I am hoping you all can give me some insight on how to properly set up my wireless Sennheiser mics. I am the owner/manager/sound guy for a gospel group out of N.W. Ohio and we recently upgraded from wired mics to the Sennheiser EW 145 and 165 wireless mics. Out of the box the Sennheisers send what I call “hot” signal (AF Out is +18 db). I need very little gain on our Soundcraft FX16ii mixer. My question is should I leave it this way or should I lower the AF Out to a lower value and make up for the loss on the mixer? My next question is about the EQ that is built into the receiver. The default is a “flat” setting, but it does have two other choices, a low cut setting and another with a low cut plus a high boost setting. Are there any advantages to using any of the other two settings or am I better off staying with the flat setting and using the low cut and channel eq on the mixer? Thank you all for your time and input. BTW, if there are any other tips, warnings, etc. regarding these mics I’m all ears! :razz:
Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
- Thread starter Jesse Davila
- Start date
Re: Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
I have been using EW100G3 systems for several years, and never touched the internal EQ in either the (belt pack) transmitter or receiver. I have also never found the need to lower the output gain from +18 for any of the mixers I have used (Behringer X32, Yamaha 01V, Mackie 2404), although intuitively it seems hot (not sure what sort of "dB" it refers to). About the only thing I ever have to touch is the transmitter sensitivity to deal with different types of lavalier mic or actor volume.
I have been using EW100G3 systems for several years, and never touched the internal EQ in either the (belt pack) transmitter or receiver. I have also never found the need to lower the output gain from +18 for any of the mixers I have used (Behringer X32, Yamaha 01V, Mackie 2404), although intuitively it seems hot (not sure what sort of "dB" it refers to). About the only thing I ever have to touch is the transmitter sensitivity to deal with different types of lavalier mic or actor volume.
Re: Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
Thank you Simon. Speaking of the transmitter sensitivity do you prefer to set that so that you never trigger the PEAK level on the receiver or is it ok to to tickle it occasionally? Thanks...
Thank you Simon. Speaking of the transmitter sensitivity do you prefer to set that so that you never trigger the PEAK level on the receiver or is it ok to to tickle it occasionally? Thanks...
Re: Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
In my experience, they handle overloads fairly cleanly (being an analog companded system), although in my environment they're usually nowhere near the first things I have to worry about when it comes to noise floor, so I tend to keep the sensitivity lower than I perhaps need. I rarely see the receiver meters get anywhere near the top unless somebody's screaming.
In my experience, they handle overloads fairly cleanly (being an analog companded system), although in my environment they're usually nowhere near the first things I have to worry about when it comes to noise floor, so I tend to keep the sensitivity lower than I perhaps need. I rarely see the receiver meters get anywhere near the top unless somebody's screaming.
Silas Pradetto
Graduate Student
Re: Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
The mixer you have has what I would consider to be "limited EQ". Normally I don't bother using any EQ other than the channel strip on a digital console, but since you have limited options, you may experiment with the receiver's options plus the board's options to get the best sound.
As far as gain structure with wireless, I do a lot of shows where people are cupping the mic screaming, so I do the same thing to set my transmitter gain, and I leave the receiver all the way up. Since I'm too lazy to look up your console and it sounds like it doesn't have a pad switch, if you're clipping the channel feel free to lower the receiver output gain.
The mixer you have has what I would consider to be "limited EQ". Normally I don't bother using any EQ other than the channel strip on a digital console, but since you have limited options, you may experiment with the receiver's options plus the board's options to get the best sound.
As far as gain structure with wireless, I do a lot of shows where people are cupping the mic screaming, so I do the same thing to set my transmitter gain, and I leave the receiver all the way up. Since I'm too lazy to look up your console and it sounds like it doesn't have a pad switch, if you're clipping the channel feel free to lower the receiver output gain.
Re: Sennheiser EW 145/165 G3 Setup Questions
Another tip, when selecting frequencies for multiple units using the pre-set frequency banks, make sure that you tune all your units to frequencies within the same pre-set bank (IE all units on bank 1, or all units on bank 18). Each bank of pre-set frequencies are guaranteed to be intermodulation-free and should help ensure trouble free operation.
Another tip, when selecting frequencies for multiple units using the pre-set frequency banks, make sure that you tune all your units to frequencies within the same pre-set bank (IE all units on bank 1, or all units on bank 18). Each bank of pre-set frequencies are guaranteed to be intermodulation-free and should help ensure trouble free operation.