New AS 8 & AS 8 TC Automatic Microphone Mixers

Introducing an entirely new level of intelligence to automatic microphone mixers, AKG Acoustics USA debuted the AS 8 and its sister, the AS 8 TC, to the MI market at Summer NAMM as part of its new SR series of sound reinforcement products. The eight-channel mixers employ the patented Adaptive Proportional Gain (APG) algorithm to allocate gain among system microphones.

The AS 8 includes bass and treble control on the master output while the TC version adds the same control to each microphone channel. The new mixers offer an easy and effective means to building great-sounding, highly scalable and user friendly sound systems.The AS 8 and AS 8 TC each employ a unique APG algorithm, which allocates gain among system microphones. The microphones with the highest signal levels receive proportionally higher gain than inactive microphones while the level at each channel is compared to an overall reference level, which is generated by the sum of all channels. Each channel is then attenuated by the difference between the individual channel level and the reference level. Since the APG algorithm does not utilize gates, manual adjustments are not necessary.

A microprocessor skewing function on the AS 8 and AS 8 TC attenuates signals with the same frequency and prevents non-speech sounds such as coughs and pops from affecting the automatic mixing functions, all the while reducing the gain sharing that occurs in conventional gain proportional algorithms. The APG algorithm also incorporates a compressor /limiter function to compensate for differences in level between loud and soft speakers and/or variations in working distance. The combination of these functions results in seamless automatic mixing with a significant reduction in comb filtering and sound re-circulation through inactive microphones, which translates into markedly improved sound quality.

Multiple AS 8 and AS 8TC units can be configured in a "master /slave" arrangement for applications that require more than eight inputs. This configuration combines all automatic mixing functions among the mixers, with the "master" unit providing reference signals and control over gain allocation and skewing.

The AKG AS 8 and AS 8 TC also boast both analog remote control connectivity as well as an RS-232 interface for control via PC, AMX, or Crestron Devices.