Lancashire soundie

I have used them a fair bit. First things first - the Sony mic they come with is shockingly bad. Take your best lapel mic, wrap it in a dozen socks, and that's what they sound like. Plug a decent microphone in though, and they're fine. The socket isn't compatible with Sennheiser, but you can make an adaptor cable that works just fine. Other than that, they're ok. Range isn't brilliant and they don't work well in a bag (can't see the display), but they're very well built. The antennas can't be disconnected. The battery compartment is a great idea and really easy to change. I still don't understand the frequency selection menu, it's gobbledegook. Personally, I'd still buy the Sennheiser system. The supplied microphone is miles better, and they're everywhere.

Most modern Android phones do, however, support USB-OTG, which enables anyone with a card reader to plug it straight into the phone. Zaxconvert doesn't seem like a particularly complicated or large piece of software. I'm sure many people would value the ability to backup their work on something as ubiquitous as a phone. Playing it from the phone, through headphones, would be extremely valuable and a big selling point for me.

Thanks for this. The TX's were basically recording the entire ride, which also had a GoPro on each bike, a couple of motorcycle cameramen, a couple of static cameramen (one of whom I was connected to), and a drone. I popped each TX into a jersey pocket, unfortunately this meant some mic cable was visible on each rider, but the only way around it was to cut a hole in the jersey (first rider wouldn't let me do this), or elasticated waist belts. I thought the belts were probably unacceptable on a 120 mile ride. A Cos11 with a Rycote lavalier windjammer on each rider. Sounded pretty good, although I don't yet know what it was like on the fast bits. It should be ok as the mics were hidden in the jersey, only slightly exposed. Another thing I noticed was that two of the TX's used more battery than the others, and after a mid-ride battery change were still flat at the end of the ride (the others still had an hour or two of juice left). Perhaps they ran on slightly different software. I hope Zaxcom consider some kind of file software for iOS/Android devices. With USB-OTG, I could easily copy the audio to my phone and replay it there. That would be pretty awesome.

I'm afraid I don't know what software anything was on, it was hired kit using normal antennas. I like the equipment very much and would, at some point in the next year or so, like to buy some. But not if the range is as poor as I experienced, which is why I'm asking.

I used four TRX900la's into two QRX100's this weekend gone. While the equipment was all very nice, with impressive sound quality and lots of functionality, the range was....well, compared to my Lectro SR's....pathetic. Ordinary people crossing the 20-foot line of sight between the receiver and transmitter would result in loss of signal, forcing me to perform an unusual slow dance to ensure I had a clear view of each TX. The TX's were in permanent record so nothing was lost, but all the same, it was disappointing. Each TX was set to 125mW. Does the Zaxcom RF gear benefit from RF distribution, and does that extra equipment improve the range to a level like the Lectros, which I never really have to worry about? FYI the job was micing up four cyclists on an eleven hour ride. TC was delivered via my Nomad.

Just to add to this, here's a couple of pieces I worked on that use the Sony system, albeit with one of my own Tram TR50s replacing the bundled Sony mic. And it was a busy day so I missed the dangling cable, sorry

Some hooks or eyelets would be nice, so that when I move from outside to in, I could just remove the basket and hang it from my bag.

You could try plasti dip - http://www.plastidip.co.uk/ That way, if you don't like the colour, you can simply peel it off.

I have used both, albeit not with the same microphone. The Sony system appears to be very nicely built, with smooth metal (magnesium?) cases all around and sturdy antennas (I'm not sure if they're removable). I wouldn't worry about dropping either unit. The battery clips are very secure sprung slideout caddies that require two fingers to operate. The menu system is a little confusing. I prefer a simple "frequency up" and "frequency down" system, but these appear to use groups of presets whose frequencies are quite randomly laid out. Mind you, I was using someone else's system so perhaps they were programmed for their requirements. To get into the advanced menu for more controls, you have to hold a button while turning it on. They have some kind of band scanner to help decide what frequencies are clear, but I didn't trouble myself with it. As with the Sennheisers, the receivers aren't ideal for bag operation - the display is otherwise invisible. They're clearly designed to be mounted on the back of a camcorder. That said, I didn't have any issues with reception, although I was outside in the open air for most of the time. There were 3-4 other units operating at the same time, on the same shoot. I had no interference from any of them. Personally I think the Sennheiser G3 system sounds much better, although this could be down to the microphones used and the fact that I wasn't operating my own mixer/headphones. The Sony mic just seemed rather dull and uninterested, especially when compared to the T-powered 416, which was as good as ever. I can't tell you about companding effects and similar, because I was in a relatively noisy environment. And also because after a few hours, I virtually gave up with them and stuck with the boom. My verdict, from sound quality and price, is the Sennheiser. Another plus point is that the G3s are everywhere - I very rarely see Sony radio mics. And despite using the same connector, I don't believe the microphones are interchangeable.

