Knowing Spetera, Sennheiser's revolution

Sebastian Georgi and Jan Watermann, R&D Engineers Sennheiser And inventors of the Wireless Multi-channel Audio Systems (WMAS), transfer all the keys of Sptertera, the great revolution for the audio world that the European company has presented in Primicia during IBC 2024.

A few days ago, Sennheiser He presented to the world industry one of his best saved secrets; A project in which the company's R&D teams have worked intensely to respond to some of the main challenges of the industry broadcast, Live and Proav. We talk about Spectera, Binero Broadband Solution that greatly reduces the complexity of wireless systems at the same time as Increase your capacity.

Spectera Born to make possible flows more versatile work Thanks to your Permanent spectrum detection While offering, in parallel, a Complete remote control and monitoring. In addition, beyond providing RF fading resistance, it provides flexible use of the broadband RF channel, which throws a latency of only 0.7 milliseconds in IEM digital. These technological advances materialize in the form of bodypacks bidirectional capable of managing Microphone/line signals and digital signals IEM/IFB at the same time.

Sennheiser Spetera - Revolution - Interview

Sebastian Georgi (left) and Jan Watermann (der.)

The system is completed with Spectera SEK, solution that manages audio of microphone, IEM and control data on the same broadband channel, and a complete Base station of a single rack unit with 32 inputs and 32 exits which helps replace the classic rack full of wireless microphones and IEM transmitters. Everything, working around WMAS, an own variable of OFDM-TDMA specifically designed for multichannel, bidirectional and low latency communication in professional audio environments.

In this interview, Sebastian Georgi and Jan Watermann, Sennheiser WMS and D experts, allow to know all the details of how fraguo Spectera, what elements differentiate of other similar solutions in the market and what specific ways can help industries such as mercado broadcast.

SPECTERA: A disruptive approach

Sennheiser premieres with Spetera an extremely innovative approach with respect to digital wireless systems that already exist in the market. What challenges have identified in this area and how does Spetera approach them?

Sebastian Georgi (SG): Spetera's starting point is a very concrete problem of today's systems: the selective fading in frequency. What happens with current systems is that you have a beautiful setup of antennas. Everything works well. Then, you walk 10 meters above the stage and experience a fall in the power of the signal, which can be a fall in the audio and the interruption of the show. And this happens regularly, especially in large places where there are many reflections, such as a room with a roof or metal walls, causing destructive interference. We find the solution for this problem by applying a broadband approach.

We approximate this problem in a fundamentally different way: we wanted to address the frequency interference using a broadband signal design to, instead of occupying 200 kHz, occupy 8 MHz. Also, to achieve similar or better efficiency in terms of frequency resources, we had to perform the divisions otherwise. So, contrary to what happens now, that each microphone has its own frequency and is placed in the spectrum, we divide these resources over time. In this way, each microphone has its fSpecial time ran. This is still the technology TDMA, which is well known on television and in 4G and 5G systems. However, what we have done is adapt this general technology to some Very specific requirements of professional audio, such as audio quality and latency.

During the presentation of Spetera, Andreas Sennheiser (CEO) put on the table complex that is the situation with respect to the radio frequency spectrum. How does the new system address this issue?

Jan Watermann (JW): We have different audio modes, so that each user can design the system for adapt it to your needs. In this way, if you only have one channel on television, you could now put more channels. For example, some modes provide greater efficiency and consume less spectrum when combining microphone and monitoring INEAR. This approach is achieved using a single RF device, which makes less spectrum and is easier to deploy. It also adapts to the tours: if you reach new facilities, you just have to check that the canal of the previous day is free. In the opposite case, you just have to look for a free channel and change the frequency.

Of course, because it will not be the same to deploy the system in Australia, in the Americas or in Europe ...

(SG): We have opted to offer a new approach with respect to the specific variants of each country. We decided not to make variants for each territory, so The hardware will be the same. The user will acquire a license which will be delimited by each country. For example, in the United States you can use 6 MHz bandwidth, while in Europe it will be 8 MHz. In this way, users can adapt to the different regulatory regimes of each country.

The advantages of bidirectionality and open standards

Spetera is built around its ability to perform a bidirectional broadband digital transmission. How does this technology help reduce the complexity of large -scale associated audio facilities?

(SG): “Think about current systems. It gives you a receiver to in ear to his talent and send it to the stage. From this moment, it lacks information. What is the state of the battery? What volume did you decide to use? It has no control over unity, which makes it basically blind. Wait for everything to go well, but it has no certainties. In Spetera, all devices are bidirectional, which implies that even if you use the device only as audio receiver, you can continue transmitting control information and even supervise the battery status or volume. You can even Adjust the volume remotely If talent has accidentally changed to an inappropriate level. All this brings a lot of control over its environment. Also, as I have already mentioned, the configuration time is drastically reduced thanks to the Coordination of frequencies.

Wmas is the concept that makes the proposal of Spetera possible. What is it?

(JW): WMAS It is mainly the name of the licensing system. After preparing technology, we created our first prototypes, but we had to go to the authorities to authorize us to use these broadband devices. In fact, currently all systems use 200 KHz, which is de facto the standard for wireless microphones systems. So we first had to add this proposal to WMAS In a masked way to the standard and, now, we already have the permission to offer these products.

(SG): Wmas is not a technology. There are many people who think it is, but it is only a chapter part of a standard of the ETSI. But there is a very important thing, and this chapter is completely neutral. He OFDM-TDMA It is an open standard that can be implemented in any technology you want and this is positive, since other agents could have different ideas of how to implement WMAS to contribute more options to customers.

SPECTERA AND Broadcast challenges

In the future we can find a spokesman in tours, theaters or on television. Particularly, in the Broadcast area, what kind of applications do you imagine to take advantage of their full potential?

(JW): In the Broadcast market, Spetera will highlight for its flexibility, starting from its receiver bidirectional. In the most typical case of informative programs, you usually have two devices: one for the system microphone And a second for the monitoring or the IFB. With spera, this can be done with a single device, which simplifies the processes and makes different scenarios more flexible. Also, for example, you could change the entire remotely configuration to adapt to each need or format.

How could spectar be integrated into the new IP environments with the SMPTE ST 2110 standard?

(JW): Currently, Spetera has two ports MADI and interfaz Dante, but we are already planning to integrate connectivity into the base station with the standard SMPTE ST 2110.

(SG): The current solution is compatible with SMPTE ST 2110, but there are some limitations. We know that there are many broadcasters who want to have a deeper integration, so we will invest in it in the near future.

Many technical directors are always worried about the transition to a new system, especially when it comes to innovative technologies. How would it affect the arrival of Spetera to traditional audio systems?

(JW): The spectate system can be used together with current systems. You can plan a deployment slightly separating frequencies, which could even make a traditional and spectar system work in a way joint. It is not necessary to change the blow system: you can start using it with the Microphones And, in the future, make a complete transition.

When will spetera available?

(SG): We can give more details in the First half of 2025.