Wireless Microphones at DVinfo.net

Matt Sawyers · June 6th, 2005, 08:47 PM

I am looking for 2 wireless clip-on microphones and reciever for $500 or less. Can anyone direct me toward a good product. It mainly will be used for weddings and doing interviews. I don't know the difference between UHF & VHF can somone inform me?

Bob Costa · June 7th, 2005, 12:30 AM

Try doing a search and reading some threads in this forum and in the audio forum. These subjects are covered extensively. $500 for 2 systems may be wasting your money.

Craig Terott · June 7th, 2005, 06:22 AM

below $500 wireless IS wasting money - Matt is right. Wait until your first ceremony when the pastor/priest is also using a PA - you'll regret it. Buyers remorse will set in quickly.

I switched to Voice Recorder (a good one with good sample rate)... easily in your price range. I primarily use the camera's audio then just amplify slightly the voices with the Voice Recorder audio. It works like a charm. Those who swear by wireless would be amazed at how crisp and clear the vows are in my videos. It may take a bit of practice to get the audio snyc'd but other than that they are simple and reliable.

Dennis Wood · June 7th, 2005, 12:20 PM

I just did my first wedding with a Rode VM and AT88W wireless mic ($109). The wireless mic audio was great. The problem was that the groom was mic'd and sounded great, but the bride needed 6db in post. Being a VHF mic, I did have to monitor the audio and keep the receiver on my belt as opposed to clipped to the flash bracket. The priest was using a wireless mic and there were no problems. We did of course test the systems first.

Having the bride and groom both mic'd would have been perfect.

During a previous day's test in the church I did get a burst of radio traffic...so I'd be hesitant to use the AT88W wireless mic as a professional wedding videographer. I'm sure the interference issue would bite sooner or later.

David Lach · June 7th, 2005, 12:55 PM

If $500 if for each system, I would recommend the Sennheiser G2 series. I bought an ew112 package and liked it so much that I just bought an other one. I'm sure it doesn't beat Lectrosonics, but at that price, there's nothing else to beat it, unless you find a killer deal on used gear.

Bruce Marusich · June 7th, 2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Wood

I just did my first wedding with a Rode VM and AT88W wireless mic ($109). The wireless mic audio was great. The problem was that the groom was mic'd and sounded great, but the bride needed 6db in post. Being a VHF mic, I did have to monitor the audio and keep the receiver on my belt as opposed to clipped to the flash bracket. The priest was using a wireless mic and there were no problems. We did of course test the systems first.

Having the bride and groom both mic'd would have been perfect.

During a previous day's test in the church I did get a burst of radio traffic...so I'd be hesitant to use the AT88W wireless mic as a professional wedding videographer. I'm sure the interference issue would bite sooner or later.

Hey Dennis:

I just got the AT88W/R from B&H. Why did you want to keep it on your belt as opposed to the camera bracket? I'm planning to use the AT88W/R along with a MD at a wedding coming up soon. I'm doing it freebie for the experience, but I still want to do a good job.

Thanks,
Bruce

Dennis Wood · June 7th, 2005, 02:06 PM

I picked up an occasional bit of hiss in certain positions close to the camera. I found that this disappeared with the receiver on my belt. I was in an old church with heavy stone walls so this may have been an issue. I also used the mic during speeches just sitting on the podium. I tried clipping it to the PA mic stand but there was an audible buzz with it mounted there. Ideally, a second small mic stand perhaps on a flexible stalk could be used to position the lavalier better...or ideally you could jack in a better mic. I have also seen examples of this unit plugged directly in to PA output (not sure if they used line or mic level output).

Check the lavalier jack housing to make sure it is screwed tightly into the jack body....mine wasn't and almost came apart during the rehearsal shoot.

Tim Borek · June 8th, 2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Wood

The problem was that the groom was mic'd and sounded great, but the bride needed 6db in post.

