Radio World - April 8, 2009 - (Page 38) 38 Radio World | radioworld.com BUYER’S GUIDE April 8, 2009 TECH UPDATES Shure Shows New USB Adapter Shure is launching a microphone USB plug-on adapter, the X2u. Similar to a wireless microphone plug-on, the X2u plugs onto the XLT connector of a standard condenser microphone. The X2u then outputs its signal via a USB connector to a computer. The X2u has onboard digital conversion. Features include 16-bit/48 kHz performance, 48 V phantom power, a gain control, 1/8-inch headphone jack with volume control and a monitor-mix control. The X2u is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 2000 and Mac OSX and includes a USB cable and padded pouch. For information, contact Shure at 847-600-2000 or visit www.shure.com. Henry’s MiniPod Is a Networkable Headphone System Henry Engineering’s MiniPod headphone amplifier is a compact “put it anywhere” headphone listening station that is designed for broadcast studios, voice-over booths and other professional installations. The MiniPod is a self-contained headphone amp with dual headphone jacks and a volume control. The MiniPod is about the size of a deck of cards, PortaMic Pro Eases Surround Recording Keeping an eye on the surround side of things, Holophone’s PortaMic Pro allows users to capture, from a single point source, a discrete surround recording that provides listeners with a 3D “immersive” experience. The microphone system comes with a zoom button that increases the forward bias of the mic’s pattern. The PortaMic Pro also features a Dolby making it easy to mount on a desktop or under a counter. A feature that sets the MiniPod apart from other headphone amps is that multiple MiniPod units can be connected together to make a multilistener headphone network. Each MiniPod has two 1/4-inch TRS jacks for a stereo (balanced) audio source. There are also two RJ-45 jacks that permit a series of units to be daisychained together using common Cat-5 cable. The user can select what each MiniPod user hears: all the same audio (from a common source); or each user can hear a different audio source; or any combination of these two scenarios. Some MiniPod listeners can hear a common audio source, with others hearing a different source(s). If a talkback or IFB facility is needed, MiniPods can be used with Henry Engineering’s MultiPhones II master unit. The MultiPhones II master adds a three-zone talkback/IFB to a MiniPod headphone network. The master unit allows the MiniPods to be divided into three groups or “Talkback Zones,” so that a producer, call screener or board operator can give off-air cues to each group without disturbing the other two groups of listeners. As an example, in a talk format studio, MiniPod listeners could be divided into “host,” “cohost” and “guest” groups. The producer or call screener could give cues to any group (or combination of groups) as needed. Each MultiPhones master unit can support up to 12 MiniPods headphone listening stations. For information, contact Henry Engineering at (626) 355-3656 or visit www.henryeng.com. Laboratories’ Dolby Pro Logic II encoder, which allows the mic’s six audio channels to be encoded down to two, so it can be recorded to any broadcast camera or stereo recording device. The mic’s surround encoded audio is output to a six-pin balanced mini XLR. The encoder is equipped with a stereo 1/8-inch mini plug output. When used in conjunction with the Holophone’s new D-CODE multichannel decoder or a Dolby Pro Logic II decoder, the two-channel encoded recordings of the PortaMic Pro can be decoded to six. To ensure a quality recording in loud locations, the mic features a unity gain control and a 12 dB pad. The mic and encoder may be powered by the camera’s battery, or by a 9V battery. The mic system is compatible with the installed base of approximately 60 million Dolby Pro Logic II consumer decoders, allowing the PortaMic Pro’s recordings to be broadcast in stereo and decoded to surround in viewers’ living rooms. For information, contact Holophone at (416) 362-7790 or visit www.holophone.com. Sony Electronics’ ECM-957PRO Has Two Positions Sony Electronics’ ECM-957PRO electret condenser stereo microphone is designed to provide improved sensitivity and sound quality. It’s suitable for broadcasters and journalists, as well as performers, musicians, houses of worship and corporate and educational production professionals. The mic is also compatible with a wide range of portable digital field recorders. With such features as a “turning capsule” function that allows both vertical and horizontal sound pick-up, the ECM-957PRO is a flexible microphone that can be positioned in a variety of recording situations. Users can set the directive angle between left and right channels at 90 degrees or 120 degrees depending on their needs. The microphone is suited for use as an external option for any portable field recorder, including Sony’s PCMD1 and PCMD50 units. The mic is powered by a single 1.5 V AA battery providing approximately 200 hours of operation. Accessories for the ECM-957PRO include a microphone cable; five-pin XLR connector to L-shaped stereo mini plug, windscreen, microphone holder, microphone stand and a carrying case. Other key features include frequency response of 50 Hz – 18 kHz, sensitivity of –37 dB; 0 dB = 1V/Pa, 1000 Hz; output impedance of 600 ohm; maximum sound pressure level of 115 dB SPL and a dynamic range over 90 dB. For information, contact Sony Electronics at (800) 686-7669 or visit www.sony.com/proaudio. http://www.radioworld.com http://www.shure.com http://www.omb.com http://www.omb.com http://www.henryeng.com http://www.holophone.com http://www.omb.com http://www.omb.es http://www.sony.com/proaudio
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