Need an inexpensive Lav/Transmitter set-up

[apfx07]

I am mining for suggestions for a good lavalier VHF or UHF system. I am doing some extensive documentary work and would like an inexpensive solution for this task. I know Azden has some systems in the $100-250 range and AT may as well. Anyhow, any feedback or suggestions on what direction to pursue in this endeavor would be gratefully appreciated.

[Mal]

Okay, here's my suggestions; just my opinion:

Forget Nady, forget Azden

Lowest priced one to look at is:
Audio Technica (~$450):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Probably one you can't go wrong with, and which just about everyone agrees on:
Sennheiser G2 (~$500):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

I've purchased some VHF ones off eBay before. look for Lectrosonics M175 version. They can be had for little money these days. I picked up two systems for $150 each. Here's an auction with just the mic and transmitter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lectrosonics-M17...QQcmdZViewItem

Many frown upon those now as they are VHF; which of course is NOT inherently worse than UHF at all. Originally it was claimed that the VHF bandwidth was overcrowded; I wonder now though, with more and more UHF channels being used, if that soon won't equal out.
In any event, you should NOT have just ONE unit with you that is ONLY one frequency, as that would be asking for trouble.

Best to look for true diversity, multi frequency unit. I like the AT unit above, some prefer the G2 though.

[apfx07]

Thanks for the info :-)

[gibo]

I'd have to agree with Mal on the Sennheisers. I recently bought these and they are great!

As for VHF, I am still leery of them myself and had far too many cases where I received interference. Pay a little extra and go with UHF.

If you need to justify the cost, it's one of those things that you won't have to replace very often - if at all. You're camera will be obsolete before a good microphone!

[bluegrass]

Okay, here's my suggestions; just my opinion:

Forget Nady, forget Azden

Lowest priced one to look at is:
Audio Technica (~$450):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Probably one you can't go wrong with, and which just about everyone agrees on:
Sennheiser G2 (~$500):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

I've purchased some VHF ones off eBay before. look for Lectrosonics M175 version. They can be had for little money these days. I picked up two systems for $150 each. Here's an auction with just the mic and transmitter:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lectrosonics-M17...QQcmdZViewItem

Many frown upon those now as they are VHF; which of course is NOT inherently worse than UHF at all. Originally it was claimed that the VHF bandwidth was overcrowded; I wonder now though, with more and more UHF channels being used, if that soon won't equal out.
In any event, you should NOT have just ONE unit with you that is ONLY one frequency, as that would be asking for trouble.

Best to look for true diversity, multi frequency unit. I like the AT unit above, some prefer the G2 though.

Mal - I checked the specs on that AT and it says the transmitter can accept a line level input. It sounds like it might fit the bill for my purposes. Sometimes I might be taping jams around a campfire and other times I might be wanting to connect into a soundboard a festival. Have you or anybody had any experience hooking a wireless setup into a soundboard? I also wonder how long you get out of a battery? Hours?

[Mal]

Have you or anybody had any experience hooking a wireless setup into a soundboard? I also wonder how long you get out of a battery? Hours?

Never tried the "wireless setup into a soundboard" route. Idealy that would be via a wired/cable connection, but I don't see why it shouldn't work, providing line/mic levels are all okay (like you found in its specs apparently).

Battery lasts a LONG time, at least long enough for what I ever needed. I never checked exactly, and it will also depend on what battery type you're talking about.

From best to worst...not scientific:

- Lithium 9V (not rechargeable)
- Alkaline 9V (not rechargeable)
- Li-Ion rechargeable (7.2-8.4V)
- NiMH rechargeable (available as 7 cell (8.4 nominal, or 8 cell (9.6 nominal))
- NiCd rechargeable

[Vector]

Wish I could afford a nice set of wireless mics! Unfortunately i had to go a different route.

What I did was pick up a set of 3 iRiver ifp-890 recorders off ebay for about $20 a piece. Then I got a few mics to plug into 'em, (two lavs and a stereo condenser). It records everything to mp3 (320kbs), then i just sync it up later in final cut. They're by no means highly advanced or anything, and they're out of produciton, so you have to buy them used, but the thing that is special about the 8xx series is that they take UNpowered mics, as well as line feeds. I've used them for a few stage shows and interviews and to be honest, i'm quite happy with them.

