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Friday, June 19, 2009

InfoComm 2009, Day 2: Digital Tide Keeps Rolling

Lots of digital developments, and other technology as well. Go here for 2009 InfoComm Day 1 coverage.

Day 2 of InfoComm 2009 in Orlando proved just as interesting as day 1, starting with a big announcement from Yamaha, which will be handling the North American distribution of the Audinate Dante-MY16-AUD card, which was also just introduced at the show.

Specifically, the MY16-AUD card is fully compatible with Yamaha digital MY16 card slots in consoles, processors and digital power amplifiers.

Audinate’s Dante technology supplies high-performance digital media networking, and it is self-delivering for true “plug and play” digital audio networking capability.

It uses standard Internet Protocols at 1 Gbps and/or 100 Mbps Ethernet. Dante-enabled devices that self configure and automatically discover the location and number of channels of other devices on a network. In short, this takes out a lot of complication.

“The Dante MY16-AUD card supplies a sophisticated, yet easy to use digital media networking approach with our products,” notes Marc Lopez of Yamaha Commercial Audio.

I’ll be providing more details about Dante next week… Stay tuned, as they saying goes…

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Progress continues full speed ahead on the new version of Smaart sound system measurement and optimization software from Rational Acoustics, Karen and Jamie Anderson report, with a launch date of this fall, perhaps before the AES show in New York. Beta testing will commence soon.

Keep an eye on the Rational Acoustics website for the latest updates about new Smaart version 7, which Karen notes “will provide all of the features that everyone loves about version 5 and version 6, plus much more.”

In the meantime, she also told me that Rational Acoustics is offering an Early Adopters special on Smaart, with anyone purchasing v6 right now eligible for a free upgrade to v7 as soon as it is released and available. Those who purchased Smart v6 prior to June 1 of this year can get the upgrade to v7 for $199.

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Audio-Technica has long been noted for its very clever and highly useful microphone developments, with evidence at this InfoComm show coming in the form of the new BP892 MicroSet headworn mic and the BP896 MicroPoint subminiature lavalier mic.

Both models are absolutely tiny, with the capsule on the headworn mic measuring just 2.6 mm and the capsule on the lavalier checking in at 2.5 mm.

Both are omnidirectional condenser type, capable of handeling high SPL and offering a wide frequency response.

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The MicroSet headworn mic has a contoured earpiece that hooks behind the ear and is very secure, and it’s available as a wired model as well as in a multitude of terminations to work with A-T and other wireless systems. (The wired version also features a switchable integral 80 Hz high-pass filter that provides easy switching from flat frequency response to a low-end roll-off.)

The MicroPoint lavalier plugs into its companion power module, which provides a low-frequency roll-off switch and an integral connector supplying a low-impedance balanced output. It also comes with an extensive accessory kit that includes clothing clip base, viper clip base, three single mic holders, two double mic holders, two windscreens and six element colors.

Steve Savanyu of A-T, who also was recently named to InfoComm Academy’s adjunct faculty, provided the overview, and he also showed me the new ATCS-60 IR Conference System, which I’ll provide more details about as soon as possible.

Powersoft has been developing leading power amplifier technology for several years. Based in Italy, the company has been enjoying increasing growth and acceptance in the North American market, as evidenced by the recent sale of 450 units of Powersoft DIGAM K-10 power amplifiers to leading sound company ATK Audiotek. (Go here for more details.)

At InfoComm this year, Powersoft has introduced Audio Suite software, wich provides PC-based control of numerous parameters found in the company’s amplifiers, as well as serving as the framework control protocol for current and future Powerswoft products.

Audio Suite allows users to manage and monitor all Powersoft K-Series products as well as remote versions of Q, D and QTU Series amplifiers. It’s downloadable (free of charge) from the Powersoft website.

A quick conversation with Robert Scovill of Digidesign confirmed what I had suspected - demand for the new Digidesign SC-48 digital console is strong. Last month I reported on the first public “trade show” debut of the SC-48, so you can read more about it here.

EAW has been steadily building a line of commercial audio products under the direction of Dave Raneses, with the results of that effort now coming to full fruition. Dave showed me the new DX1208 DSP matrix mixer that EAW Commercial is unveiling at this year’s InfoComm, and its a very flexible and expandable unit incorporating a lot of great features specifically for install applications.

The DX1208 is a 12-input, 8-output 1U-rackspace DSP matrix mixer. Eight inputs are mic/line capable, with selectable 48-volt phantom power provided when the user selects mic level.

Four additional inputs on unbalanced RCA connectors allow the users to “stack” inputs, increasing the number of audio sources that can be connected, and yet another four digital inputs are available on S/PDIF with sample rate conversion to 48 kHz.

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In additon, the DX1208 can also receive up to six logic inputs and send up to three logic outputs, combined on a single 18-pin connector and programmable via the included EAW DX Navigator software. The DX1208 has serial RS-232 remote capabilities via a DB9 connector on the rear panel, for control by AMX/Crestron and other third party integrated control systems. Two RJ-45 connections are provided as well, for linking multiple (up to eight) DX Link-enabled products together in a ring network topology.

I should also note that EAW is also unveiling the new MicroSub at 2009 InfoComm, the latest addition to the MicroWedge line. More on that soon.

Denon keeps coming up with more digital recording and playback solutions, with Peter Papageorge of D & M Professional showing me the recent DN-F300 and DN-F400 audio players.

Both read MP3 files and uncompressed WAV files from SD or SDHC cards, and the DN-F300 reads USB drives as well.

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The DN-F300 also has IR control and a microphone input with music ducking, exdellent for paging applications. The DN-F400 is a half-rack-space unit, controllable via RS-232-C and GPIO. An additional facet is an optional RC-F400 remote controller outfitted with a large LCD display and an intuitive control unit for instant playback of audio or audio elements such as sound effects.

More updates from 2009 InfoComm are coming, including a new products gallery. Check back often.

Go here for 2009 InfoComm Day 1 coverage.

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