Sony launches new high-quality wireless microphone systems supporting Multi Interface Shoe with Digital Audio Interface and advanced XDCAM camcorder integration

At NAB 2019, Sony has announced a new addition to its UWP-D series wireless microphone systems, offering superior sound quality by supporting Multi Interface Shoe™ (MI shoe) and with a newly added Digital Audio Interface. The new UWP-D series enables direct digital audio recording and delivers high sound quality with low noise by skipping the D/A and A/D process in combination with a new SMAD-P5 MI shoe adaptor and Sony’s XDCAM camcorders PXW-Z280 and PXW-Z190. The new UWP-D also achieves advanced integration with the camcorders and can show audio information on the viewfinder for enhanced usability in the field.
The new UWP-D series microphones include a unique “NFC SYNC” feature, which gives audio professionals a simple and fast frequency setting between the transmitter and the receiver. A reduced size and lightweight offer the high levels of mobility required for a wide range of applications, including news production, field production, documentaries, sporting events and weddings.
Available in the summer of 2019, the new UWP-D series will all include the following range of new audio components:
• UWP-D21: URX-P40 Portable Receiver & UTX-B40 Bodypack Transmitter
• UWP-D22: URX-P40 Portable Receiver & UTX-M40 Handheld Wireless Microphone
• UWP-D26: URX-P40 Portable Receiver & UTX-B40 Bodypack Transmitter & UTX-P40 Plug-on Transmitter
“As high-resolution content, including 4K, becomes more prevalent in the video production industry, we are seeing an increase in demand for high-quality audio solutions to match this content and offer a fully-immersive viewing experience,” explained James Leach, Product Manager, Sony Professional Solutions Europe. “Modern content professionals are faced with the challenge of capturing high-quality audio within a short amount of time and with only a limited amount of resources available to them. At Sony, we continuously work with our customers to ensure our solutions address the real-life needs of content professionals in the field, and our new range of wireless microphones, with superb audio quality, hassle-free operation and easy integration with existing Sony products, is another testament to this commitment.”
The new UWP-D series also offers easy integration with Sony XDCAM camcorders, the PXW-Z280 and PXW-Z190, sharing audio information such as RF level meter, audio mute status and a low battery alerts for the transmitters, and displays them on the viewfinder. Utilising the SMAD-P5 MI shoe’s versatile feature it further allows audio signals to be transmitted from the wireless receiver to a connected camera without a cable connection. An additional benefit of this feature is the ability to unify power management, as the wireless receiver is now able to receive power from the camera, whilst the camera is able to synchronise power on/off with the receiver. SMAD-P5 is compatible with selected models of Sony cameras*² which have MI shoe with analogue audio interface.
As one-man operation by videographers increases in popularity, simple and quick channel setting for reliable RF transmission is becoming crucial. Delivering enhanced usability, the new and unique “NFC SYNC” feature is designed for easy and fast frequency setting. By simply holding the NFC SYNC button on the receiver for a few seconds, it automatically scans the appropriate frequency. Thereafter, users just need to touch the receiver with the transmitter to transfer the channel for optimum speed and efficiency.
In response to the industry’s desire for enhanced mobility, the new UWP-D series is designed to be compact and lightweight to assist with versatile operation. The new UTX-B40 bodypack transmitter has been reduced by approximately 20% compared to the previous model size, and the length of the URX-P04 receiver with the new SMAD-P5 MI shoe adaptor has been drastically shortened, making it easy for use with compact camcorders or smaller digital interchangeable lens cameras.