Wireless or traditional cable

[funalij]

Hi guys

Are you using wireless system to play your guitar, or you are traditional cable user.

Is it better traditional cable? (less interferences, noiseless)

And if you are using wireless systems, what model are they?

Thank you to share your experience

Javier

[killerburst]

Hi guys

Are you using wireless system to play your guitar, or you are traditional cable user.

Is it better traditional cable? (less interferences, noiseless)

And if you are using wireless systems, what model are they?

Thank you to share your experience

Javier

All (analog) wireless systems go through compansion circuitry, which will effect your signal to some degree (more than a good cable). All wireless is susceptible to atmospheric conditions that may be beyond your control. Plus, cables don't eat batteries. You use a wireless in order to gain mobility, but always at the expense of some tone and reliability. With that said, check out the Audio Technica Artist Elite 4000 series systems.

[ToneLounge]

Small stages/venues it's a plain-jane cable. Big churches and venues I'm loving a new system on loan from Lectrosonics. They come from the film world and you can find them here:

http://www.lectrosonics.com/wireless/400/is400.htm

They're not cheap, but they sound and feel amazing. There's no companding, or other bad RF artifacts. Digital audio over analog carrier frequencies - cool!

[funalij]

Thank you for your answers.

I'm very "maniatic" with sound, so I prefer to use a cable if the sound is more "pure".

Someone talked me about a shure wireless system, but I will forget it and will continue with cables.

Thank you again

Javier

[Casper]

I use a Shure ULX system (about $800 retail). It took awhile to get used to it, but I LOVE it. I have A/B'd my Planet Waves cable to it and it is very hard to tell any sonic difference. The thing you worry about is A) setting your gain staging right and B) if you are in a different city or state like I am every weekend, you may get interference although I must admit, I haven't experienced it much at all. Shure thinks of everything it seems. They can program your wireless to your area for best frequency.
Shaun

[funalij]

Very interesting Shaun.

Now I gig with a tipical spanish band, playing in small-medium festival village (playing pasodobles, cumbias, sevillanas, mambo, rumbas and others traditional spanish songs) and sometimes we haven't the best conditions to play (playing over the trailer with little electric shock or near of a electric tower to get enought power for PA.....) :eek: :eek: :D .

Maybe, this is not the perfect conditions to use wireless systems, but anyway, if I will have the opportunity, I will test it (Now I know which Shure could be interesting for me).

Thank you

Javier

[Casper]

Javier,
If you are playing near large power or radio sources (airports, radio/tv stations or large security details, you may still get "drop-out" from any unit.
That happens to us in many cities. The better units are UHF and not VHF. Shure probably makes the best and most road-worthy, but you may be able to get a unit that will do the trick for you for less than half of what I paid. You may deal with signal quality, but...?
I used an older Samson unit when I first got my current gig and the thing was a TANK! It finally gave up the ghost a few years back and I decided to get the good stuff.
I would ask Suriel Zayas what he uses and get some feed back from him and the other pro players in the forum too. Good luck! ;)

Shaun

[killerburst]

The Audio Technica 4000 series automatically scans and finds available frequencies to avoid drop outs. There are 200 channels available to scan through. Once the receiver is done performing its auto-scan, you just assign the transmitter to the same frequency. If you have more than one system, they link together and the scans run sequentially with each unit aware of the frequency the previous unit has "grabbed". Plus it sounds better than the ULX due largely to a dual-compansion system. High and low frequencies are processed independently with frequency-specific compansion algortihms for maximum fidelity.

[LonestarGtr]

If you're not going to moving around a large stage or whatever, I highly recommend using a good cable. I've been using George L.'s for the past few years but I think I'm going to invest in a few Bayou cables at least for my guitar-->pedalboard cables because of the kink factor. George L.'s do kink up if you move around. That being said, live I have used an XWire wireless for almost 10 years now. Of course, they don't make them anymore and mine will eventually crap out and then I'll probably take a look at the Lectrosonic model posted on here earlier. I just can't stand the compander effect of traditional analog wirelesses. I'll either use an XWire or a cable. It's whatever you get used to, though. I know guys that use traditional wirelesses and just kinda use the compander as a part of their sound. But what do I know? I still sing into an sm58 with a cable attached and threw my ear monitors away a couple of years ago. Love my wedge!

not-so-deep-thoughts
Mike

[tom]

i just want to say thanks to mike for being here. this is one nice human. he is in a huge band and has managed to stay humble and has treated me and my family wonderfully. it is also evedent that he really enjoys what he does. keep it up mike.