Sorry, I forgot to thank you for the useful reply.

Not a case, but I use these to attach the ERX2TCD to a camera. They work very well, although the velcro strapping covers the display or buttons depending on how you mount it: http://www.rycote.com/products/accessories-parts/camcorder-hdslr-accessories/wireless-receiver-bracket-mkii/

My bag, now I have a Nomad 10. I reckon my next purchase will probably be more radio channels. I couldn't face ordering yet more output cables, so I had Everything Audio make me a splitter so I could use my SQN Tajimi cables on the Nomad. The silver box on the left is an Audioroot power distributor, I bought that because while the NP1 and shoe fit nicely in the supplied pocket, the cables protruding from the NP1 shoe were quite tight in the bag, and I don't want to risk a break/short on a power cable. Plus, the Audioroot is shiny, and I like shiny things. Only two annoying things about the Petrol bag - the first is that it doesn't hold its shape very well when sat on a desk, the second is that the Zaxnet antenna isn't really catered for - although mine fits at an angle.

I can just about get the length of a football field (UK) with a Lectrosonics SMDB at 50mW, received by an SRa. That's an empty stadium by the way, I doubt it'd still work if the place was full.

I can't find an answer in the manual. Can I use the same TA5 and XLR outputs simultaneously?

Also, I had my first day out with the Nomad today and found myself wondering why there isn't a nice plastic cover to snap over the mixer fascia when being transported. How hard can that be to design?

Don't try to remove the SD card, you may break the plastic around the contacts and leave debris inside the mixer. If you've already removed it, one workaround is to put a microSD adaptor in its place and use microSD cards, but that's a workaround, not a solution. I'd send it back and say "it wasn't like this when I sent it to you, please fix it immediately".

The grip isn't an issue as I still need that (I remove the basket inside to save weight and also for practicality). All it needs to be is a series of plastic rings joined by flexible, wind-proof material. To collapse, simply slide it back and compress it like a crushed can of coke (although not permanently!)

I would pay good money for a Rycote basket that folds/collapses into a small object when not in use. I never have anywhere convenient to put it when I move from outside to inside.

Not those, but I used to run US Power 9V batteries and they were absolutely superb, saving me a fortune. Although I managed to kill one by leaving it in a TX for a couple of weeks.

That's a really nicely packed peli.

This is my bag right now. SQN5 with MKH60 boom, 4*Lectro radios with TR50s and the usual odds and sods. I supplement it with a couple of MKH40s for sitdown interviews. I have a decent Portabrace harness but I never use it. It just isn't comfortable and frankly, the bag gets in the way when I'm wearing it. With a shoulder strap I can move the bag wherever I want it, and have it off me in seconds. I quite like the Portabrace organiser, I use a handle to hold the basket, and a cable guide to hold the boom pole. I'm sure they're not designed to do that, but it works for me... I've just ordered a Nomad 10 so I'll have another bag shortly

A couple of years ago I had a panicked phone call from a crew working in Derbyshire (UK). They didn't have a sound man but had, instead, a couple of radio receivers strapped to the camera body, and for some reason they weren't working. Could I go and sort it out? Well I wasn't doing anything else, so off I went. 90 minutes later I turned up and plugged in. I found that whenever I took my radio equipment within a metre or two of the camera, I lost all reception. I could only conclude that the camera was throwing out RF interference to such an extent that the receivers could no longer function correctly. IIRC it was a Sony HDCAM.

Thanks for that, very informative. I've worked with these on more than a few occasions but have normally just sent a channel of audio via a Sennheiser Evolution radio (to keep the weight down), while recording decent audio separately. I'm new to Zaxcom (have just ordered a Nomad and ERX2TCD) so didn't know the bandwidth available on the latter device. I do now, thanks to your post.

I would return it. Brand new, it shouldn't be doing that. Looking at those pixels would annoy the hell of out me.

Can I ask, is this because 1) 5D audio track just not good enough 2) ERX2TCD audio quality not good enough 3) Crosstalk between the two channels Or some other reason? It's always good to get usable audio, no matter where it goes.