While the National Association of Broadcasters’ annual show, on the heels of Musikmesse and pre-InfoComm, isn’t typically big on pro audio product launches, it is a huge convention, and there is plenty of pro audio, consolidated nicely, for the most part, at the foot of the Central Hall. Here are a few products that caught Mix’s attention when we visited Las Vegas from April 7-10.
It’s a broadcast show, so much of the product on display is geared toward sound for picture and live event production. Yamaha took the opportunity for the debut of its new QL-1 and QL-5 consoles, with Rupert Neve Designs Portico EQ and compression, built-in Dan Dugan auto-mixer and iOS remote control. In a booth within the booth, Yamaha/Steinberg was showing the Nuage Version 1.5 update.
Sound Devices 633
Sound Devices, a fixture in film/TV production and news gathering, made the trade show debut of its new 633 Field Mixer, a 6-input, 10-track recorder, with three mic/line XLR and three additional line-level TA3. It records at 24-bit/48kHz uncompressed stereo to CompactFlash and/or SD cards.
SSL, besides showing updates to its broadcast console line, was featuring its IP audio network, incorporating “Dante right now,” as they said. Also, the MADI Bridge to Dante and a new StageBox to accompany the SSL Live Console.
Lectrosonics Digital Secure Wireless system
Lectrosonics, an Albuquerque company, threw an awesome “Breaking Bad” party after hours, while on the floor they had a lot of attention on their new Digital Secure Wireless system, which features AES-256 advanced encryption for government and other security-conscious applications.
DPA d:screet Omnidirectional Miniature Necklace Microphone
DPA has expanded its d: line with introductions of the new d:screet Omnidirectional Miniature Necklace Microphone, coming in black, white and brown and in lengths of either 18.3 or 20.9 inches.
While Roland Systems Group showed its new S2416 digital snake, the surround field recording package was equally noteworthy. Using the USB out of the company’s video/audio field mixer, Roland showed how with a Holophone mic, recordists can monitor an 11.2 surround output using DTS Headphone:X technology.
A composite screenshot of Merging Technologies Pyramix 9 Mixer Signal Flow
Merging Technologies, makers of the high-end Pyramix 9 DAW, had it paired with the company’s new Hapi mic networked audio interface, which they bill as “son of Horus,” as it includes the same Ravenna/AES67 connectivity and high-quality components.
At the Harman booth, JBL was showing its 3 Series to broadcasters, but Soundcraft had a big presence surrounding its Vi3000 all-in-one console, with optional UAD package, as part of the Infinity series rollout.
Sennheiser MK 8 multipattern large-diaphragm condenser microphone
Sennheiser used NAB to launch its new MK 8 multipattern large-diaphragm condenser microphone, featuring a 1-inch, dual-diaphragm capsule, precisely spattered with 24-carat gold and elastically mounted. A three-position filter allows the user to either eliminate low-frequency noise below 60 Hz (-18 dB/octave, low-cut position) or introduce a softer roll-off effect from 100 Hz down to compensate for the proximity effect in close miking (-6 dB/octave, roll-off position).
Neumann, meanwhile, same booth, launched the KH 120 D, a digital studio monitor equipped with an additional BNC input for AES/EBU or S/PDIF formats (24-bit/192 kHz).
Dynaudio BM12 mkIII
Speaking of speakers, Dynaudio held the U.S. debut of its new speaker line, the BM5, BM6, BM12 and two new subs.
Tannoy was showing the new models in the Reveal line, the 402, 502 and 602.
Fostex made some noise by “re-entering” the higher-end studio world, celebrating 30 years in business with the all-new PX-6 and PX-5 near-fields, as well as a true update of its legacy 630SL monitor.
RTW TM3-Primus
And Genelec had its first U.S. showing of the new 1238A Smart Active Monitor—a three-way 15-inch with DSP, based on the popular 1038.
Beyerdynamic is celebrating 90 years (!) in 2014, and introduced a new stereo shotgun mic for DSLR mounting, as well as announced its return to wireless with a new 2-channel system, including a mic line with five interchangeable capsules.
And finally, RTW showed the ultra-compact TM3-Primus for level and loudness metering. As part of its TouchMonitor line, Primus features an advanced USB hybrid mode for integrating with DAWs and having metering points appear onscreen.
