127th
AES CONVENTION, NEW YORK, NY, October 9, 2009 —
Audio-Technica,
a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 45 years, expands
its Engineered Sound® range of meeting/conference room offerings with
the
ATCS-60
IR (infrared) Conference System.
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.
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:
ATCS-M60 Microphone Unit (base unit)
ATCS-60MIC Dedicated standard-length Gooseneck Microphone
ATCS-A60 IR Transmitter/Receiver Unit
ATCS-C60 Master Control Unit
ATCS-D60 Distributor (splitter)
ATCS-B60 Battery charger
ATCS-C60MAG Software
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. In manual mode, 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 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.
Finally, the Master Control Unit features an RS-232C connecting port,
for control via third-party units by AMX™, Crestron® and others.
Greg Pinto, Audio-Technica VP of Marketing, states, “The addition
of the ATCS-60 system to our extensive range of contractor and system
integrator products, represents Audio-Technica’s total commitment
to providing install-sound solutions. The new infrared conference
system joins A-T’s hard-wired microphones, RF systems and the
ultra wideband SpectraPulse® wireless microphone system, offering
engineers, sound contractors and installers a complete range of conference
system options.”
The ATCS-60 system is currently available.
Celebrating over 45 years of audio excellence
worldwide, Audio-Technica is a leading innovator in transducer technology,
renowned for the design and manufacture of microphones, wireless microphones,
headphones, mixers, and electronics for the audio industry.
—For more information on the complete range of Audio-Technica
products, contact
Karen Emerson, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow,
OH 44224.
Tel: (330) 686-2600; Fax: (330) 688-3752; Web: www.audio-technica.com
—For further information regarding product availability
and pricing in the United Kingdom, please contact Harvey Roberts (hroberts@audio-technica.co.uk);
in Germany, please contact Anja Groth (a.groth@audio-technica.de);
in the rest of Europe, please contact Evangéline Pirot (epirot@audio-technica-europe.com).