The Soundfield mic format has had a checked history being owned by a number of brands in its long life including AMS and KGM before settling in the TSL group two years ago.
At IBC this year TSL have revealed the direction they are taking the Soundfield range with several new products.
DSF-2 MKII digital surround and stereo microphone
This has a wide range of integrated system self-tests with alarming and correction including the monitoring of all supplies and the microphone cable health, showing detected errors on the front panel display and the SoundField Remote App, while at the same time auto-correcting errors as necessary to allow the event or recording to continue. Soundfield mics are used alot in sport so these features are clearly aimed at that market.
The DSF-3 MKII digital surround processor
This new version now supports a new range of Object Based Audio formats, in addition to Stereo and 5.1. These new formats include height information – 5.1 + 2, 5.1 + 4 and 7.1 + 2. The new front panel design is based around two LCD displays, with a lock-out function to avoid accidental changes. These formats are aimed at the new surround formats and the 5.1 +4 describes the Auro Technologies 9.1 format with 5.1 on the bottom and 4.0 on the top.
Soundfield Remote App
Both the DSF-2 MKII digital surround and stereo microphone system and the DSF-3 MKII digital surround processor are now fully integrated into the SoundField Remote App, giving users a single piece of software for control and firmware updates and access to all the control units functionality such as mic-pre gain, Limiter On/Off, HPF, Stereo Polar and Stereo Width. The new models offer both Ethernet and USB connectivity to interface with the SoundField Remote App as well as a new front panel design based around an LCD display. The DSF-2 MKII features new low noise mic-pre design with 1dB gain steps and new low-jitter clock circuitry for further improved audio performance, as well as auto-ranging power supplies which reduce power consumption.
See them at IBC 2014
TSL Products are also launching the DSF-1 MKII which is aimed at music recording. The DSF-1/2/3 MKII will be available for demonstration on Stand 10.B41 at IBC 2014.