At the AES convention in New York City, Zaxcom showed its new ERX encrypted IFB bodypack receivers (ERX1 and ERX2), which receive digital audio, time code and metadata from a Zaxcom IFB transmitter.
They feature an LCD display for showing time code and current scene and take metadata in real time with a hold button for script supervisors. The ERX2 has a built-in time code reader/generator and output to continuously jam digital slates to ensure no time code drift between Deva/Fusion and the slate. The time code will stay accurate even in the case of an extended RF dropout. It will also communicate the scene and take metadata to Zax-Net-compatible digital slates for display when the clapper is activated. The ERX1 and ERX2 contain a 1kHz notch filter to eliminate the transmission of tone that is sometimes sent from the mixing console. The notch filter frequency is adjustable, and using the notch filter won't affect the quality of the IFB audio.
Also on display was Zax-Net, a 2.4GHz RF network for the distribution of remote control signals, time code, IFB audio and metadata for production sound. It wirelessly links Zaxcom's Deva/Fusion, digital recording wireless, encrypted IFB receivers, and compatible digital slates into a single system for audio recording and metadata distribution. The Zax-Net signal is generated by Deva/Fusion and broadcast via an IFB100 on a 2.4GHz signal. The IFB audio, time code, metadata and wireless remote control commands are then received by the ERX1, ERX2 and TRX series digital wireless units.
Zax-Net will be available for all current Zaxcom hardware via a free software update.
