The next big hurdle for wireless mic users will be "TVBDs" - wireless devices that will compete with the same spectrum radio mics use.

Please join us for a lively discussion about what they are, how they operate and how you can start planning now to avoid interference from TVBDs.

Q&A will follow Henry's presentation.

Sound Report Writer, the nifty new app from Inaudible Labs, gives all the sound recordists on set a reason to not hate cell phones. This handy application is available for all Apple and Android devices and gives a location sound mixer the ability to quickly and easily create, edit, and distribute comprehensive PDF sound reports from their mobile device. Give it a look and tell them Gotham sent you.

The newest firmware revision for the TASCAM HS-P82 has been released. New features include a mirror recording function has that allows simultaneous recording to 2 CF cards. The firmware can be downloaded here.

Update: I have edited this entry based on feedback from Glenn and Howie at Zaxcom. Specifically I have removed quotes from a memo considered confidential between Zaxcom and their dealers, as well as some corrections to some of Cory's feature depictions. My changes are indicated by [brackets].

Glenn Sanders hand delivered our first shipping Nomad to Gotham earlier today, but it was somewhat of a mixed blessing. We knew that not all of the recorder's advertised features were completed, but our request to Glenn that Zaxcom openly show on their website the specific features that were missing (and their anticipated implementation dates) were met with reluctance.

[Instead, we were told that it is 100% the dealer's responsibility to inform their customers of the machine's status and that Zaxcom will not be posting this information on their website.]

So, below is our first attempt at fulfilling our responsibility. Our senior tech Cory Allen spent a few hours with the shipping Nomad, and discusses its brilliance, its flaws, [and] its missing features.

Your comments and questions are always welcomed.

[Please keep in mind that firmware updates will be be forthcoming to add these features.]

Sincerely,
Peter Schneider
Gotham Sound

Glenn Sanders with Cory Allen

Today Gotham Sound received a visit from Zaxcom honcho Glenn Sanders, accompanied by our first production Nomad available for purchase. Since it's unveiling in April at NAB, the Nomad has been advertised with a full set of features that hope to make it the choice field recorder/mixer for a variety of productions:

• 6 Analog Mic/Line Balanced Inputs, 4 Analog Line-Level Returns/Inputs, and 8 AES Inputs for a total of 16 Inputs Busses, all able to be custom routed to any Disk, Output, and Headphone bus.
  
• Up to 12-track recording on two mirrored CompactFlash cards, plus recording on an external USB flash drive/hard drive. Additionally, the external USB port can be used to record MP3 transcription, or send files over Wi-Fi.
  
• Internal ZaxNet IFB Transmitter for IFB audio broadcast, timecode broadcast, and Zaxcom transmitter transport control broadcast.
  
• Auto Mix functionality.
  
• Dual A/D converters per mic input providing a claimed 135 dB dynamic range, dubbed Never Clip.

This article is a first-look at the Nomad as it is now, and will be followed by a full "Put It Though Its Paces" review. I have toyed around with a pre-production demo of the Nomad, and with the arrival of the first production unit, I am happy to report that it is real. But does it deliver what it promised?

It indeed has all of the inputs and outputs as promised in the pictures, and they all work. There certainly is something to be said for fitting all of those chassis-mount XLR connectors onto such a small box, sparing the user from the hassle of adapter cables. It is remarkably light and compact for such a capable device. Unfortunately, the small form factor forces the screen down to a size unfit for the amount of information it needs to display. A small line of text cycles between the remaining recording time and mirror status, and you cannot monitor the recording levels while seeing what position your gain trim is set to.

You might look at the Nomad and think that it's similar to other Zaxcom recorders, or even other field recorders in general. However, the user interface is a far leap from any other device used in production audio. There is no touchscreen and there are also no [per-channel] dedicated controls for input gain, panning, or even pre-fade listening. Instead, all of these have been placed inside a layer of software control or a menu accessible by a minimum of two button presses. Some other controls are hidden in nested sub-menus. The allows for enormous flexibility and customization at the expense of speed and accessibility.

