Best lavaliers out there?

amfortas2006 · 10th February 2008

What are the best sounding lavaliers out there in your opinion?

drakem · 10th February 2008

I think maybe you should give more details: whatfor will you use them? docu, feature movie, interviews.
Preises are between 500 and 3000 U$ and up .....

amfortas2006 · 10th February 2008

No matter, maybe just not to noisy. Maybe not to bright (I mean with attentuated high freqencies)...

The price is the not relevant, just sound.

Like, if you would have to choose just a pair to record no matter what, wich would it be?

mohthom · 10th February 2008

Chris Watson recommends MicrophoneMadness.com:.

MohThoM

drakem · 10th February 2008

sanken cos-11 or countryman .. i think the model is b6... those sound great to me

mslim · 10th February 2008

I'm a cameraman but a lot of my audio guys use Trams.

**Remoteness** · 10th February 2008

My top three favorites are Sennheiser Gold MKE-2, Sanken and Trams.

Jim vanBergen · 11th February 2008

Sennheiser Gold MKE-2 and DPA 4061. These are the most accurate for vocal reproduction, but pricey!!! They are also ideal for miking instrumentation like violin quite well. They are the most common Broadway lavaliers. Countryman E6 are next, in popularity. The E6 is also great for low profile headset/ear rig work.

Sennheiser Gold MKE-2 is also the most commonly used wired lav for newscasters. I think Sony wired elements are next popular if I recall my statistics for lavs sold for TV broadcast... all the mics mentioned so far are OMNI!

Trams are the de facto standard for hidden mic elements in film & TV production.

For CARDIOID lavs (much larger!) the Shure WL85 (hyper cardioid) or WL84 (cardioid) are really good sounding, and are used very often for corporate events and major announcements that are done live, like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs in front of a large live audience, they're usually wearing a WL85 capsule.

Hope this helps!

JvB

daveseviltwin · 11th February 2008

I use shure wl85 and countryman for live audio when I have to. Pretty good even thought I hate lavs

amfortas2006 · 13th February 2008

How about these: Lavalier Microphone MCE400 Miniature Microphone
Does anyone have experience with them?

Im kinda thinking about the Sankens, but am researching before buying...

tnjazz · 13th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by amfortas2006

How about these: Lavalier Microphone MCE400 Miniature Microphone
Does anyone have experience with them?

Im kinda thinking about the Sankens, but am researching before buying...

Yes, I have a pair of MCE400. I would pick these any day of the week over the DPA 4061. They are definitely the best sounding lavs I've ever used. I have not tried the Sankens though, so I couldn't compare those.

amfortas2006 · 14th February 2008

Just noticed that they are cut from 100Hz. At -20dB at 50Hz already.

The freq chart on their web-page is so small and nott zoomable that at first you dont see that.

Most of the other lavs start at 0dB at 50Hz

Roland · 14th February 2008

Common wisdom is that the DPA 4060/61's are about the best available these days. Of course they are pricier than many others and there are fans of all the top makes (Trams, Sennheiser, Sanken, etc). All I would point too is that the DPA's are a relatively new player, however they have decimated certain markets such as live theatre, and made huge inroads into others such as television and film. Being that many of the engineers in those fields are notoriously slow to change (reliability and working with "what you know" being huge factors) they have to be close to the top of the list. The fact that they are good enough to record more than just speech also could factor in. Ultimately it's a pay your money, take your choice, scenario.

Regards

Roland

amfortas2006 · 14th February 2008

I dunno. I heard those DPA-s and they are just to clinical for my taste. I have a pair of Schoeps for this application.

What Im searching for is a omni pair that would go for stereo on less important orchestra recordings from close range where I dont have my whole gear with me. Just to plug into the minir82 and go.

They have the Sankens wired for the minir, so thats really easy. The Nevatons are XLR, that goes with a cable.

The only question would be, wich have a smoother sound, cause I cant try them before buying where I am.

Roland · 14th February 2008

The Schoeps are not a like for like comparison, being that they cost around 3 times the price and have larger diaphrams. For classical recording I wouldn't use Lav's anyway, too high noise floor for comfort. Having used Cos 11's, DPA's trams and the Sennheisers I know which I would buy, this view is also shared by a couple of my collegues who have also used all of the above. I haven't used the Russian mic's you talked about earlier, but being -20db down at 50 hz would render them unusable for many applications outside of speech, perhaps you are looking the wrong direction. As I said before, you pay's your money and takes your choice.

Regards

Roland

amfortas2006 · 14th February 2008

I guess I was looking in the wrong direction.

Well, Im not searching for the ideal mics, cause lavs aint ideal for close range orchestra anyway, but a cut at 100Hz is not helping.

Well that leaves the Sankens and the DPAs.

If the Sankens are good enough for the situation, I guess they would win the contest cause I dont need extra cables, i can plug them directly. They are sensitive enough for the situation, or?

PlugHead · 14th February 2008

IME,

Both the 4060/4061's are very good, as are the Sanken - not used the Senn Gold MKE's, but have used the Tram's.

It's true the DPA's cost a bit, but are some of the finest for micro-sized capsules. I know I've said it before, and others disagree, but one of the only things (re: mini capsules I've used) is their self-noise when used for sensitive sources other than dialog.

Lastly, IIRC, the DPA's capsules are pre-polarized - not sure about the others?

amfortas2006 · 14th February 2008

Are Sankens really less noisy (then DPA lets say) cause of the elongated diaphragms?

PlugHead · 14th February 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by amfortas2006

Are Sankens really less noisy (then DPA lets say) cause of the elongated diaphragms?

Not used the Sanken's enough to accurately say - others?

amfortas2006 · 14th February 2008

Well, I guess if most of the people like them , they arent loud

PlugHead · 15th February 2008

BTW - I forgot to mention support for the Countryman Isomax: I've heard them used on a variety of instruments, and can sound pretty impressive for close micing! thumbsup

A fellow sound engineer has a pr. installed on a 9 ft. Steinway at a major Canadian Arts Centre, and I almost had to pick up my jaw from the floor when I found out. Very balanced and articulate: tho, as always, finding the right spot with a mic always trumps the gear...

My issue is in using the mini mics for duties that a larger, deeper and quieter mic does better.

Best with it,

10th February 2008	#1
amfortas2006 Gear addict Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 432 Thread Starter	Best lavaliers out there? What are the best sounding lavaliers out there in your opinion?

10th February 2008	#2
drakem Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Outer Rim Posts: 155	I think maybe you should give more details: whatfor will you use them? docu, feature movie, interviews. Preises are between 500 and 3000 U$ and up ..... __________________ ...don´t let anybody tell you that what you are doing is shitty... AL SCHMITT

11th February 2008	#9
daveseviltwin Gear maniac Joined: Feb 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 195	I use shure wl85 and countryman for live audio when I have to. Pretty good even thought I hate lavs __________________ Old Town Recording Studio, Bitter:Sweet Audio Engineer, Rhythm Roots Allstars-Monitor Engineer, Audio & Light INC.

14th February 2008	#17
PlugHead Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: steeltown Posts: 3,420	IME, Both the 4060/4061's are very good, as are the Sanken - not used the Senn Gold MKE's, but have used the Tram's. It's true the DPA's cost a bit, but are some of the finest for micro-sized capsules. I know I've said it before, and others disagree, but one of the only things (re: mini capsules I've used) is their self-noise when used for sensitive sources other than dialog. Lastly, IIRC, the DPA's capsules are pre-polarized - not sure about the others? __________________ Jay PlugHead Productions http://www.plugheadproductions.com

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10th February 2008	#4
mohthom Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 638	Chris Watson recommends MicrophoneMadness.com:. MohThoM

10th February 2008	#6
mslim Gear nut Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Just north of Shakeytown Posts: 144	I'm a cameraman but a lot of my audio guys use Trams.

10th February 2008	#7
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	My top three favorites are Sennheiser Gold MKE-2, Sanken and Trams.

11th February 2008	#8
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,562	Sennheiser Gold MKE-2 and DPA 4061. These are the most accurate for vocal reproduction, but pricey!!! They are also ideal for miking instrumentation like violin quite well. They are the most common Broadway lavaliers. Countryman E6 are next, in popularity. The E6 is also great for low profile headset/ear rig work. Sennheiser Gold MKE-2 is also the most commonly used wired lav for newscasters. I think Sony wired elements are next popular if I recall my statistics for lavs sold for TV broadcast... all the mics mentioned so far are OMNI! Trams are the de facto standard for hidden mic elements in film & TV production. For CARDIOID lavs (much larger!) the Shure WL85 (hyper cardioid) or WL84 (cardioid) are really good sounding, and are used very often for corporate events and major announcements that are done live, like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs in front of a large live audience, they're usually wearing a WL85 capsule. Hope this helps! JvB

13th February 2008	#10
amfortas2006 Gear addict Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 432 Thread Starter	How about these: Lavalier Microphone MCE400 Miniature Microphone Does anyone have experience with them? Im kinda thinking about the Sankens, but am researching before buying...

14th February 2008	#13
Roland Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2002 Location: St Leonards on Sea, England Posts: 2,133 2 Reviews written	Common wisdom is that the DPA 4060/61's are about the best available these days. Of course they are pricier than many others and there are fans of all the top makes (Trams, Sennheiser, Sanken, etc). All I would point too is that the DPA's are a relatively new player, however they have decimated certain markets such as live theatre, and made huge inroads into others such as television and film. Being that many of the engineers in those fields are notoriously slow to change (reliability and working with "what you know" being huge factors) they have to be close to the top of the list. The fact that they are good enough to record more than just speech also could factor in. Ultimately it's a pay your money, take your choice, scenario. Regards Roland

15th February 2008	#21
PlugHead Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: steeltown Posts: 3,420	BTW - I forgot to mention support for the Countryman Isomax: I've heard them used on a variety of instruments, and can sound pretty impressive for close micing! thumbsup A fellow sound engineer has a pr. installed on a 9 ft. Steinway at a major Canadian Arts Centre, and I almost had to pick up my jaw from the floor when I found out. Very balanced and articulate: tho, as always, finding the right spot with a mic always trumps the gear... My issue is in using the mini mics for duties that a larger, deeper and quieter mic does better. Best with it,