SpectraBand is a brand-new technology which gives the Sound Devices A20-RX receiver and A20-Mini transmitters an unprecedented tuning range: 470 MHz – 1525 MHz. The advantages of SpectraBand to sound professionals are in the operating frequencies available in a given location, alleviating the problem of no open spectrum to operate wireless mics. Money is saved by purchasing only one piece of gear, which can be used anywhere, rather than special hardware variants of kit used for different locations, making worldwide travel easier.
The Sound Devices A20-RX and A20-Mini receives can use all legal frequency bands within their tuning range in any given country. The SpectraBand hardware also includes filtering that improves immunity from strong interfering signals (for example, a local DTV transmitter) or other transmitters close to the receiver (IFBs, 2-way radios, camera hops).
NexLink is a narrow-band, low data-rate, proprietary protocol for remote-controlling. NexLink was written from the ground up by Sound Devices with wireless microphone systems in mind. Instead of using Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, which are not ideally suited for wireless transmitter control, NexLink offers the the ideal operating range, low power, and a reliable link with frequency hoping in 2.4GHz that is legal worldwide.
And Sound Devices is also innovating in offering software updates for its hardware solutions. The purchased software licenses are a good fit for productions that consistently need the higher channel counts in a compact footprint packed with powerful features – without additional hardware. The perpetual license is available for $2500 USD for an additional four receiver channels. By purchasing a single 4-Channel Expansion License, the A20-Nexus can be increased to 12 channels, and a second License purchase expands the A20-Nexus receiver to its maximum 16-channel capacity.
Sound Devices is also offering rental options for the additional channels: one option for 7 days of an additional four receiver channels at the cost of $250 USD, and one option for 30 days of four channels at $850 USD. "These rental licenses are perfect for sound mixers who want to temporarily increase their receiver channel counts," says Sound Devices Director of Product Design, Paul Isaacs. "If there’s a particular gig where you need more than the eight channels you use every day on your A20-Nexus, you can get an additional four or eight channels for the run of the show and then go back to your usual channel count. You get maximum convenience without committing to a long-term upgrade."
The rental versions of the A20-Nexus 4-Channel Expansion Licenses are only available via Sound Devices’ online store. The permanent licenses can be purchased both in the online store and through Sound Devices’ approved resellers and distributors. More information about the Sound Devices A20-Nexus is available in our previous article.
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