Great summary! I am professional network engineer with focus on enterprise security and Wi-Fi and the general consensus is to move away from 2.4 to 5 and now 6Ghz spectrum. That being said, I am also an amateur bedroom guitar player and I really dont like damn cables, so I have bought device very similar to what you have demonstrated at 16:15. It was a game changer for me and I live in a crowded apartment building oversaturated with various 2.4Ghz spectrum devices. I have had no issues whatsoever and battery life is long enough for me to practice entire week. During live events I would think twice about it due to high interference possibility.
It definitely CAN work. It all depends on the wireless environment. I used the Xvive U2 in front of 60,000 with no issues. Doesn’t mean that will always be the result 👍
Thank you!! Best tutorial to really learn about 2.4GHZ… we’ve tried up to six XVive U3 XLR wireless units for mics and can only get 2-3 working without drop outs … now I understand why.
Thanks! I appreciate that. I got some new plugins that really helped the editing look a lot nicer. Looking back at some older videos makes me cringe haha
Brother, I was a novice and this video just gave me so much understanding! Now I can really be a good sound man for my band and sound and knowledgeable guitarist on gigs. I bought the NU-X B1 Lite 2.4G wireless system just to try something new. I'm a self taught guitarist and I have to do a lot of research on my own when it comes to theory and gear, so your video has given a great wealth of knowledge to become a top tier professional musician and sound support person on a gig. Thanks and you got a new sub and like from me!
Scott. I can remember way back about 25 years ago. People's wireless house phones (not cell phones) used the 900mhz spectrum. There was a big move away from that because of the popularity of the new thing called Wifi that was also on that frequency. Now that the phones are almost nonexistent (and the few that are left seem to be on 5.8) and Wifi has also moved on, it would seem that the 900mhz should be relatively clean. It was also very long range and the systems in that range were very cheap to manufacture. Do you know if there is some reason these cheaper units do not go back to the 900mhz band? Did something else move into that space? Edit. I would love to be considered for that IEM givaway. Still a great video if someone else wins. Thanks.
Yeah a good number of wireless uses 902-928mhz now. That swiff audio one that I recommend is in that range. Same with the Phenyx pro IEMs as well..: and they all hold up really well. One of my singers in my band uses both of those and it always works well
I'm a software engineer who worked a few years ago on developing a software and hardware comunication system with the 900mhz.... It's used, but not like in the 90s. So it's pretty clean to use now
Hey, that’s a smart way to do it wired! A bass player I play with sometimes does something similar. Tc helicon specifically makes a double cable for it
Hey! You won the wireless IEM system, congrats :) Notice this is from my real account (my name highlighted) and it's not a spam account. Reach out to me from my website (link in the description) and I'll get this sent out to you. Congrats!
I bought the Shure GLX (2.4) for my bass rig and it worked well 95% of the time. When I started djing weddings, I needed a lav option and got the lavalier set up. It has been a real nightmare when I don't ask the ceremony crowd to turn off or putting there phones on airplane mode. Just like you said, I got the blx and that is a much more reliable. Thanks for the great videos, very informative and well done.
I have the Boss WL20 which I got 2nd-hand, but pretty-much unused, so not full price. It has been almost flawless over the last 2.5 years so far. The occasional tiny dropout has not ruined any of my performances. The Biggest advantage of the Boss IMO is the battery charge. I forgot to charge for one gig and starting my 3rd and final set the light was orange and turned red after about the 2nd song. I had a spare cable to hand, but the Boss was still going at the end of the set, about another 35 minutes later. I also have the 5.8GHz Ammoon system, which is great banc for the buck. If you hold the green button on the transmitter, the sound mutes and the lights flash on both receiver and transmitter as it scans for the best channel, much like the Boss does. I also have a Lekato wireless that works on the 900MHz range and it's ok, but has a much lower output than the other two, which can be a pain. It also drops out the most. I use that as a last resort or just for rehearsals if my other ones need charging.
Interesting idea! I'll have to do that someday! I usually put in the description my entire rig stuff (assuming that I don't hit the max character length on TH-cam). So check the descriptions to find some of them. But great idea!
Wow!! Super-helpful video. Thank you for doing it. But I humbly offer a tweak to the non-overlap info at approx 8:25. In 2.4GHz, there are three non-overlapping channels that can be used simultaneously. (yeah, I know it's a technicality. Please don't take my lunch money!).
I’ve learned so much from you, my old 5 pc band used the xvive in ear monitor systems and the guitars and bass used glxd16 systems and one of us would always get drop outs , and now I know why, also there was one show where we used all of those systems plus two glxd mics and that show was a disaster , and it all makes sense now
Scott, you're just amazing! Thank you so much for you effort, man, I thought I was gonna get tired while listening, but you are one of those, who can explain SO easily! :) Thank you!
The new Positive grid Spark link is double in price and using 2.4ghz . What say you .? Waste of money . Should I go w one of the overseas brands or have you heard the sound and latency is far better? Thanks.
I haven’t used the Positive Grid ones so I’m not sure, but I personally wouldn’t spend that much on a 2.4ghz system unless it had some bonus features I’m not aware of
We had our 1st show attempting IEM ... was interesting as we killed the house lights as soon as we turned on our Behringer XAir XR18 system connected to 6 units of the XVIVE - U4 & a 5GHz router. So we had to revert to stage monitors. Looking on cutting down on # of 2.4Ghz units: drummer goes wired, have 2 people/channel share 2.4Ghz wireless channels 1 & 6, and Vox CS getting the fancy schmancy Sennheiser EW100.
6 cheap wireless in ears are definitely not recommended. I highly recommend you watch this video: th-cam.com/video/Xgw96rY4TAc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=FjxQJMXVHrsd-wGq
I've had predominantly great experience with 2.4ghz gear... I did have a handful of digital dropout issues over the years... but, mainly was good. I now use a 5ghz for my guitar, which has been superb... solid as a rock. I've used a UHF wireless IEM system for years now and randomly forgot it a few weeks ago... so I used my cheap, backup digital system... while in many ways it was inferior... I did notice the sound quality was SOOOO crisp... I felt like my mix was way more defined and separated. Because of this I have just ordered the xvive U4 system to trail... I'm hoping it'll be a great upgrade.
