Sony’s New UWP-D Wireless Microphone

With compact professional camcorders more widely used for electronic newsgathering and field production applications, Sony’s new UWP-D wireless microphone series delivers the right combination of form and function for pro shooters.

“Production professionals are increasingly using handheld type and palm-size camcorders for mobile, ‘run-and-gun’ applications, and the wireless microphones need to match and easily mount to the camera,” said Nick Buchner, Senior Product Manager for Content Creation, Sony Australia & New Zealand. “This new series can even fit interchangeable lens cameras to give shooters more options for capturing their content easily and in high quality.”

The new UWP-D series portable receiver mounted on a Sony HXR-NX3 NXCAM camcorder (left), and mounted on a Sony Alpha 7R (right)

The UWP-D series components are small and lightweight, making them suitable for a range of field production needs. Three packages of UWP-D series are available:

• UWP-D11: Bodypack Transmitter, Portable Receiver
• UWP-D12: Handheld Microphone, Portable Receiver
• UWP-D16: Plug-on Transmitter, Bodypack Transmitter, Portable Receiver

The new UWP-D series components, from left: handheld transmitter UTX-M03, plug-on transmitter UTX-P03, bodypack transmitter UTX-B03, and portable receiver URX-P03.

The UWP-D series uses new hybrid digital processing technology to deliver high quality sound. This technology performs signal processing by digital companding, with transmission handled by conventional analogue FM modulation. This method improves transient response performance between the transmitter and receiver, and can more clearly reproduce input sound.

Dynamic Response:

Original Sound, Hybrid Digital Processing, Conventional analogue companding system

The new series employs wide frequency coverage, with a wide band of up to 72 MHz coverage available. As a result, this frequency agility allows users to select from a broader range of operating frequencies. All available frequency blocks comply with the new requirements for wireless mic operation in Australia and New Zealand.

An Automatic Channel Setting mode lets users perform channel scan and channel setting functions easily. The Clear Channel Scan function detects unused channels and IR Sync enables easy channel setting by sending information from the receiver to the transmitter by infrared communication.

The series’ receiver is equipped with an output level control, so even if the camcorder or camera does not have input level control, users can easily adjust to optimise recording levels. The UWP-D transmitters and receivers are also compatible with Sony’s WL-800 series and UWP series wireless units.

In common with the previous UWP Series, the UWP-D units have robust metal body construction to assure a long service life in the field, plus versatile operational features such as switchable mic or line transmitter input and headphone monitoring output on the receiver.

The UWP-D series’ components have a USB terminal* for connection to USB external portable power sources. The units can also use nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries.

The new UWP-D series is planned to be available from Sony authorised Content Creation dealers in Australia and New Zealand from February. Pricing is TBA.

* except handheld transmitter UTX-M03

Press Release