Flexible Transmission
For my evaluation, the Venue receiver was supplied with an HH handheld transmitter as well as an SMQV beltpack transmitter.
The flexibility concept also extends to both of these transmitters. Lectrosonics offers one thread-on capsule for the HH, the HHC cardioid condenser, while thread-on capsules using a 1.25-inch/28 thread pitch can be used, including those from manufacturers such as Electro-Voice, Shure, Blue, Earthworks, Heil Sound and Telefunken.
The ultra-miniature SMQV beltpack (2.3 x 2.4 x 0.64 inches, and weight of less than 4 ounces) is equipped with a standard TA5M type jack for use with electret lavalier and dynamic mics, or line-level signals.
Proprietary servo bias circuitry on this input eliminates the need of some mics to introduce pads to prevent overload of the input stage, divide the bias voltage down for some low voltage mics, or reduce the limiter range at minimum gain settings.
The beltpack is minimalist in design. Seemingly made from a solid chunk of aluminum, it’s then clear hard-anodized for protection against oxidation and moisture. Membrane switches offer control without leaving a space for water intrusion. The battery door is closed via a nicely machined thumbscrew and sealed with a pair of O-rings.
If you enjoy the industrial design of “function dictates form” then you will love this transmitter. It feels like a precise, yet heavy duty tool.
I used this transmitter and the included HM172 earset mic on a child actor in a musical play. In the eight performances there were zero RF problems, and it was easy to hide due to it’s small size.
Battery performance was sufficient to get through two shows before a battery change using standard alkaline batteries. The musical was about two hours long, so four hours total. After that I didn’t feel confident using the same batteries for another show.
Talkback Capability
The imaginatively named HH transmitter (“HH” means “handheld”) is also loaded with useful technology, not the least of which is a battery eject lever. This item alone is worth it’s weight in gold when there is 30 seconds to change a battery with large fumbling hands like mine.
A group of membrane switches under the battery cover offer power switching and access to a menu offering a plethora of options.
One unmarked black button on the outside of the mic, conveniently operated with your thumb, can be set in the menu system to do nothing, be a mute, or to engage a talkback. In mute mode, it toggles the output of the mic off or on but still broadcasts RF.
In talkback mode, it’s a momentary switch – when depressed, the receiver will route the mic’s output to a second channel while also muting the primary channel. This can be used by an artist as a talkback mic to call out the next song or changes in a monitor mix.