I'm also using an Olympus voice recorder and a lav mic. I ditch the wireless setup long time ago as there're range problem and interference problem. Now with the voice recorder, I have an additional voice clip to use. I wrote that in my blog Wireless Mics vs Voice Recorders | L.A. Color Blog

Actually it was your blog that helped convince me to change to the digital recorders back in 2007/2008.

Thanks!

Triple check the input setting!
 

I also use the Olympus DS-30 thanks to Travis' review. There down to 77.99 at B&H Photo.
Just remember to set the input level to "Dictation". "Conference" and "Lecture" will add unwanted gain in the audio track.

Thanks! I'm glad I can make a difference =)

Correct. The 'dictation' setting works the best. Very clean audio.

Thanks for the info Travis. I use a Zoom H2 quite a bit. It does a great job with clean audio but it's too much of a "wad" to use on someone. I've always like the small size of the Olympus DS-30. How do you compare the audio from the H2 versus the DS-30?

Yeah, I made the mistake once of recording the audio only of a training seminar and set the DS-30 on "Lecture" so that I would pick up the speaker at the lecture. Did a great job of that, in that, I could hear every sound in the room.

At the next wedding I forgot to switch the setting back to "Dictation" - the gain made the recording very hard to use - spent a lot of time EQing the a/c and other noises out of it to try to get it down to an acceptable level.

I always triple check the input setting switch now. Mistakes are sometimes the best teachers! :-))

Thanks to you and the others for commenting about DVRs. I'm currently doing interviews using a respectabe Audio Technica wireless that has me very pleased, but today the subject just brushed her hair away from her face and her arm created interference for a second. Also, yesterday I was interviewing twins and with only one lav, I had to use a shotgun mic in a live room. Fortunately, the documentary form allows for less-than-perfect shooting conditions.

DVRs are an affordable alternative to expensive multi-channel wireless systems. What models have SD cards and best battery life?

J.

Maybe if Cartier made diamond lavs... :-)


J.

I've never used the H2. We jumped into the Olympus DVR's many years ago and stuck with them. All I can say is that the audio quality is top notch. I'll be posting a full cinematic feature to the 'samples' section here in the next week or so and you'll be able to check out the audio and see what you think. d;-)

Well, if the subject's arm brushed against the mic and caused static, that will happen whether or not you use a wireless system or a DVR. Just wanted to be clear on that.

We choose the Olympus DS30's for many reasons, including battery life. I think on the highest quality setting the DVR's can run for like 4 hours, which is plenty of time for us. We usually use them for 30-45 minutes for the ceremomy, and maybe an 1-2 hours for the reception. This year we're also going to be experimenting with some new uses. They record to an internal memory card.

Oh, and a diamond lav would be sweet. d;-)

Nope, no physical contact. Just air.

And I don'tthink that 4 hours of recording time would cut it for me. I see that the DS-40 and DS-50 models have 512 MB and 1 GB of flash memory respectively.

J.

So the air movement against the mic caused the static? That would still happen with any lav. If not, I don't see how a moving arm could cause interference with a wireless signal.

No. She moved her arm, the mic went *bzzt*. Interference. It's quite common, the human body is a huge antenna.


J.

Travis and other DVR users,

Where are you placing the Olympus DVR? I see it just has built in mics. I recently picked up a Zoom H4 and have used it with my Senn G2 plugged into it and also just using the built in mics (the built in mics are really very good).

You need to get a wired lav mic like this to clip to the groom. Then have the groom put the voice recorder in his pocket.

Amazon.com: Olympus ME-15 Microphone: Electronics

Aaaah! Cool. Didn't see that the Olympus had an external input.

Oh I put together a demo showing the vows recorded using the Olympus voice recorder

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...vows-demo.html

I'd like to try olympus. Looking at DS-30 right now, but it seems like it will not work with Mac.

It works fine with Macs. We edit exclusively with Macs and have no issues.

Thank you Travis, I will definitely get one.

I river's all the way. I've been using them for over a year now and I've never looked back. You can't beat the price either. Throw a squid mic on it above the shirt or under the shirt on a windy day and you're sitting pretty.

Looks like the DS30 has been discontinued ... :(

Would the WS-400S provide the same thing or should I get something else...

I also use the Olympus DS30. It looks like B&H has it's replacement (DM-420) for about $118. I think Amazon does too.

I have an Olympus LS-10 at work that I use to record board meetings and such plugged into the output of a Sure 8 port mixer...then post the audio to our web site.
Very easy to use, and great audio. Even just setting the recorder on the table during a meeting it records incredible audio, nice and deep tones, and thats on the lower setting.
I also took the recorder to a club and recorded a friends band, the recorder was about 100' from the stage and the audio actually came out pretty good!

I never thought about using it for recording weddings and such.
Whats the differance in the LS series, DS series, and WS series from a wedding recording standpoint? Big differance in prices! Also, I just purchased a Panasonic HMC150 camera, will the audio match up the same as with a DV cam?
Thanks.
-Shane

I'll add in my question here as well ...
Which current model would you recommend from BH Photo for use at receptions.
I am using a mac. would prefer if I didn't have to adjust audio drift if possible but have done it before so I am not too concerned. Are there any that record to 48 rather than 44 so they would sync up?
Thanks in advance!
also any links to lapel mics (or whatever you are connecting to these things) and the fuzzy covers that you know work well in windy situations would also be appreciated.

Just got word that the 2 Olympus 6200-PC recorders are in as well as the lav mics I ordered with them.
I will use them on my next wedding and let everyone know my thoughts.
I would like to thank Travis for helping me think outside the box on this one b/c I had always thought we needed to have wireless mics direct to the camera etc.... What a brilliant idea!
Saved me over 1500.00 from the mics I had been looking at.

I've used the following system for 5 years and it's been FLAWLESS. Great investment.

Samson Micro 32 Series - Camera Mountable UHF Wireless Combo System with M32 Micro Diversity Receiver, "Q" Mic/H32 Handheld Transmiter, T32 Micro Beltpack Transmitter and Audio-Technica MT-350 Lavalier Microphone