Lectrosonics has announced the introduction of its Digital Secure Wireless system. Featuring AES-256-CTR (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption technology, the new Digital Secure Wireless system is designed for environments where privacy is of paramount concern, such as corporate boardrooms, shareholder meetings, and government facilities. As a rugged and high-quality wireless microphone system, the new products will also find a home in theatres, film-making, touring and other demanding applications.
The CTR (Counter) Encryption mode of AES encryption maintains low latency (2.5ms overall) while keeping channel noise to a minimum. Key management is user selectable in one of two modes: Persistent, where the key is kept from session to session, and One-time, where the key must be generated for each session (most secure). The system utilises a special chip for entropy generation in order to ensure the key is truly randomly generated. The key transfer requires a simple cabled download, thus avoiding security issues with easily detected infrared key transfer systems.
The new Lectrosonics system consists of the DR digital wireless receiver frame, the individual DRM digital receiver modules, and the DB digital wireless beltpack transmitter. Similar in form to Lectrosonics’ Venue receiver systems, the DR digital wireless receiver frame supports up to six channels or modules in 1RU. Analogue and digital (AES/EBU) XLR outputs are selectable on the device menu. The frame supports wideband reception (470.100 to 691.175MHz), 50-ohm BNC antenna inputs, and outputs for cascading up to three additional frames (24 channels total) on one set of antennas, without an external multi-coupler. The clock input and output enables the DR to be the master clock in a digital audio system or to be the slave to an external master clock. A 0.25in headphone output can be fed from a mixture of channel signals, or from isolated channels.
The DRM digital receiver module docks into the DR digital wireless receiver frame and up to six modules can be docked per a single DR frame. Each receiver module has a 25.5MHz bandwidth. The new DRM digital receiver modules are available on all standard Lectrosonics frequency blocks.
The Lectrosonics DB digital wireless beltpack transmitter features wideband tuning (470-698MHz), a highly linear RF output stage for reduced intermodulation distortion and for this reason, high channel counts are possible even with minimum RF spectrum available. The transmitter provides true 50mW transmission RF power for excellent range and resistance to dropouts. The TA5M mic/line input found on the DB digital wireless beltpack transmitter accepts all lavaliere and headworn microphones wired for Lectrosonics transmitters.
Karl Winkler, Lectrosonics’ director of business development, said: “The new Digital Secure Wireless system is the ideal tool for those environments where privacy is crucial and is, for example, particularly well-suited for use at large corporations, banks and other financial institutions. With the passage in 2002 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, information security and access control have been central themes with companies in compliance with the law. Closed sets, theatre and live productions can similarly benefit from secure wireless mic transmission. Our new Digital Secure Wireless system provides the convenience of wireless freedom while protecting one’s sensitive information.”
The new Lectrosonics Digital Secure Wireless system is scheduled to ship in Q3 2014.
