Audio Ltd A10 Wireless Microphone System - Sound Devices NAB 2018
The professional location sound market now has a fully digital wireless microphone system option - the Audio Ltd A10 from Sound Devices! Here we have a closer look at the A10 system with Kish Patel at the Sound Devices booth at NAB 2018.
Gear covered and used to shoot this episode:
Audio Ltd A10 Wireless Microphone System
RODE Reporter Microphone
RODE iXLR Adapter (Record a dynamic XLR microphone to iPhone or iPad)
Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - incredibly versatile lens that is on the GH5S most of the time
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music - MzA by Cary Judd, used with permission.
Wireless Headphone Feeds (Comtek)
What do you do when the director or producer come to you and say, "I need 4 headphones..."?
Here's a brief overview of setting up wireless headphone feeds for producers, directors, and others on set. You can do this a variety of ways, even using a spare wireless lav system (but that only gets you one set of headphones). On the pro sets, they often use Comtek or similar wireless systems which are nice in that you can send the same feed to as many sets of receivers as you need from a single transmitter in your sound bag.
Links to gear discussed in this session:
Comtek M-216 Transmitter (Option P7) - expensive but sturdy and up for several years of service on rough and tumble sets and locations.
Comtek PR-216 Receiver - This is the thankfully less expensive receiver. You can use as many of these as you need with a single transmitter. Also well built for years of service
Comtek XLR to 3.5mm adapter cable - If your mixer/recorder has an XLR output that you'll use to feed audio to the Comtek transmitter, here's an adapter cable to make that work. If your mixer/recorder has a 3.5mm output, any 3.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS cable will do. Just keep it short so it doesn't pick up interference.
Sony ZX110 Headphones - Good enough to get the job done with comfort, plenty loud. They fold and have flat cables which help prevent tangles. Not too hard on your pocketbook if they get destroyed by a crew member (about $15 USD each).
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
RØDELink Performer Wireless Handheld Microphone Kit
Sometimes I shoot live events. In my case that is mostly corporate conference meetings. In these cases, sometimes a wireless lavalier is the best option but in others, we don’t have time to get the lavalier microphone in place and a handheld wireless mic is a better option. RODE has just introduced their new RODELink wireless handheld microphone kit which fits this niche for me quite nicely. In this overview I cover my initial impressions as well as the features of the kit. In short: RODE has added an affordable, high quality option to their RODELink wireless system!
Thanks to RODE for providing the Performer kit for this review. They have not paid me beyond providing the mic and all of the opinions shared here are my own.
The RODELink Performer kit is slated to start shipping in mid October 2017.
Links to Gear Discussed and used to shoot this review:
RODELink Performer Handheld Wireless Microphone Kit
RODELink Filmmaker Wireless Lavalier Kit
My review of the RØDELink Filmmaker kit:
RODELink Newsshooter Wireless Reporter’s Microphone Kit
Aputure COB120t (used to light light me in the talking head shots)
FalconEyes CLL-1600TDX (used as the background light in the talking head portions of this video. This thing is HUGE)
FalconEyes RX-18TD (used as a rim light bounced off of foam core in the talking head portions of this video)
Aputure COB120d (used to light the product shots)
Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder
Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro Cinema Camera
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Special Pricing: Sennheiser G3 Wireless Lav System (516-558MHz)
Today only, B&H has a special pricing deal on the Sennheiser G3 wireless lavalier kit (good for USA with the 516-558MHz frequency range). Normally this is priced at $629 USD, today is is $399. This is the primary wireless system I use today.
Sound for Video Session: Wireless Hop from Mixer/Recorder to Camera with Sennheiser G3
In this week’s sound for video session we had a chat with Gregg Palmer, one of our friends and fellow sound mixers from Oregon. Gregg explains his experience using Sennheiser G3 wireless systems to send audio from your recorder/mixer to the cameras so that they also record high quality production sound.
Greg discusses the following gear:
Sennheiser G3 Wireless Lavalier System (Be sure to research whether this frequency band can be used in your local area)
Cable to Adapt from G3 Receiver to XLR input for Camera (if your camera has an XLR input)
Cable to send audio from Zoom F8 or F4 to G3 Transmitter and from G3 to camera
Sennheiser AVX Wireless Lavalier Kit (MKE2 Microphone)
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are affiliate links which means that if you click on them and buy, I get a small commission. You don't pay more by clicking these links than if you just went to the retailer’s web site on your own. I use the proceeds to buy additional gear to review and help you improve your sound, lighting, and video. Thanks for your support!
