I'm hoping the more info we're able to compile on this problem the better chance someone wiser will be able to diagnose it...

March 5th, 2008, 10:00 PM	#33
Jared Meyer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 9	Yeah, it's absolutely infuriating. And I hate knowing that it could be any one of a number of different things. This is the "A" model, 518-554 MHz.

March 5th, 2008, 10:33 PM	#34
Mike Bisom Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kenosha WI Posts: 65	Well that stinks... I have a Sennheiser G2. But I also have a Lectrosonic's and I can tell you that is the ONLY wireless system I will purchase going forward. I had trouble with my original wireless and I finally sprang for the Lectrosonic. Definitely the best out there. Mike

March 6th, 2008, 11:24 AM	#35
Peter Ralph Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver/Vail Colorado Posts: 254	lectro are top banana no question. The G2 is a budget product but it's none too shabby. For weddings? Who can afford all those lectros? This problem can be solved in a few minutes: change the battery change the frequency if the problem is still there go to a clean location or run it alongside another g2 - if that doesn't pinpoint the problem - send the unit in for service or replacement. Millions of these units have been sold - and 99.9999% of users are happy.

March 6th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#38
Peter Ralph Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Denver/Vail Colorado Posts: 254	ok - if you only shoot weddings you can't troubleshoot on the job. Here is what I would do - hook the senn up to a laptop and record ambient sound direct to disk using an audio app. Leave it run for a few hours. When recording is finished check the audio waveform - any noise will be immediately visible. Checking 2 hours of video this way will only take a few seconds. repeat with different variables until the problem is pin-pointed. One thing - as mentioned receivers eat up batteries much faster than transmitters. So if this problem does come up during a wedding and you are not sure you have fresh batteries you can always try switching out the batteries in the receiver.

March 6th, 2008, 02:04 PM	#39
Mike Bisom Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kenosha WI Posts: 65	Lectrosonics are top banana! And they aren't really that expensive, all things considered. Meaning you will never need to replace your Lectrosonic. You will have them longer that ANY camcorder. You save yourself a lot of these headaches (how much is that worth). We had a priest mic'ed with the G2 and the groom with the Lectrosonic. When the priest was at the other end of the sanctuary, but still in the sanctuary, the Sennheiser started to break up. The groom was outside the church and I still got a clear, clean signal from inside the sanctuary. For me, that's priceless. Especially when you don't have the opportunity to "tweak" many things during an event. I am be no means an audio engineer, but I have spoke with audio professionals enough to know that there is just too much for me to know/understand about build quality. Sure, I can find an open frequency, but if the unit doesn't provide a strong enough signal, with decent pre-amp connections, noise rejection, off-axis whatever... then what is it worth? And I don't know squat about all that. Find an open frequency & work. That is why I love the Lectrosonics!