Press

01.09.2008 - Amsterdam/Wedemark,

IBC 2008: Sennheiser heralds the arrival of its digital MKH microphones

At IBC 2008, audio specialist Sennheiser will be showing its first digital microphones. A screw-on digital module, the MZD 8000, turns the MKH 8020, MKH 8040 and MKH 8050 models into digital microphones that transmit audio signals according to the AES 42 standard. With conversion taking place directly behind the microphone head, the microphones’ clear, warm and responsive sound is directly “translated” to the digital world. Cable losses, disturbance from stray pick-up, and deterioration in sound quality caused by analogue/digital converters not being perfectly adapted to the microphone are now a thing of the past.

“The fantastic sound of the MKH 8000 series can now be digitalised directly at the microphone head, without any loss of quality,” explained Sebastian Schmitz, Product Manager for microphones at Sennheiser. “The new digital module ensures that the natural, yet fantastically clear and powerful, sound is maintained in full quality along the entire signal chain. In contrast to conventional digitalisation, which uses a separate analogue/digital converter at some stage in the chain, the Sennheiser MZD 8000 digital module eliminates cable losses and, most importantly, features a converter and surrounding circuitry that have been optimally matched to the microphone.”
 

Digital microphones in an instant
The compact digital module is simply screwed onto the microphone head in place of the XLR module. Like all signal-carrying components in the 8000 series, the module is designed with two channels and converts the microphone signal according to the AES 42 standard, turning the audio signal of the MKH 8020 (omni-directional), MKH 8040 (cardioid) and MKH 8050 (super-cardioid) into a digital one.

Remote control made easy
In addition to the A/D converter (24-bit, sampling rate up to 192 kHz), the digital module contains a DSP unit which, with the aid of dedicated control software and an AES 42 interface, allows microphone settings such as the low-cut filter, attenuation and limiter to be controlled remotely. The interface, e.g. Neumann’s DMI, also provides the phantom power and word clock for synchronising the microphones. Alternatively, the microphones can be synchronised using an external word clock. “Their modular design makes these microphones absolutely future-proof,” explains Sebastian Schmitz. “Digital MKH 8000 microphones are the first choice when it comes to recording, studio work and broadcasting.”
 

The digital module for the MKH 8000 range will be available from autumn 2008.
 

Visit Sennheiser at IBC, Hall 8, stand C 51.
 

The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of over €395 million in 2007, 83% of which were generated abroad. Sennheiser employs almost 2,000 people worldwide, around 55% of whom are in Germany. Sennheiser has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA, and is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones), K + H Vertriebs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (Klein + Hummel studio monitors, installed sound) and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

Download Pressrelease:
pressrelease_01.09.2008_en.zip (2 MB)
 

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