*Added 2 Jan 2017*
Mark Kirchner added additional technical information for those who would like to use this method to optimize the signal from the mixer to the transmitter:
Your guest on your G3 hop video can optimize the signal with a custom cable to turn his transmitter into a hop-transmitter that will receive a "tape level -15 dB audio signal. The wiring on the TX side should not be soldered to the tip of the TRS plug. The transmitter want to "see" a mono "unbalanced" signal, not a L/R signal like your video guest was sending it using stock TRS to TRS mini 3.5 plugs. E.T. designed this cable for me to "sum" the left/right channel(left/right mix-bus) to the G3 transmitter. The audio signal leaves the mixer as L/R unbalanced signal (tape level -15 dB). To use this tape level signal correctly it must be sent (soldered) to the "ring" of the TRS plug. If you like I will make you one for free for your Sound Devices 633 and then you can try it with a G3 TX and RX yourself.
The following are notes from a conversation with E.T. He designed this cable. I know you are not a "soldering guy" and purchase your XLR cables. It will take awhile to understand what I have written. Unity Gain, Reference Level, Gain Staging and Unbalanced/Balanced are concepts that take time, but worth the struggle to put them into the old gray matter. You might find it helpful to draw a diagram of the 2 connectors, using colored pens and different colors for each conductor.
Last, my family roots come from Grantsville Utah. There was a film made about my second cousin Kimball Johnson called "Pigweed Philosopher." Check it out it is about film-making. If you have been to Grantsville, you may have seen the old Victorian house on main street. That's the Johnson house, our family house. I saw you have not been on this sight in a while, so this letter may find you in 2017.
Best,
Mark Kirchner mkirchnersound@gmail.com
PS Thank you for interviewing "The Senator" Mike Michaels!
WIRELESS HOP from the 442 MIXER w/ SENNHEISER G3
Set-up
1. Use the Sound Devices 442 Tape/Mix out (TA3) connector.
2. Tape/Mix Out = -10 dB *
3. Use Custom E.T. Mix-Out Hop Cable**
4. Connect 442 to the G3 Tx
5. Starting recommendations from E.T.; settings for the Tx –12 dB sensitivity.
6. Set the Rx about the same and test.
*The Tape/Mix out of the 442 sends both left and right signals at a –14 dB level if the mixer is set for a "0" dBu reference level. All left channel assignments (channels 1-4 on the 442 mixer) will be “mixed” and output as a discrete “mixed left channel.” The right channel will mix all right channel assignments.
**The E.T. Hop Cable sends a unbalanced, left and right signal to a TRS connector, assigning the left and right signals to a single terminal (ring) on the TRS connector making a “summed mono signal” that the Sennheiser G3 transmitter needs for the proper signal input.
Note; The Sound Devices manual for the 442 mixer lists the maximum output level for the Tape/Mix Out as follows.
Page 24 Tape/Mix Out +6 dBu
Page 26 Block Diagram Inputs and Outputs
The schematic diagram (page 26) displays the Mic / Tape / Line as 0/-14/-40 which should be written as Mic – 40 / Tape – 14 / Line “0” .
A “Tape Level Signal” is normally –10dBu. The designation of “tape level as –14” is based on an “0” dBu reference level. The Sound Devices schematic is based on a “0 dBu” reference level (-14 dBu @ “0” reference level = -10dBu @ +4 dBu reference level).
E.T. WIRELESS HOP CABLE (Sennheiser G3)
This cable was engineered for use with the Sound Devices 442* “mix/tape out” output on the TA3 output.
TA3f Connector
Redco TGS-1 Cable (2 conductors + shield and drain)
TRS 3.5 Mini locking connector
TA3f connector (output)
Pin 1 Ground (Eric used drain wire)
Pin 2 Signal (+) red conductor (Left)
Pin 3 Return (-) clear conductor (Right)
TRS 3.5 Mini Connector **
Tip No Connection
Ring Signal and Return (+ @ -)
Sleeve Ground (drain wire)
Notes:
*The Tape/Mix out of the 442 sends both left and right signals at a –14 dB level. All left channel assignments (channels 1-4 on the 442 mixer) will be “mixed” and output as a discrete “mixed left channel.” The right channel will mix all right channel assignments.
