IronFilm

If only the Tascam AE-4D was smaller! 1/2 RU size is just a tad too big for me to use two of them in a bag

What receivers are you using currently? You can get it easily secondhand, and save a fair amount. Both of my ADA4 units are from eBay

How often do you need extra channels? The Sound Devices XL-AES is dirt cheap, it's what I use to get up to another extra 8 channels via AES. Especially if you already have AES outputs from your receivers. (but if not, an affordable/compact way I use is the AJA ADA4) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1417858-REG/audinate_adp_dai_au_2x0_2_channel_dante_avio_analog.html Yup, that's a good way for two more channels! But also, OP refers to 8x channels, if they need just two more channels, then they could use the 3.5mm return on the 888. Then the Audinate if they need another 2x more, plus the XL-AES to gain 8x, and you're at 20 channels! Already gone far past the 16 channels max of the 888. (18x channels if you are recording 2x bus tracks)

Has anybody noticed an issue with digital vs analog wireless when using the MKH50? (when the transmitter is mounted at the end of the boom pole)

As a barely native English speaker myself (as you noted last night, sometimes my grasp of English is a little tenuous!) then yes, it sounds like slippery wordplay to me. (although, I'd say the sentence is leaning hard into not the meaning of "superior" but rather "reliability vs range") I thought so too! Just ordered the ID.TF2X a few days ago: https://iddqd.dk/shop/vare/id-tf2x-multi-channel-extension-controller-for-833-888-scorpio/ Looking forward to it arriving soon. (would've been very useful last week for the film I was on!)

I'm fairly certain I'm the only Production Sound Mixer in New Zealand using Sony DWX. (well, aside from a couple of short films I've boomed for a friend this year, when we used my Sony booms. He likes the sound of them more than his usual Lectrosonics HM transmitter. But even so, I expect if/when he upgrades to digital wireless then he'll go with either Lectrosonics DPR, or maybe perhaps Shure AD3) Of course at the entry level, then Sony UWP-D is modestly popular with people starting out. I do wonder why Sony DWX never seemed to gain much traction in the film/tv production world. Guess it is a bit like if ARRI developed their Alexa camera but only ever did any marketing for the Alexa that was targeted towards: us production sound people, plus musicians and churches. Then ARRI were puzzled as to why no DoPs are using the Alexa??? I feel that's what Sony did, developed this great sounding digital wireless system, then only pushed it towards cameramen / news crews / venues / music acts / etc to be buying and using. I certainly will give credit to Zaxcom with how low power usage they are! I'm impressed by my Zaxcom Maxx in how little power it uses. Only my Zoom F4 would use less of my many various recorders I have. (Fostex PD606 would do worst!) Absolutely, Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid is the standard against which everything else gets compared against!

Not really, Zaxcom was only a few short years earlier to market than Sony was. (which was in the mid 2000's) Same is true once again with Sony, they've been doing this for over a decade as well with remote control over the transmitters. And just in general, Sony has been making wireless for longer! (well over half a century. And have been making pro audio equipment since 1950)

If I was starting over today, I think I'd still go with exactly what I have right now! Sony DWX Digital Wireless booms, while buying secondhand Lectrosonics Digital Hybrids bodypacks for the talent. As when it comes to performance to price ratio, I think this is a combo that's impossible to beat. If I was buying all brand new though, I probably wouldn't go with Lectrosonics for the bodypacks. I'd want to carefully do a shoot out between Sony and Shure, and use both extensively in the field before deciding to go all in with one system or the other. For instance comparing the Sony DWT-B03R head to head against the Shure ADX1M, to see which I'd prefer. However, things are always changing. I watched a video recently where someone from Lectrosonics hinted they'll be coming with remote control features too (that is not tweedle tones) in the future? Plus I'm sure eventually Shure will release their "AX3" (the lack of it, was one factor as to why I went with Sony DWX instead). And probably one or more of Shure/Sony/etc will eventually bring out smaller transmitters on par with the Lectrosonics DBSM (or even SSM!). Sony DWX Digital Wireless is another option here as well as Shure Axient Digital / Sound Devices Wireless. And while Shure Axient Digital is the cheapest system to buy a couple of channels of, if you want the remote control feature (i.e. you have to get the ADX1, can't go with the cheaper and bulkier AD1) then Sony sneaks ahead as a cheaper option: https://daleproaudio.com/collections/shop?fbclid=IwAR0ujss4SJFXIMnokrojxTEPvIklidbkiWwT0QfAPv8cxOIXmqhZCfBlstA&q=sony dwx#/filter:ss_price:1000:1500/filter:ss_price:1500:2000/filter:ss_price:2000:* (if that is, price is a major factor here to consider) Highly doubtful about this. You're surely underestimating the amount of annual world wide sales by Shure Axient Digital. (for instance, any major live performance is almost never going be Zaxcom, but will likely be Shure or Sennheiser) Wouldn't even surprise me if Zaxcom doesn't come in as second place, as Sony might sell enough of their Sony DWX systems to venue installations, news crews, and cameramen to take 2nd place. Certainly when compare the volume of ebay listings for Zaxcom vs Sony then there isn't much difference in volume. (however, wouldn't surprise me even if it is yet someone else in 2nd place... perhaps Sennheiser 6000 digital wireless instead, tonnes of places out there have dozens of channels in usage)

