OT: a good wired lav

Randy Brown wrote on 4/7/2008, 9:46 AM
Hello,
I occasionally do weddings ...but only when (financial) need be : (
I have a dual channel Azden wireless but they have proven to be too unreliable with static/dropout...and I don't want to spend $1000 plus for a good wireless system so I've decided to go with a wired lav.
Please give your opinion on this wired lav. My only concern is it is a dynamic mic and wondering how it would pick up if the only one worn was on the pastor. I don't mind adjusting levels/ cleaning up in post but wondering how much noise could be there if I have a very quiet bride.
If dynamic is a bad choice what do you think about this wireless lav
Yes I know...it's Samson brand but it comes with a Audio-Technica AT831.
If both are bad ideas please advise if you know of anything under $300.
Thanks for your advice,
Randy
EDIT: WOW, what a coincidence, thanks for the comparison chart Mike!

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 4/7/2008, 12:15 PM
The AT-831 is a cardiod microphone, so it wouldn't be a good choice for picking up all three participants at a wedding. It also isn't a particularly great sounding microphone. As you can tell from the lav comparison that Mike posted, the AT-899 is an omnidirectional lav and is a terrific value, I use them all the time and they sound great. I suggest that it would be the best choice for your purposes and the price is right, too.
Randy Brown wrote on 4/7/2008, 1:19 PM
Thanks very much John, I'll check it out!
Randy
craftech wrote on 4/7/2008, 2:10 PM
I don't shoot weddings, but I reluctantly shot one last December for a close family friend. I put a minidisc recorder in the groom's jacket pocket and attached an Audio Technica ATR35s to it. It sounded great. Clear as a bell and was easy to mix in post. I think I bought it in either CircuitCity or BestBuy. Mount it lower on his jacket so he isn't really really loud compared to the bride.

John
CClub wrote on 4/7/2008, 2:27 PM
I use the ATR35s all the time. They're like $30-35 on Amazon, and if they break, I buy another. I've found them to meet my needs at this point; perhaps I'll need a $300 wired lav in the future, but I haven't gotten any complaints yet.

Edit: I just checked... $27 on Amazon with free delivery and no tax. Can't go wrong.
DavidMcKnight wrote on 4/7/2008, 2:50 PM
FWIW, I don't want a battery or switch in between the mic element and the recording device if / when I have to leave it unattended, such as on a groom. I've had one or the other go out during a non-repeatable event and it stinks.

In this price range I use the Giant Squid mics. Audio pros on this forum may not have heard them, or heard of them, but most people who use them agree that they are a tremendous value for the money (about $25). The only thing I don't like about them is the clip is too small. Darren may have changed that by now, who knows. I bought a few of them a couple of years ago and they've worked great. This company is pretty much a one-man shop which may or may not appeal to you. The bottom line is they really do sound great (and don't require a battery or phantom power)
John_Cline wrote on 4/7/2008, 3:07 PM
"...(and don't require a battery or phantom power)"

They are condenser microphones and, like all condenser mics, they do require power. Typically, they will get their bias voltage from the recording device. As far as battery power for condenser mics is concerned, the current draw is absolutely miniscule and a single battery will last for hundreds of hours.

FWIW, here is the link to the Giant Squid web site:

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com
Former user wrote on 4/7/2008, 3:10 PM
Here's my two bits:

I use an AudioTechnica wireless, which was in the right price point and has excellent quality (and didn't break the bank). However, the provided mic got stepped on by a client, so in desperation I used a techsmith web mic:
http://www.techsmith.com/purchase/order/webmic.asp

Well, the quality was very good, so now I use it all the time with my wireless.

For the record, the AudioTechnica Mic I had (which sounds great too): http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/e7e24e09738e83de/index.html


This is the AudioTechnica wireless system:
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wls_systems/a81baa831864d38b/index.html
(and don't bother with the hand-held mic...it's tres fromage)
craftech wrote on 4/7/2008, 3:29 PM
The Audio Technica ATR35s uses a really really common LR44 button battery that you can buy anywhere including drugstores, Walmart, Target, for around a dollar.
They last a very long time as well.

John
DavidMcKnight wrote on 4/7/2008, 3:46 PM
Very true John, thanks.
My issue with some lav mics is the battery that runs out unexpectedly or the switch that gets turned off at the wrong time and in either case, the mic is in a place where you can't monitor it and don't find this out till it's too late. My decision to use the GS mics were simply to reduce the risk and lower the points of failure, as there is no external battery and no switch.

And did I mention they sound great?

<edit> removed self-deprecating humor. It's already been a long week <g>
Konrad wrote on 4/7/2008, 4:12 PM
What's a decent moderate priced minidisc recorder?
Thanks,
Konrad
farss wrote on 4/7/2008, 4:24 PM
I'm more concerned about having a wire running from anyone at a wedding ceremony. Even talent in a sit down interview would be a worry. In the heat of the moment it's all too easy for someone to forget they're tethered to something. Even wearing cans with a camera on a tripod can result in a camera taking a tumble.
If you do use anything wired to anyone, have a connector in the line that'll come apart with a decent pull that cannot jam.

Bob.
plasmavideo wrote on 4/7/2008, 4:51 PM
MCM Electronics occasionally has the AT-35s mics on sale for about $17 - yep that's correct. They are refurbs, but you would never know. I recently picked up 3 of them. I have not had a chance to give them a great workout yet, but they sound pretty decent from my tests, especially for the vast sums of money I paid for them :-).

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/default.aspx

I think the MD recorder or a solid state recorder like the Zoom is the best bet instead of dragging wires across the bride's shoes!