Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

I use this system with various microphones to get sound into a Panasonic DVX100B camera. I bought it because I've found AT products in the past to be solid performers at a reasonable price, and because the transmitter has 12V phantom power. Unfortunately, this would rank as my most disappointing AT product.

The most important shortcoming is that the transmitter does not power my Countryman lavalier mic which should run off anything from 4-50 volts. It must be that the 1812 just can't supply enough current for it, but in the manual, no current draw limit is stated. If you are planning to power anything other than an Audiotechnica mic with this transmitter, DON'T count on it working. Better test it first.

Now to the design issues. The ATW-1812 wireless system is advertised as a "camera mount" wireless mic system. But when you open the package, there is no hot shoe mount for the receiver...there is a belt-clip holster, which seems like a fine alternative (the receiver is actually much bulkier than you'd want for a camera-mount unit), until you clip it on your belt and realize that the antennae are pointing down, and the supplied cable isn't even long enough to reach the XLR input on the camera when held at eye level.
Is this thing camera mount or not? If it is, the cable length is perfect, but there should be a hot shoe mount and the size of the receiver needs to be much smaller. If it's belt clip, the cable needs to be at *least* twice as long as it is.
And I guess it's fine that the antennae point down, but it looks a bit goofy...
The receiver includes a 12 volt DC input which means it can be used with an external battery strapped on your belt. If you were to find a way to mount it on a camera, that means less weight on the camera itself. Whether or not you'd want to do that depends on the size of your camera and whether it's mostly sitting on a tripod or not.

As far as the sonic performance, the system works fine most of the time, though the usuable range is way less than advertised, and I've had a couple instances where I inexplicably got dropouts at distances of less than 25 feet with no obstruction.

Compared to the Sennheiser G2 system I had before, the range on this is poor, and deals with physical obstacles like walls much worse. Given that the Sennheiser system is also much more compact, and definitely camera-mountable, I'd say it's a much better system. The problem with Sennheiser is that they don't sell this configuration (just a screw on transmitter and receiver). You have to buy the beltpack transmitter and lav as well, so you'll end up spending several hundred dollars more. And the transmitter with phantom power is even more expensive, but I bet it actually works with all mics!

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

The packaging says portable and camera mountable, but the receiver was much larger than I anticipated and came with only a belt clip for mounting - not a shoe mount. The receiver was also noticeably heavy, even without batteries in it. I did not try the unit for sound quality because I knew it wouldn't work for me based on size.

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

I am a semi-pro videographer and after a week of use, this wireless has been great! Simple setup and great audio even over great distances. I love it so much I want another one... NOW!!

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

We got this to allow us to shoot in a busy area of a fairground to avoid tripping passersby with our mic cable. There was one other film crew on site using this, or a very very similar unit. There was no interference whatsoever. The audio is really clean, and reproduces the full bass, mid and treble from our Sennheiser MD46 Dynamic ENG Mic. I ran a comparison between a 25-ft balanced XLR cable this wireless unit. If there are any differences they are too small to detect, both visually in editing and audibly.

It takes a few seconds to change channels on both the transmitter and receiver (there's probably an easier way - I blew through the instructions and will read them more in-depth later), but once they're set - they're set! Both units will remember the new frequency every time they are powered on.

The transmitter has two output settings, high power and low power. It defaults to low power to save batteries. If distance becomes an issue, switch to high power to boost its output. We ran several tests of up to 80 or 100 feet (line of sight) on low power without a single hiss, crackle or any detectable interference.

I mounted this to my shoulder-cam using Velcro - worked like a charm.

I have not discovered any flaws or cons with this unit.

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

It was awesome the way it works, specially when i have not much time to set-up anything. Just got it out of the box put batteries and that's at. My client was very impress with the audio recording.
I definitely recommend this mic.......

Comments about Audio-Technica ATW-1812D - 1800 Series Wireless Microphone System:

A well made, sturdy, fully professional tool that facilitates untethered creativity.

I've used this system on recent shoots in the United Kingdom and in the United States, and have been VERY happy with the results both indoors and in the crowded streets of London's Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's largest street festival.

I have previously owned a consumer grade (non-diversity) wireless system. As I was NEVER really happy with the results (far too many dropouts), I very rarely used that unit.

I've also worked with some of the smaller, lighter weight mid range pro systems... and seen their plastic cases fall apart, and their electronics fail, in the rough and tumble world of field production. The ATW-1812D is built to hold up in the most trying of conditions. The transmitter functions well with all types of XLR input (mic and line level).

This may well be my best investment of the year!