Wow. Tons of useful info. From your videos I got the Kimafun IEM and the Swiff guitar wireless and used them both last weekend. So much more portable than my rack stuff. I checked with the sound team and the Shure wireless mics and IEM are at 500 Mhz. So I lucked out and it all worked great, mostly. Had a little drop out in the rehearsal on the Kimafun IEM, and found out that the lights behind me were receiving DMX data on a WiFi router about 10 feet from me. I switched channels on the Kimafun and they worked great. Thanks again!
Thanks for the detailed info on 2.4 Ghz. I play harmonica with the praise team at church. I use the Xvive U4 in ear monitor system, and it works pretty well.... but it doe not play nice with 2.4 Ghz wireless mic systems. I have tried the sennheiser plug on wireless in 2.4 Ghz, the Xvvie mic system and a couple other no name systems. I get bad drop outs and inteference because I use a small mixer in my harmonica case and the transmitter of one system is right by the receiver for the other system. Adding a short extension to the Xvive in ear transmitter helps, but I still have to be careful not to touch the mic transmitter. Adding the Joyo (looks the same as the Lakato) 5.8 Ghz plug in mic wireless seems to solve the problem. I am actually waiting for the arrival of the Nux B-7 in ear system which is 5.8 Ghz so I will see if it will play nice with the 2.4 Ghz wireless mic. Thanks again. Love your videos.
Glad you have found the videos helpful! I would however also watch this video: th-cam.com/video/Xgw96rY4TAc/w-d-xo.html You are putting a lot of cheap wireless together at once, which is one of the common mistakes I see. Hope that video helps you out!
Line 6 has a line of wireless mics that are in the 2.4ghz range and I'm pretty impressed by them. I've been picking them up on the used market for stupid cheap, but I think they're typically between $350-$500 per Channel. Their XD-V75 series can scan and all have the ability to cascade their antennas which I love.
We used them back when they came out with a band called “House of Echo” which later was called “Dave Tauler Music Group” DTMG… so… those Line 6 mic’s do sound great when they work… but those mics KILLED us in concert and on stage at “big” events… horrible reliability, just horrendous! Always great at sound check… but fill the place to capacity [with every one with cellphones, devices, hotspots, etc…] and it was DEATH! 💀 which is what he’s talking about here, and he’s spot on! 2.4Ghz isn’t reliable, when it matters… in a crowded hall and massive “systems” around [all trying to use 2.4, for whatever]
Thank you for amazing rewies and suggestions.I would like to know where would I plug Xvive U4 on my 12 channel Mackie mixer.If I plug it in the phones than I can not make my own mix between music and my voice.Can it be plugged ed in main out on mixer?Thank you.
Thanks! And I suggest watching these two videos: th-cam.com/video/Kp0tQCfxzWg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kd5LRRyhis2fxTi8 th-cam.com/video/XQjFhkQTVP8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7ZV_2U0UWZ5ZDEto In the second video, I do that with a digital mixer, but the idea is still the same
Good video. Have you ever used wireless headphones or wireless earbuds on your Helix? If so, does it work well? I'm trying to minimize the cables I'm using while running my Helix floor with my computer. I play through TH-cam so I can play lead to lots of available rhythm tracks.
Personal experience: I live on a building where 2.4ghz wifi signal is so bad I literally cannot use it even standing like 6-7 meters away from my own router. I was a bit worried about 2.4ghz wireless gear because of that, but decided to buy a Sennheiser XSW-D to give it a try. It honestly hasn't been anything other than flawless. We're now using 3 sets on my band and none of us had any issues. We played a few gigs, use it for rehearsals frequently... Not a single dropout yet. Granted, they don't really use the same bands as wifi, and the bands are much narrower as per my understanding, but still I didn't expect it to work as good as it does at my home.
Hey if you found one that works well for you, that's awesome! And yes, it does transmit on a narrower frequency. I know that when I use 2.4Ghz gear and leave it near a router it highly increases the chances of a drop out. Going from venue to venue is the risky part IMO. But you CAN get 2.4Ghz gear to work for sure!
@@ScottUhlMusic Oh yeah I had good experiences -so far-... Every venue is different and that's why I also keep a cable right next to my rack, ready to go, just in case. Also I agree with your tips 100%. If the receiver is too close to a router the range drops significantly. Like, A LOT. I found that keeping them at least 1 meter apart is enough though. Also agree that if you're gonna be using a lot of wireless gear it might be a good idea to keep 2.4ghz at a minimum.
Thanks for the quality content Scott! Does distance from WiFi routers impact wireless mics in the UHF spectrum? I'm building an in-ear rack that will have a WiFi router and Phenyx Pro PTU-7000. Looking for optimal placement of these units
Great video Scott...I think maybe my senheiser rs120 headphones are interfiering with my NUX 5-RC wireless transmiter...I will check that, or my ISP modem...thanks
Hey there! Thank you so much for your tips! I have an old Shure performance gear wireless PG4 and I'm trying to use it with my Pod HD500X on live shows, but I never get it right (IN and OUTs) with the house mix. Can you please help me?! Thanks in advance! 🤘🏻
Thank you for all the great information! Unfortunately, our singers boyfriend bought her the GLX D4 system and its never worked properly. consistent interference everywhere even during rehearsal. I've tried different groups and channels nothing. We have 3 IEM xvive that work great. Another IEM and wireless instrument system and they all work great with no issue. The damn GLX D4 just does not work. The frustration is in them not understanding how a $300+ system just doesn't work. I forward them your videos but I don't think they watch lol Thanks again for everything!
Thanks for watching! And yeah the old GLXD had a lot of problems, but the new one is awesome! It’s a dual band on 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz which is awesome. And I’m really surprised how well those Xvive IEM systems work 🤘
Can I get your oppinion on this matter please? I (we are) am using behringer xair16 with wifi router because and in certain venues I had horror with connecting it with the tablet. Do you think there will be high chance on IEM's not working there either, and plugged IEM's will be the better opton? Thanks a lot!
