Zaxcom ENG Wireless compatibility with Wendt X5
Paul Graff
in LA. My rig is two SD 302's linked, five 411a's in Block 28
(MM400B's on talent), boom, Lectro IFB in Block 27, Zaxcom stereo ENG
wireless in Block 21 as camera hop, and a Lectro 187 at 183.25MHz
returning from the camera. It is working beautifully. I'm so happy
with the Zaxcom unit I decided to buy another one for the other mixer
to use. His rig is a Wendt X5, four 411a's in B28, IFB in B27 and a
Comtek 216 as a camera return. He's been using Lectro UM400/411a's as
camera sends (Blocks 23 and 25). His rig has also been working fine
once some Modulus (UHF video Tx on camera) interference (in R channel
on B25) was eliminated by putting a 6dB pad on the antenna of the
Modulus. The Modulus has caused no problems for my setup.
When I set up the Zaxcom with his rig I get white noise (along with the
audio) at the camera end. It's in both channels, but really bad in the
right. I swapped the two zaxcom units and cameras and mine always
sounds great and his has the white noise, so I'm guessing the X5 mixer
can't handle the digital RF. Some more info: I'm using Zaxcom's RF
filtering antenna; I'm powering the Zaxcom Tx's (and IFB's) with
batteries, the mixers and Lectro Rx's with NP1.
I did a search in RAMPS archives and Oleg mentioned using unbalanced
outputs from the X5. I haven't tried this yet. I'm not clear if he
meant I should use different outputs or just unbalance the cables
(would that work?). Conversations with Zaxcom, Bob Wendt, and Coffey
sound have not yet yielded a solution. I've been told this combo has
been used successfully on other shows, so perhaps it is just this
particular mixer (which I am sub-renting) or perhaps some modification
was used. I'll try to set it up with a different X5 when I get the
chance, but I welcome ideas and input. One solution is to create
another SD rig like the one I use, but the other mixer likes the X5 and
since this combo has been used by others I'd like to make it work.
Regards,
Paul Graff
Los Angeles
Actual email is Sound att my name iz tha dmainname witha dotttkom
I got very evil spam last time I posted; hence the new email above.
g...@zaxcom.com
Call me on Tuesday morning at work and we will come up with a solution.
The X5 and our stereo transmitter is used all the time on multiple
reality type shows. I have a feeling it is a cable issue.
Glenn
Oleg Kaizerman
run unbalance from the wendt ( check if you can use the minipl out - i
sold the mixer so cant do the check again) that is complitly eleminated
the problem , another one i remember that the common dc was very
problematic and add allot of noice so i finished powering the rig
with 2 difernt ext sources .
best
Oleg Kaizerman (gebe)Hollyland
Sanmiguel (SS)
ESPN, using a WendtX5 and a couple of lectros 211's on block 21 as a
link to camera. I was also using a couple of 411's, one lav on block 29
& one 411 Lectro plug (block 21) on a Electro Voice stick mic. I was
using the three first frequencies on the chart of Lectro for
compatibility for block 21, and scanned for a free freq. on the block
29 lav. The problem I experienced was that when turning on the
mic-Plug, the other two Lectros on block 21 started getting a loud
withe noise randomly, and also notice that all cables connected to the
X5 where generating static noise all over the place. As soon as I
turned off the plug everything went back to normal. So I tried again
scanning for a new freq. with no success but the same problem. Next
thing I did was pulling out a belt-pack transmitter and connected it
with an adapter cable to the ElectroVoice Stick mic, and the problem
was gone...
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
farroutpro
reality show back in Jan 05. We had 5 eng crews. We went with a all
Lectro/Comtek system. The Zaxcom caused tons of RF interfereance. the
Zaxcom floods RF and Lectrosonics systems in a multi cam setting dont
mesh well. You also have to remember that the Wendt X5 pots don't fully
close when they are closed. Even though Bob Wendt says otherwise. Your
x2 302 bag is cheaper than a X5 and lighter. I call it a 604.
farroutpro
that at are racetrack their high power wireless freq's in use by the
pitcrews to the cars.
Sanmiguel (SS)
I use remote's audio XLRs to connect almost all the stuff in my rig,
also use their XLR coiled cable for my K-tek boom pole. I use Sound
Devices TA5-XLR cable outputs to comtek's; and to feed the 211
transmitters to camera I use the lectrosonics XLR-TA5 cables. I use
only cables provided by manufacturers since I'm not that good using the
soldering gun... Still the stuff that we where shooting where actually
interviews with the drivers before and after the race and practice. I'm
sending the mic-plug back today so that they can run some tests on it
and try to figure out if there's something wrong with it,
On the other hand, I like your Idea of the 604!
