Using 2 Wireless Lav Mic's/EX3 at DVinfo.net

Lucky Haskins · August 19th, 2009, 07:48 AM

Hey Kids,

Thanks to the rebate I picked up the Sony UWPV1/4244 Wireless Mic unit (supposed to be here tomorrow). Though I already have a Sennheiser G2 unit I figured a backup would be wise.

Coincidentally I just got a gig where I'll have two interview subjects on camera. It's a longish shot so a boom mic is not right for the shot so I thought great...no worries now that i have 2 wireless mics.

Then it occurred to me...how do I deal with freq's on each mic. Can they be on the same freq or do I have to set them up on different freq's? I've always had the Sennheiser on the out of the box setting...what do I do with the Sony? Never had to deal with this before.

Happy to repost this over in the sound section but I thought I'd ask you EX3 mavens first.

Marc Myers · August 19th, 2009, 08:40 AM

Not sure this is really and EX discussion but the answer is they do need to be on two different frequencies. More than likely they will be bt ddefault but if they are not, changing the frequency on one or the other is not hard. I keep photocopies of the changing frequencies part of the manual for all my wireless mics in my camera bag. You never know when you will pick up interference and it's handy to have a reference on short notice if you do.

Mitchell Lewis · August 19th, 2009, 07:38 PM

Most modern wireless mics scan the frequency spectrum and automatically pick an open frequency. But if that's not the case with your equipment, simply turn on the receiver first (without turning on the transmitter), listen through your headphones to make sure it's not picking up any interference. Then try turning on/off one and then the other receiver. You shouldn't hear the G3 transmitter in the Sony receiver. If you do, you have a problem and need to manually change frequencies. Read the manual, it's normally really easy to change frequencies.

Now....where the heck are you going to mount two wireless transmitters on the camera? (that's the issue I'm trying to sort out)

But yeah, this thread needs to be in the Audio section.

Kevin Spahr · August 20th, 2009, 06:32 AM

Here's how I mount two receivers...

Brian Rigler · August 20th, 2009, 10:31 AM

see How I use my Sony EX1 Part 1 on Vimeo

Brian Barkley · August 20th, 2009, 10:41 AM

No you do not want the same frequency for both wireless mics. You don't want both receivers receiving both voices. You want to keep the two voices separate, one in channel 1 and the other in channel 2, whether or not you are using a mixer or going directly into the camera. It would become a nightmare in editing if you had one very low voice and one very high voice, and equalizing and sweetening the different voices would be a nightmare ....

So NO, do not use the same frequency for both mics, but rather have different frequencies so as to maintain control, both in production ans post production.

Lucky Haskins · August 20th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Thanks for all the responses confirming what I thought was the case.

Mitchell Lewis · August 20th, 2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Spahr

Here's how I mount two receivers...

Dude!! Looks like a great solution! Is the threaded mount a Sennheiser part or ?

Kevin Spahr · August 21st, 2009, 05:52 AM

I made this. Actually it was for one of my old SD cameras.

The Sennheisers have a mounting bracket to which the receiver snaps into. I bent a piece of steel, and used a bit of wood as a spacer and mounted the Sennheiser brackets with small screws. The threaded shoe adapter is easy to find at photo shops.

I think I could re-design one so the receivers would be closer to the camera for better center of gravity. Also by using the rear shoe you keep the weight more towards the rear of the camera.

Mitchell Lewis · August 21st, 2009, 07:45 AM

Nice job!!

Diana Scalera · August 21st, 2009, 12:32 PM

It would become a nightmare in editing if you had one very low voice and one very high voice, and equalizing and sweetening the different voices would be a nightmare ....
[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, if you have two lavs in an interview, they will pick up the audio from the other interviewee even if you use different frequencies unless the interviewees are in different locations.

Sennheiser has three different frequency ranges for their mics (A, B and C). I use three mics with every shoot (classroom shoots). One is for the teacher, one is for the students (shotgun) and one is for the sound person to hear the audio off the camera. Each is a different frequency range so there is no possibility of confusing frequencies. I also color code them for easy handling (matching the transmitter to receiver).

I found a $10.00 solution at B&H to mount the three receivers/transmitter. It is a five inch hot shoe bar that you screw into the camera's hot shoe. Can't find it on the web site but if you call you can probably get an audio person to locate it for you.

Mitchell Lewis · August 21st, 2009, 03:51 PM

How 'bout posting a photo Diana?

Diana Scalera · August 26th, 2009, 10:05 AM

B&H B&H Photo Video | Digital Cameras, Camcorders

Rycote 037303 Hot Shoe Extension Bar

* Mfr#
* 037303
* B&H# RYHSE

$27.95 I thought it was cheaper.

Diana Scalera

William Griffin · August 26th, 2009, 11:30 AM

Hot shoe Extension bar....I own one, but be careful...as mine has come off several times due to vibration......but still a good buy.

Rycote 037303 Hot Shoe Extension Bar

Craig Terott · August 28th, 2009, 06:05 AM

You couldn't put them on the same frequency if you wanted to.

Different manufacturers don't share the same range of frequencies.

August 19th, 2009, 07:48 AM	#1
Lucky Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 55	Using 2 Wireless Lav Mic's/EX3 Hey Kids, Thanks to the rebate I picked up the Sony UWPV1/4244 Wireless Mic unit (supposed to be here tomorrow). Though I already have a Sennheiser G2 unit I figured a backup would be wise. Coincidentally I just got a gig where I'll have two interview subjects on camera. It's a longish shot so a boom mic is not right for the shot so I thought great...no worries now that i have 2 wireless mics. Then it occurred to me...how do I deal with freq's on each mic. Can they be on the same freq or do I have to set them up on different freq's? I've always had the Sennheiser on the out of the box setting...what do I do with the Sony? Never had to deal with this before. Happy to repost this over in the sound section but I thought I'd ask you EX3 mavens first.