Next time place the lavalier mic lower on the groom's coat. This will make his voice less boomy and better balance the pickup of both bride and groom's voices. When I first started videotaping weddings, I would clip the mic at breast level, but now I place the mic midway down his chest. It makes a big difference, unless, of course, you get one of those mousey brides who barely whispers when she speaks. Then she'll need boosting in post anyway.

Dennis Wood · June 8th, 2005, 09:59 AM

She was pretty quiet....I had it mounted mid chest. I had the same problem with her speech. The podium mounted lavalier was fine for all the other guests....but she was so quiet, that neither the RODE VM on cam, or lavalier on podium gave me good audio.

The Rode VM on a tripod or mic stand fed through the wireless transmitter would have done the job much better during speeches IMHO.

Matt Sawyers · June 9th, 2005, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Lach

If $500 if for each system, I would recommend the Sennheiser G2 series. I bought an ew112 package and liked it so much that I just bought an other one. I'm sure it doesn't beat Lectrosonics, but at that price, there's nothing else to beat it, unless you find a killer deal on used gear.

Sorry that is what I ment, so spending a total of about $800-$1200

So, for every transmitter you have to have a seperate reciever?

David Lach · June 9th, 2005, 02:43 PM

That's correct Matt. You have one portable transmitter and one portable receiver for every mic. Each transmitter and receiver is about 4" tall x 3" wide and clips to a belt easily. At least for the ew112P-G2 version. There's a rackmountable version that is not as portable. The lavalier that comes with the ew112p is good and very small, but you could upgrade it to suit your taste or needs better if you still have some budget left over. You'll find more info on the Sennheisers here.

Patrick King · June 9th, 2005, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Sawyers

So, for every transmitter you have to have a seperate reciever?

1 Transmitter per receiver unless you're willing to spend serious coin to buy pro equipment like this Sony rig.

Chad Whelan · June 9th, 2005, 04:18 PM

Good point about keeping the mic a bit lower on groom, it normally does help to balance out the brides voice. I have 2 Samson systems, a UM1 with standard AT mic as back up and a UM32 with a sony ecm44 (think thats right) mic. It has been a couple of years, but I believe I paid around $500 for the UM32. I have never had 1 problem with them from day one. Only once have I ever had to change frequencies on the 32.

Bruce Linden · June 10th, 2005, 09:48 AM

[QUOTE=Dennis Wood]I picked up an occasional bit of hiss in certain positions close to the camera. I found that this disappeared with the receiver on my belt.

Had something similar with an Audio Technica wireless receiver. Everytime I got it close to the camera battery, it powered off. Turned completely off, power light went out, everything. Move it somewhere else, and it was fine.

Took some figuring out to find out why I was losing audio from that mic because I didn't expect that.

Todd Lamkin · June 10th, 2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Sawyers

Sorry that is what I ment, so spending a total of about $800-$1200

So, for every transmitter you have to have a seperate reciever?

I would look hard at the AKG PR/PT81 series. B&H has them at $449 and I love them. They are extreamly light, they use AA batteries (read cheap rechargeables), and most important, I have NEVER had a drop out while in the same room as the transmitter. I do churches that get close to 300 feet long, and they do great.

June 6th, 2005, 08:47 PM	#1
Matt Sawyers Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria , Texas Posts: 123	Wireless Microphones I am looking for 2 wireless clip-on microphones and reciever for $500 or less. Can anyone direct me toward a good product. It mainly will be used for weddings and doing interviews. I don't know the difference between UHF & VHF can somone inform me? Last edited by Matt Sawyers; June 6th, 2005 at 09:54 PM.

June 7th, 2005, 12:30 AM	#2
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Try doing a search and reading some threads in this forum and in the audio forum. These subjects are covered extensively. $500 for 2 systems may be wasting your money. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

June 9th, 2005, 02:43 PM	#11
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	That's correct Matt. You have one portable transmitter and one portable receiver for every mic. Each transmitter and receiver is about 4" tall x 3" wide and clips to a belt easily. At least for the ew112P-G2 version. There's a rackmountable version that is not as portable. The lavalier that comes with the ew112p is good and very small, but you could upgrade it to suit your taste or needs better if you still have some budget left over. You'll find more info on the Sennheisers here. Last edited by David Lach; June 9th, 2005 at 03:14 PM.

