Neumann will introduce the DMI-8 digital microphone interface at AES 2009. The DMI-8 is essentially an eight-channel version of the company’s DMI-2, which provides remote digital microphone control and conversion from AES 42 to AES/EBU. The DMI-8 offers a lower cost per channel in a space-saving, rack-mountable chassis and adds new features to the interface, including computer-free gain adjustment, multiunit cascading up to 128 channels and a variety of industry-standard, multichannel output formats.
Like the Neumann DMI-2, the DMI-8 delivers AES 42 to AES/EBU conversion; multiple-microphone synchronization even without a sample rate converter; automatic word clock or AES 11 synchronization; sample rate outputs from 44.1kHz to 192kHz; and control and storage of digital microphone settings from either a Mac or a PC using Neumann’s intuitive RCS software.
In addition, up to 128 digital microphones can be simultaneously controlled from cascaded DMI-8s or DMI-2s. The DMI-8 allows users to view signal and adjust gain right at the unit, with no computer connected. External commands, such as an “on-air” red light indicator, can be controlled via a nine-pin user port. Output formats are ADAT optical and D-sub 25 with Tascam and Yamaha pin assignments. In addition, open architecture will allow later connection to other multichannel interfaces and audio networks, such as EtherSound and MADI.
Neumann will be showing the new DMI-8 at AES Booth 330.