**The E.T. Hop Cable sends an unbalanced, left and right signal to a TRS connector, assigning both left and right channels to a single terminal (ring) on the TRS connector making a “summed mono signal” that the Sennheiser G3 transmitter needs for the proper signal input.
Sound for Video Session: USB vs XLR Microphones, Timecode Modes, Wireless Frequencies
In this episode, we covered several sound for video questions:
- What’s the quality difference between USB and XLR based microphones?
- Recommended XLR cable brands?
- What are the different types of timecode?
- When buying wireless transmitters and receivers, which blocks should I get for my area?
- What can I do to reduce pickup of reverb and street noise when shooting in a parking garage?
- Which digital audio workstation app is best?
Explanation of different types of timecode modes (Matt Price)
Hair wraps to hold external cable in place on a boom pole
Audio Technica AT2005 USB/XLR Microphone
Blue Yeti Pro USB/XLR Microphone
(some of these are affiliate links)
Sennheiser G3 Wireless Special Pricing
One of the first wireless lavalier systems I ever used was the Sennheiser G3. These kits are everywhere in the independent and documentary filmmaking world. And there's good reason for that: They're solid and reliable. Yes, you'll need to read the manual and learn how to use them and set up them up, but once you've got that down, they work reliably, are well built, and have some nice features like locking 3.5mm plugs.
These transmit an analogue signal. This is what most of the pro-level wireless systems do and there are some advantages to that. First, you're not sharing the rather overwhelmed 1.4GHz band with all the WiFi, Bluetooth, and other consumer electronics enabled devices out there (mobile, cordless phones, etc). Also, there are potentially distance benefits as well. But of course, you do need to buy a device with the right frequency band for your region so if you do look seriously at these, you'll want to research which band is suited for your region of the world. For those in the US, B&H is recommending models which transmit in frequencies below 600MHz. And the FCC has some FAQs here.
B&H has several kits at the regular price but with some bundled items which make for a good deal: a $100 B&H gift certificate and a case similar to a Pelican for the kit. I'm told that these bundle deals last through the end of September.
There's a dizzying array of model numbers, but here's the basic G3 kit with the ME2 lavalier microphone and a coldshoe mount receiver.
And here's the same G3 kit with the ME2 lavalier but which also includes an XLR plugon transmitter for handheld mics.
JuicedLink Little DARling Review: Like Wireless Lavalier but Different
Wireless lavalier kits are expensive. And they are sometimes finicky. They drop the audio when the transmitter is too far from the receiver. RF interference can cause problems as well. Wireless has its place, for sure, but sometimes you also need a backup. Or perhaps you don’t have the budget for a wireless system just yet.
This is where the JuicedLink Little DARling comes in. It is a tiny little audio recorder which looks very much like a wireless lavalier microphone transmitter body pack. But instead, it records the audio from the lavalier microphone. Then when you’re done shooting, you sync the audio recorded by the DARling to your video clip in your video editing app.
This entire episode was recorded with the Little DARling and a Sanken COS-11D lavalier microphone hidden under my shirt collar. For this review, B&H lent me the JuicedLink Little DARling DAR123.
Record Audio Wirelessly to Your Phone: Samson Stage XPD1 Wireless USB Microphone System
Samson’s Stage XPD1 wireless USB microphone system allows you to record audio wirelessly to your phone, tablet, computer, or even to one of Samson’s Expedition PA speakers for live sound. The kit with the headset microphone is a nice option for those doing demo videos, whether that be exercise, cooking, or anything similar to that.
The headset microphone is ideal for demo videos where you’re ok with the microphone showing in the shot because it places the microphone on your cheek which results in very good sound quality and is immune to the clothes and movement noise you will often get with lavalier microphones. The kit with the headset microphone is priced at around $100 USD at the time of this review.
Why do Pros Use Zaxcom Mixers/Recorders/Wireless?
Consider this an educational piece. I am not trying to convince enthusiast and semi-pro film-makers that they need gear in this price range to make meaningful films. Instead, consider this a quick tutorial so that some day when you reach sound ninja status and you're working or assisting on a job where they are using Zaxcom gear, you'll be all set with a good overview of why they chose to use Zaxcom.
Knowledge is power. Here's some knowledge.
Again, not trying to sell here, but if you are curious about pricing, you can visit Trew Audio.
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