Wedding/Live music audio - Help pick recorder + lav combo

Hi,

I'm a wedding photographer who offered to play around with some video at a friend's wedding (i'm not doing the photography). I'd like to record the vows, possibly lav on groom or priest (they may or may not be mic'd with soundboard I can plug into) and the speeches at the reception (DJ with mic).

As a secondary use, I would like to record audio and video of some of my brother's live acoustic music shows. He will have the mics, I will just record.

Thirdly, I may do some video interviews of me and my wife for posts on our blog.

Another consideration is that i'd like to not spend too much money on things I will outgrow if I decide to do more wedding video in the future.

I've done quite a bit of research on this forum and others, but i'm still very new to audio so here are the options I have come up with. My budget is absolutely not more than $250, prefereably $200.

The options below are the things that I see referenced over and over as common items in my price range. (Amazon prices, I will shop for better before I buy)

Lav Mics:
Audio Technica ART3350 = $17
Giant Squid Mono Omni = $40
Giant Squid Stereo Omni = $75
Shure SM93 = $135

Recorders:
Zoom H1 = $75 (B&H)
Yamaha Pockettrak C24 = $150
Tascam DR40 = $159 (B&H)
Zoom H4N = $225

So my question is, what is my best combination for $200-$250? Zoom H1 and Shure SM93? Is that even possible with H1 inputs? Tascam DR40 and Giant Squid? Zoom H4N stashed up near the altar with no lav mic? I'm leaning towards either a cheap or no lav mic and a nicer recorder since i'll probably only use the lav mic for the vows at this ceremony.

For weddings its best to go wireless while doing the vows. You don't want a bulky dr40 or h4n hanging on the back of the bride or groom with wired lav's. And that option isn't cheap. The Zoom h1 doesn't support phantom power so most or 90% of good lav's wont work on it.

The next best option is having the h4n or dr40 close to the alter. Then clean it up in post. It's definately better than onboard audio. Hope this helps a bit.

tnis0612 wrote in post #15304804
So my question is, what is my best combination for $200-$250? Zoom H1 and Shure SM93? Is that even possible with H1 inputs?

No the SM-93 requires phantom power which the H1 doesn't provide.

You can combine the Tascam and the SM93... The Tascam does provide phantom power.

With a muff on it that might work, though for the price, in my opinion, you would be better off with the DR-40.

The only thing cheap lavs are good for is teaching someone that buying one was wasting money.

Now you are on to something, why own a handful of lavs that are going to be primarally collecting dust?

Consider this, buy a DR-40 and rent the lavs, handheld, shotgun or wireless as needed??

http://www.lensrentals​.com …ssories/audio/m​icrophones

Wayne

One other thought, if the church has a sound system and they are providing mics for the officiator and the coupe consider patching the DR-40 into that, with proper permission of course.

Wayne

isn't there some type of transmitter for wireless lav mics? how is that different than having a wired mic running to a zoom h1?

mystic97z wrote in post #15323962
isn't there some type of transmitter for wireless lav mics? how is that different than having a wired mic running to a zoom h1?

Because the transmitter for a wireless lav has an internal battery whereas a wired lav may require external power (phantom power) and the H1 cannot provide that.

Wayne

So u still have a wire from the mic to transmitter right?

mystic97z wrote in post #15324138
So u still have a wire from the mic to transmitter right?

Yes.

Wayne

I use a lav mic with a wire going to a zoom h1. It's not a wireless lav but you either have a wire going to a transmitter in the grooms pocket or an h1 in the grooms pocket. My h1 will record the whole ceremony, not just when my camera is recording so to me it seems like wireless is a waste of money. I'm not **** I looked at this thread because I want to learn and upgrade to a wireless system but it actually seems less useful

I also do what mystic97z is saying. No need for wireless when you can just mic the H1 and put it in the groom's pocket.