Unlocking the Future of Wireless Audio: An In-Depth Look at WMAS

Meeting the pressing needs for professional wireless microphone applications, struggling with RF challenges, regulatory constraints, and the scarcity of frequency spectrum, 2024 was the year of the first product announcements leveraging Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems (WMAS) technology. In this article Nick Wood (Shure) provides a unique perspective of the WMAS technology, its future in the industry, and its regulatory framework for professional audio applications.

It didn’t take long for Shure to make its own WMAS (Wireless Multichannel Audio System) product announcement, leveraging the superior RF performance and audio quality associated with the multichannel wideband technology that significantly increases spectral efficiency. The new Shure Digital PSM wireless in ear monitor system is powered with WMAS innovation, and will be available early 2025. A solution that offers unmatched flexibility and scalability for monitor engineers, RF engineers, and rental houses.

At IBC 2024, Sennheiser unveiled Spectera, the world's first wideband, bidirectional, digital wireless ecosystem for microphones and monitoring. A major breakthrough for the company, the announcement follows the gradual global regulatory approval for the use of Wireless Multi-Channel Audio Systems (WMAS) technology. Designed to meet the challenges of highly demanding live performance and studio applications, Sennheiser is first-to market with this advanced wireless technology.

Sound Devices has announced a new expanded range of compact true diversity digital wireless audio/microphone receivers for professional production applications, introducing a sophisticated design with full color displays and the most current technology. The new A20-Nexus compact 8, 12 or 16 channel, true diversity digital wireless receivers with SpectraBand offers an unprecedented tuning range and superior RF filtering for worldwide usage, expanding Sound Devices' Astral Series of wireless transmitters and receivers.

Sound Devices is shipping a new two channel, true diversity receiver with industry-exclusive SpectraBand technology. SpectraBand gives the new Sound Devices A20-RX receiver and A20-Mini transmitter an unprecedented tuning range, from 470 MHz to 1525 MHz. The A20-RX also features high-discrimination front end filtering for better performance in noisy RF environments and Frequency AutoAssign for faster setup.

Lectrosonics announced the introduction of the DSR and DSR5P dual-channel and DSR4 quad-channel digital slot receivers. The new receivers are compatible with all the current Lectrosonics mono and stereo digital transmitters and are backward compatible with any of the Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters made in the past 20 years. These new-generation receivers provide the highest level of RF and audio performance available for field and location production.

Tektronix announced the launch of its newest version of the acclaimed 5 Series mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO). With numerous enhancements, including added support for power integrity testing and for debug and validation, the 5 Series MSO delivers even more versatility while continuing to provide high-fidelity waveforms, unique spectrum analysis capabilities and flexible signal access appreciated by engineers around the world.