June 7th, 2005, 06:22 AM	#3
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	below $500 wireless IS wasting money - Matt is right. Wait until your first ceremony when the pastor/priest is also using a PA - you'll regret it. Buyers remorse will set in quickly. I switched to Voice Recorder (a good one with good sample rate)... easily in your price range. I primarily use the camera's audio then just amplify slightly the voices with the Voice Recorder audio. It works like a charm. Those who swear by wireless would be amazed at how crisp and clear the vows are in my videos. It may take a bit of practice to get the audio snyc'd but other than that they are simple and reliable.

June 7th, 2005, 12:20 PM	#4
Dennis Wood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 916	I just did my first wedding with a Rode VM and AT88W wireless mic ($109). The wireless mic audio was great. The problem was that the groom was mic'd and sounded great, but the bride needed 6db in post. Being a VHF mic, I did have to monitor the audio and keep the receiver on my belt as opposed to clipped to the flash bracket. The priest was using a wireless mic and there were no problems. We did of course test the systems first. Having the bride and groom both mic'd would have been perfect. During a previous day's test in the church I did get a burst of radio traffic...so I'd be hesitant to use the AT88W wireless mic as a professional wedding videographer. I'm sure the interference issue would bite sooner or later.

June 7th, 2005, 12:55 PM	#5
David Lach Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 570	If $500 if for each system, I would recommend the Sennheiser G2 series. I bought an ew112 package and liked it so much that I just bought an other one. I'm sure it doesn't beat Lectrosonics, but at that price, there's nothing else to beat it, unless you find a killer deal on used gear.

June 7th, 2005, 02:06 PM	#7
Dennis Wood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 916	I picked up an occasional bit of hiss in certain positions close to the camera. I found that this disappeared with the receiver on my belt. I was in an old church with heavy stone walls so this may have been an issue. I also used the mic during speeches just sitting on the podium. I tried clipping it to the PA mic stand but there was an audible buzz with it mounted there. Ideally, a second small mic stand perhaps on a flexible stalk could be used to position the lavalier better...or ideally you could jack in a better mic. I have also seen examples of this unit plugged directly in to PA output (not sure if they used line or mic level output). Check the lavalier jack housing to make sure it is screwed tightly into the jack body....mine wasn't and almost came apart during the rehearsal shoot.

June 8th, 2005, 09:59 AM	#9
Dennis Wood Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 916	She was pretty quiet....I had it mounted mid chest. I had the same problem with her speech. The podium mounted lavalier was fine for all the other guests....but she was so quiet, that neither the RODE VM on cam, or lavalier on podium gave me good audio. The Rode VM on a tripod or mic stand fed through the wireless transmitter would have done the job much better during speeches IMHO.

June 9th, 2005, 04:18 PM	#13
Chad Whelan Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Deep River, Connecticut Posts: 261	Good point about keeping the mic a bit lower on groom, it normally does help to balance out the brides voice. I have 2 Samson systems, a UM1 with standard AT mic as back up and a UM32 with a sony ecm44 (think thats right) mic. It has been a couple of years, but I believe I paid around $500 for the UM32. I have never had 1 problem with them from day one. Only once have I ever had to change frequencies on the 32.

June 10th, 2005, 09:48 AM	#14
Bruce Linden Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Port St Lucie FL Posts: 34	[QUOTE=Dennis Wood]I picked up an occasional bit of hiss in certain positions close to the camera. I found that this disappeared with the receiver on my belt. Had something similar with an Audio Technica wireless receiver. Everytime I got it close to the camera battery, it powered off. Turned completely off, power light went out, everything. Move it somewhere else, and it was fine. Took some figuring out to find out why I was losing audio from that mic because I didn't expect that.