Thanks
Sergio
~~
http://home.earthlink.net/~magikuniverse/id0.html
farroutpro
computer...
Sanmiguel (SS)
RF interference, or is there an easy way to shield it or to make it
more resistant to RF borne noise/interference?
Paul Graff
cabling issue and spoke with Jaime at Coffey, who made the XLR-F to
Lemo 4-pin (mixer-to-Tx) cables. When I spoke with Jaime later, he
hadn't realized that these cables were for a Wendt and not for SD like
the first set. He's modifying the cables with resistors at the XLR end
(details to follow), which he said had corrected this problem when it
was encountered by Wexler Rentals. I'll report back in a couple of
days whether this fixes it and exactly what was done. There is a
wiring diagram in the manual for unbalanced line outputs for Wendt, but
aren't the XLR outs balanced on the Wendt? Since I'll probably never
use these with a Wendt mixer after this show wraps, I also need to
ascertain if the modified cables will have to be unmodified to use with
SD. More to follow.
Paul
Paul Graff
The modified cables still caused massive white noise with the Wendt.
I didn't want to waste any more time trying to make the Wendt work with
the Zaxcom sends, so I returned the rented Wendt, bought a SD 442 for
the other mixer which I linked to a MixPre I own and everything works
great. Supposedly the Wendt/Zaxcom combo has worked on other shows.
Personally, I'm sticking with Sound Devices mixers, Lectro for talent
and Zaxcom for camera sends. An excellent combination IMHO.
Paul Graff
Los Angeles
Martin Harrington
cameras.
One of the tx units linked to an SQN (new model), continually exhibits white
noise when powered by the distribution box, but none when powered
internally.
We fixed it, (we thought), by adding a barrel earthed cable in one of the
input cables but it seemed to return periodically.
It was also causing a high oscilation on one of the radio transmitters,
(Audio 2020).
I'm not on the show any more, but I think the problem still exists.
The stereo link seems to work very well, but has scant regard for any other
radio system around it.
A case of "i'm alright, everyone else suffer"
--
Martin Harrington
www.lendanear-sound.com
"Paul Graff" <ahomefor...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1122443685.9...@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Dave Coulter
> and Zaxcom for camera sends. An excellent combination IMHO.
Agreed. This has been my configuration for a while now, and it is a
formidable combination. Even with the filtered antenna you have to have
at least one block between the Zaxcom and any wireless in your bag. With
enough space, they play very nicely together.
Dave
jfe...@gmail.com
> The stereo link seems to work very well, but has scant regard for any other
> radio system around it.
> A case of "i'm alright, everyone else suffer"
I'd love to know more about this and how to avoid/minimize problems.
I'm very intrigued by the Zaxcom two-channel ENG system for a camera
link. But I sometimes end up in press scrums and other situations with
multiple folks running their own wireless. Beyond the usual, what can I
do to remain a good citizen if I'm using the stereolink tx?
Thanks,
Jim
g...@zaxcom.com
within a sound bag where receivers and transmitters are less than a
foot apart. There are no interference issues beyond that of traditional
wireless microphones when our systems are in use. Since our systems are
intermodulation free and only require one frequency to be used from bag
to camera they are very clean compared to two transmitters used
together in a sound bag creating intermodulation interference on
multiple frequencies.
Glenn
Thom Shafer
stereo link for quite a while now and can think of zero negatives
(there are no problems with the system). A stereo link dialed up to
maximum power may cause a bit of grief to someone but no more than any
other system (less harmonics to deal with). I've never dialed the Zax
above 50... never needed to. Perhaps that is the good citizen
answer... only use the power you need.
Glenn, for all the ramps headbutting we've done in the past I think
I've sold quite a few of these things for you! Imagine that! The
number one generator of email for me is the Stereo Link. ugh! Lot of
inquiries from Britain and Australia these days.
Thom Shafer
http://www.televisionsound.com
Oleg Kaizerman
without any problrem
--
Oleg Kaizerman(gebe) Hollyland
"Dave Coulter" <coulte...@linkoftheearth.net> wrote in message
news:coultersound-2...@10.0.1.3...
g...@zaxcom.com
this has been. Thanks for recommendations.
Glenn