Depends on the IEM system you are using. Dont use a bunch of cheap iems on 2.4ghz. Check out my buying guide here: th-cam.com/video/Xi2JcMomjQ0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6oXYjBZbMNvJf78a
Hi Scott Great Vid, I have used a Line 6 XD-V35 Mic The unit is flawless I bought it when they first come out many years ago and I have also upgraded the Mic. Our Lead singer got a Shure GLX and as many people have said they SUC. Anyway look into the line6 stuff it's actually pretty good. Keep on Rockin' Brother
In order to use stereo backing tracks you’ll need a computer with more than 2 outputs (2 for stereo and 1 for click). To do this with an iPad you’ll need to use a multitrack output, because the splitter cable method is only possible with mono. I do that in this video: th-cam.com/video/uUb3M-hYtE4/w-d-xo.html
In a scenario where 3 guitar players and a vocalist are using 2.4 systems for in ears, does the proximity from the transmitter to the receiver influence the chance of dropout? We've been using two of those lekato type systems, and they have much less interference than my ld systems mei1000. I'm thinking of buying two more to use live, distributing them through the stage closer to each musician. But I know you said three max. We also control a soundcraft ui24 through 2.4. Any chance of this working?
Thanks a lot for the detailed and spot on video. I was interested in the 2.4 GHz in ear system, as an alternative for my "workhorse" PSM300. We just had two days in a row outside festival gigs, me and the drummer go in ears for the click tracks - I play bass, and the first day I panicked because I could not find any free channel when scanning the area. Fortunately I finally got one, but it was dropping out. Got me through though. Same thing the following day. I heard some guy from a different band, that uses Sennheiser G4, that he had major problems finding something free too. I asked the stage manager/ sound guy about it, and they said they dropped the wireless and they have everything wired, because they did a scan for a entire day and the area was awful - it was in Toronto Canada, close to the lake ( boats, GPS, and whatnot). I was shopping for a Xviva, and it looked too good to be true, so I was hesitant, knowing very little about how this things work. Reasons for me using Shure instead of Sennheiser, 1- scan then sync setup - without choosing groups and frequencies, 2- rechargeable battery, 3- I used a half rack Shure mini mixer (for mixing my IEM, without relying on sound guys) that could be attached to the transmitter - taking both only 1U space, and 4- the flawless Shure performance, and crazy rechargeable battery life I experienced from the guitar wireless GLX-D . I was about to go for a G4, because I use and like Sennheiser gear too, and almost everyone I know uses Seen., when I came across this 2.4 mini system, and I was very curious about it. Thanks again for putting all this work in for us! Cheers!
Sometimes my sennheiser doesn’t find a completely clear channel, but I’ll find one that has the least amount of RF on it and it gets me through the gig 👍 so I know what you mean! Some places are just like that
@@ScottUhlMusic My first system was a Carvin EM900. I still have it. The reason for wanting to "upgrade" to Sennheiser G4 was the width of the frequency availability. Shure PSM300 is twice as narrow as G4, and Carvin is exactly in between of the two. Audio quality isn't too far apart (Shure and Carvin), and both have their pops and very short "no sound" episodes, but the price difference is very noticeable. Why do I still use the Shure? Because since I bought their rechargeable battery pack, life became easier, and second, the volume knob on my first receiver broke, couldn't turn it off anymore, so I was taking the batteries out between the sets- therefore I bought another body pack (G20 btw). These things aren't cheap, and weekend warriors like me, can hardly justify certain expenses. What is appealing to me regarding this 2.4 thing is portability and , as you said "crystal clean sound".
I've been hooked on your content for a few months now. Well done with everything. You're great! I'm based in the UK and have just purchased a Sennheiser G4 IEM system. My mic is a Shure beta 87a digital system (I believe it's just the 2.4ghz). Am I likely to run in to issues?
Thanks! And with just one device on 2.4ghz you should be fine in most situations. But again…. What I go over in this video is accurate for 2.4ghz. You just never know
Thank you for your review! I am a little confused. You say in the video there are 19 channels this can transmit on. With 2.4 GHz aren't there only 14 frequencies (11 in the US) that the device can transmit on?
Hey Scott great video! really learned a lot...can you say something about antennas combiners and antennas splitters? I am building a system that has a LOT of antennas but the price point of these antennas combiners and the splitters (which I learned is used for wireless mics instead of combiners for IEMs) is completely absurd...not sure if there is a cheaper option for this...thanks!
Yeah I want to eventually get one and explain how they work. They basically make it so instead of having 4 antennas right next to each other. The RF is received by one antenna and that antenna distributes the signal to the other wireless. Definitely the way to go if you have more than 3 systems
Would it be possible to have two signals on the transmitter? Like with a Y cable? The idea is to have one route from the mixer with the band's mix without bass and the other route connects directly to the d.i. from my amp, which would allow me to control the bass volume, is that possible?
...and I have the Shure GLXD4. Dangit. Had it for years and it's been reliable. There have been two incidents where it was osed up, but a quick rescan and syncing of my multiple belt packs fixed the issue. I have 3 belt packs for one system. Tried the XVive U2 ones prior to buying the GLXD. Xvive absolutely interferred with using a tablet to run my monitor mix, so tried them at a sound check and they went right back in the box and were sent back. Never played a show with them and wouldn't recommend them if you're using the Behringer or Midas mixers.