August 19th, 2009, 07:38 PM	#3
Mitchell Lewis Trustee Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 1,124	Most modern wireless mics scan the frequency spectrum and automatically pick an open frequency. But if that's not the case with your equipment, simply turn on the receiver first (without turning on the transmitter), listen through your headphones to make sure it's not picking up any interference. Then try turning on/off one and then the other receiver. You shouldn't hear the G3 transmitter in the Sony receiver. If you do, you have a problem and need to manually change frequencies. Read the manual, it's normally really easy to change frequencies. Now....where the heck are you going to mount two wireless transmitters on the camera? (that's the issue I'm trying to sort out) But yeah, this thread needs to be in the Audio section. __________________ Sony EX3, Canon 5D MkII, Chrosziel Matte Box, Sachtler tripod, Steadicam Flyer, Mac Pro, Apple/Adobe software - 20 years as a local videographer/editor

August 20th, 2009, 06:32 AM	#4
Kevin Spahr Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carlisle, PA Posts: 451	Here's how I mount two receivers... Attached Thumbnails

August 20th, 2009, 10:41 AM	#6
Brian Barkley Major Player Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 233	No you do not want the same frequency for both wireless mics. You don't want both receivers receiving both voices. You want to keep the two voices separate, one in channel 1 and the other in channel 2, whether or not you are using a mixer or going directly into the camera. It would become a nightmare in editing if you had one very low voice and one very high voice, and equalizing and sweetening the different voices would be a nightmare .... So NO, do not use the same frequency for both mics, but rather have different frequencies so as to maintain control, both in production ans post production. Last edited by Brian Barkley; August 20th, 2009 at 10:42 AM. Reason: typo

August 21st, 2009, 05:52 AM	#9
Kevin Spahr Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carlisle, PA Posts: 451	I made this. Actually it was for one of my old SD cameras. The Sennheisers have a mounting bracket to which the receiver snaps into. I bent a piece of steel, and used a bit of wood as a spacer and mounted the Sennheiser brackets with small screws. The threaded shoe adapter is easy to find at photo shops. I think I could re-design one so the receivers would be closer to the camera for better center of gravity. Also by using the rear shoe you keep the weight more towards the rear of the camera. Attached Thumbnails

August 19th, 2009, 08:40 AM	#2
Marc Myers Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Long Island, NY and Northeast PA Posts: 132	Not sure this is really and EX discussion but the answer is they do need to be on two different frequencies. More than likely they will be bt ddefault but if they are not, changing the frequency on one or the other is not hard. I keep photocopies of the changing frequencies part of the manual for all my wireless mics in my camera bag. You never know when you will pick up interference and it's handy to have a reference on short notice if you do.

August 20th, 2009, 10:31 AM	#5
Brian Rigler New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Poole Dorset England Posts: 22	see How I use my Sony EX1 Part 1 on Vimeo

August 20th, 2009, 11:58 AM	#7
Lucky Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 55	Thanks for all the responses confirming what I thought was the case.

August 21st, 2009, 07:45 AM	#10
Mitchell Lewis Trustee Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 1,124	Nice job!! __________________ Sony EX3, Canon 5D MkII, Chrosziel Matte Box, Sachtler tripod, Steadicam Flyer, Mac Pro, Apple/Adobe software - 20 years as a local videographer/editor

August 21st, 2009, 12:32 PM	#11
Diana Scalera New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 13	To or more mics It would become a nightmare in editing if you had one very low voice and one very high voice, and equalizing and sweetening the different voices would be a nightmare .... [/QUOTE] Unfortunately, if you have two lavs in an interview, they will pick up the audio from the other interviewee even if you use different frequencies unless the interviewees are in different locations. Sennheiser has three different frequency ranges for their mics (A, B and C). I use three mics with every shoot (classroom shoots). One is for the teacher, one is for the students (shotgun) and one is for the sound person to hear the audio off the camera. Each is a different frequency range so there is no possibility of confusing frequencies. I also color code them for easy handling (matching the transmitter to receiver). I found a $10.00 solution at B&H to mount the three receivers/transmitter. It is a five inch hot shoe bar that you screw into the camera's hot shoe. Can't find it on the web site but if you call you can probably get an audio person to locate it for you. __________________ Diana Scalera www.vimeo.com/dscalera and www.ispeakarabic.org and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1455048/

August 21st, 2009, 03:51 PM	#12
Mitchell Lewis Trustee Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 1,124	How 'bout posting a photo Diana? __________________ Sony EX3, Canon 5D MkII, Chrosziel Matte Box, Sachtler tripod, Steadicam Flyer, Mac Pro, Apple/Adobe software - 20 years as a local videographer/editor

August 26th, 2009, 10:05 AM	#13
Diana Scalera New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 13	Hot shoe extension B&H B&H Photo Video \| Digital Cameras, Camcorders Rycote 037303 Hot Shoe Extension Bar * Mfr# * 037303 * B&H# RYHSE $27.95 I thought it was cheaper. Diana Scalera __________________ Diana Scalera www.vimeo.com/dscalera and www.ispeakarabic.org and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1455048/

August 26th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#14
William Griffin Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 204	Hot shoe Extension bar....I own one, but be careful...as mine has come off several times due to vibration......but still a good buy. Rycote 037303 Hot Shoe Extension Bar __________________ Bill Griffin SONY PXW-X320,PMW-300K2, LiveU LU-500,Sound Devices 552 Mixer,www.Dallascamguy.com

August 28th, 2009, 06:05 AM	#15
Craig Terott Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 691	You couldn't put them on the same frequency if you wanted to. Different manufacturers don't share the same range of frequencies.