Best All around Wireless Lavalier Mics for Intermittent Use?
Mizamook
30 Mar 2017 22:56
This has come up a few times in my "career" but not often enough that it made sense for me to get some decent wireless lavs. I don't do this kind of work often. But a project has come up and I don't think it will work without them... so timing is good excuse to go ahead and invest.
I'm thinking of this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/877198-REG/Sennheiser_ew_100_ENG_G3.html with the addition of this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/294555-REG/Countryman_B3W4FF05BSR_B3_Omnidirectional_Lavalier_Microphone.html as the Countryman has better background rejection than the Sennheiser M-2 mics in the kit, but is still omni, so won't have that "pinched" sound, and be tolerant of movement. Plus it is smaller.
I do not want to see the mics. My subject(s) will be moving around a lot, and I'll also have short shotgun aimed in general direction as well as stereo mid side for ambient and customers (it's a brewery promo). No boom operator. Plenty of space/beams overhead to hang mics from however so I think ambient is covered. It gets loud in there though ... and what we are trying to get is stories and quips from the brewer.
I am not interested in anything that might compromise the quality, and I need robust/dependable. Thinking that this is fairly accepted as "industry standard" ... is this the right thing? Am I spending too much, or is it a good thing for a kit like this to retain for these moments?
I'm thinking of this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/877198-REG/Sennheiser_ew_100_ENG_G3.html with the addition of this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/294555-REG/Countryman_B3W4FF05BSR_B3_Omnidirectional_Lavalier_Microphone.html as the Countryman has better background rejection than the Sennheiser M-2 mics in the kit, but is still omni, so won't have that "pinched" sound, and be tolerant of movement. Plus it is smaller.
I do not want to see the mics. My subject(s) will be moving around a lot, and I'll also have short shotgun aimed in general direction as well as stereo mid side for ambient and customers (it's a brewery promo). No boom operator. Plenty of space/beams overhead to hang mics from however so I think ambient is covered. It gets loud in there though ... and what we are trying to get is stories and quips from the brewer.
I am not interested in anything that might compromise the quality, and I need robust/dependable. Thinking that this is fairly accepted as "industry standard" ... is this the right thing? Am I spending too much, or is it a good thing for a kit like this to retain for these moments?
GlobalStock
1 Apr 2017 07:19
I like this kit and have worked with the EW100 ENG 2 before I got the ENG 3. Simple and effective. For a doc I worked on last year, a soundman and a sound engineer told me I could greatly increase the quality of my audio if I'd buy a better microphone for the set. They recommended the Sanken Cos 11: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606469-REG/Sanken_COS_11D_PT_BK_EW_COS_11XPT_Omnidirectional_Lavalier_Microphone.html
I'm not an audio knitpicker and I have to admit the Sennheiser sounded fine to me but my perception is that the Sanken produces a richer, more forgiving sound. Plus it's easier to conceal. (I also learned how to use tape and furries to place the mic under clothing)
I'm not an audio knitpicker and I have to admit the Sennheiser sounded fine to me but my perception is that the Sanken produces a richer, more forgiving sound. Plus it's easier to conceal. (I also learned how to use tape and furries to place the mic under clothing)
Mizamook
1 Apr 2017 07:32
Thanks for your input! I appreciate hearing that (I went ahead and made the purchase) I like simple and effective!
I am an audio nitpicker, and hope that the Countryman mic will be as pleasing as the reviews indicate (as well as easy to hide, etc). But the real deal is a strong/clean signal close will do wonders to focus the ambient an a balanced natural way.
I know a wireless lav will never sound like a nice studio mic ... so I forgive them a bit. From what I heard in comparisons these are pretty good .. not too tinny or harsh, fairly clear, etc., with less modulation noise ...
Furries? I din't order any of those. Got plenty of gaffer's tape though. One of my subjects already indicated that he would not allow the placement of mic in his beard ...
I am an audio nitpicker, and hope that the Countryman mic will be as pleasing as the reviews indicate (as well as easy to hide, etc). But the real deal is a strong/clean signal close will do wonders to focus the ambient an a balanced natural way.
I know a wireless lav will never sound like a nice studio mic ... so I forgive them a bit. From what I heard in comparisons these are pretty good .. not too tinny or harsh, fairly clear, etc., with less modulation noise ...
Furries? I din't order any of those. Got plenty of gaffer's tape though. One of my subjects already indicated that he would not allow the placement of mic in his beard ...
GlobalStock
1 Apr 2017 07:55
Beard mic placement is an art in its own! But if that's not an option, these stickies and undercovers (I called them furries) are great for hiding mics under clothing. I was worried about rubbing sounds but never had issues. (I see the Countryman is round as opposed to the flat Sanken, so it may be more susceptible to rubbing... But if it's small enough, you should be fine.)
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538906-REG/Rycote_065104_Undercover_Lavalier_Wind.html?sts=pi
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/538906-REG/Rycote_065104_Undercover_Lavalier_Wind.html?sts=pi