Thanks for the information but there is something I don't quite understand. In the XVIVEU4 specifications sheet there is information about the frequencies that the device uses in its 6 channels. Very few coincide with the pre-established center frequencies for the 2.4 GHz band channels. These are CH1 2402 2480 2482 CH2 2408 2472 2474 CH3 2416 2464 2466 CH4 2434 2440 2442 CH5 2427 2448 2450 CH6 2422 2456 2458 In addition, XVIVE indicates 3 frequencies for each of its 6 channels. I don't understand. I would appreciate information about these issues. Greetings and thanks in advance for your response. Jesus Fernandez (Spain)
That I don’t know to be honest. I thought it was how much the frequency spans, because there is the center frequency and then how far it spans…. But that wouldn’t be right because it doesn’t span 2402 to 2480…. Although 2480-2482 makes sense. I honestly don’t know
It depends on the systems for sure. For 5.8ghz stuff they recommend not running more than 4. Getaria only has 4 channels to chose from I believe. But overall, the cheaper the wireless, the less of them you can use on stage at once
This is a great discussion about WiFi with a lot of good recommendations. But this discussion misses a MAJOR point. WiFi is not the only thing using the 2.4GHz band. Bluetooth, wireless remotes, wireless cameras, wireless this and that. I suspect that the inexpensive devices you recommend don't use WiFi. Rather some random slices of 2.4GHz the vendor chooses. Recommending to eliminated WiFi emission sources is great advice, it just means potentially less noise in the band your 2.4GHz device is using. One of the things you get with expensive 2.4GHz transmitter/receivers is frequency hopping. The two devices scan the 2.4GHz space looking for narrow frequencies with minimal noise. Most have the ability to change frequencies dynamically if they detect excessive noise or drop-outs. They also transmit the audio as digital data which can be sent over a much narrower slice of frequencies. Great video, great advice. Thanks!
Definitely more than just Wi-Fi for sure. Wi-Fi is easy to spot because you have a lot of bands using a WIfi router to control their IEM racks. But yes, it’s more than WIfi. And you are definitely correct, frequency hopping is a huge help! Thanks for commenting 👍
Been struggling with my band's iem setup cause it's all wired and it's very unpractical with moving around and feeling comfortable, so this wireless setup would be such a big help
Yeah, getting wireless for at least the members who move around the stage more is helpful! Just remember to not use a bunch of 2.4ghz stuff all at once 👍
Great summary! I am professional network engineer with focus on enterprise security and Wi-Fi and the general consensus is to move away from 2.4 to 5 and now 6Ghz spectrum. That being said, I am also an amateur bedroom guitar player and I really dont like damn cables, so I have bought device very similar to what you have demonstrated at 16:15. It was a game changer for me and I live in a crowded apartment building oversaturated with various 2.4Ghz spectrum devices. I have had no issues whatsoever and battery life is long enough for me to practice entire week. During live events I would think twice about it due to high interference possibility.
I have a Line6 G30 (which is 2.4Ghz) and played with it infront of about 6000 people and had no dropouts at all, worked amazing.
It definitely CAN work. It all depends on the wireless environment. I used the Xvive U2 in front of 60,000 with no issues. Doesn’t mean that will always be the result 👍
@@ScottUhlMusic Yeah, I understand. Still an amazing video!
Thank you!! Best tutorial to really learn about 2.4GHZ… we’ve tried up to six XVive U3 XLR wireless units for mics and can only get 2-3 working without drop outs … now I understand why.
Yup! Thats why. Glad to help!
right on! thanks!!
Very informative. Great video man. Your video editing skills have come a long way. Everything looks smooth and is visually pleasing.
Cheers
Thanks! I appreciate that. I got some new plugins that really helped the editing look a lot nicer. Looking back at some older videos makes me cringe haha
This was about the best video I've seen on the subject. Makes me feel more comfortable about the choice I made. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Brother, I was a novice and this video just gave me so much understanding! Now I can really be a good sound man for my band and sound and knowledgeable guitarist on gigs. I bought the NU-X B1 Lite 2.4G wireless system just to try something new. I'm a self taught guitarist and I have to do a lot of research on my own when it comes to theory and gear, so your video has given a great wealth of knowledge to become a top tier professional musician and sound support person on a gig. Thanks and you got a new sub and like from me!
Awesome to hear! Glad you found the video helpful and thank you for the sub 🤘
Thank you Scott! Wow, this must have taken a lot of time to produce this incredibly helpful video. Thank you very much!!
Thank you 🙏
Scott. I can remember way back about 25 years ago. People's wireless house phones (not cell phones) used the 900mhz spectrum. There was a big move away from that because of the popularity of the new thing called Wifi that was also on that frequency. Now that the phones are almost nonexistent (and the few that are left seem to be on 5.8) and Wifi has also moved on, it would seem that the 900mhz should be relatively clean. It was also very long range and the systems in that range were very cheap to manufacture. Do you know if there is some reason these cheaper units do not go back to the 900mhz band? Did something else move into that space? Edit. I would love to be considered for that IEM givaway. Still a great video if someone else wins. Thanks.
Yeah a good number of wireless uses 902-928mhz now. That swiff audio one that I recommend is in that range. Same with the Phenyx pro IEMs as well..: and they all hold up really well. One of my singers in my band uses both of those and it always works well
I'm a software engineer who worked a few years ago on developing a software and hardware comunication system with the 900mhz.... It's used, but not like in the 90s. So it's pretty clean to use now
I didn't know any of this stuff regarding the frequency ranges inside 2.4ghz, it opened my eyes man, thank you. It makes perfect sense now.
Glad to help. I learned a bunch while putting this video together as well
Holy crap this was an extremely helpful video!! Thanks for all the info
Glad to help 🤘
Using a wired IEM system (zip tied along with my guitar cable lol) that wireless would be sweet! Great vid 🤘
Hey, that’s a smart way to do it wired! A bass player I play with sometimes does something similar. Tc helicon specifically makes a double cable for it
Hey! You won the wireless IEM system, congrats :) Notice this is from my real account (my name highlighted) and it's not a spam account. Reach out to me from my website (link in the description) and I'll get this sent out to you. Congrats!
@@ScottUhlMusic awesome will be shooting ya a message now!
Very useful info Scott! Glad I found you on TH-cam.
Thanks!
I bought the Shure GLX (2.4) for my bass rig and it worked well 95% of the time. When I started djing weddings, I needed a lav option and got the lavalier set up. It has been a real nightmare when I don't ask the ceremony crowd to turn off or putting there phones on airplane mode. Just like you said, I got the blx and that is a much more reliable. Thanks for the great videos, very informative and well done.
