NAB Audio Products Preview

NAB will be here in less than two weeks. Here’s a preview of some of the new audio products, systems, and events that will be of interest to sports-broadcast audio professionals.

Akitio
The Taurus Mini Super-S joins Akitio’s professional storage-product line. The 2.5-in. dual-bay SATA enclosure features a built-in LCD display and two FW800 ports for daisy-chaining. Interfaces include eSATA, FireWire 800, and USB 2.0 high speed. To maximize performance and data throughput, RAID 0-Striping is included for daily backups and other data transfers. In addition, the RAID 1-Mirroring function automatically creates a copy of all data in the event of drive failure. The Taurus Mini Super-S is available priced at $199.99. Akitio.com

Audio-Technica
At Booth C310, Audio-Technica will host five 30-minute instructional sessions throughout the day Monday-Wednesday (April 16-18) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Fred Ginsburg, industry veteran and specialist in production sound recording for motion pictures and video, will conduct two sessions each day. The first will focus on microphone techniques and applications used for episodic television, with a focus on multitrack recording; the second session will highlight techniques for rigging and attaching lavaliere microphones for film and video production. Audio engineer Robert Bigelow will present two sessions, including one on a better understanding of Mid-Side stereo recording. Audio-Technica Director of Educational Services Steve Savanyu will offer instructions on selecting and using microphones with DSLR cameras, including single- vs. dual-system recording. www.audiotechnica.com

BTX
New fiber devices, audio cables, and enhanced signal-processing products – including Pro Plate and Panel software — make it easier for system designers to order and configure the company’s professional line of wall plates and panels. BTX designed its plate-and-panel software to complement its bolstered in-house wall-plate- and panel-manufacturing capabilities. Users simply drag a wall plate or rack panel from BTX’s product library and start designing and configuring. Connector options appear in a menu, and users drag and drop their choices to the desired spot on the plate or panel; optional engraving may also be added if desired.

The ProBlox multiconnector system is a cost-effective solution for bundling numerous signals, combining 16 coax and 26 audio/data/control contacts in one connector. This configuration enables fast and simple setup and teardown in such applications as remote broadcasting, rental, rack staging, corporate settings, podiums, and more, saving both time and money in the field. ProBlox is field-terminable and custom-configurable for numerous combinations. It can be used any time HDTV, video, VGA, analog/digital audio, control signals, or DC power must be fed to a single location. Constructed of rugged and durable components and offering true 75-ohm video contacts for an HD signal, the ProBlox system reduces the number of individual connectors, eliminating clutter and providing a clean, professional finished look. www.btx.com.

Linear Acoustic
The AERO.lite loudness controller is intended for cost-effective CALM- and R128-compliance. A new member of the AERO product family, it is a two-channel (stereo) loudness controller designed to provide quality audio-transmission processing at an affordable price to broadcasters who don’t need to handle multichannel audio. AERO.lite comes in a compact 1RU package and offers HD/SD-SDI, AES, and analog inputs and outputs. Audio can be extracted from any HD/SD-SDI pair for processing, and the processed audio can be re-embedded into any or all SDI pairs. GPI/O alarms and control are also included. Options include an integrated ITU-R BS.1770 loudness meter, SNMP, and an external redundant power supply.

“We saw a need in the global market, where multichannel audio isn’t as prevalent,” said Linear Acoustic President Tim Carroll, www.linearacoustic.com

Sennheiser
The SKP 300 G3 plug-on transmitter, the latest addition to the Evolution ew 300 G3 wireless series, converts any conventional cabled microphone into a wireless one; phantom power required by condenser microphones is also supplied by the transmitter. The plug-on transmitter can be combined with an EM 300 G3 rack-mount receiver. The SKP 300 is powered by two AA batteries or the optional BA 2015 accupack. The plug-on transmitter is available in eight frequency ranges and can be synchronized with its receiver via infrared link. In addition, new firmware version 1.7.0 enables Evolution wireless ew 500 G3 and 300 G3 series rack-mount devices to communicate directly with media-control units in an Ethernet network (UDP/IP) and thus also to be integrated into larger audio/video-control systems. The units can then be remote-controlled and monitored directly from a central control panel. www.sennheiserusa.com