Outside Broadcast Wireless Mic

[fox929]

Hey guys,

So i'm looking into the flexibility of walking around whilst talking if I ever do an outside broadcast. Well ok maybe not OB (pending I get back into my radio station and broadcast from home), just for the fun stuff and what not but it will be used for that kind of purpose once I set things up right.

I know Shure are about reliability, durability and quality, leaders in the Mic business..but is there anything else out there that's worth considering like AKG? My RE-20 is a beauty, my AKG gooseneck series with the ck47 capsule is a dream so i'm just not too sure which is best for my needs.

Shure just confuse me, as do AKG with their product lines. Budget is around $500 Australian max, I want something that's probably under that or equal to the value...so nothing dodgy or something that will be plain old shit.

So basically i've got my Mac, an Mbox that runs my Electrovoice RE-20 and my AKG gooseneck, AKG headphones, home theatre system for my monitors (laugh all you want but it sounds damn good!), desktop computer for imaging/recording/fixed station, pretty much everything's right to go.

Any suggestions crew?

 

[bruiser1964]

I was using AKG WMS 40's but found that range and freq selection was not up to it. I now use Shure ULX and they are the muts, I got all mine 3 x sets on ebay for around 350gbp each. The specs are misleading as range is line of sight - but the Shure stuff will do 100mtrs and the AKG about a third of that. Watch out for the Frequency selections - most countries are allocating Frequencies to other domestic uses and outlawing the old sets so watch out that you are compliant to your region for the life of the unit.
Hope this helps

 

[John Willett]

The best option is something like a Sennheiser MD 42 or 46 with a SKP 100 G3 plug-on transmitter.

Broadcasters are using this combination a lot now - you can use any other dynamic reporter mic. with the SKP if you wish.

The balance is nice and the reporter mic. has a long shaft.

And you can always unplug the SKP and use it with any other dynamic or battery-powered condenser mic. to make it wireless (if you want phantom power you need the SKP 2000 or the old SKP 500 G2).

 

[fox929]

I like AKG and Shure, so they'll be part of the options. It won't be hardcore broadcasting on a commercial FM station, but i'd like something that would be kind of used similarly thanks for your help though, greatly appreciated

I apoligise for being unsure of how all this works, can someone tell me how i'd make a Sennheiser MD 42/46 wireless with a plug on transmitter, with the equipment I have? I think I may have the idea on how it'll work, but i'm kind of confused

 

[John Willett]

...can someone tell me how i'd make a Sennheiser MD 42/46 wireless with a plug on transmitter, with the equipment I have? I think I may have the idea on how it'll work, but i'm kind of confused

You need the mic. plus an SKP 100 G3 transmitter and either an EM 100 G3 mains receiver or an EK 100 G3 pocket (battery) receiver, the output of the receiver plugs into the line-in of your sound card.

 

[fox929]

You need the mic. plus an SKP 100 G3 transmitter and either an EM 100 G3 mains receiver or an EK 100 G3 pocket (battery) receiver, the output of the receiver plugs into the line-in of your sound card.

Ok cool so how I figured. Now you reckon this would be better than a Shure or AKG setup? I think its going to be a bit costly thats all :S

 

[John Willett]

Ok cool so how I figured. Now you reckon this would be better than a Shure or AKG setup? I think its going to be a bit costly thats all :S

A reporter mic. with a plug-on transmitter is better for interviewing than a hand-held radiomic. designed for on-stage vocals.

A stage vocal mic. is designed for loud singing close to the mouth - a reporter mic. is designed for speech level at a third to half a metre from the mouth.

If the vocal mic. is directional, it would have been optimised for close work and is likely to sound a bit "thin" if used at a distance.

A reporter mic. is optimised for further away.

Using a plug-on transmitter you use the mic. of your choice (Sennheiser MD42 (omni), MD 46 (cardioid), Electrovoice or Beyer or .....).

 

[fox929]

A reporter mic. with a plug-on transmitter is better for interviewing than a hand-held radiomic. designed for on-stage vocals.

A stage vocal mic. is designed for loud singing close to the mouth - a reporter mic. is designed for speech level at a third to half a metre from the mouth.

Using a plug-on transmitter you use the mic. of your choice (Sennheiser MD42 (omni), MD 46 (cardioid), Electrovoice or Beyer or .....).

Ok that sounds cool, thank you for your help with this! Now to be an extra pain, would I be able to listen to what's being played if I have a pack thing with headphones if I opt for something like that? (Let me know if that makes sense or not, i'll try and word it a different way)

Thanks again

 

[John Willett]

Ok that sounds cool, thank you for your help with this! Now to be an extra pain, would I be able to listen to what's being played if I have a pack thing with headphones if I opt for something like that? (Let me know if that makes sense or not, i'll try and word it a different way)

There are various ways of listening with headphones.

The EK 100 G3 only has an unbalanced line-out, so you would plug the headphones into the recorder/camera.

The EK 2000 has a balanced line out - but also has a headphone socket as well, so you can plug the headphones directly into the receiver.

Make sure you use good, low-impedance sensitive closed headphones (I use the Sennheiser GD 25-1 for this sort of thing as they are very efficient and I don't have to drive the headphone amp. so hard and get longer battery life).

 

[fox929]

There are various ways of listening with headphones.

The EK 100 G3 only has an unbalanced line-out, so you would plug the headphones into the recorder/camera.

The EK 2000 has a balanced line out - but also has a headphone socket as well, so you can plug the headphones directly into the receiver.

Make sure you use good, low-impedance sensitive closed headphones (I use the Sennheiser GD 25-1 for this sort of thing as they are very efficient and I don't have to drive the headphone amp. so hard and get longer battery life)

Ok so this is the part which confuses me.

