Unwrapping Azden Pro-XD Wireless Microphone System
Here's a thorough breakdown of Azden's Pro-XD wireless mic system. The short of it is Wi-Fi interference is a drawback. An alternative is Azden's WMS-Pro at an even more budget-friendly price.
Azden has put out some interesting products lately. My first set of wireless microphones, 25 years ago, was their VHF WMS-Pro set. The VHF band got crowded with TV and walkie-talkies, so I needed to upgrade. Around 2000, I found I needed a more professional, heavy-duty set. I tried Azden's 500 and 1000 systems, but the UHF frequencies they used were the same as many Los Angeles TV stations, causing lots of interference. After a lot of trial and error, I wound up getting a Sennheiser G2 system, and that has been my wireless workhorse for the last dozen years or so. At NAB last year, Sennheiser introduced their digital AVX wireless system. The benefit of this system is there is no real set-up or frequencies to choose — it automatically pairs the transmitter and receiver. The lavalier/transmitter and receiver system is about $1050. Azden's new Pro-XD system is very similar, but only $199.
Taking the Pro-XD out of the box, you will find the transmitter, receiver, mic, AC charger, USB charger, and mobile device adapter. Both the transmitter and receiver have internal, non-removable, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. While you may worry about not being able to change batteries, the transmitter can last up to six hours and the receiver eight hours. If, for some reason, you need to go longer without a recharge, you can attach the same external batteries you use with cell phones with a USB cable. The transmitter has a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) mini stereo output jack and connects easily to DSLRs and consumer cameras with the included stereo cable. If you want to connect to an XLR jack, you may find you need a couple of adapters. First you will need a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter, then a 1/4-inch-to-XLR adapter. (I haven't found a single 1/8-inch-to-XLR adapter yet.) Azden makes an adapter cable for a 1/8-inch stereo mic to dual-XLR to go into a camera's XLR input. You only need one XLR plugged in to get a signal, but you have the option to use both if desired.
There are very few buttons on the system's two units. On the receiver, you have the power switch and output level. On the transmitter, there is power, input level, and, most interestingly, the input selector. If you have read any of my articles, you know one thing I find extremely important is flexibility. Besides the microphone input for the included lavalier, there is also a stereo line in, for hooking up to the output of a mixer or other line-level device. The three-position switch lets you not only choose between the two inputs, but there is a middle position that lets you do a mix between the mic and line inputs for transmission...[continue reading full review]
Review: Azden Pro-XD Wireless Microphone System The Price Is Right, But Can This Budget-Minded System Live Up to the Expectations of Pro Videographers?
StudioDaily.com by Marc FranklinAzden has put out some interesting products lately. My first set of wireless microphones, 25 years ago, was their VHF WMS-Pro set. The VHF band got crowded with TV and walkie-talkies, so I needed to upgrade. Around 2000, I found I needed a more professional, heavy-duty set. I tried Azden's 500 and 1000 systems, but the UHF frequencies they used were the same as many Los Angeles TV stations, causing lots of interference. After a lot of trial and error, I wound up getting a Sennheiser G2 system, and that has been my wireless workhorse for the last dozen years or so. At NAB last year, Sennheiser introduced their digital AVX wireless system. The benefit of this system is there is no real set-up or frequencies to choose — it automatically pairs the transmitter and receiver. The lavalier/transmitter and receiver system is about $1050. Azden's new Pro-XD system is very similar, but only $199.
Taking the Pro-XD out of the box, you will find the transmitter, receiver, mic, AC charger, USB charger, and mobile device adapter. Both the transmitter and receiver have internal, non-removable, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. While you may worry about not being able to change batteries, the transmitter can last up to six hours and the receiver eight hours. If, for some reason, you need to go longer without a recharge, you can attach the same external batteries you use with cell phones with a USB cable. The transmitter has a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) mini stereo output jack and connects easily to DSLRs and consumer cameras with the included stereo cable. If you want to connect to an XLR jack, you may find you need a couple of adapters. First you will need a 1/8-inch-to-1/4-inch adapter, then a 1/4-inch-to-XLR adapter. (I haven't found a single 1/8-inch-to-XLR adapter yet.) Azden makes an adapter cable for a 1/8-inch stereo mic to dual-XLR to go into a camera's XLR input. You only need one XLR plugged in to get a signal, but you have the option to use both if desired.
There are very few buttons on the system's two units. On the receiver, you have the power switch and output level. On the transmitter, there is power, input level, and, most interestingly, the input selector. If you have read any of my articles, you know one thing I find extremely important is flexibility. Besides the microphone input for the included lavalier, there is also a stereo line in, for hooking up to the output of a mixer or other line-level device. The three-position switch lets you not only choose between the two inputs, but there is a middle position that lets you do a mix between the mic and line inputs for transmission...[continue reading full review]
Leave a comment