Wisycom MCR54/MTP60 & Champions Full Gallop S2.

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Having spent 12ish months transitioning my Wisycom kit from MCR42 & 54’s with MTP40s to MCR54/MTP60 kits and then scaling that to the same spec as my Zaxcom package, Saturday and Sandown was the day when it came out for the first time, I’d used the Wisycom package on smaller shoots with fewer mics in play but Saturday was “Full Chat”.

Having recorded all of series one and most of series 2 on Zaxcom I was a little nervous about being on a shoot that offered little time or space to “change your mind” with a “new” system.

It was a revelation.

3 MCR54’s giving 12 channels in, 8 via AES into my 888, the other 4 via Analogue XLR input. So much lighter, I wouldn’t say as light as a feather but all the same, much comfier. The same track count required 6 x QRX200 and a IFB200, a hefty bag by the end of it.

Battery consumption on the TX’s was a game changer. With Zaxcom I’d have at least one change in the day, with Wisycom, I was comfortable in the knowledge that there would be enough in one set to get me through the day. I’ll explain more of the set up in jockeys’ room in a post when the series is about to come to air. With the change of RX in the bag brought a change in battery consumption there too. With everything Zaxcom I’d need to double battery the bag, one for mixer and distro, one for RX200 and IFB200, I’d still be looking for multiple changes through the day. With the 888 and 3 x MCR54 and a Betso Octopus I’m still packing 2 Audio Roots but that’s it for the day!

The wide band frequencies made it so easy to book things in with Ofcom/PMSE as the bracket I could give them was so wide.

There are a couple of draw backs, mainly the fact that the TC is a “jam once” kind of affair, I’d much prefer if it could be done on a similar principle to Zaxnet. The fact that you can’t use the app to jam sync TC if required, having to have the pack in hand is a come down after Zaxnet. One drawback, that is completely personal, is having to integrate a Tentacle in to my TC set up. I’m not a fan of tentacles. Mainly down to the fact that there isn’t a screen and they essentially work autonomously once jammed. I’m currently moving from Atomos USO to Betso TCXO. But that is very much a “me” problem.

The transition to Wisycom as the “Big Kit” is complete. I’m hoping to not look back.