NAB 2019: Shure Spotlights TwinPlex Subminature/Omnidirectional Lavalier, Headset Microphones
Shure (Booth C6015) unveiled TwinPlex, the company’s new line of premium subminiature (5 mm) omnidirectional lavalier and headset microphones. Designed to stand up to the toughest conditions, TwinPlex provides natural audio at both high and low frequency when professional vocal performance is a must. The new patent pending capsule technology offers best-in-class sound in an easy-to-conceal package, ideal for quick costume changes or discreetly placed under wardrobe with no impact on sound quality. Developed with input from leading audio professionals, TwinPlex supports the diverse needs of theater, broadcast, film and television, and corporate presentations to produce high-quality audio production with superior dependability.
TwinPlex consists of four lavaliers (TL45, TL46, TL47, TL48) and an ultra-light, fully-adjustable headset microphone (TH53) in multiple colors with extensive accessories and options. The unique dual-diaphragm omnidirectional design yields extraordinary off-axis consistency and industry-leading low self-noise creating lifelike vocal clarity and warmth.
“We’ve put these mics on a number of different people, and they simply sound outstanding. The noise floor is really low, and there’s an appreciated lack of handling noise—clothing noise from the cable is actually nonexistent,” commented Peter Schneider, owner at Gotham Sound.
To simulate years of intense use, the ultra-thin, TwinPlex cable was flexed, stretched, and pulled to the absolute limit in internal tests. Available in 1.1 mm and 1.6 mm options, the paintable cables are immune to kinks and memory effects, resulting in never-before-seen flex performance due to an innovative spiral construction with redundant shielding.
“The mics just lay flat, and they lay flat every time and for the whole length of the run. Whether we were trying to place the mics in a wig, or another discreet part of the costume, there were no kinks. They did exactly what you wanted them to do, which was fantastic,” said Zoe Milton, theater sound engineer.
Ideal for unpredictable, high-stakes environments like theater or reality TV, TwinPlex was pushed to the boundary during development and field testing to ensure flawless audio regardless of the condition it encounters. The superhydrophobic coating and interchangeable sweat-resistant frequency caps keep perspiration and moisture from upstaging the audio, while the medical-grade cable technology flexes to fit the costume design and demanding schedules that often come with associated uses.
“Knowing that I have a product in my hands that’s not gonna fail for me on a live show, it makes me have a lot of confidence when I’m working. This microphone is a game changer,” remarked Michael Abbott, broadcast production mixer.
“In developing TwinPlex, we gathered valuable input from leading industry professionals at every stage of the process and extensively tested prototypes to ensure we were ready,” stated John Born, senior global product manager at Shure. “This resulted in a comprehensive portfolio of more than 60 versions in a variety of color, connector, cable, frequency response, and sensitivity to meet the demands of any application when you need amazing sound quality and unprecedented durability.”