So if you're cheap (like me), try one out- i got my lav mics from giant squid audio, they're specially made for use with the irivers.

Good luck with your filmmaking!

[sp8ce07]

can someone post what these are? wireless mics? is that it?

[Pom16/10e]

Vector, do you know of other MP3 player models that can record Mic input ?
I'd love to get iRivers ifp 890 but 256Mb won't do it and i'd better have something that records to AIFF (or WAV). (plus ifp890s are unavail in France even on eBay)

However when you look at the specs for these items online the Mic input is NEVER mentionned (even if it exists)

If you have knownledge about other models that suit this need, please share !

[Vector]

ok,

i looked long and hard for an alternative for wireless, and what i found was that basically the only thing besides a $500 edirol recorder or something like that was these irivers. The thing that's different about the ifp 7xx/8xx series is that the mic/line jack is powered, meaning that you don't need to have a powered mic. Lots of different mp3 players record from a line in, and i think you could get a powered lav mic to work with the line in for not much more cost than an unpowered one.

But here's the deal, you have to think about the size of your equipment. Becuse i'm using the equipment for weddings, a groom wouldn't want a huge bulge in his pocket and a mic with a 9volt battery attached. Thats why i went with the ifp's. They're only about as big as a AA battery.

As for the memory size, the irivers come in 128/256/512/ and 1GB varieties, prices vary accordingly. Also the 8xx series is probably a little better because of a non-recessed mic jack. I get about 3 hours on max quality when i use them. After I record however, I convert straight to AIF with quicktime, otherwise things get screwy. Just did a musical, and results were great.

So yeah, if you can't get your hands on an ifp, maybe another music player with line in capabilities would work. Witha POWERED mic or course!

Happy hunting-

p.s. ebay's down right now for me, so i'll post a link or two about the little guys tomorrow. Sp8ce07, just google "ifp-890", you'll see what they're about.

[Mal]

Vector, great idea.
Interestingly enough, there's a trend in the high end pro business to do exactly what you're doing; record each mic at source. The only problem would be lack of timecode, but you have a good way of getting awesome audio like that & in an inexpensive way!

Have you seen these mics on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=110082431437

(have one on order to see how they sound; the idea is great as you can get true ORTF)

PS: that mic needs power to run.

[sp8ce07]

wouldn't that sort of mic extension have to sit nearby the source? obviously with those two pieces flying out on the end, it's not going to work on someone's person. mal, i know you posted something similar the other day. The customized one.

[pm9531]

Vector,

How do you sync the audio up on each device? Do you need to use a clapboard for each iriver?

paul

[CanonA1]

At one time you could buy the sennheiser ew100 setup for $299 with mic butt transmitter and reciever. It could handle line input also. I have played around with a Telex older VHF unit and it had very good quality and good distance capabilities. This was a non portable reciever unit but they do mke a camera mounted reciever unit you might be able to pick up reasonable on ebay. The Nady units I had experience with 5-7 yrs ago had a very muted sound that also had pumping noises unless you really cranked in the volume to the transmitter. I tried 2-3 units and they all sounded that way but was able to transmit rom a mixer board up to camera that did ok because the output from the mixer was Hot enough. I heard the AT88 in the dvd that came with the HV20 and wasn't impressed but some people like them. I know the sennheiser has impecable audio but be aware the low end is rolled off (below 60 hz on the model I had).

[Duke]

Vector, do you know of other MP3 player models that can record Mic input ?
I'd love to get iRivers ifp 890 but 256Mb won't do it and i'd better have something that records to AIFF (or WAV). (plus ifp890s are unavail in France even on eBay)

However when you look at the specs for these items online the Mic input is NEVER mentionned (even if it exists)

If you have knownledge about other models that suit this need, please share !

The Olympus 311m is what I'm using for a direct digital voice recorder. I'm debating the virtues of a wireless system when I can't use a boom and shotgun mic. It has a mic input, more memory, then just plugs into the USB port to download onto the computer.

Duke