2012Operating forum
Interference between cinetape distance measurement systems and wireless microphone receivers on set
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Cinetape ultrasonic ranging operates between 40 and 300 kilohertz while wireless microphone systems operate in the upper megahertz or gigahertz range, making direct frequency interference unlikely.
- Acoustic interference from cinetape horn elements can sometimes be picked up directly by microphones as audible ticking or clicking sounds.
- Wireless microphone interference attributed to cinetape may actually originate from faulty microphones, faulty grounding in wireless transmitter cables, or other sources like neon ballasts rather than the cinetape itself.
- Lowering cinetape sensitivity can reduce acoustic noise picked up by boom microphones when the horn is in the microphone's field.
- Boom microphone positioning that optimizes sound quality may physically obstruct the cinetape's line of sight to actors, requiring coordination between sound and camera departments.
- Swapping out a rental cinetape unit can help determine whether problems stem from a faulty device or from other equipment on set.
- Multiple wireless transmitters on modern sets including cell phones and wireless video systems can create complex interference issues.
- The boom microphone position that provides best sound often places it slightly in front of and tilted toward the actor's mouth, which can interfere with cinetape accuracy by a foot or more.
Depends on
- The original poster did not definitively diagnose whether the interference was acoustic or electromagnetic.
- No resolution was documented in the thread.
- Participants offered theoretical analysis and anecdotal experience but no systematic testing of the interference source.
- One contributor suggested the sound department should investigate their own equipment rather than assuming the cinetape was the cause.