axel

Lectrosonics stands for ultimate reliability, but they are equally responsive if somethings fails. Everybody know, they are reachable and react very quickly @reasonable time and cost. But being responsive and listening to customers is expensive. Many companies are forced to cut costs here, once they are taken over by a bigone. On the long run, this could be a threat to Lectro, but I wish (also for myself) that they will stick to their policy which makes them standing out.

3 weeks ago I sent an MKH 8060 (purchased in 03/2012) to Sennheiser for repair via my dealer with the following symptoms: intermittent "high mic noise with reduced output gain and crackling sounds like static discharge" The microphone had heavy signs of wear, most of the coating had come off. Two rods of the side grille were bent from a handling accident. It was one of my workhorse-gear and was used on numerous productions throughout the years. Last wednesday I got a notice from the dealer that the mic is back, with no other comment but a bill, listing a handling fee of 25€ and the serial number of the replacement mic. I retreived it on friday and I got back a completely new 8060 with all accessories practically for free. Nice 🙂

I've been relying on 8060s for the last 13 years as my workhorses for scripted work. Some of them developed problems, especially from the first batch. But never any RF issue.

isn't that what it should do?

exactly that ! thx

I’d like to use A20 Tx like real Plug-on Tx: Plug it into an XLR and get going. I want to avoid fiddling with mini Lemo plugs on each change of Mics, I want to avoid the need for a dedicated lemo-XLR cable for each mic mount and I want to use quicklocks without having to dismantle them for each change of booms. Does anyone have an XLR plugon solution for A20 Tx for that? Sg. like a small+light cheese plate for the Tx that already incorporates a short adapter cable from Lemo 3 to XLR3F with the XLR firmly attached to the cheese plate? Comparable to https://nylonindustries.com/collections/boompole-products/products/copy-of-zmtph-3-0-nylon-plug-on-adaptor for ZMT4 Tx. 3D print solutions?

When Aaton disappeared from the surface as a company I invested in another X3 as a 2nd rig. Good decision so far.

Fabian, I have been happily using an 833 for Docs/ small projects alongside with an X3 for scripted work for some years now. I also had set up the 833 as a backup for the X3 (using 8 input channels with the help of the SL-AES) but was lucky to never having to use it. When I bought a second X3 I got rid of the M-Audio control surface, that had almost the double weight and footprint of the actual 833 recorder. I then pushed the 833 back to exclusive use for over the shoulder work. It is reliable, sounds good, has a really well developed software and also the BT software for iPhone/iPad is stable and functional. To my impression the 833 is built to be a work horse and with a life span of many years and still up do date.

director: HD 25 scripty: has his/her own whoever else can chose from the bowl

Flohma, did you ever try a Neumann RSM191? Those have been built exactly for you (Journalists), they have the most convincing stereo image for my ears, they are a little less bulky than an ORTF setup and the signal ends up as mid-side or xy. You have to look for a used one, because Neumann dropped production several years ago, but I have not found any stereo setup that comes so close to a natural hearing image.

so then try an Aaton Cantar X1 or X2. They came out in 2003/2007. Their developer/designer JP Beauviala acquired his skills at Kudelski, where the famous Nagra machines were produced. He tried to translate the Nagra philosophy into the multitrack world, listenend to the community for a long time and then developed a machine with beautiful mechanics, built like a tank, but with the highest audio standards available. Can be operated over the shoulder, in the rain, blindfolded and with gloves. But best preamps. Just guessing, maybe you would love one of those. Regarding modern film workflows they are not accurate anymore and service has been discontinued when the original Aaton company shut its doors in 2013. But there are still some people who know how to service and repair them and have some stocks of relevant parts.

What I read between grawk's lines is, that he would love to have a small equipment with a compact footprint and a minimum of cable work around. Something you can place on your lap. It can be fancy and he would devote himself to an elegantly engineered, best sounding, yet compact peace of equipment he can caress with his dust brush. Does not need to have the latest software features and does not need to follow the latest film workflows. If 4-5 analog inputs suffice, try to get hold of a used Sonosax SX-R4, SX-R4+ or a Cantar X1 or X2 (which are basically the same). For all of those, you can expand track count with a noble sonosax or aaton preamp to feed into the digital inputs if you need a couple of tracks extra. If you are better off with 8 mic pres out of the box, grab a used SD 788T. If you are OK with plastic look and feel but want to have decent preamps, go for a Mixpre 10 (also 8 mic pre's) A good bang for the buck can also be a Zoom F8 (also 8 mic pre's). I think for the price you pay, Zaxcom is leaning more towards functionality than beautiful sound, although their preamp standards on the cabled inputs might be high as well. But that is just my personal opinion.

I`ve been working a lot with the CMC 1 SO/MK41 in conjunction with a ZMT4 Tx. VERY small & quickly deployable System. Great Sound. It is lacking a suspension of course, so often I place the Tx inside a mini fur (for small ENG like shotgun baskets) and let just the MK41 poke out. Transmitter and gooseneck stay inside the fur to take up less induced rumble. Can hide behind a desk acsessory very easily or poke out of a visor inside a car. Can be put in front of a laptop screen, but typing while speaking would be a no-go and a rotating HDD inside the laptop would sound like a massive engine. If the capsule results a little top-heavy with the very lightwight ZMT4, I support it with an Ursa wire rig. Be aware there is two CMC1-SO versions for Zaxcom and Sound Devices/Audio Ltd Tx. Not compatible with each other.

I used Copic markers to paint several white B6 caps to match certain shades of blue shirts, including a brown version on a 6060 to match a special leather jacket. You can paint various layers with different colours to find the exact colour match. Copic have many options including very light colors that just add a certain shade. You can clean them off with alcohol (Sidenote: don't try that with DPA cables: the alcohol dilutes the softeners from their Mogami cables and they will result stiff) I guess the tank like COS11 cable will withstand it.

thanks for your replies. I decided to stay away from those, stupid to guess that everything new would be purely digital. I have had medium good experience on Set with the IEM 300 System and wanted to upgrade transmission and quality.