NEWS
RELEASE
Contact: Clyne
Media, Inc.
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUDIO-TECHNICA
ADDS ATCS-60 IR CONFERENCE SYSTEM TO WIRELESS OFFERINGS
— Company
offers contractors and system integrators a flexible, portable wireless
infrared system with easy setup, intuitive operation and unmatched
security —
GV EXPO, WASHINGTON, DC, December 2, 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.”
On
a related note, Audio-Technica is now offering Engineered Sound contractors
a new program for its Engineered Sound product line. As part of this
initiative, Audio-Technica is offering new freight options and extended
terms; the company has also expanded the warranty on its entire range
of Engineered Sound products to five years.
The
ATCS-60 system is currently available.
…ends
713 words
Photo
File: ATCS60.JPG
Click
here for ATCS-60 product profile and downloadable high-res photo(s).
See
more Audio-Technica news releases.
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).