Audio-Technica has announced upgrades for its ATCS-60 IR (infrared) Conference System from its contractor-exclusive Engineered Sound range of meeting/conference room offerings.
The ATCS-60 is a fully self-contained wireless distributed audio system using infrared communications technology, designed for corporate, government and educational applications.
The system offers many impressive and practical features, providing ease of setup and operation, and eliminating the need for microphone wiring and ceiling speakers. New upgrades include a voting module (model ATCS-V60) and updated software (ATCS-C60MAG-REG).
The new ATCS-V60 is a modular voting unit with five-button configuration that offers versatile voting options.
In addition to Yes/No and Yes/No/Abstain votes, the unit can be programmed to allow up to five options, useful when multiple candidates are standing for election. Up to 150 voters can be handled by an ATCS-60 system using ATCS-V60 modules.
The ATCS-60MAG-REG software has been newly enhanced. New features include support of the ATCS-V60 voting module, enhanced video and audio recording support, and the implementation of a simultaneous interpretation mode to support a total of four languages.
The ATCS-60 IR Conference System offers all the advantages of infrared communication – including security, high noise immunity and low power requirements, to name a few – and features wireless microphone units (ATCS-M60).
As a result, it offers more flexibility, with freedom to easily change microphone locations and system configurations. Even for a conference scenario of over 100 participants, the setup takes far less time than other conference systems.
The system also features sophisticated functions such as simultaneous interpretation for one native language and up to three foreign languages; automatic camera tracking to follow the switching of microphones; optional minutes recording; along with other features that help improve conference efficiency. The ATCS-60 system can also be fully portable.
The ATCS-60’s infrared technology offers secure communication. Since the infrared signal stays within the room, a meeting cannot be picked up or intercepted elsewhere, which can often be an issue with conventional RF systems.
The ATCS-60 system consists of the following components with U.S. MSRP as follows:
ATCS-M60 Delegate Unit (base unit)—$1,300
ATCS-60MIC Dedicated standard-length Gooseneck Microphone—$180
ATCS-L60MIC Dedicated Microphone (Long)—$200
ATCS-A60 IR Transmitter/Receiver—$1,050
ATCS-C60 Master Control Unit—$5,200
ATCS-D60 Distributor (splitter)—$260
ATCS-B60 Battery Charger—$1,360
ATCS-C60MAG-REG Software—$1,860
ATCS-V60 Voting Module—$400
DMQ-60 Monaural Earphone—$50
LI-240 Lithium-ion Battery—$190.00
Setup of the ATCS-60 IR Conference System is simple and intuitive: the applicable number of ATCS-A60 IR Transmitter/Receiver Units (aka Transponders) are placed on the room’s ceiling space (or flown/elevated for full portability), and connected back to the master control unit with 75 ohm coaxial cable.
Each ATCS-M60 Microphone Unit, with dedicated ATCS-60MIC microphone, is set on the conference table (one for each participant) and assigned a discrete address; beyond that, it’s virtually plug-and-play.
Each ATCS-M60 Microphone Unit features a built-in dedicated loudspeaker, which will return the entire system’s audio (minus that conference member, therefore preventing feedback and echo).
The system operates in two modes, manual and automatic, allowing for a number of different meeting styles and levels of formality.
In manual mode, which works like a “discussion system” (commonly used with a more formal approach to corporate meetings), each meeting member pushes a button to request to speak, and each request is recognized by the meeting’s chairman.
The system’s ATCS-C60 Master Control Unit controls whether requests to speak are accepted in first-in-first-out or last-in-first-out order. This mode accepts up to 150 microphone units.
In automatic mode, which accepts up to 50 microphone units, all channels run through a “smart” mixer, which turns each microphone on and off depending on whether or not that meeting member is speaking. The mixer can be set (via the ATCS-C60 Master Control Unit) so that from one to five people can talk simultaneously.
The ATCS-A60 IR Transmitter/Receiver Unit has an oblong 120-degree coverage pattern. The ATCS-D60 Distributor acts as a splitter, expanding the Master Control Unit’s four IR Transmitter/Receiver Unit connections so that up to 16 ATCS-A60 units can be placed on a room’s ceiling space, depending on necessity presented by room size and shape.
The system’s included ATCS-C60MAG-REG software allows users to monitor and control the system using a computer screen with a graphical interface patterned after the room layout. An advanced version of the software can record meetings for electronic minute-taking.
The ATCS-M60 Microphone Units can run on battery power (LI240 Lithium ion battery, charged with ATCS-B60 Battery Charger) or via AC power with a standard adapter.
Mark Donovan, Audio-Technica sales engineer, states, “The upgrades to the ATCS-60 system in our extensive range of contractor and system integrator products represent Audio-Technica’s total commitment to providing install-sound solutions. The new features of the infrared conference system enhance its functionality, and with A-T’s hard-wired microphones, RF systems and the ultra wideband SpectraPulse wireless microphone system, Audio-Technica continues to offer engineers, sound contractors and installers a complete range of conference system options.”
The ATCS-60 system is currently available. As with all Audio-Technica Engineered Sound products, the system comes standard with a five-year warranty.