[njjessee]

+1 what Tom said.

My daughter thinks I'm someone special because the guitar player from Lonestar will respond to one of my posts. Not to mention the guy that made my guitar.

[jimmieb]

Mike (Lonestargtr),

What is the compander effect? I've never gone wireless and don't have a clue about them. What gauge of the George L's do you use? I've only used the smaller stuff.

Jimmie B

[LonestarGtr]

Awww... that's very nice of you guys. I always remember that I've spent a lot more of my life being someone nobody's ever heard of and only the last few years as someone people might have heard of, so it's all in the perspective. I'm still just a gearhead guitar player that loves to play music and know that I was in the right place at the right time about 13 years ago. Thanks to Tom and everyone at Anderson for making time for me when I've stopped by and thanks to everyone on this board for creating a great forum for sharing information. I've learned more in the last 6 months about guitars and gear than the previous 5 years. And as far as the "compander" issue or compression/expansion, whatever terms you choose... it's basically a kind of compression that happens to your signal when it goes through a traditional analog wireless. I'm sure someone else could give you a more technical answer, but basically the transmitter squishes the signal down to send it through the air and the receiver "expands" the signal that the transmitter sends. Sometimes it's very subtle and sometimes it's very noticeable. The expansion also expands noise, which can be the equivalent of adding a gain box. Same basic idea. Sometimes you get a compression to your sound, sometimes it just sounds like a little added noise or sizzle.

Hope this helps.
Mike

[funalij]

Hi Mike:

I didn't know you are the guitar player of Lonestar group :eek: (I remember when I was 15 years old, somebody teach me a song of Lonestar)

We all know that you have a lot of experiences in stage, recording LP,...... It's sure that you will share your experience with all guys in this forum (I prefer to say with this family, 'cos it's seems more like a family)

Javier

[jimmieb]

Thanks Mike,

Isn't squish a great word, it sound exactly like the meaning it conveys.
That helps a lot, I'd just never heard the term compander. It makes sense as a contraction of compress and expand.
By the way, you wouldn't happen to be from Knoxville, Tennessee. One of my best bud is from Knoxville, and he converted to be a Vols fan. Are you into any of that? My luck yer probably from Bama or worse yet a Gator.

Go Vols,
Jimmie B

[LonestarGtr]

Jimmie,

No, thankfully I'm not a Vols fan. I haven't really attached myself to any of the TN college teams. I am a Tennessee Titans football fan, but it's more fun when they're winning. I like fair weather. I see that you're in Temecula. We're going to be playing there in about a week and a half... just a heads up.

Mike

[jimmieb]

Jimmie,

No, thankfully I'm not a Vols fan. I haven't really attached myself to any of the TN college teams. I am a Tennessee Titans football fan, but it's more fun when they're winning. I like fair weather. I see that you're in Temecula. We're going to be playing there in about a week and a half... just a heads up.

Mike

Sounds like I'm going have to get out there to see ya. I'll be the the one yellin 'Hey Mike'. I'll probably be the only guy doing that so I'll try to maintain some self respect and refrain... and I won't wear that bright orange jersey either. Thanks for hangin' out here with us!

Jimmie B

[ryman150]

They put on one of the best shows out there! Just be sure you take a good look at all his perdy guitars!! I hear he has a cool new red T-Classic! Just stand back, watch, and be amazed...

no pun intended... ;)

[MarkW]

+1 on the X wire..they are pricey and hard to find but worth it if you have to go wireless..

[Dave M.]

+1 on the X wire..they are pricey and hard to find but worth it if you have to go wireless..


Yep, they're the only thing I've found that lets my bass breathe and sound as it should.

[ToneLounge]

Guys - the Lectrosonic I mentioned is the next generation of the X-Wire idea. Anyone in the So. CA area is welcome to gime mine a spin...

[Suriel Zayas]

using lectrosonic for both instrument & in-ear transmissions, but talking to the techs they tell me it's very expensive stuff. nothing better than a good long cable!