“Used in Anger” Episode 1: Lavalier Mics in 2022 (RODE vs.DJI vs. Zoom vs. Sony)

Welcome to episode 1 in a new, occasional series I'm calling "Used in Anger." This is a British phrase meaning "used for its intended purpose rather than for practice," and in this video I discuss what I learned about lavalier mics during a complicated shoot.

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FULL EDIT SUITE

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[realnamekosi]

My guy, this is the best video reviewing these microphones. Presenting the information through the framework of your own user experience on the job is BRILLIANT! I love this. THANK YOU

[camerakungfu]

For me, I bought the Senheiser EW's years ago for corporate gigs. One body pack transmitter and one that plugs into any XLR mic. That wireless system is the perfect example of "buy once, cry once".
The only time they failed me was on a mountain ridge near a radio tower (as you would expect) but even the wired backup had interference. Fortunately it was easy enough to take out because it was a constant pitch like a sine wave.

Over the years I've found that I've never regretted buying the "industry standard" of anything.

[danieldougan]

A/V gear manufacturers need to understand that, especially in this YouTube era, the biggest obstacle to producing content can be the lack of another human being to operate and babysit it. Creators need reliable gear that can be left unmanned and unmonitored throughout a shoot because the creators themselves are often in front of the camera or managing a multi-camera setup.

[VisualAFMedia]

Same with rode wireless 2. I had to send the receiver back for issues. The back up recording feature has saved me many times though.

[peterfritzphoto]

Absolutely brilliant, Hugh! I, too, carry the scar tissue from one-man corporate interview videos gone wrong - thanks to audio issues. These days, I implement no fewer than three audio capture devices for all interviews - the DJI mic (onboard recording), a Zoom H1N, and a camera-mounted VideoMic NTG. Watching (and listening to) you is always such a delight.

[DavidKfilmmaker]

Three reviews I’ve watched, 2 broke the hot shoe.

[curtisjudd]

Nicely said! I've heard so many people say that the 2.4GHz systems have never failed them. My experience has been different and I'd much prefer to use a UHF system like the SONY UWP-D where I can scan the filming location. Also, 100% agree that having SOMEONE monitor audio and camera through critical filming sessions is a must, not a nice-to-have.

[fotografkennethlund]

Great video and this is just a GREAT example of what I think about when the client goes "but it's just a quick 7 minute recording - how can you charge this much?". Background: I've been doing audio since 1993 and video since 2007 - during the Covid lockdown I had, literally, HUNDREDS of live stream sessions from, say, conferences. Even though I always get professional grade equipment that most people would find "overkill", there's hardly ever a project, that goes 100% smooth. You turn of a given device 50 times - then at job #51 something doesn't work. Or like this week: I set up for a livestream this week a day before the actual production - EVERYTHING worked. When I got there on the morning, EVERYTHING (still) worked and literally 10 minutes before going live, my audio interface died out of nowhere. As professionals, this seems quite odd because "everything working" would be what everyone expects - that's why the client hires us instead of doing it themselves. But - as a pro for 2 decades, I just KNOW that on more or less every production, something will bring headaches and I just expect it to happen (ie. I bring more equipment than I need - I mount two mics for interviews, I have backup streams ready to switch to, I have more lenses than I need because - knock on wood - at some point, I will drop one and break it). It's not a matter of IF but WHEN problems happen and it's cheaper to be prepared for that, compared to the money I will loose if the clients decides not wanting to pay because of a give problem.

[RandumbTech]

We’ve all been there. My Rode wireless go 2’s have been collecting dust too. I use the 32 bit Tentacle sync Track E audio recorder and it works flawlessly. Has physical controls to start and stop recording and led’s on the front that measure input levels. Plus it syncs up in post with just a few clicks if you run tentacle sync timecode to your cameras. Not sure if it’s “pro” gear, but its never let me down.

[mickandtrudie]

Hugh always like the way you explain thing, in a sort of sarcastic way, I’m a seasoned video guy like yourself, i’ve used every dog and cat over the years but I’m actually quite happy with the Rode go 2, yes sometimes it doesn’t come on and other times it doesn’t pick up one of the mics or both of them but the backup recording does work and it’s saved me more than once even though it’s difficult to find the track that you actually need, oh by the way if you have any interest in Turkey, the country, take a look at our channel

[funkyboogiee]

i use the saramonic blink 500 pro b2 kit. you can't go wrong with that kit! solid, reliable, lasts many hours and sounds great!