Excellent choice for sure! The blx is a solid unit, and I recommend it over the GLX for sure!
Great Video ....Very Informative!
Thanks Mike! That means a lot coming from you. I appreciate it 🤘
Good video Scott. I also drop the 2.4GHz wireless router band when using any 2.4GHz IEM or mic systems. Keep up the good work, we’re enjoying it. 🖖
Thank you 🙏
I have the Boss WL20 which I got 2nd-hand, but pretty-much unused, so not full price. It has been almost flawless over the last 2.5 years so far. The occasional tiny dropout has not ruined any of my performances.
The Biggest advantage of the Boss IMO is the battery charge. I forgot to charge for one gig and starting my 3rd and final set the light was orange and turned red after about the 2nd song. I had a spare cable to hand, but the Boss was still going at the end of the set, about another 35 minutes later.
I also have the 5.8GHz Ammoon system, which is great banc for the buck. If you hold the green button on the transmitter, the sound mutes and the lights flash on both receiver and transmitter as it scans for the best channel, much like the Boss does.
I also have a Lekato wireless that works on the 900MHz range and it's ok, but has a much lower output than the other two, which can be a pain. It also drops out the most. I use that as a last resort or just for rehearsals if my other ones need charging.
Hey, if you found a system that works for you that’s what’s important! Whatever frequency it’s on. Boss has saved me before as well.
Thank you so much Scott! You are really a big help! Such an amount of work and wisdom in this field from a really outstanding musician!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you 🙏
Appreciate your help!
Hello, please make a video about ALL YOUR Gear with specific names of products and all of this (my all gear tour) please.
Interesting idea! I'll have to do that someday! I usually put in the description my entire rig stuff (assuming that I don't hit the max character length on TH-cam). So check the descriptions to find some of them. But great idea!
Wow!! Super-helpful video. Thank you for doing it. But I humbly offer a tweak to the non-overlap info at approx 8:25. In 2.4GHz, there are three non-overlapping channels that can be used simultaneously. (yeah, I know it's a technicality. Please don't take my lunch money!).
This is my new school, Scott is really knowledgeable and an great teacher, thx bro keep up the amazing content.
Thank you 😊
I’ve learned so much from you, my old 5 pc band used the xvive in ear monitor systems and the guitars and bass used glxd16 systems and one of us would always get drop outs , and now I know why, also there was one show where we used all of those systems plus two glxd mics and that show was a disaster , and it all makes sense now
Nice! Glad to help!
Thank you so much for putting the information all together. As I'm picking my first IEM, I learnt so much.
Glad it was helpful!
Scott, you're just amazing! Thank you so much for you effort, man, I thought I was gonna get tired while listening, but you are one of those, who can explain SO easily! :) Thank you!
Thank you! I really appreciate that 😊
20:03 “As far as wireless microphones… I would just avoid 2.4 gHz altogether…” good info! Thanks for this!
Love this information! Details!
The new Positive grid Spark link is double in price and using 2.4ghz . What say you .? Waste of money . Should I go w one of the overseas brands or have you heard the sound and latency is far better? Thanks.
I haven’t used the Positive Grid ones so I’m not sure, but I personally wouldn’t spend that much on a 2.4ghz system unless it had some bonus features I’m not aware of
We had our 1st show attempting IEM ... was interesting as we killed the house lights as soon as we turned on our Behringer XAir XR18 system connected to 6 units of the XVIVE - U4 & a 5GHz router. So we had to revert to stage monitors. Looking on cutting down on # of 2.4Ghz units: drummer goes wired, have 2 people/channel share 2.4Ghz wireless channels 1 & 6, and Vox CS getting the fancy schmancy Sennheiser EW100.
6 cheap wireless in ears are definitely not recommended. I highly recommend you watch this video: th-cam.com/video/Xgw96rY4TAc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=FjxQJMXVHrsd-wGq
Thank you. I haven't had any issues in 2.4Ghz, but now I'm scared, lol.
I've had predominantly great experience with 2.4ghz gear... I did have a handful of digital dropout issues over the years... but, mainly was good.
I now use a 5ghz for my guitar, which has been superb... solid as a rock.
I've used a UHF wireless IEM system for years now and randomly forgot it a few weeks ago... so I used my cheap, backup digital system... while in many ways it was inferior... I did notice the sound quality was SOOOO crisp... I felt like my mix was way more defined and separated.
Because of this I have just ordered the xvive U4 system to trail... I'm hoping it'll be a great upgrade.
The U4 has been the most rock solid 2.4ghz system I’ve used!
Great to hear. I actually use the Lekkato 5ghz giotar system... I can't believe how good it is for the cost... they're like £60!?
Wow. Tons of useful info. From your videos I got the Kimafun IEM and the Swiff guitar wireless and used them both last weekend. So much more portable than my rack stuff. I checked with the sound team and the Shure wireless mics and IEM are at 500 Mhz. So I lucked out and it all worked great, mostly. Had a little drop out in the rehearsal on the Kimafun IEM, and found out that the lights behind me were receiving DMX data on a WiFi router about 10 feet from me. I switched channels on the Kimafun and they worked great. Thanks again!
Nice! Glad to hear they are working well for you 🤘
A lot of information but gave me some ideas of the Lekato and Xvive U4 items
thnks for the video Scott ! thanks to you, I get a M-Vave 5,8ghz wireless for my bass. Havent had any problem so far...
1st time here... great explanation of wireless transmitters
Thanks!
Thank you! Yes, it is geeky, but essential information. Very well explained!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the detailed info on 2.4 Ghz. I play harmonica with the praise team at church. I use the Xvive U4 in ear monitor system, and it works pretty well.... but it doe not play nice with 2.4 Ghz wireless mic systems. I have tried the sennheiser plug on wireless in 2.4 Ghz, the Xvvie mic system and a couple other no name systems. I get bad drop outs and inteference because I use a small mixer in my harmonica case and the transmitter of one system is right by the receiver for the other system. Adding a short extension to the Xvive in ear transmitter helps, but I still have to be careful not to touch the mic transmitter.
Adding the Joyo (looks the same as the Lakato) 5.8 Ghz plug in mic wireless seems to solve the problem.
I am actually waiting for the arrival of the Nux B-7 in ear system which is 5.8 Ghz so I will see if it will play nice with the 2.4 Ghz wireless mic.
Thanks again. Love your videos.
Glad you have found the videos helpful! I would however also watch this video: th-cam.com/video/Xgw96rY4TAc/w-d-xo.html
You are putting a lot of cheap wireless together at once, which is one of the common mistakes I see. Hope that video helps you out!
Thank you Scott. I always get to learn some new stuff in every your videos.
Thank you 😊
Congrats! You are making the best reviews I have ever seen, here in Brazil we do not have anything like that, THANKS!
Thanks! I appreciate that 😊
Line 6 has a line of wireless mics that are in the 2.4ghz range and I'm pretty impressed by them. I've been picking them up on the used market for stupid cheap, but I think they're typically between $350-$500 per Channel. Their XD-V75 series can scan and all have the ability to cascade their antennas which I love.
If you found a good system on 2.4Ghz that’s working well that’s great! 🤘
We used them back when they came out with a band called “House of Echo” which later was called “Dave Tauler Music Group” DTMG… so… those Line 6 mic’s do sound great when they work… but those mics KILLED us in concert and on stage at “big” events… horrible reliability, just horrendous! Always great at sound check… but fill the place to capacity [with every one with cellphones, devices, hotspots, etc…] and it was DEATH! 💀 which is what he’s talking about here, and he’s spot on! 2.4Ghz isn’t reliable, when it matters… in a crowded hall and massive “systems” around [all trying to use 2.4, for whatever]
Thanks a lot! It was a comprehensive presentation.
Thanks for watching!
Definitely found this video informative. Will have to watch your other ones about the wireless mics and iem systems
Check them out for sure, they work really well for musicians on a budget!
Great explanation sir. I suggest to use a WiFI scan like WiFi Explorer Lite.
A WIfi explorer is actually a great idea!
Thank you for amazing rewies and suggestions.I would like to know where would I plug Xvive U4 on my 12 channel Mackie mixer.If I plug it in the phones than I can not make my own mix between music and my voice.Can it be plugged ed in main out on mixer?Thank you.
Thanks! And I suggest watching these two videos:
th-cam.com/video/Kp0tQCfxzWg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=kd5LRRyhis2fxTi8
th-cam.com/video/XQjFhkQTVP8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7ZV_2U0UWZ5ZDEto
In the second video, I do that with a digital mixer, but the idea is still the same
Great video as always Scott, thanks for digging deep into the weeds to get the technical details.
Thanks, I think this is the deepest I’ve really had to dig for a video before haha. It was all really interesting to learn
Thanks Scott. Think I'll go with the Swiff 900 mhz for my first one. We'll see how it works.
Nice, great choice! Enjoy 🤘
Great job Scott! Thank you 🙏
Live your r3views. Agreed, these are going in the right direction re ection. No volume control can also be dangerous to your hearing...
Absolutely!
Good video. Have you ever used wireless headphones or wireless earbuds on your Helix? If so, does it work well? I'm trying to minimize the cables I'm using while running my Helix floor with my computer. I play through TH-cam so I can play lead to lots of available rhythm tracks.
You can’t use Bluetooth because Bluetooth has latency. Most wireless headphones use bluetooth
in the market for wireless iem..thanks this is really helpful.
Glad to help! Good luck with the contest 🤘
Personal experience: I live on a building where 2.4ghz wifi signal is so bad I literally cannot use it even standing like 6-7 meters away from my own router. I was a bit worried about 2.4ghz wireless gear because of that, but decided to buy a Sennheiser XSW-D to give it a try. It honestly hasn't been anything other than flawless. We're now using 3 sets on my band and none of us had any issues. We played a few gigs, use it for rehearsals frequently... Not a single dropout yet.
Granted, they don't really use the same bands as wifi, and the bands are much narrower as per my understanding, but still I didn't expect it to work as good as it does at my home.
Hey if you found one that works well for you, that's awesome! And yes, it does transmit on a narrower frequency. I know that when I use 2.4Ghz gear and leave it near a router it highly increases the chances of a drop out. Going from venue to venue is the risky part IMO. But you CAN get 2.4Ghz gear to work for sure!
@@ScottUhlMusic Oh yeah I had good experiences -so far-... Every venue is different and that's why I also keep a cable right next to my rack, ready to go, just in case. Also I agree with your tips 100%. If the receiver is too close to a router the range drops significantly. Like, A LOT. I found that keeping them at least 1 meter apart is enough though.
Also agree that if you're gonna be using a lot of wireless gear it might be a good idea to keep 2.4ghz at a minimum.
Great info. I’ve had some interference issues with my Xvive system and this info is helpful. Thanks 👍🏻
Glad it helped 🤘
Great info, Scott! Good to know about the overlap of 2.4; I never knew about that.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for explaining this stuff.. my shure Glx-d drops out a lot.
Yup. Mine too when I had it
Thanks for the quality content Scott! Does distance from WiFi routers impact wireless mics in the UHF spectrum? I'm building an in-ear rack that will have a WiFi router and Phenyx Pro PTU-7000. Looking for optimal placement of these units
Thanks! And UHF will be fine 👍
Great video Scott...I think maybe my senheiser rs120 headphones are interfiering with my NUX 5-RC wireless transmiter...I will check that, or my ISP modem...thanks
Great video, Scott. Very informative.
Thanks 😊
Also, I just saw on Amazon a Joyo wireless guitar system that works on 5.8Ghz, would that be a more reliable band than 2.4Ghz?
Yup 👍 of course it always depends on the RF wireless environment of where you are playing. But in general, I find that 5.8 is more reliable
Awesome video! I have the xvive wireless mic but you only get 6 channels to choose from. Does that imply 2 channels per channel? Sort of? lol
Thanks! And it just means there will be some overlap with the channels 👍
What do you think about the Line6 G30 wireless guitar relay?
