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Home: Video University Forums: Audio For Video:
Wireless mic replacement

videochicke
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Jun 24, 2007, 12:59 PM

Post #1 of 18 (1676 views)
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Wireless mic replacement	Can't Post

The lav mic on my Sennheiser system is dead. Seems to be something in the wire. Lots of snap crackle and pop whenever the wire is wiggled. Does anyone know of other mics out there that will work that have a little more meat to the wire?
Julie

glimmer
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Jun 24, 2007, 9:02 PM

Post #2 of 18 (1642 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

This won't be a direct answer to your question, but is the mic covered by Sennheiser's warranty? I had a loose connection to a mic once, sent it in, and in about a week, had a brand new one. You may want to give them a call.

AbracadabraTV
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Jun 24, 2007, 10:21 PM

Post #3 of 18 (1636 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have had the same problem with one of ours. I found by wiggleing the wire that it was intermittent very close to the plug. This was caused by an impatient groom yanking the transmitter by the wire from his pocket.(idiot)
I cut the wire at that point and soldered a new plug on. Problem solved.
They do sell replacement mics with wire and plug, but they are around $135. I don't know if they have a cheaper repair service. My choice was to fix it myself.
Good luck and from now I'm less than polite with grooms.
Best, Craig

brucecleveland
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Jun 25, 2007, 10:52 PM

Post #4 of 18 (1577 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

I got an extra one that I purchased from B&H

Bruce
"Always over my head, but not quite deep enough to drown."

Ron Priest
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Jun 26, 2007, 3:23 PM

Post #5 of 18 (1538 views)
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Re: [AbracadabraTV] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

... This was caused by an impatient groom yanking the transmitter by the wire from his pocket...

Yeah, I usually try to remember to ask the groom to NOT take the mic off himself. I ask him to wait for me and I'll take if off before the formal photo session begins. Not only does this help from abuse, but I''ll usually remove the wind screen so I can thread the mic through a button hole in the jacket then put the screen back on. If the groom trys to remove it, he may loose the screen. That's $10 every time that happens. Lately, I havent even been putting the screen on unless it's an outside wedding. Haven't had much problem doing it that way.
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AbracadabraTV
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Jun 27, 2007, 7:18 AM

Post #6 of 18 (1511 views)
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Re: [Ron Priest] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

All of our weddings are on the beach with generally high winds. We use color cordinated Rycotte fuzzy windscreens on our mics. They work great but cost $25.00 a pop. Thankfully we haven't lost any yet. We always remove the mics right after the ceremony also. I'm amazed at how many grooms don't want to wear a mic claiming that they don't want what they're saying to their buddies recorded. We always explain that we edit and not to worry about what they say compromising their involvement with the witness protection program. They usually cooperate. However, they always seem to have a need to want to remove the mic and transmitter before we get to them....like what are they going to do with it after they remove it anyway? Leave it on a chair? Carry it around in their hand? Generally, it's their bride who wanted the video and this is their way of making a statement. Did I mention most of our couples are from the New York tri-state area?
Best, Craig

Brackish
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Jun 27, 2007, 8:18 AM

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Timothy Harry
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Jun 27, 2007, 3:16 PM

Post #8 of 18 (1487 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree, I am out in west texas where we had winds last night hit 93 MPH, thats extreme conditions, but it normally blows at least 5-15 MPH anyway. A rycote could definitely help here, it made all the difference in the world on my XL1.

Tim Harry

Bandwagon Media
Odessa, TX

"Broad minded is just another way of saying a fellow's too lazy to form an opinion" - Will Rogers

AbracadabraTV
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Jun 28, 2007, 5:20 AM

Post #9 of 18 (1458 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Rycote
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...;atl=%7EBrand_Rycote

Brackish
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Jun 28, 2007, 6:21 AM

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RT Steele
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Jun 28, 2007, 9:02 AM

Post #11 of 18 (1449 views)
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Re: [Ron Priest] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Lately, I havent even been putting the screen on unless it's an outside wedding.

That little plastic wind muff just kind of "pops off" and I never understood why it was made that way. I've dropped the damn thing more than once under a church pew. For 10 cents I'd just throw it out since I don't do many outdoor weddings.

Do you notice any difference in the recording without it?

And yeah, I've had more than one groom hand me the whole thing back dangling by the mic cord.

- RT

Ron Priest
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Jun 28, 2007, 9:15 AM

Post #12 of 18 (1446 views)
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Re: [RT Steele] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Lately, I havent even been putting the screen on unless it's an outside wedding.

No I haven't noticed any difference, but I havn't been paying any specific attention to it. I'll consciousley remember to check when I start my next edit. The wedding I'm working on now was in fact an outside one. We did have some wind but the Sennheiser wind screens seem to do their job well. I might go ahead and pick up a couple of those fury ones mentioned above, since I've been greatly influenced with sound quality lately (thanks to Mark and Michael... their costing me money) Danny is another one Mad

One problem I have noticed though when not using the supplied wire wind screens is the mic clip doesn't fit a tight around the mic. I guess the wind screen helps hold the mic clip in place too.
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AbracadabraTV
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Jun 28, 2007, 6:00 PM

Post #13 of 18 (1422 views)
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Re: [Brackish] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes...the grooms complain about it every time in spite of the fact that they match their shirt/ jacket, etc. It's gotten so that it's expected. They also complain about just being wired so frankly I don't care. I tell them it's Key West and the Drag Queens love them. I would not shoot outdoors without them. I also use a blimp on my shotgun. BTW...wind noise is a 100k and below. In FCP you can eliminate most wind sounds that way but keep in mind if you are using AGC on your camera, the wind noise will ride the gain up and down ruining all audio.
Best, Craig

Ron Priest
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Jun 28, 2007, 6:16 PM

Post #14 of 18 (1419 views)
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Re: [AbracadabraTV] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yep, that AGC will get ya every time Frown

Just how big are those muffs? Are you using the Sennheiser ME2 mics?

Although the title says they are black - Rycote Furry Windjammer for Lavalier Mics (Single) (Black) the features screen says they are gray. What are they, black or gray?
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videochicke
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Jun 28, 2007, 8:07 PM

Post #15 of 18 (1414 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

The grooms do a number on the mics for sure. I guess I will try to fix it myself. Probably worth it to tape the wire somehow to the transmitter to protect it from yanking.
Julie

Ron Priest
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Jun 28, 2007, 8:50 PM

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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Carry a big wooden ruller and tell the groom your going to wack his had if he touches the mic!
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AbracadabraTV
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Jun 28, 2007, 10:08 PM

Post #17 of 18 (1405 views)
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Re: [Ron Priest] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

Black, white, grey...yes, the grooms do a number...it's part of their agression of not wanting to get married.

Adam Mancini
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Jun 30, 2007, 12:21 PM

Post #18 of 18 (1365 views)
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Re: [videochicke] Wireless mic replacement [In reply to]	Can't Post

It's not the sturdiest system but it�s cheap and works well. I like the samson airline as a grooms mic because it has a very small mic pack. It has been more reliable than the larger Samson mics I have. I�ve shot at least 50 or 60 weddings so far with it and I�ve had no issues. It comes as a three piece set, but if you need to replace a part it�s cheap and cost effective. It�s probably cheaper to get a new mic pack than a wire for another mic system. It also works great for small cameras.
-Adam

http://www.armatosvideo.com/...WPROD&ProdID=196