Session: SUPER MONDAY
Topic: TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
AUDIO TRENDS
JEFF LOETHER / SHC, WASHINGTON DC.
ELECTROMEDIA DESIGN, LTD.
Microphones are becoming more robust and higher security, both for
signals getting in to the wireless system and keeping wireless
encrypted for eavesdropping.
Tech Logic has IR microphone systems. IR systems are more secure than
RF systems. IR is line of sight and will not radiate ouside the room.
Shure puts lobbyists in DC to study and review unlicensed frequency use.
Astatic has a multi variable pattern mic. It can be set for anything
from Cardioid, Omni, Figure - 8. The GN- series
http://www.astaticinstalled.com.
Beyer
Dynamic http://www.beyerdynamic.com has a line array mic system for
table top use. Line array is a group of devices (mics or speakers), in
a line, whose directivity is
electronically steerable.
Sabine phantom mic rider. Gate, proximity effect filtering, agc,
built-in DSP. Intended for stand mounted mics but some customers are
using it on wireless systems by installing it at the mixer. About $100.
http://www.sabine.com
Peavey Media Matrix Nion. http://mediamatrix.peavey.com An example
of how Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is used and replaces many
separate boxes in the audio system.
Complex system designers need to understand the systems they control.
For example, a DSP box will probably have a single embedded macro or
set of commands to perform a function, a non-savvy designer will
attempt to write a set of commands to change a bank of mics, or adjust
eq. The DSP box probably has that command already in software. Sending
separate commands will make the system perform more slowly due to the
time it takes to send and act on the serial commands.
Polycom "Sound Structure" product is a Vortex on steroids.
Regarding twisted pair transmission products and claimed transmission
distance: Audio is generally no
problem, the manufacturer claims will probably be accurate. Video
however may not be, it's best to check out video claims for yourself.
Will the windows and display glass (plastic) be ruined when the
cleaning crew uses
Windex? (how do we test this)
Line Array loudspeaker systems electronically direct the sound to the
audience. The steerable functionality allows the sound to be directed
away from reflective surfaces, thus increasing intelligibility.
Holosonics http://holosonics.com/
has a loudspeaker system that is very directional, two to three
degrees. It uses ultrasonic energy to direct the sound field. I saw a
demostration of this at Infocomm 2005. It was uncanny, when the speaker
was not pointed at me I didn't hear a thing.
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