The new A20-Mini Digital Wireless Microphone Transmitter is a visible result of Sound Devices acquisition of Audio Limited, the UK manufacturer and developer of high-performance wireless microphone systems. A20-Remote is the A20-Mini’s companion app and is available on iOS, iPadOS, and Android phones and tablets with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 specification. This is an important development in terms of remote control capabilities that are becoming essential on set following the pandemic.
The app's intuitive interface allows sound professionals to control RF transmit frequency and power, turn the Mini on and off, start and stop recording, mute the microphone, format the media, and more. The A20-Mini’s internal, high-efficiency 2.4 GHz antenna ensures excellent Bluetooth range, up to 40 feet/12 meters. The A20-Remote app offers easy adjustment of transmitter settings after the unit has been placed on talent, eliminating unnecessary downtime on set.
One of the most beneficial features to sound professionals is the A20-Mini’s groundbreaking GainForward Architecture. Most digital wireless systems require gain to be set at the transmitter, the receiver, and finally the recorder. GainForward allows sound professionals to set gain, limiters, and low-cut directly on the channel of their Sound Devices 8-Series mixer-recorder with zero loss in sound quality. Sound professionals with other mixer-recorders will also be able to adjust gain, limiters and low-cut locally via menus on the A10-RX two-channel digital diversity receiver. GainForward saves time during production by giving sound professionals immediate control of gain without needing access to the transmitter - perfect for social distancing on set or complex wardrobes.
The A20-Mini’s 64 GB internal storage allows for over 80 hours of recording in 48 kHz, 32-bit float - a file format that allows users to adjust the gain of the file after recording with zero loss in headroom or noise performance. Recorded WAV files can be easily transferred to a computer via the A20-Mini’s USB-C port and optionally converted to standard 24-bit files using SD-Utility, the free companion app for Mac and Windows. Recordings and RF transmission both have excellent fidelity with a full 10Hz to 20kHz audio bandwidth, and the recordings are synchronized by the ultra-accurate 0.2 ppm internal timecode generator. The A20-Mini can be jammed via USB-C with negligible drift over a 24-hour period.
All of the A20-Mini’s circuitry is housed in a sleek, rugged, and water-resistant chassis with rounded corners that fits perfectly into body contours. The A20-Mini is powered by three AAA batteries or a rechargeable Sony NP-BX1 battery, no adapters needed. Built-in charging for the NP-BX1 is available via the USB-C port. The optional PowerStation-8M accessory provides easy battery charging, file transfer, and timecode jamming of up to eight A20-Minis at a time.
The A20-Mini joins a growing family of Sound Devices wireless products. The A10 Digital Wireless System, comprising the A10-TX, A10-RX, and A10-RACK, was released in 2018 after the company acquired Audio Limited. And many users will be glad to know that, unlike the A10-TX which only supported 2-wire lavalier microphones, the A20-Mini also supports 3-wire lavs such as the Schoeps.
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