It wasn’t my favorite. And I’m a fan of line 6
Great video as usual Scott! Lots of very useful information. Would love to try those IEM.
Thanks Jim!
@scott really appreciating your hard work that you put in your video to make us understand this easily .Thankyou brother ❤️🙏
Glad to help 🤘
I appreciate your videos. They are very informative and helpful.
Thank you!
Great info Scott. Thank you so very much
Thanks Billy!
Wow I learnt something yet again. Thanks
Glad to help! I learned a lot while putting this video together
Another really useful video. Thanks Scott for all the videos and effort you put into this channel
Thanks Andy!
Man excellent info.!
Hey there! Thank you so much for your tips! I have an old Shure performance gear wireless PG4 and I'm trying to use it with my Pod HD500X on live shows, but I never get it right (IN and OUTs) with the house mix. Can you please help me?! Thanks in advance! 🤘🏻
Hi Bruno, I have a video on the pgx system here: th-cam.com/video/TtEtzhAkORE/w-d-xo.html
Hopefully it helps 💪
So is digital IEM Monitor the best/ most reliable (and most expensive)?
Not necessarily. But the world has been moving to digital a lot more recently.
Do you think the Xvive U4 would work if I’m also using the Boss wireless WL-20 instrument system? It’s for use at home only. TIA
2 is usually fine, but it always depends on the room you are in
Am interested in a wireless system, I think I would have to use UHF, 900mhz, because of WiFi router.
Very helpful! Learned a lot!
Glad to hear it!
Thank you for all the great information! Unfortunately, our singers boyfriend bought her the GLX D4 system and its never worked properly. consistent interference everywhere even during rehearsal. I've tried different groups and channels nothing. We have 3 IEM xvive that work great. Another IEM and wireless instrument system and they all work great with no issue. The damn GLX D4 just does not work. The frustration is in them not understanding how a $300+ system just doesn't work. I forward them your videos but I don't think they watch lol Thanks again for everything!
Thanks for watching! And yeah the old GLXD had a lot of problems, but the new one is awesome! It’s a dual band on 2.4ghz and 5.8ghz which is awesome. And I’m really surprised how well those Xvive IEM systems work 🤘
Can I get your oppinion on this matter please? I (we are) am using behringer xair16 with wifi router because and in certain venues I had horror with connecting it with the tablet. Do you think there will be high chance on IEM's not working there either, and plugged IEM's will be the better opton? Thanks a lot!
Depends on the IEM system you are using. Dont use a bunch of cheap iems on 2.4ghz. Check out my buying guide here: th-cam.com/video/Xi2JcMomjQ0/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6oXYjBZbMNvJf78a
Clear and great explaination👍
Thank you!
Thanks for the videos. Very helpful.
🤘🤘
Hi Scott Great Vid, I have used a Line 6 XD-V35 Mic The unit is flawless I bought it when they first come out many years ago and I have also upgraded the Mic. Our Lead singer got a Shure GLX and as many people have said they SUC. Anyway look into the line6 stuff it's actually pretty good.
Keep on Rockin' Brother
Thanks man! And yeah the GLX used to be amazing, but now there are just way too many problems with it
another helpful/educational vid...thanx...
Thanks Steve!
Nailed it..
Bro thanks so much was so helpful 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks for watching!
Will in ears and wireless systems work if there both in 2.4???
2 systems at once is the max that I usually recommend. I would only do 1 personally in my setup and it was better.
I need a good explanation of how these can be run in stereo. I also need a link to the correct Y-splitter cable I will need.
In order to use stereo backing tracks you’ll need a computer with more than 2 outputs (2 for stereo and 1 for click). To do this with an iPad you’ll need to use a multitrack output, because the splitter cable method is only possible with mono. I do that in this video: th-cam.com/video/uUb3M-hYtE4/w-d-xo.html
In a scenario where 3 guitar players and a vocalist are using 2.4 systems for in ears, does the proximity from the transmitter to the receiver influence the chance of dropout? We've been using two of those lekato type systems, and they have much less interference than my ld systems mei1000. I'm thinking of buying two more to use live, distributing them through the stage closer to each musician. But I know you said three max. We also control a soundcraft ui24 through 2.4. Any chance of this working?
Spacing it out does help. I personally don’t use more than 2 systems on 2.4ghz at once, but that’s just me
Thanks a lot for the detailed and spot on video. I was interested in the 2.4 GHz in ear system, as an alternative for my "workhorse" PSM300. We just had two days in a row outside festival gigs, me and the drummer go in ears for the click tracks - I play bass, and the first day I panicked because I could not find any free channel when scanning the area. Fortunately I finally got one, but it was dropping out. Got me through though. Same thing the following day. I heard some guy from a different band, that uses Sennheiser G4, that he had major problems finding something free too. I asked the stage manager/ sound guy about it, and they said they dropped the wireless and they have everything wired, because they did a scan for a entire day and the area was awful - it was in Toronto Canada, close to the lake ( boats, GPS, and whatnot). I was shopping for a Xviva, and it looked too good to be true, so I was hesitant, knowing very little about how this things work. Reasons for me using Shure instead of Sennheiser, 1- scan then sync setup - without choosing groups and frequencies, 2- rechargeable battery, 3- I used a half rack Shure mini mixer (for mixing my IEM, without relying on sound guys) that could be attached to the transmitter - taking both only 1U space, and 4- the flawless Shure performance, and crazy rechargeable battery life I experienced from the guitar wireless GLX-D . I was about to go for a G4, because I use and like Sennheiser gear too, and almost everyone I know uses Seen., when I came across this 2.4 mini system, and I was very curious about it. Thanks again for putting all this work in for us! Cheers!
