On-Camera Wireless Mic Suggestions
 

Has anyone used the AZDEN 325ULT Dual-Channel UHF twin Body-Pack Combo System before?

Or can you recommend a good dual transmitter, signal receiver for on camera use?

I am shooting with a Z1U and need a good wireless system to be able to mic the officiant and the groom.

the only other dual channel is the Audio Technica 1800 series which I do own and love. I previously owned Azden systems (the 500U/51BT combination) and they worked fine but the AT blows the Azdens away. A friend of mine uses an Azden 200 (I think that's it might be a 300) dual channel and frankly while it does the job, it's not as sweet as the AT. The way he has to set it up just seems awkward. Anyway the Audio Technica is a very nice unit, been using it dor about a year and a half now and I endorse it.
HOWEVER, I do not use the stock mics, I think AT could do better with that. I use Countryman EMW shelved response mics. Hugh difference in sound quality.
Anyway there you go.

Don

Thank you for your responce. I posted this same question in another forum and they suggested the same equipment you did. Might be worth looking into. the $1300 is a little pricey for the present budget I have, but it is an investment in my business so I might consider changing my budget.

Anyone else knof of or use a system?

there are only the 2 that I know of. AT and Azden but I thought I read somewhere that Sony had or has 1. You might check that out.
Other than that, just the 2.

Don

WOW! Did not know my list of choices was going to be so short!! Thanks!

i use the sennheiser g2 systems with tram tr-50 lavs.

good systems but the OP was/is looking for a dual channel system which comes back to Azden or Audio Technica 1800 series.

BTW Philip, the 1800 series comes in both single and dual channel setups.

Don

I guess it is the 1821 that i am considering.

I have used both an Azden (though it was VHF and not a good indicator of their UHF products) and now I have an AudioTechnica 1800 series dual channel on cam receiver with two lav & bodypacks. I absolutely love this system. For the ceremony I do exactly as you mentioned. I put both channels of XLR out from the AT1800 into my beachtek then into the GL2. For the reception I draped one lav over the DJ speakers (and turned its sensitivity almost completely off) and I got great audio for the reception. I use a Beachteck to pipe the output from the AT1800 into one channel and my AT897 on cam shotgun to the other channel (for reception).

The kit was very spendy (even at the great deal I got from a member hear on DVInfo) at over $1K, but the quality is superb.

Another endorsement for the AT1800 system here. I love mine too. The ability to mix right in the receiver is great.

If you want to go first-class, the Lectro SR is aother dual-channel receiver. While the basic unit is designed for slot mounting on pro ENG cameras, they have an SREXT adapter kit that allows for external mounting and an SRBATTSELD that also provides battery power when used externally. It's true you'll be looking at a huge price jump when you move to Lectros.

You could also consider a PAIR of Sennheiser transmitters/receivers!

That's what I do when I need dual channel, and that way I've also got the flexibility when I need single channels on two separate cameras. I quite often use this Senny gear in either mode.

Not as extravagant as it sounds: for example: I sometimes want to record from a widely separated pair of mics (in a disco) into two channels into a single camera to make a synced stereo pair. Alternatively, I might want to record from a single mic into two different cameras for security and continuity across tape changes. You can't do all that with integrated dual-channel kit.

Steve, I'm looking hard at the SR series. Have you used them? Is there any tradeoff in ease of use compared to two separate Lectro units? One of things that I like about the AT dual receiver is how easy it is to switch and mix between tracks. Everything is controlled by a series of external knobs and switches. Would it take longer to switch back and forth between the channels with the Lectro? All I can see in the pictures is a menu on the front panel.

No, I haven't used them either. Was in Trew's shop here Friday and looking at one - it's a real gem. The only tradeoff I see with the SR versus two separate units is that when you're using dual-channel mode to hear two transmitters you're using antenna-switching diversity - to get true ratio diversity reception you have to drop back to single channel mode. But there's a huge price difference for the SR versus, say, 2 UCR411s -Trew's price is $1920 for the SR versus $3410 for a pair of the UCRs.

That's going to be down the road a bit for me - looking at some hardwired lavs as the next addition to my kit. Considering the COS11x and the new Sennheiser MKE1 - fondled the MKE at the same time I was looking at the SR and I can't believe how tiny the thing is! - any thoughts?

Haven't seen the MKE1. I'm looking for a good hardwired lav myself. I'll have to check it out. Yeah the price difference on the SR is attractive. Sure wish we knew what was going to happen to the broadcast spectrum. Lectros would be a major investment for me. To have them be rendered useless in a year would be devastating.

Amen to that! That (as well as general availability of funds) is one reason I've been holding off. However I'm also looking at the fact that I think I should offer a minimum of 2 channels of wireless in my personal kit before I can realisitically start actively soliciting freelance work so that means I shouldn't wait longer than necessary and I believe buying second tier such as G2's and upgrading later would be more expensive in the long run. Going to go with lavs hardwired to phantom/XLR for the moment, Trew just charges a few bucks to insert the appropriate breakaway into the cable a little ways up from the XLR adapter when I decide on the specifc wireless transmitters and know what connector is needed.

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Hi Phillip,

I have and still use the Azden 200ult. It is a dual channel receiver however it needs both xlrs on your camera to record 2 channels simultaneously.

I like to mic up the groom and the lecturn for the readings, but I still want my on-cam shotgun for the ambience.

So the only way I can get around this is....

shotgun to xlr 1
Azden receiver to xlr 2 (groom mic ch1, lecturn mic ch2 on receiver).

I need to switch the receiver's channels on/off, from groom mic to lecturn mic as required. Both signals cant be sent out of the receiver at the same time it doesn't mix going through 1 xlr output. (which can be a bummer). On the odd occasion I've forgotten to switch back in time to the grooms mic.

The problem when you're switching over is that you get a loud crackling noise, (which can be removed in post), providing you switch back on time. (too late during the vows)!

Its the only workaround I know. If anyone has a better solution....I'm all ears!

I'm not sure if the Azden 325ult has the same issues though.

Yes the AT1800 can mix the signal and is a better system. I'd love to upgrade...but can't justify the price yet. Maybe in 2010...if we have any uhf frequencies left. :)

Manny.

How about using Beachtek (or other brand) mixer and use both wireless signals as inputs and output onto one channel in camera, and plug shotgun directly to 2nd xlr channel? I'm sure you would need a little more thinking about how to solve the wires connections, but I think its doable with just $200-300 of budget.

one reason I love the AT1800 dual. I mic the groom and lectern run the lectern to ch1 and the groom to ch2. I kill off my hypercaroid on the camera as it picks up everything I don't want. My AT897 on my 2nd camera gets the music as it is usually pretty loud so I use those tracks for that and teh Countryman EMWs are sensitive enough to get everything else even the music although it's kind of low level. Post workflow is pretty easy.
When I first got the unit I mixed the 2 channels from the AT unit and used the hypercaroid but didn't like what I was getting. You couldn't seperate the 2 mics cleanly IMO. then I tried using a "Y" cable to connect the lectern mic and the hyper to ch1 and the groom mic to ch2 but still got too much slammin and bangin from the guests, so now i just kill off the hyper and use the system I described above and for me it works.
Of course what do I know. I'm just a video-O-grapher ;-)

Don

Thanks Don and Lukas for the replies.

Yeah i guess a mixer would do the trick, but I'm trying to save my money for a Z5u...so I might take Don's advice and kill my shotgun for now.

Manny.

other solution - cheaper. Buy used Zoom H2 and plug your shotgun to it. Those used Zoom's go for $150.