In Broadcast - October 2012 - 40

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

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WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 13 - OCTOBER 2012

InSOUND

Sennheiser Expands MKH Studio Microphone Series
Sennheiser is expanding its MKH studio microphone series with the addition of the MKH 8090, whose wide cardioid pick-up pattern makes it a suitable microphone for orchestral recordings. The RF condenser microphone is suited as both a main and a spot microphone. An optional screw-on module can be used to convert it into a digital AES42 microphone. “The MKH 8090 combines omnidirectional and cardioid pick-up patterns to produce an impressive orchestral microphone,” explained Kai Lange, Product Manager for Wired Microphones at Sennheiser. “Used as a main microphone, it picks up the entire sound body and a healthy proportion of room acoustics, while as a spot microphone it has sufﬁcient directivity to screen out other sound sources without making the recording sound too ‘narrow’.” One of those responsible for fine-tuning the microphone was tonmeister Gregor Zielinsky, International Recording Applications Manager at Sennheiser: “During the development of the MKH 8090, we focused on ensuring that the sound perception of the microphone is precisely between that of the omni-directional MKH 8020 and the cardioid MKH 8040. Through further ﬁne-tuning, we succeeded in creating a microphone with a sound that seems to ‘shine’, and which has great presence and musicality.” The MKH 8090 beneﬁts from the wide range of accessories available for the 8000 series. This includes the MZD 8000 digital module, which converts the audio signal of the MKH 8090 into a digital signal according to the AES42 standard (Mode 2) directly at the microphone head, thus ensuring a lifelike, natural sound entirely without cable losses or interference from other sources. Sennheiser’s MKH series works according to the RF principle, which Sennheiser has been using for more than 50 years and has developed to absolute perfection, for example through the use of symmetrical transducers. RF condenser microphones drive ‘ordinary’ bipolar transistors, which have lower random noise than the ﬁeld-effect transistors that are commonly used. This extends the frequency response of the microphone and, even with small capsules, enables it to achieve excellent lowfrequency response that is otherwise only possible with much Suitable for orchestral recordings – Sennheiser’s larger capsules. Smaller MKH 8090 wide cardioid condenser microphone capsules have the are a special type of condenser additional beneﬁt of enhancing highfrequency response. microphone. Instead of the high polarisation voltage that is usually RF condenser microphones required, a relatively low RF voltage from Sennheiser have a special generated by a low-noise oscillator is symmetrical ‘push-pull’ capsule applied to the capsule. This voltage is design that uses a front plate in modulated by capacitance changes addition to the back plate. This produced by the sound waves ensures unchanging acoustic moving the capsule diaphragm. impedance, extremely low distortion After demodulation, a low-noise ﬁgures, a higher capsule output audio frequency signal with very with lower noise and therefore a low source impedance is available. particularly clear signal. ■ This signal can be used to directly

40

InTEST

PHABRIX Extends Rx Range
and measurement The Rx range consists of three chassis types, the 19” 2U Rx2000 with two integral monitoring screens, the full width 1U Rx1000 and half width 1U Rx500 rasterisers each providing end users with a multiviewer of instruments on a 1920 x 1080 HDMI or SDI monitor. Existing rasterisers provide a maximum of 1024 x 768 which handles a quad split however the new PHABRIX Rx’s provide almost 123% more high resolution screen space to ﬁt many more instruments on the screen - all working and reporting simultaneously not conﬁned to just quad view. Fundamental to each of the new products is the Rx’s unrivalled ability to
PHABRIX Rx T&M range

PHABRIX has continued to develop its new Rx range of test and measurement instruments and IBC 2012 saw another technological leap with multiple instruments on HDMI output equivalent to a multi viewer of test

show up to eight simultaneous SDI channels with a full set of conﬁgurable test and measurement instruments. Among the high-end tools available is physical layer analysis, again a unique tool on PHABRIX rasterisers The technology currently supports up to four simultaneous eye patterns however PHABRIX plans to enable up to eight physical layer screens to provide broadcast manufacturers with an exceptional platform as a test bench. At IBC, PHABRIX launched a new loudness option for the Rx range supporting both EBU and ITU standards. It also launched three new modules including a combined analyser and generator module a dual generator module and a combined analyser, generator and eye and jitter module. Phillip Adams, PHABRIX

Managing Director said: “We have had considerable interest from the broadcast industry in our new and innovative Rx modular system for rack mount test and measurement. Users can add modules at any time within departmental CAPEX budgets to add new functionality without the expense of sending units back to base or fully conﬁguring a unit on purchase.” PHABRIX showed an innovative display of the Rx units on its stand at IBC allowing broadcast engineers to view both the front and back of the units to understand how slim the new Rx’s are. At only 13cm depth and weighing below 3kgs with the Rx500 at a mere 1.7 kgs, these new units are going to appeal across the board with ﬂy away packs and OB facilities taking particular interest. ■
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In Broadcast - October 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - October 2012