Sometimes my sennheiser doesn’t find a completely clear channel, but I’ll find one that has the least amount of RF on it and it gets me through the gig 👍 so I know what you mean! Some places are just like that
@@ScottUhlMusic My first system was a Carvin EM900. I still have it. The reason for wanting to "upgrade" to Sennheiser G4 was the width of the frequency availability. Shure PSM300 is twice as narrow as G4, and Carvin is exactly in between of the two. Audio quality isn't too far apart (Shure and Carvin), and both have their pops and very short "no sound" episodes, but the price difference is very noticeable. Why do I still use the Shure? Because since I bought their rechargeable battery pack, life became easier, and second, the volume knob on my first receiver broke, couldn't turn it off anymore, so I was taking the batteries out between the sets- therefore I bought another body pack (G20 btw). These things aren't cheap, and weekend warriors like me, can hardly justify certain expenses. What is appealing to me regarding this 2.4 thing is portability and , as you said "crystal clean sound".
I've been hooked on your content for a few months now. Well done with everything. You're great! I'm based in the UK and have just purchased a Sennheiser G4 IEM system. My mic is a Shure beta 87a digital system (I believe it's just the 2.4ghz). Am I likely to run in to issues?
Thanks! And with just one device on 2.4ghz you should be fine in most situations. But again…. What I go over in this video is accurate for 2.4ghz. You just never know
@@ScottUhlMusic Thank you so much for the quick reply. Legend! Keep up the great work mate!
Thank you for your review! I am a little confused. You say in the video there are 19 channels this can transmit on. With 2.4 GHz aren't there only 14 frequencies (11 in the US) that the device can transmit on?
Haha I just shared the video link on your other comment.
Thanks again Scott
Thanks for watching!
Great information to support your other videos.
Thanks! Yeah I plan to tell people to watch this video when I review any other 2.4ghz products in the future
Hey Scott great video! really learned a lot...can you say something about antennas combiners and antennas splitters? I am building a system that has a LOT of antennas but the price point of these antennas combiners and the splitters (which I learned is used for wireless mics instead of combiners for IEMs) is completely absurd...not sure if there is a cheaper option for this...thanks!
Yeah I want to eventually get one and explain how they work. They basically make it so instead of having 4 antennas right next to each other. The RF is received by one antenna and that antenna distributes the signal to the other wireless. Definitely the way to go if you have more than 3 systems
@@ScottUhlMusic and if you want to break the bank! ;)
Nice an definitive.Thank you for this.
Thanks for watching!
Would it be possible to have two signals on the transmitter? Like with a Y cable? The idea is to have one route from the mixer with the band's mix without bass and the other route connects directly to the d.i. from my amp, which would allow me to control the bass volume, is that possible?
Yes, that should work 👍
@@ScottUhlMusic thank you.
...and I have the Shure GLXD4. Dangit. Had it for years and it's been reliable. There have been two incidents where it was osed up, but a quick rescan and syncing of my multiple belt packs fixed the issue. I have 3 belt packs for one system. Tried the XVive U2 ones prior to buying the GLXD. Xvive absolutely interferred with using a tablet to run my monitor mix, so tried them at a sound check and they went right back in the box and were sent back. Never played a show with them and wouldn't recommend them if you're using the Behringer or Midas mixers.
As long as your system is working, that’s what’s important! Wireless isn’t “this is the rule” but more “this is a guideline for success”
Hi man!! Can u help me with my choice please ! I’m trying to choose between the Xvive U4 and the phenyx pro Ptm 10! Which one do you recommend me?
PTM 10 👍
@@ScottUhlMusic thanks man! another system in the range of 300 usd? the ptm 10 is the best? or there is a better option?
PTM 10 is the best “budget” one imo.
Thanks for the information but there is something I don't quite understand. In the XVIVEU4 specifications sheet there is information about the frequencies that the device uses in its 6 channels. Very few coincide with the pre-established center frequencies for the 2.4 GHz band channels. These are
CH1 2402 2480 2482
CH2 2408 2472 2474
CH3 2416 2464 2466
CH4 2434 2440 2442
CH5 2427 2448 2450
CH6 2422 2456 2458
In addition, XVIVE indicates 3 frequencies for each of its 6 channels. I don't understand. I would appreciate information about these issues. Greetings and thanks in advance for your response. Jesus Fernandez (Spain)
That I don’t know to be honest. I thought it was how much the frequency spans, because there is the center frequency and then how far it spans…. But that wouldn’t be right because it doesn’t span 2402 to 2480…. Although 2480-2482 makes sense. I honestly don’t know
What about 5g devices like the getaria? How many of them can you run on stage?
It depends on the systems for sure. For 5.8ghz stuff they recommend not running more than 4. Getaria only has 4 channels to chose from I believe. But overall, the cheaper the wireless, the less of them you can use on stage at once
Idk why but I find this stuff very interesting
It was really interesting to put this video together. I definitely found it interesting as well
This is a great discussion about WiFi with a lot of good recommendations. But this discussion misses a MAJOR point. WiFi is not the only thing using the 2.4GHz band. Bluetooth, wireless remotes, wireless cameras, wireless this and that. I suspect that the inexpensive devices you recommend don't use WiFi. Rather some random slices of 2.4GHz the vendor chooses.
Recommending to eliminated WiFi emission sources is great advice, it just means potentially less noise in the band your 2.4GHz device is using.
One of the things you get with expensive 2.4GHz transmitter/receivers is frequency hopping. The two devices scan the 2.4GHz space looking for narrow frequencies with minimal noise. Most have the ability to change frequencies dynamically if they detect excessive noise or drop-outs. They also transmit the audio as digital data which can be sent over a much narrower slice of frequencies.
Great video, great advice. Thanks!
Definitely more than just Wi-Fi for sure. Wi-Fi is easy to spot because you have a lot of bands using a WIfi router to control their IEM racks. But yes, it’s more than WIfi. And you are definitely correct, frequency hopping is a huge help! Thanks for commenting 👍
Been struggling with my band's iem setup cause it's all wired and it's very unpractical with moving around and feeling comfortable, so this wireless setup would be such a big help
Yeah, getting wireless for at least the members who move around the stage more is helpful! Just remember to not use a bunch of 2.4ghz stuff all at once 👍
Excellent! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Just great explanation thnx Scott
Thank you 😊
@@ScottUhlMusic I use line 6 relay G55 and behringer Xr18 both on 2.4ghz and sometimes there are drop outs, so i hope your tips will help
Let me know how they work! 👍