[albielopez]

I've been fortunate to only use Sennheiser and Sony wireless packs for professional gigs. But every once in a while, I get a little brave and start thinking it's time to give one of these prosumer packs a chance. Thanks for nudging me back to reality. Especially when doing one man band, the last thing you want to do is to come back to the office with unusable audio.

[paulloth]

Audio more left than right in a Video about audio?

[RyanDeLaTorre]

I've owned Sony's previous-generation UWP-D transmitter/receivers for a few years and I've been fortunate that I haven't had any issues, but oof, it's really unfortunate to hear about your experience with the Rode/DJI. :( ...and yeah, nothing can replace having a person behind the camera.

[dreamcaptureweddingfilms]

Hi Hugh.. I have been following you channel for a few years now and love your content. Please take my following input in the spirit I intend it to be. As a wedding videographer 14 years into my journey, I am a devout Sennheiser user. The AVX system has been my go to since it came out and to date it has never failed. Yes I have plans B and C in the shape of field recorders but I haven't as yet needed to use the audio from them.

[itamareyal]

Thanks for the video. With the Sony uwp-d27, Do you know if, through the MI shoe, I can hear and monitor the levels each transmitter separately in the Sony fx6?

[tor]

There’s not enough attention on sound in general on YouTube. People spend thousands on getting the lens trinity and extra lenses, or the most expensive cameras, and then buy a Rode go or DJI mic or similar for sound. This is a mistake. Skip a lens and invest in solid quality audio. Buy good quality radio systems from Sennheiser or Sony. The latest Sony UWP-D system seems great. It has true diversity meaning the receiver has two radio receivers and constantly hops between these always using the best signal. Quite rare for wireless systems to have diversity at the Sony price level.

Also don’t underestimate the worth of XLR connections – more robust and with better sound quality than 3.5mm jacks. The audio handle for the FX3/FX30 is fantastic.

Video shot with a potato but with good sound beats video shot with Arri with bad sound.

[bgray-youtube]

😲 What a nightmare. I think you can definitely take 1st place in the category of "Murphys Law - If it can go wrong, it will" 😭

I don't trust WiFi gear myself, too much pot luck involved, especially in built-up environments. I use the F2BT and found it good for the mostly outdoor work I do (with a Windbubble fitted). I heard some reviewers comment on poor connection issues with the mic jack though.

🤔🤔 On an unrelated item... As I watched you video at 3:10am GMT, I see 93k plus views and only 106 likes. 🤔 Honestly, how much effort does it take for folks to do creators a solid and tap the 👍. #Unfortunate

A good quality informative video as always. Have a good weekend. Kind regards, BG 👍😎

[richardweeks]

I recently got the Sony UWP system, and it is fantastic. While the Rode and DJI systems work most of the time, they always seem to go wrong when it really counts.

[alantuttphotography]

Always good to hear about the real-world experience of using different types of gear. Thanks for posting. Yeah, I've definitely learned the value of having backup audio devices. Usually have 3 ways of getting usable audio. A boom mic where possible, lav mics, and a room mic as a 2nd backup.

While many of the reviews for 2.4ghz wireless say they generally works indoors, the line-of-sight issues are enough to keep me from buying anything along that line. Mainly because I often record live events where the presenter moves around a lot, and these events sometimes happen outdoors. UHF systems are far more reliable, especially when they use a diversity set of antennae or receivers. I believe the Sony system does this, where the Sennheiser ew100 series does not.

Interestingly, the cheaper Saramonic UHF system can be set up in a diversity arrangement by adding a 2nd receiver tuned to the same channels as the transmitters. While this requires additional recording channels (and more futzing), it does provide a safety net for interference issues. For the types of projects I work on, a wireless system using a base unit (like the BLX-D or SLX-D systems by Shure, or similar systems by Sennheiser and others) are the best balance between cost, reliability, and ease-of-use. XLR cables from the receivers to a DR-70D mounted under a camera, with a short 3.5mm cable between audio recorder and camera, provide a manageable pathway of getting audio into the camera, as well as a higher-quality recording for post.


Having said that, I do expect to get a more portable wireless set with a camera-mounted receiver. Sometimes, you just want to get something set up quickly, and that can be more valuable that getting the best quality. Just need to have some type of backup no matter what system you use.