We have the mic, we have the transmitter, and the receiver. I can buy any mic, use it with the sennheiser transmitter and use the senn. receiver (tell me where I go wrong anywhere, i'm learning slowly!)

Now if I want to hear what's being relayed from what i'm saying, I get a body pack of which I can plug my headphones into (I think i'm getting it) ...but this is what confuses me. Can I listen to what somebody says on another mic, that's linked via a cable to the Mbox, that isn't wireless?

Oh wow i've done a really good job at confusing myself, I wonder if you can work out what i'm trying to say lol!

I think the senn. mic+receiver+transmitter will be kind of pricey just looking at prices and what not; maybe just look at a pack or something? So pretty much it'll be used like an outside broadcast of a radio show.

I've linked a few photos of a mic that i'd like..it's what a station here in Sydney uses. If yourself, or someone can identify it for me that would be awesome, because then i'd get that I know it'll be pricey but if I know what it's around then I may spend the extra and get something decent; but it'll be hard identifying it I think.

I was just looking a bit at sennheisers range, how would the freeport vocal set go down? Thoughts?

Again thanks for all your help, muchly appreciated!

 

[John Willett]

No idea what the picture is - it just looks like a stage vocal mic. with a windshield.

OK - how and where is the sound being recorded?

You are holding the mic. - where is the audio going?

Why do you need to listen?

If someone else is doing the recording, you just do the interview and there is no need to hear.

Listening to the receiver gives you no indication of how the recording is going.

Please describe the set-up, wht you want to do, and I can then advise better.

 

[fox929]

No idea what the picture is - it just looks like a stage vocal mic. with a windshield.

OK - how and where is the sound being recorded?

You are holding the mic. - where is the audio going?

Why do you need to listen?

If someone else is doing the recording, you just do the interview and there is no need to hear.

Listening to the receiver gives you no indication of how the recording is going.

Please describe the set-up, wht you want to do, and I can then advise better.

Alrighty here we goes.

It'll be recorded through an Mbox Pro 3 that I just bought, using a Mac. Where it'll be recorded will range from home - inside my room, to the backyard/patio area, to outside loactions (outside broadcasts).

Yep i'll be holding the mic. Audio will be going back to the Mbox and spat out through monitors (but it will also be travelling through skype as an input to another location). It works at home so this part isn't the confusing one.

I thought maybe i'd need to be able to listen in to see what my co-host would say..but now that I think about it I have the monitors taking control of that. I think I just made matters worse with that so we'll scrap that idea.

It won't just be recording interviews. Ok so for example, i'll set everything up at a location, and walk around (whilst linked up through skype) and announce/host/co-host, and chat to people who are listening right in front of me. It's like a live radio broadcast if that makes it easier?

 

[John Willett]

Alrighty here we goes.

It'll be recorded through an Mbox Pro 3 that I just bought, using a Mac. Where it'll be recorded will range from home - inside my room, to the backyard/patio area, to outside loactions (outside broadcasts).

Yep i'll be holding the mic. Audio will be going back to the Mbox and spat out through monitors (but it will also be travelling through skype as an input to another location). It works at home so this part isn't the confusing one.

I thought maybe i'd need to be able to listen in to see what my co-host would say..but now that I think about it I have the monitors taking control of that. I think I just made matters worse with that so we'll scrap that idea.

It won't just be recording interviews. Ok so for example, i'll set everything up at a location, and walk around (whilst linked up through skype) and announce/host/co-host, and chat to people who are listening right in front of me. It's like a live radio broadcast if that makes it easier?

OK - for this Skype quality broadcast, a FreePORT will probably be OK, but make sure you are careful in setting up the transmitter and receiver and check levels in the system before you go wandering with the mic.

You will have to turn the monitors off to avoid feedback.

To listen I would probably use a consumer wireless headphone system - but I would suggest an analogue one to minimise latency.

This is inexpensive and affordable - what I suggested before was inexpensive broadcast quality.

I hope this helps.

 

[fox929]

OK - for this Skype quality broadcast, a FreePORT will probably be OK, but make sure you are careful in setting up the transmitter and receiver and check levels in the system before you go wandering with the mic.

You will have to turn the monitors off to avoid feedback.

To listen I would probably use a consumer wireless headphone system - but I would suggest an analogue one to minimise latency.

This is inexpensive and affordable - what I suggested before was inexpensive broadcast quality.

I hope this helps.

Yup i'll set the monitors the right way so I can slightly hear whats happening if needed, either that or position myself away so i'm not in a direct line of sight; otherwise wireless headphones as you said.

Hold on! If this is inexpensive, how is the other inexpensive broadcast quality? Did you mean expensive or inexpensive for broadcast? Haha. I think once I make a bit more money i'll upgrade myself a bit more, or i'll just hold out for a bit and put more towards the sennheiser and transmitters. I'll see how quickly I need it, but one can never have enough microphones

Yes you've helped tremendously. I can't thank you enough! Cheers mate!

 

[John Willett]

Hold on! If this is inexpensive, how is the other inexpensive broadcast quality? Did you mean expensive or inexpensive for broadcast? Haha. I think once I make a bit more money i'll upgrade myself a bit more, or i'll just hold out for a bit and put more towards the sennheiser and transmitters. I'll see how quickly I need it, but one can never have enough microphones

The FreePORT is under £200

G3 is inexpensive pro and is £500 - £1,000 (ish) depending on the level yo go for.

Real pro is Sennheiser 3000 series or Audio Ltd. which are around the £3,000 per channel.

Top range is Sennheiser 5000 series (the system they use at the Eurovision Song Contest, for example) - this is about £8-10,000 per channel retail.