New York's pro audio industry leaders across the live production space came together on August 15 to attend an exclusive hands-on workshop demonstrating the potential of Sennheiser's Wireless Multi-Channel Audio Systems (WMAS) technology. The event was presented by Dr. Sebastian Georgi, one of the research and development engineers who invented WMAS at Sennheiser's German headquarters, and Greg Simon, manager, regional technical application engineer.

According to Georgi, "With this technology, we are re-thinking wireless audio transmission in multi-channel applications such as big live events, theaters, and broadcast studios -- wherever many audio channels are up in the air. Sennheiser's implementation of WMAS is essentially a bi-directional wireless broadband technology, which combines microphones, in-ears, and remote control in just one broadband RF channel." WMAS would tackle many of the common pain points for sound engineers, including RF fading and dropouts, while maximizing the increasingly scarce frequency resources available across the US.

The presentation offered an in-depth, technical look at WMAS, including how the technology adapts existing broadband techniques to the stringent requirements of professional wireless audio transmission, going beyond the obvious advantages of frequency efficiency and an extremely reliable wireless signal. Attendees were notably treated to a firsthand demonstration of how future Sennheiser solutions will tangibly implement this technology, the company says.

While the products deploying WMAS are currently in development, once realized, these forthcoming solutions will enable a single bodypack to simultaneously support a wireless mic and in-ear monitor for artists. With this, the solution will free up space backstage at events, taking away the need for busy racks of receivers and transmitters as a single base station would feasibly handle 32 inputs and 32 outputs. Live audio engineers and frequency coordinators will benefit from additional control, less clutter and negligible RF fading, among many other advantages.

On the back of the educational event, attendees including esteemed audio engineers and experts shared their impression of WMAS, and how the technology will impact and streamline their workflow.

"I think the WMAS Technology is truly the next step in RF management and organization. The presentation was an eye-opening experience to see what's possible now, thanks to Sennheiser's innovative R&D engineers. I am looking forward to using this technology when it becomes available in the United States and have high hopes for its integration into tours and theaters," says Jason Banta, live and studio engineer for artists including Amos Lee, Better Than Ezra, and Tonic.

"It's a hackneyed phrase but it's great to see a manufacturer thinking "out of the box" to provide the solutions the industry desperately needs," says Philip Barrett, director of audio, Creative Technology Group, Inc.

"WMAS represents the logical evolution of digital radio microphone technology, and Sennheiser has masterfully envisioned its implementation. Future workflows employing WMAS will simplify equipment deployments and RF spectral efficiency for the technician while improving the user experience for the artist," says Henry Cohen, senior RF Systems design engineer, CP Communications.

"Sennheiser's WMAS technology skips several technology iterations to bring RF audio to the present and drive it into the future. This technology will push industry innovation, while making coordination, deployment, and operation both simpler and more reliable," says Kevin Tucker, design engineer, NEP Broadcast Services.

Currently, Sennheiser is working alongside audio industry peers to educate the broader wireless community about WMAS and achieve the necessary FCC approval to bring this important innovation to market, the company says. Joe Ciaudelli, director of spectrum and innovation at Sennheiser, shares, "WMAS is a completely new approach to wireless microphone design that requires a rule change issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Revolutionary technologies in any industry are often met with trepidation, but Sennheiser has demonstrated that WMAS not only fulfills the FCC goal for spectral efficiency but also provides greater protection against interference to other devices that share the same spectrum, including traditional wireless mics and IEMs. Sennheiser graciously thanks the numerous industry leaders who have provided their names to the FCC in support for the necessary rule change, clearly demonstrating strong enthusiasm for this problem-solving technology. Hopefully, this will inspire the FCC to enact a favorable Report & Order soon."

WMAS has already attained the necessary government authorizations in most of EMEA and in many APAC countries. With the support of leading industry experts, Sennheiser is taking steps to accelerate this crucial regulatory step and bring this technology to the vibrant live audio industry in the US, the company says.

To learn more about WMAS and receive the latest updates on this technology, you can sign up for Sennheiser's newsletter or contact the company here: www.sennheiser.com/wmas.