News

Bosser Nova

10/18/2019

Zaxcom has just announced the MRX414 Digital Wireless Receiver Module for the Nova Recorder and the RX-12 and RX-12R Enclosures!

The MRX414 can receive four channels of audio from up to four transmitters using two UHF diversity receivers. It is compatible with any Zaxcom digital transmitter and with all Zaxcom modulations (Mono, Stereo, XR and ZHD). That's a total of eight channels of audio from eight transmitters in a single unit when using both slots!

The MRX414 consumes about the same power of a QRX212 with double the number of receivers and has improved receiving and dynamic ranges.

The modules can be easily added or hot-swapped as necessary. A MRX214 can be upgraded to an MRX414.

Check out the video below the jump for more details or preorder here.

Eight Inputs No Waiting

09/11/2019

The new Sound Devices 833 is a lightweight and compact production mixer-recorder. It features eight input channels - three via XLR, three via TA3, and the final two through the 1/8" input return.

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The 833 offers six full-featured microphone preamplifiers,12 tracks of recording, six analog outputs, and an ultra-accurate time code generator. Features from the Scorpio recorder are also incorporated, including a new preamplifier design, dual SD card slots, internal 256 GB SSD storage, dual L-Mount powering and charging, and Dugan Automixing with up to eight channels in two separate groups mixed simultaneously.

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Additionally, the 833 shares the same powerful processing and FPGA architecture as the Scorpio for complex signal routing, control, and signal processing. Any physical input can be routed to any track and the built-in three band EQ per input channel can be applied either pre- or post-fade. The 833 features both digital and analog inputs and outputs, has multiple powering options, and is compatible with the Icon Platform M+ Control Surface.

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The User Guide is available here.

The 833 starts to ship next week, but initial stock may be limited, so get your pre-orders in now for earliest possible delivery:

833 Recorder $3995

MixPre II: Mix Harder

08/29/2019

Update,9/3: The initial production batch has been sold through. We are anticipating the next units to start arriving at the end of September and will distribute them on a first-come, first-served basis to customers with pre-orders.

The Sound Devices MixPre II series is here with improved hardware and a whole passel of great new features, including 32-bit float recording. They also have all the capabilities of the original MixPre recorder series at the same or lower price!

New features available in all models of the MixPre II include:

Bit depth up to 32-bit float for increased 142 dB dynamic range
(more info and samples)
Internal LTC time code generation and output
192 kHz recording
Adjustable limiters
Auto-copy to USB drive
10 second pre-roll buffer

The combination of the bit depth and low noise Kashmir mic preamps give you the flexibility to fix signal in post-production. Tracks recorded either too low (down to -50dBFS) or high can be normalized without adding any additional noise or digital clipping distortion. The limiting factor to great recordings is primarily the input source, not the preamps or A to D converters in the recorder.

They're starting to ship, so get your orders in now for earliest possible delivery:

Comparison chart under the jump.

600 MHz Spectrum Update - August 2019

08/15/2019

We're inching ever closer to the July 13th, 2020 deadline when the transition to the new USA spectrum regulations will be complete and production wireless systems will have to stop using most of the 616 - 698 MHz (block 24-26) frequencies. However, changes are already afoot:

TV station repacking is ongoing, so watch for sudden changes in local frequency use. Here's some guides to what's moving and when:
Many of New York's TV stations were moved at the beginning of August. Here's a snapshot courtesy of RFcoordinationNYC of the situation on August 1st.
T-Mobile has been testing and bringing transmitters online in the 616- 698 MHz frequencies, so you are likely to experience increasing interference, especially in major media markets. They may also issue a vacate notice in specific areas, at which point you'll have to discontinue use of those frequencies. Here's a guide to their deployment plan by country (xlsx file).

Before July 13th, 2020

Barring a notice from T-Mobile, you may continue to legally use wireless in 616 to 698 MHz; however, we strongly recommend changing frequencies as soon as possible.
Wireless equipment in 616 to 698 which is currently in production can still be reblocked. Discontinued / legacy gear cannot be reblocked, though it may be able to be serviced.

After July 13th, 2020

Use of 616 to 698 MHz (with the exception of the 653-663 MHz duplex gap) becomes illegal for production wireless.
You may continue to legally use discontinued / legacy equipment in 470 to 616 and 653 to 663 MHz, as long as the operator complies with transmitter output power regulations and has a license where applicable.
Reserved channels for wireless mics will be discontinued.
Wireless equipment in 616 to 698 MHz which is currently in production can still be reblocked. Discontinued / legacy gear cannot be reblocked, though it may be able to be serviced.

Check out our 2017 gude for a more detailed look at alternate frequencies and other steps you can take, including getting a Part 74 license, which we highly encourage and will allow you more frequency options and higher power output.

If you have any questions about your wireless situation, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at (212) 629-9430.

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Relevant to the whole wireless kerfuffle, we've just given our RF frequency scan repository a facelift with updated TV channels, new overlays from more manufacturers, and fresh scans for most studios in the NY area with 900 MHz data.

However, a lot of our data is pretty stale and doesn't reflect all the recent changes, so if you've got scans to share, send them our way!