PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUDIO-TECHNICA UNVEILS ATCS-60
IR CONFERENCE SYSTEM
— Company offers contractors and system integrators a flexible,
portable wireless infrared system with easy setup, intuitive operation
and unmatched security —
STOW, OH, June 24, 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 will be available
in Fall 2009.
…ends 713 words
Photo File: ATCS60.JPG
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of the respective companies with which they are associated.
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 Denise
Burnage (dburnage@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).