11Feb Samson Airline Micro wireless UHF system – Full video Review
It’s been a few months since I’ve actually had time to shoot a proper video review. Thankfully my workload has finally slowed down and I can get back to my regular video schedule. I was so intrigued by the Samson Airline Micro, that I locked myself in the basement with it for a few days to give it a full set of audio test. The only thing I haven’t had the opportunity to test is the distance the Samson Airline Micro is able to transmit audio.
I used the Sennheiser ew100 G2 wireless system as a bench mark. Take a listen to the audio from the G2 and the Airline Micro and let me know what you think of the audio from each of them. After listening to the tests numerous times I felt like the G2 came out on top, however the Airline Micro still sounded pretty good for the price. The battery and programming options are defiantly a negative, but the size and price almost even things out.
If you listen to the audio tests and can’t tell the difference then the Samson Airline Micro should make you very happy. I think this is a very good UHF system for the price and provides a lot of value overall. If, on the other hand you feel uncomfortable with the battery setup, and don’t like the slightly muffled sound, you might want to consider spending the extra $200 on a Sennheiser G2 or Sony UWPV1. Or at the very least upgrading the Airline Micro to a more expensive lapel mic.
UPDATE: tin2tin had some great questions in the comment section that I didn’t cover in the video review. I’ve added the questions and answers below.
What happens if you swap the mics?
Answer: The low price mic is likely the cause of the muffled sound. Sadly the Sennheiser uses a powered lav that the Airline Micro doesn’t support.
How far away from the receiver can you go with the Airline Micro Transmitter?
Answer: As of right now I’ve only been able to test it up to 40 feet, the manual says “up to 150 feet”. I won’t be able to test it out until the weather warms up.
Do you know if the frequency can be altered so that two Samson wireless systems can be used at the same location?
Answer: The Samson Wireless system comes it 6 different Frequency ranges labeled 1N through 6N the one I used in this video is a 5N.
Is there some sort of inbuilt AGC?
Answer: The Sennheiser has built in Squelch (kind of the opposites of AGC) which turns down the audio output when no audio is detected, the Samson does not.
Is the output volume of the receiver powerful enough to go directly into the camera without amplifying it first?
Answer: Yes, in the test I was using a passive (no amplifier) XLR to 1/8 inch adapter box. The receiver had more then enough power to make it through the adapter and into the camera with no amplification and still provide good signal levels.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:13 am
I’ve never heard about this wireless system before. Thank you.
A few questions comes to my mind. I wonder if it is the mic causing the muffled sound. What happens if you swap the mics, so the Samson one is connected to the Sennheiser sender?
How far away from the receiver can you go with the Samson sender(I know you haven’t tested this, but I’m still curious)?
Do you know if the frequency can be altered so two Samson wireless setups can be used at the same location?
Is there some sort of inbuilt AGC since you mention that the noise floor is rising when you’re quiet?
Is the output volume of the receiver powerful enough to go directly into the camera without amplifying it first?
February 12th, 2012 at 9:37 am
What happens if you swap the mics, so the Samson one is connected to the Sennheiser sender?
Answer: The low price mic is likely the cause of the muffled sound. Sadly the Sennheiser uses a powered lav that the Airline Micro doesn’t support.
How far away from the receiver can you go with the Samson sender?:
Answer: As of right now I’ve only been able to test it up to 40 feet, the manual says “up to 150 feet”. I won’t be able to test it out until the weather warms up.
Do you know if the frequency can be altered so two Samson wireless setups can be used at the same location?
Answer: The Samson Wireless system comes it 6 different Frequency ranges labeled 1N through 6N the one I used in this video is a 5N.
Is there some sort of inbuilt AGC?
Answer: The Sennheiser has built in Squelch (kind of the opposites of AGC) which turns down audio output when no audio is detected, the Samson does not.
Is the output volume of the receiver powerful enough to go directly into the camera without amplifying it first?
Answer: Yes, in the test I was using a passive (no amplifier) XLR to 1/8 inch adapter box. The receiver had more then enough power to make it through the adapter and into the camera with no amplification and still provide good signal levels.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Thank you for your fast and detailed answers. It sounds like a good buy. 🙂
February 13th, 2012 at 7:23 am
[…] audio I recorded during the Samson Airline Micro test seemed to add a little bit of bass making the audio sound a little bit muddy. The system also […]
February 13th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Any idea of the battery life for the built in lithium battery?
February 13th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
4 hours and counting so far. Timer is still running. I’m guessing It drops out around 4:30 or 5 hours.
February 13th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
5 hours 8 minutes, 4 battery warning light started flashing at 4 hours 55 min.
February 18th, 2012 at 3:48 am
How long time does it take to recharge it?
February 18th, 2012 at 6:37 am
I’ve recharged them twice and its taken a little over 2 hours each time. But the batteries were fully drained, if you still have some charge left in them it could be quicker.
February 14th, 2012 at 7:25 am
[…] Full video review is up. I also did a quick audio test with the Rode […]
April 28th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Hi,
Nice review!
Do you have any suggestions for replacement lavs that’s compatible with the Samson (doesn’t require power)?
Thanks!
February 21st, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Hi, and thanks for this video ! i use this microphone between 1 Week with my 5D Mark III and all is ok before Today !
Today i plug the micro airline normaly on 5D and it work when i stop filming and i would like to continue, i have no sound i have just a noise in background ! i try to find the solution but nothing, sound level on the microphone is ok and in manualy mode no sound, the red light for “peak info” when i setup the sound is ok so i think the mic is ok but i don’t know where the problem come ? Can you help me ?
Thanks a lot
Yanis
February 21st, 2013 at 4:02 pm
I would try plugging the mic into a filed recorder and see if that works. I think there might be a reset button you could try as well.
March 9th, 2013 at 10:42 pm
My lav broke and I tried my friends tram tr50 with my Samson but it did not work since that mic was wired for sennheiser transmitters. Do you know any other lavs that would work with this system for under 125$ ???
January 12th, 2014 at 10:11 am
Great review, thanks. Wrote out this long post with a problem I was having, then just before I hit ‘submit’ I discovered my head-slappingly obvious mistake. I’ll send this anyway, in case anybody else has this particular problem.
————-
Late to this particular party, but I’ve a quick question: I’m looking to get wireless audio using Samson Airline Micro into my T2i / 550d. I’ve configured the Airline thusly:
Both units fully charged, green lights on both
Transmitter Pad @ 0 db
Using stock Airline lapel mic
Receiver set to ‘Mic’ (not ‘Line’)
Receive gain set to maximum (the flashing yellow light is fastest speed during setup)
Plugged into T2i mic input using supplied 1/4″ to 1/4″ plug
When I record a clip, the level is almost non-existent. If I listen VERY carefully I can make out my voice, but it’s essentially not there. I can hear the noise floor (hiss).
So either I’m doing something completely daft in setup, or it doesn’t work properly with the T2i (AGC, perhaps? Line input level on the camera? But outside of magic lantern, there isn’t any camera-side audio control?).
So, my question to you: did you record the tutorial using the Airline with a T2i DSLR? Any thoughts much appreciated.
Thanks,
Alan
———
The solution: if you look closely at the 1/4″ connector from the receiver to the camera, one side says ‘camera’, the other ‘AR2’. I didn’t look closely – daft – and had it plugged in in reverse, hence the lack of levels. Switched it around, works fine now.
January 21st, 2014 at 11:01 am
Hey is it possible to connect this unit directly into a windows laptop to record audio?
January 21st, 2014 at 11:21 am
That should work ok.