[removed]

As of today, there are still many advertised features missing from the Nomad. Some are big-ticket selling points such as the ZaxNet IFB audio broadcast, timecode broadcast, and transport control broadcast functionality, as well as Auto Mix and Airmail (files sent over Wi-Fi). Some aren't crucial to operation, such as the User Preset Memory Store and Recall functionality. Other absent features like metadata entry and the external USB drive functionality [are more crucial].

But for all of its quirks, it is still impressive. The custom input-to-track, -output, -headphone, -mono out, -tape out, and -secondary headphone busses routing grids make for seemingly infinite custom routing options (even if pre- and post-fade are represented with easily confusable P and X ). Once the absent features are ushered in with new firmware updates (or possibly factory installations), it looks like this really will be a killer recorder/mixer, just one that will take some getting used to.

AES on No Dollars a Day

Going to AES this year? Gotham is pleased to offer you a FREE VIP Exhibits Only Badge. Come check everything that's new and nifty in audio October 21-23rd at the Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center. Hurry, advance registration ends September 30th!

Gotham will be exhibiting at Booth 768 with Casters, Wheels and Industrial Handling, showcasing the very latest sound and video production carts from Backstage Equipment and custom modified Magliners, and AppSys ProAudio with their impressive array of digital snakes and remote control microphone preamp kits! Check out the full range of the latest production audio equipment, including the all-DC JoeCo rig and our very special Lectro deal (details below)!

Accessing Hollywood Live

How can Frank Duca do a fully mobile broadcast for a live show that has to be able to shoot anywhere and communicate with another anchor three timezones away? Jacob Lane investigates.
FULL STORY

Get Learned, Get Lecto
How'd you like to get smarter AND save some money? You can do both just by attending any of the following three seminars at AES 131! (If you think that sounds good, you're pretty smart already, but don't get cocky.)

The wireless spectrum is an unruly and ever-changing beast these days and keeping a wary eye on it can be a struggle. Gotham and Lectrosonics know it and we're encouraging everyone to attend the following seminars:

• LS6 - Theatrical Microphone Dressing
  Friday, October 21, 2:00 pm — 4:00 pm
• LS9 - Production Wireless Systems Practical Applications and Practices
  Saturday, October 22, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
• LS11 - TVBDs and Geo-Location Databases: An In-Depth Look and Their Impact on Wireless Microphone Usage
  Saturday, October 22, 5:00 pm — 7:30 pm

They'll be important for everyone in the film, television, and broadcast industries. Look for the Gotham rep outside the seminar room after each seminar to get your coupon good in our store for a $100 gift certificate with the purchase of any new Lectro equipment of equal or greater value, exclusively at Gotham!

New from RFvenue
Technology wins again! The usable portions of the wireless frequency spectrum are trending strictly downwards, but RFvenue is fighting back with a series of helpful devices that help you make use of the minimum amount of RF space with maximum efficacy. Check out their Diversity Fin and Local Field Sensor!

These antennas represent a truly unique RF design to solve complex RF problems.

Ecce Audius
Sound Devices' new PIX-240 and Zaxcom's new Nomads are here! Come down to Gotham anytime and have a look at the next generation of audio technology.

Gas prices may be up, but Petrol is an excellent value right now!

Purchase a PS601, PS602 or PS603 Deca Eargonizer and recieve a FREE Petrol Rain Poncho, while supplies last.

Congratulations to friends of Gotham Jimmy Sabat (Too Big to Fail), Drew Kunin (Mildred Pierce), Frank Stettner (Boardwalk Empire) and Jeff Pullman (Boardwalk Empire) and their respective crews on their sound mixing nominations for prime time Emmy awards.

Best of luck, all!

A new firmware revision for the Cantar has been released. V2.43 fixes a MonoRotate Idle backup bug on CompacrFlash, external hard drives and DVD-RAM. The firmware can be downloaded here.

Gotham's own Peter Schneider was in Las Vegas and awash in audio gear at NAB this past weekend. Check out the videos below: