Shure expands partnership program with leading AV providers; launches new products at ISE

Shure Incorporated has announced a number of additions to its partnership program, which provide an expanded level of integration between Shure wired and wireless audio systems and other leading AV hardware and software. Shure also announced at the ISE Show 2017 two of its leading digital wireless systems - ULX-D and QLX-D that will be available in 1.5 and 1.8 GHz spectrum and introduced the IntelliMix P300 Audio Conferencing Processor, a new digital signal processor created specifically for conferencing applications.

Shure has now formed partnerships with Cisco, Crestron, Polycom, Biamp, QSC, Symetrix, Yamaha, Audinate, Chief and others. The partnership program ranges from information for system integrators, such as configuration and setup guides that ensure optimum performance, to embedded plugins that provide native control and audio integration. The goal is to communicate that Shure audio products like Microflex Advance and Microflex Wireless have been tested and are compatible with popular downstream equipment. This reduces setup and configuration time for system integrators and administrators and streamlines the workflow involved in using the completed system.

“It’s not just about how well products work; it’s about how well products work together,” said Chad Wiggins, Senior Category Director for Networked Systems at Shure.

“The goal of our partnership program is to enhance the ‘Five Cs’ - connectivity, control, customization, confidence and convenience, for our customers. Our success in the marketplace depends more than ever on how easy it is to use Shure products with other brands and other types of products. That’s why it’s critical that we continue to form partnerships with other significant companies in the AV industry.”

Complying with their goal of enhancing connectivity, control, customization, confidence and convenience, Shure unveiled several new options at ISE that offer the reliability and superior sound quality. The new ULX-D and QLX-D products are designed to offer alternatives for the increasingly crowded UHF TV band.

The 1.5/1.8 GHz systems and accessories have the same features and benefits that the ULX-D/QLX-D UHF systems offer, including spectrum efficiency, powerful recharging accessories, networking options and rugged construction for everyday use.

These digital wireless systems combine professional features with simplified setup and operation, offering transparent 24-bit digital March - April 2017 58 audio, reliable RF performance, networked control, AES-256 encryption and Dante digital audiofor ULXD4D and ULXD4Q dual and quad receivers.

“Our customers are using more wireless than ever before and the available spectrum has become increasingly limited, so we’ve committed ourselves to providing spectrally-efficient solutions,” said Mu Yang, Product Manager for Wireless Products at Shure.

“Shure has developed a robust portfolio of products that now support digital wireless systems in the 1.5 and 1.8 GHZ spectrum. Professionals depend on these products for user-friendly features and reliable performance,” he added. A variety of new accessories are available for ULX-D and QLX-D in the 1.5 and 1.8 GHz spectrum including the UA844+ antenna distribution system, UA834 in-line amplifier, UA874 active directional antenna, UA221 passive antenna splitter and the UA845UWB antenna distribution system- switchable for VHF, UHF, 1.2GHz, 1.5GHz, 1.8GHz.

The new P300 offers Shure IntelliMix DSP algorithms that significantly enhance the audio quality in video meetings, a variety of connectivity options, plus seamless operation with Shure Microflex Advance and Microflex Wireless microphone solutions for AV conferencing.

Team collaboration in the modern agile workplace has expanded from purpose-built videoconferencing rooms to meetings held in flexible workspaces throughout the office, but premium audio processors and the programming and setup they require are not always cost-effective for these rooms.

The IntelliMix P300 is a compact, simple to install solution providing professional conferencing technology that offers just the right set of features to create a highly intelligible, collaborative meeting experience in these spaces.

The new processor connects up to eight Dante microphone channels to a room video system, USB soft codec, or mobile device. Each channel supports multiple IntelliMix DSP features, including Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Noise Reduction, and Automatic Gain Control, plus best-inclass automatic mixing. These features provide full duplex communication for echo and noise free meetings.

The fixed architecture provides simple and intuitive setup, resulting in less DSP programming and commissioning time onsite. The USB connectivity enables the P300 to be used with common soft codec programs such as Skype and BlueJeans, while the 3.5 mm connector means anyone on a mobile phone or tablet can easily bring any remote participant into the conversation. Its compact half-rack footprint enables discrete installation behind a display, under a table, or in a credenza.

“Great audio should not be reserved for boardrooms- it should be in every room. The Microflex Advance and Microflex Wireless product lines are the most innovative microphones on the market. We strove to develop a powerful yet simple to configure DSP that complements our networked microphone systems. A conference room designed with Microflex and an IntelliMix P300 processor will provide our customer a full Shure audio solution without requiring extensive program training or installation considerations. Now any size room can fully support a quality audio conference call,” said Paul Gunia, Product Manager at Shure.