Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:19:36 -0500
DPA Microphones has acquired the majority share of Vienna-based Austrian Audio. Founded in 2017 by former AKG Vienna employees, Austrian Audio builds on that heritage to deliver exquisite, high-quality audio products that are renowned for engineering excellence.
According to DPA, Austrian Audio caught the attention of DPA Microphones with its fast-growing brand, highly skilled team of dedicated engineers and product portfolio that complements DPA’s offerings perfectly. DPA is a leading manufacturer within several Miniature Microphone categories while Austrian Audio has a strong offering of Large Diaphragm Microphones. Both companies address the high end of the market, with DPA positioned at the very top and Austrian Audio offering a wider span in their product range.
Together, the brands plan to provide a broader product range for discerning sound engineers in industries like broadcast, musical, theatre, live events and recording studios. By joining forces, the brands will design and develop sophisticated, professional audio solutions that meet the evolving demands within the acoustical and digital fields, all while prioritizing the user experience.
Working in partnership with DPA Microphones, Austrian Audio will continue to develop and manufacture high-quality audio products under its own name in Vienna.
Representatives from both companies will be available during the 2025 NAMM Show to discuss this partnership, with DPA Microphones located at Booth 18206 and Austrian Audio at Booth 16102.
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 08:44:00 -0500
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today announced a major step forward in expanding multilingual Wireless Emergency Alerts. Based on public feedback, the agency has created templates for the 18 most commonly issued and time-sensitive alerts in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., plus English and American Sign Language (ASL). Public safety officials will have the option to use these customizable multilingual template alerts in order to better warn their communities and save lives.
“The language you speak shouldn’t keep you from receiving the information you or your family needs to stay safe. During an emergency, life-saving alerts should be accessible to everyone,” said Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Our public safety partners have made it clear that one of the main barriers to multilingual alerting is the ability to translate time-sensitive messages into additional languages during crises. The multilingual Wireless Emergency Alert templates we announce today are a long-time coming and will make it so officials can reach more people with urgent messages and save lives.”
“FEMA supports the FCC’s effort to improve access to Wireless Emergency Alerts for individuals with limited English proficiency," said Michael S. George, Associate Administrator of FEMA's Office of National Continuity Programs. "This initiative will help alert originators communicate quickly with the public during critical emergencies.”
In February 2024, as directed by the Commission, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau sought comment on implementation details, including which alerts should have multilingual templates and the translations for those templates. Today’s Report and Order from the Bureau incorporates that feedback and presents the templates for the most common and time- sensitive alerts, such as hurricane, tornado, and earthquake warnings, in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., in addition to English and ASL: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Tue, 07 Jan 2025 09:04:00 -0500
To ensure quality Ultra High Speed HDMI® cables reach the market and support 4K and 8K video, HDR, VRR, eARC, and all other HDMI 2.1 features, HDMI Forum, Inc. today announced a mandatory certification program for all Ultra High Speed HDMI cables. Ultra High Speed HDMI cable certification includes testing to meet current EMI requirements to minimize wireless interference. All certified cables of any length must pass certification testing at an HDMI Authorized Testing Center (ATC). Once certified, cables will be required to affix an Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label to each package notifying consumers of the certification status of the product.
“The Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is the only way to ensure all the features and capabilities of the HDMI 2.1 Specification are delivered from a source device to a display. Ensuring Ultra High Speed HDMI cables are compliant with the HDMI 2.1 Specification is essential to the HDMI eco-system,” said David Glen of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and president of the HDMI Forum. “The HDMI Forum’s mandatory ATConly certification requirements are designed to ensure cables are compliant with the HDMI 2.1 Specification. And the anti-counterfeit Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label and its scanning results provides a visible verification of certification that a product meets the HDMI Forum’s requirements.”
Over 140 cable manufacturers participate in the existing Premium Certification Program, and resellers have come to rely on the anti-counterfeit authentication label, regular cable audit testing and supply chain verification scanning app. The new program expansion will be available soon and HDMI Adopters will be informed when it launches.
Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:19:00 -0500
SMPTE has named Sally-Ann D’Amato has been named executive director by the SMPTE board of governors. D’Amato formally began this new role on Dec. 18, 2024, after acting as interim executive director since October.
“I’m honored to accept the role of executive director,” says D’Amato. “After more than two decades with the Society, I’m humbled to be chosen as its leader. I will continue to work toward a Society that is efficient, innovative, and united. My goal as executive director is to encourage more collaboration across sections to create more opportunities for members, strengthen the standards community, and reinforce the organization’s infrastructure. This will be enacted through a mission we’re calling ‘We Are All One SMPTE.’”
D’Amato joined the SMPTE family in 2001, working as an administrative assistant. She was promoted to executive assistant in 2003, and again promoted to director of operations in 2005. In 2016, she became director of events and governance liaison. In this role, she was responsible for planning and executing events and was also responsible for working with the board on issues of Society governance and board activities. In October 2024, she became the interim executive director.
“Sally-Ann has been a tremendous asset to SMPTE, and will continue to be in this new role,” says SMPTE President Renard T. Jenkins. “She has proven her commitment, qualifications, and talent time and time again, and when asked to lead the Society, she didn’t hesitate to step up. Her performance in the role of interim executive director has already had a positive impact on the Society. I believe she will lead SMPTE to a brighter future, and I look forward to helping her do just that.”
Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:32:00 -0500
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has praised the recent passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes full funding for the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, a key initiative she has championed to remove Chinese-made Huawei and ZTE equipment and services from U.S. networks. Funding for the Reimbursement Program will be paid for by the proceeds from an FCC auction of AWS-3 spectrum.
“The ‘rip-and-replace’ program addresses the critical need to remove vulnerable and insecure equipment from U.S. networks,” said FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “Full funding will not only help protect our Nation’s communications infrastructure but also ensure that rural communities who rely on these networks maintain vital connectivity. I want to thank the House and the Senate for allocating the full amount required to protect our Nation’s communications networks, and for recognizing that the FCC’s spectrum auction authority can play an important national security role. I call on Congress to restore it in full.”
The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, also known as the rip-and-replace program, was created in 2019 to address the national security threat posed by the extensive integration of Chinese companies’ networking technology by U.S. Internet Service Providers. However, the initial $1.9 billion in funding fell far short of the nearly $5 billion actually needed to replace this equipment – a critical shortfall that FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel repeatedly raised as a serious concern in nine separate letters to Congress. In her latest letter, she stressed the urgent need for increased funding to ensure the program’s successful completion.
The bill containing this critical funding now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.