Intercom system for weddings? « Videomaker Community Forums

Video-maniac
Member

I was wondering if any of you ever use a wireless intercom system when doing weddings? Right now my son and I really plan out our game plan while weÂ’re scouting the rehearsal and we also have a unique discrete hand signal system. I was reading a magazine and they had this fully duplex system by Eartec that also allows hands free operation and you still can listen to your camera audio as well. It seems like that might be a valuable tool.

Any thoughts?

Posted 6 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

The only problem is it requires you to talk. I've always been afraid that people would hear one of us talking. I'd like to hear from someone who uses one though.

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Good point! I guess it comes down to how well the mics pick up. That's kind of what I wanted to find out.

I'm thinking that I can just use this to get the other camera man's attention. Maybe just a quiet "pissst" in the mic would be enough for him to look my way.

Posted 6 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

Or you could just go "HEY FRANK!!!!!!". Nobody will notice. lol X-D

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

We use wireless communications and they're great - especially during preps and receptions. As alluded to earlier, you have to be careful during the ceremony. We've come up with a click-code system that one of us will use to let the other know we're breaking away to get some cutaways. This means the other is responsible to hold steady on the main event until the other cam returns. All this, even though we have Camera #3 getting the "overall" shot from the rear.

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

compusolver,

Can I ask what kind you are using?

It's funny how vid guys come up with ways to communicate. Instead of clicking, we use secret hand signals to do the same thing. Like I mentioned earlier, it doesnÂ’t do me any good if the other person is looking at me. ThatÂ’s why IÂ’m seriously thinking about getting that Eartec systemÂ… unless you have a better idea.

RAM

Posted 6 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

Have you tried smoke signals? lol. They're quiet! X-D

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

VideoManiac -

We use Midland LXT310 radios with headsets that allow us to communicate without having to touch the "walkie-talkie" itself. It has a mode that will sense one of us talking and automatically send the voice, but we prefer to use the little button on the headset cable when talking. This button also makes the clicks we use during ceremonies. You have to be careful though to turn off a feature of the radio that will beep whenever a signal is being received (button pressed on other radio).

This month's Digital Video magazine has an ad on page 54 of the Eartec system mentioned above. It costs three times what our set cost with the only obvious advantage is not having to deal with two headsets.

As for the headset we use to monitor our cams' audio signals, I always worry one of us will forget we're "attached" to the camera and walk off, toppling a tripod with a $3m cam on top. I've already dropped one VX2100 and not looking forward to my second trip to the shop. Does anyone know of a decent wireless headset for monitoring audio?

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

compusolver,

Thank you very much for the input. I'm going to check that out.

I'm glade I'm not the only one walking away from my camera with the headset still on. So far I have had 3 close calls. All three times I amaze myself as to how fast I moved in catching the whole camera/tripod rig before it hits the floor.

Wireless phones would be great but that would also mean that you would have to plug a transmitter of some kind into your head phone jack so it could send the signal. Now you have a Azden reciever for the mics and then this transmitter for your phones all plugged into your camera. Shoot.... I'll have to get a heavy duty tripod to hold all of this weight! X-D

RAM

Posted 6 years ago #
Endeavor
Member

From what I understand, Sennheiser makes the best wireless headphones (never actually tried them myself though).

BTW, you could try something like this. They have the voice activation feature. Not sure if this would work well or not:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5862385968

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

Holy cow! 8-O

Now I'm wondering why those Eartec systems are so expensive? There has to be a reason. If not then they must have a hard time selling anything because they aren't even close to be competitive with price.

Posted 6 years ago #