WIRELESS SYSTEMS
BELOW Sennheiser’s latest wireless kit uses low-profile radios instead of the traditional boxy units
lav mic and use it like a conventional wireless system. The £195/$199 Wireless Go kit consists of a very small transmitter and a receiver unit, a lead for connecting to your camera or recorder, a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging the units, two furry windshields and a case. The units are tiny, weighing 31g/0.07lb each, so they clip easily to a shirt collar. Both units have a broad integrated clip for mounting, which doubles as a coldshoe mount on the receiver. Operation is very simple as the units come already paired for use. The only other button is gain, which cycles through 0db, -12dB and -24dB output settings. The small LCD displays levels and peaks that turn from green to red as you get to peaking, as well as the two units’ battery lives and link status. The Wireless Go has a range of up to 70m/230ft. If you’re recording interviews in an ENG style on the street,
another lav mic, or a small stereo mic for ambient sounds. Sony also has a new range of all- digital UWP-D transmitters and receivers that are even more compact. These are designed for the very latest digital audio systems that some of the newer Sony cameras boast. For many years, Sennheiser has been the leader in wireless audio systems and its traditional professional range continues to be incredibly popular, especially if you understand how to get the best out of it. But for those less confident or who want a smaller kit, Sennheiser’s XS Wireless Digital series offers professional-level audio quality, but in kit that’s minimal and offers easy plug-and-play use. The £339/$349 Sennheiser XSW-D ENG wireless audio set has low-profile, cylindrical wireless and transmitter packs. You plug your mic into the stereo input jack on the transmitter, and the receiver comes with a clip-on hotshoe mount that sits on top of your camera and plugs into the mic socket with the included coiled lead. Turn both the packs on with the single button and they automatically link up
together, leaving you ready to record in seconds. It is claimed the range reaches 75metres/ 250feet in ideal conditions. It’s easy to use, affordable, very portable and expandable into a full system, making these ideal for the less technical-minded. It’s typical of an audio giant like Sennheiser to innovate continually with products that move with the market, which is now more focused on smaller cameras and smartphone connectivity and control. A clear example is the £179/$199 Sennheiser Memory Mic, which is a plastic clip-on box that fits on to a lapel or pocket, and it features an omnidirectional condenser mic. The unit communicates with a smartphone via Bluetooth, but it can internally store up to four hours of audio. Once you’ve used the available app to start recording video on your smartphone and audio on the Memory Mic, you don’t need to maintain the Bluetooth connection between the devices. When the Memory Mic is paired with the smartphone again, it automatically downloads the audio. The Memory Mic is internally powered, so it needs to be charged up, and this is done via a USB cable. The device records 48 kHz/16-bit audio and, despite its small size, it features up to four hours of battery life, which is not bad. Rode’s innovation is the Wireless Go, which is a very compact wireless mic system that has its own integrated mic. Alternatively, you can plug in an external
a dedicated reporter’s mic is best, such as those from Sennheiser, Rode and Shure. If you have a powered XLR mic and plug in a dedicated XLR wireless unit, like a Sennheinser or Sony, it sends the audio to a wireless receiver on the camera for a clean solution. Overall, there are great audio options available: all wireless, all modern and all available now.
More information audio-technica.com rode.com saramonicuk.com sennheiser.com sony.com
LEFT The Sony system is unique as it uses two transmitters and a receiver that
connects via the hotshoe
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