Shure is a company who have had an inspiring history. Indeed, it’s not too far of a stretch of the imagination to suppose that they have touched almost every major live event and recording project to date. Their microphones, from the industry standard SM58 and SM57, to the SM7 Bruce Swedien used for Michael Jackson’s vocals on the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, are quite simply ubiquitous. One wonders if the audio world would have fared the same without them.

Founded by Sidney M. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925, they were originally in the business of supplying radio part kits and traded under “The Shure Radio Company’ brand name. By 1928, they had grown considerably to 75 employees and upon Sidney’s brother, Samuel J. Shure, joining the company it was renamed to Shure Brothers Company. Their first microphone was produced in 1931 – the Model 33N Two-Button Carbon Microphone – and in 1939 they produced the Model 55 Unidyne Microphone, arguably the most recognisable microphone in the world known as the Elvis mic.

Nowadays Shure boasts large consumer and professional catalogues of such audio-electronics as microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges, discussion systems, mixers and digital signal processing units. Particularly in the realm of microphones and wireless microphone systems, they are one of the world leaders.

On 24 April 2013 at the Killarney Country Club in conjunction with SA distributors Wild and Marr, Shure Europe GmbH unveiled their new Axient wireless microphone system to the South African market, presented by Ron Hautzinger, Freddy Sicko and Harald Metzler.

Axient: the idea

The motivation behind Axient is to provide a more intuitive wireless microphone system that negates the need for external RF management. Additionally, the fact that it is a networkable product opens up a whole new world of control and in fact provides remote control possibilities that were not until recently possible. In short, Axient provides the following advantages over traditional systems:

• Electronic frequency spectrum management. The Axient system will isolate the most interference-free frequencies for each transmitter on the system and block out those that are already occupied. Backup frequencies will be assigned to each transmitter and will intuitively change based on the interference.

• Dual transmitter redundancy. The Axient receivers can accommodate two transmitters and will switch to the redundant one in the case of failure or interference.

• A wireless 2,4GHz backbone. Remote management and control of transmitters on the Axient network is now a reality using the ZigBee protocol. A fully modular, networked system that connects via regular CAT5 Ethernet.

Component overview

The Axient system is termed the “Axient Wireless Management Network’ by Shure. In this day and age it seems that almost every peripheral is becoming network enabled whether it is to stream, transfer raw data, impose control remotely, or for monitoring purposes. Of course, this move is quite understandable considering the new world of capability that is afforded to us through such a system.

The Axient system is a modular, networked wireless microphone system with which you can assemble a simple microphone/transmitter/receiver system or expand by adding on additional components depending on your needs.

Basically, the complete core system consists of either the AXT100 or AXT200 transmitters; the former being a belt pack and the latter a dual-transmitter handheld, the AXT400 Dual Channel Receiver, the AXT600 Spectrum Manager and the AXT610 Showlink Access Point. Other options include the AXT900 rack mount charging station, which can be custom configured by loading battery charging modules based upon which transmitters you are using. There two different battery types for each of the transmitters.

Given that this is a network-based product, connectivity options are paramount. Shure offers a purpose-built Roadrack Ethernet Switch, the AXT620, which includes DHCP technology. An antenna distribution system, the AXT630, is also offered.
Shure’s Wireless Workbench 6.0 software can also be integrated and is used to configure the entire system, from frequency management to full control over all parameters that are accessible from the front panel of each component.

How does it all work?

As mentioned, the smallest Axient system possible is simply an AXT100 or AXT200 transmitter and one AXT400 Dual Channel Receiver. This will operate like a normal wireless system albeit without the data link.
However, for a more sophisticated system and to take advantage of the data link and spectrum management, an AXT 600 Spectrum Manager is required along with the AXT610 Showlink Access Point. The Showlink Access Point can either be powered externally or via power over Ethernet, connected to the system via the Ethernet switch.

All receivers connect to the Spectrum Manager via a data hub and the Showlink Acces Point is basically the universal access point whereby all transmitters send and receive control data. Control data includes remote adjustment of gain – a welcomed feature – to locking and muting of the transmitter, among other features like transmitter identification through blinking. Each dual receiver can be cascaded enabling antenna feed to up to 40 or so from a single set of antennae.

At this point it may be pertinent to note that the data link is independent of the RF transmission, which is kept in the analogue domain to keep latency at a minimum. The Showlink control data runs on a digital back-end link on the 2.4GHz band. This may worry some people do to the fact that everything from WIFI, wireless keyboards and mice, and even microwaves transmit on this band which makes it pretty crowded. To overcome this obstacle Shure opted to go for a completely different, uncluttered 2.4GHz control protocol called ZigBee that is completely different from WIFI and is therefore no threat in terms of band interference.

The Spectrum Manager is essentially the unit that scans the RF environment and configures optimum and backup frequencies for each transmitter. Using Wireless Workbench 6.0 on your PC provides a more in-depth graphical representation of the entire spectrum and can be used to automatically block out frequencies occupied by, for example, terrestrial television stations. There are even pre-programmed regional profiles of fixed-use frequency bands, depending on the country and region you are working in.

Given the fact that each transmitter is powered by differing Li-Ion batteries depending on whether you’re using the belt pack or handheld, the AXT900 can be loaded with charging modules to suit your needs. Additionally, these batteries are smart. Using the AXT900 charging hub, you can monitor battery health, charge count, and discharge voltage from the batteries to be put into storage mode. This helps prolong battery life and is a cost saving exercise in the long run. Of course, the AXT900 also links in with the network allowing battery health to be monitored from Wireless Workbench.

Wireless Workbench

Shure’s Wireless Workbench integrates fully with the Axient system and provides full control. You can virtually configure your racks from within the software and it even accommodates third party systems from other manufacturers. However, frequency management, once you have run your scans, has to be inputted manually to non-Axient systems because, of course, they do not have an Axient data link.

Simply put, the procedure is to link all of your receivers, run the software, perform an RF scan, assign channels to the receivers and then sync the transmitters. Primary and backup frequencies will be assigned; causing your RF worries to disappear. If in the event there is frequency interference, the Spectrum Manager will automatically send control signals via the Showlink to the transmitter and it will switch over to the backup frequency. There will be about a 500ms dropout but for most people that is unnoticeable and far better than consistent dropouts and RF distortion. Another option is to run two transmitters on two different frequencies, received by the dual-channel receivers in Frequency Diversity Mode.

As mentioned, using the AXT100 belt packs you’ll need two; however the AXT200 handheld (compatible with most Shure handheld capsules) has two built-in transmitters. In the event of interference on one frequency, the redundant transmitter will take over instantly with far less dropout time that is for all intents and purposes, unnoticeable.

The wrap

In a nutshell, Axient addresses all the current problems with spectrum management and running a complex setup of a host of wireless mics. It will help rental companies cut costs in the long term because it will negate the need to hire an RF technician, delivering more head-ache free shows and allowing the performers and engineers to get on with what they are there to do without any distractions.