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buying my first sanken cos-11


Elephant_Talk

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Hi everybody,

I recently both a used lectrosonics um200b tx / ucr211 rx system (the first lectro I own) and finally I can buy the lav I want for it, a Sanken cos-11. There seems to be many different versions of the cos-11 and I'm not sure what's the best option for my wireless (at least all the diferent names listed in BH got me confused); I'll be using it for fiction and documentary work, mostly as a personal mic. Should I choose attenueted over not attenuated mic? What else should I consider? Thanks for your help.

All the best,

Andrés MD.

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This is a strong indication that you're purchasing from the wrong place.

As a professional sound mixer I recommend that you should be buying from professional location sound dealers who, not coincidentally, can answer these questions for you.

http://www.trewaudio.com

http://www.pro-sound.com

http://www.locationsound.com

http://www.gothamsound.com

etc.

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I've asked a lot of questions to the good people at Trew Audio, the Tennessee and Cali locations. They have always given good advise and shown patience and willingness to help. Please do patronize one of the above listed professional location sound retailers.

Also, be sure to ask them about hush lavs, undercovers/overcovers, and a black RM-11 for that COS-11 (great mic, btw).

Mark O.

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Also note that for many of the products we use, you don't pay higher prices at a dedicated location audio dealer. Same price (sometimes a bit higher, sometimes a bit lower), better advice, great service and support. What's the downside? (answer: there isn't one).

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All good advice above. I would add that while Sanken makes excellent microphones, if you're just starting out and need real value, the Oscar Sound Tech mikes are pretty good. You can easily buy two or three of them for the retail cost of one COS-11. The COS-11 is an exceptionally good microphone, but it's not 3 times as good as the OST.

http://oscarsoundtech.com/

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  • 1 month later...

So I finally got my cos-11 from trew audio. When I ask them about choosing attenuated or non attenuated cos-11 for my system, they said most people goes with the non attenuated version unless they are going to use it for specific jobs that require less sensitive mics. I just received my cos-11 (green dot) and when I tested it with my Lectrosonics um200b tx / ucr211 rx system, I found that the signal is too high and that I need to set the transmitter’s level almost all the way down in order to avoid the clipping LED (0 in the transmitter) to blink to often (I tested it with two different voices at a normal conversation level). This is giving me not much range to operate my transmitter’s level.

Is this the way it usually works? Are you guys commonly getting the red-dot version for normal fiction and documentary work? Thanks in advance for your help.

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That aint right - did you tell them it was for 200 series? If it's a new cos11 it'll probably be wired servo bias, but I don't think it'd make that type of difference. Using a cos11 ( not a red dot ) with my 200 series, the transmitter level will be set about 10.30/11 for a close placement ( collar / top button ) for someone with a full dynamic voice in a interview situation, of which I've been doing a lot lately, maybe a bit less. Are you sure you're not mistaking the -20db led for the 0 one?

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There's a common misconception about that with the 200 series. Lectro changed the lights on the 200C model because of this.

First thing to do is to listen - does it sound ok?

Also look at the display on your 211 and make sure you get a good level there (you should get a nice full triangle and occasional square). If it's square all the time, then you have a too hot signal.

I use 200 series with COS-11s and usually have the dial at around 11-12 o'clock, unless the subject is screaming.

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  • 3 weeks later...

All good advice above. I would add that while Sanken makes excellent microphones, if you're just starting out and need real value, the Oscar Sound Tech mikes are pretty good. You can easily buy two or three of them for the retail cost of one COS-11. The COS-11 is an exceptionally good microphone, but it's not 3 times as good as the OST.

http://oscarsoundtech.com/

Agree 100%. Thanks to a lister's rec I bought a black OST 801, which I've already used in a handful of projects. I'm planning on getting another (a white one) soon. They're good mics, and the company's service is above average.

BK

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So I finally got my cos-11 from trew audio. When I ask them about choosing attenuated or non attenuated cos-11 for my system, they said most people goes with the non attenuated version unless they are going to use it for specific jobs that require less sensitive mics. I just received my cos-11 (green dot) and when I tested it with my Lectrosonics um200b tx / ucr211 rx system, I found that the signal is too high and that I need to set the transmitter’s level almost all the way down in order to avoid the clipping LED (0 in the transmitter) to blink to often (I tested it with two different voices at a normal conversation level). This is giving me not much range to operate my transmitter’s level.

Is this the way it usually works? Are you guys commonly getting the red-dot version for normal fiction and documentary work? Thanks in advance for your help.

I'll bet that it's not your transmitter gain that needs to be turned down but instead your receiver gain. I bet if you turn that down to -6 or -12 you'll be able to start bringing the transmitter gain back up to where the other JW members have it at 10:11 o'clock, also where I am used to having it.

Also what mixer are you using? Lectro definitely has very hot outputs for both Mike and line signals so if you have a crappy mixer that could be your problem.

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This is a strong indication that you're purchasing from the wrong place.

As a professional sound mixer I recommend that you should be buying from professional location sound dealers who, not coincidentally, can answer these questions for you.

http://www.trewaudio.com

http://www.pro-sound.com

http://www.locationsound.com

http://www.gothamsound.com

etc.

Lets not forget Gene at

www.audiodept.com.

Gene, aside from being the owner, also mixes for film/tv/etc. so he does have first hand knowledge/experience with gear.

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All good advice above. I would add that while Sanken makes excellent microphones, if you're just starting out and need real value, the Oscar Sound Tech mikes are pretty good. You can easily buy two or three of them for the retail cost of one COS-11. The COS-11 is an exceptionally good microphone, but it's not 3 times as good as the OST.

http://oscarsoundtech.com/

I would agree with Marc on this. After seeing the good reports about the Oscar Tec mics I bought some to supplement my Cos 11's and I went for the ones that look like the Cos as opposed to the Tram look-alike. I now use these in preference to the Cos and I am really pleased with them.

Malcolm Davies. A.m.p.s.

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