Published 15/6/09
Eight-channel digital microphone interface
Neumann have been microphone pioneers for decades: the first ever stereo microphone was a Neumann, and the company developed 48V phantom powering. These days, the German brand are focussing their attention on the development of the digital microphone — conventional-looking mics with built-in A-D converters that communicate bidirectionally with (and are controlled by) specialised equipment. Their first commercially available digital mic was the D01, a large-diaphragm condenser, and this has been joined more recently by the KM D modular small-diaphragm condenser system and a digital (‘D’-suffixed) version of the TLM103.
So far, there has only been one Neumann interface for converting the AES42 signals (which are used by all digital mics) into formats commonly used in conventional studios: the DMI2. This converts the signals from two digital mics into AES/EBU, used in most professional studios.
The latest interface from Neumann is the DMI8, an eight-channel AES42 interface that costs £2294 ($4398 in the USA). It’s got eight digital mic inputs, and AES/EBU outputs on two different 25-pin D-Sub connectors: one each for Tascam and Yamaha pin-out configurations. Also, there’s an ADAT output, for streaming all eight signals down a single fibre-optic cable. An RJ45 connector enables connection to a Mac or PC, so the parameters of the connected mics can be changed, and on-board memory can store settings for operation without a computer. In the UK, a single converter kit (£171) is required for connection to computer. In the USA, the converter is included in the retail price (above).
Usefully, numerous DMI8s can be daisy-chained to provide control and conversion for up to 128 digital mics. Other connections include Word Clock, and additional RJ45 ports for sending audio over multi‑channel protocols such as Ethersound and MADI. For further details, head to the Neumann web site, and for more insight into the technology of digital mics, check out our review of the KM184D and DMI2 in SOS March 2007, on-line here.
Sennheiser +44 (0)1494 551551
www.sennheiser.co.uk
www.neumann.com
So far, there has only been one Neumann interface for converting the AES42 signals (which are used by all digital mics) into formats commonly used in conventional studios: the DMI2. This converts the signals from two digital mics into AES/EBU, used in most professional studios.
The latest interface from Neumann is the DMI8, an eight-channel AES42 interface that costs £2294 ($4398 in the USA). It’s got eight digital mic inputs, and AES/EBU outputs on two different 25-pin D-Sub connectors: one each for Tascam and Yamaha pin-out configurations. Also, there’s an ADAT output, for streaming all eight signals down a single fibre-optic cable. An RJ45 connector enables connection to a Mac or PC, so the parameters of the connected mics can be changed, and on-board memory can store settings for operation without a computer. In the UK, a single converter kit (£171) is required for connection to computer. In the USA, the converter is included in the retail price (above).
Usefully, numerous DMI8s can be daisy-chained to provide control and conversion for up to 128 digital mics. Other connections include Word Clock, and additional RJ45 ports for sending audio over multi‑channel protocols such as Ethersound and MADI. For further details, head to the Neumann web site, and for more insight into the technology of digital mics, check out our review of the KM184D and DMI2 in SOS March 2007, on-line here.
Sennheiser +44 (0)1494 551551
www.sennheiser.co.uk
www.neumann.com
