Wireless Lav Setup?
 

I am totally new to audio gear and I would appreciate some help.

-I am looking for a decent wireless lav setup for the XL that will deliver good quality and not break the bank (Sub $800). Suggestions?

-If I get a receiver that goes on the camera can I have 2 mics going at the same time?

-For professional audio results is it advantages to record onto DAT at the same time I record onto the video tape? If so can I run sound through the camera and onto the DAT to take advantage of the on camera mic.

I need a very mobile field setup for all of this.

Thanks for your ideas.

ppb

I would look very hard at the AKG PR81 series. They are fairly new, but AKG has a reputation for outstanding quality. I have a client who just picked a pair and I'm very impressed. The size is amazing and diversity to boot. I think Sennhiser (the usual pick in your price range) has a very serious challenger . They are available for under $500. Zotz Digital http://www.zotzdigital.com/ is an AKG dealer and a sponsor of this community.

Jeff

Is the AKG PR81 a diversity wireless microphone featuring 3-pin XLR connection? Also, small enough to attach the receiver to camera?
Thanks,
Tim

It is certainly small enough to attach to a camera. But in making the receiver and transmitter small, they can't use standard 3 pin XLR. The case is narrower than the XLR connection. This is not unusual, my Lectrosonics wireless are also too small for standard XLR.

They are UHF Diversity and I believe smaller than the Sennhiser and Lectrosonics that i've seen.

Jeff

I use the sennhieser evolution 100 series. It works great and comes with 1 wireless lav and transmitter, 1 camera mounted reciever, 1 plug on transmitter (cube) like the news reporters use in the field. I bought mine from B & H for around $500 and it came with a cl 100 xlr adapter, basically everything I needed. If you spend the extra dollars you get features like remote battery level indications at the reciever and 16 pre programable preset frequencies. all models can be pregrammed with a lot of frequencies but the more expensive models give you 16 presets rather than 4. They range from 500 to 800 bucks.

The only real problem with the Evolution is each setup can only support 1 mic at a time. Bummer, but this is a limitation of all mics in this price range.

If Jeff says the AKG is worth a look, I would. The Sennheiser Evolution 100 series is not a diversity system, though I have never missed it. If the AKG offers everything the 100 does plus diversity for almost the same money, that might be a good deal.

BTW, the normal posted price you will find on the Evolution is about $800-$900. However, you should have little difficulty in getting a 100 for around $450-$500.