whoops! Yes, of course I meant that, had just got home after the end of a looong day

Wasn't using a Nexus today, but a different digital system (Sony DWX Digital Wireless) and I noticed something quite similar. There was a shoot inside a car for the first scene of today, and although it was inside a car I thought I'd be perfectly fine with range using my wips while sitting inside because I was right next to the driveway where the car was. But... nope! While my two Lectrosonics bodypacks on the talent, and my plant mic hiding in the visor (also going into a Lectrosonics) were totally rock solid with perfectly fine reception, the boom audio (my Key Boom Op was inside the car in the back seat, hand holding a MKH50 with a Sony DWX transmitter) was a little bit edgy with minor drop outs. But running a single BNC cable out the window, and putting one Lectrosonics SNA600a dipole antenna outside and on the other side of the bedroom window immediately fixed that issue. Ditto about a very low mW being enough for many scenarios, a couple of weeks ago I did a simple little short film by myself, and I used 1mW for the entire film! (because I was booming it myself, of course my boom transmitter was always very close to my bag! Thus 1mW was all I needed, and thus I got to enjoy great battery life)

Perhaps if you could have a bank of knobs like there exist already for the 8 Series? That people have made: Like this: https://iddqd.dk/shop/vare/id-tf6-6-ch-trim-volume-for-833-888-or-scorpio/ Would be quite awesome if something similar could be made to work directly with the Nexus??

So you left the transmitters inside, flat on the bench, and went for a walk until you hear them start to drop out?

I'd imagine every Nexus user surely has at least one to three A20-RX (or at least A10-RX) receivers in their backup / drop bag, ready to go? Which would be enough to limp through to the end of the day if your Nexus went down, until rentals can be sorted out. (be they rental Sound Devices Wireless, or any other brand coming in as an emergency replacement) Well in that case, if so much is at stake, they should be providing the rental fee for a full backup sound package??? After all, are they going out in the wilds of the wop wops with only a single camera??? (if they are, then well, if it is good enough for them to go without backups, it is good enough for you too!) In that scenario, even just say three cheapie UCR211 receivers could be enough to get you out of an emergency pinch if DSR4 goes down. (I usually always have a UCR211/UM200 in a pelican with me, as a spare emergency. It's handy "just in case" I need way more channels than planned or if anything goes wrong. But yet, if the pelican case goes walk abouts, it won't be any great loss to lose a UCR211/UM200)

Oh I dunno, nothing wrong with Sound Devices selling key essential accessories for them (such as batteries! Couldn't think of anything more relevant than that). If you're an audio store, you might not already have an established supplier for NP-F batteries, as you'll have never sold them before (it is a camera battery after all). It's a lot easier for the retailer (and their customers) if they can just sell Sound Devices' product. No need for them to put the time into researching which NP-F970 (or NP-F9550? Or NP-F980?) offbrand battery (or go with Sony??) they should get: Waston, Smallrig, Wasabi, GVM, Neewer, Core SWX, Westcott, Viltrox, Hollyland, Vidpro, etc??? (I've only listed a few of the many brands on offer!) It's easily a rabbit hole you could dive down and spend hours researching. Am sure many customers don't mind skipping all that and just spending an extra couple of bucks for a Sound Devices battery they can trust.

Costs for a retailer are far higher than what 10% could cover.

If you want a cheaper charger, there is always this from Deity, for only $68: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1770241-REG/deity_microphones_dts0287d67_dqc1_smart_battery_charger.html

That was immediately my first thought as well, before I'd even finished reading @Wandering Ear's comment As if you have a grain of rice sized item, it will feel many many times "hotter", than a car sized item that's drawing "the same power". Plus as you said, the materials used have a image impact too as to how quickly that heat will be got rid of and perceived.

I hope Zaxcom/SoundDevices/Lectrosonics/Wisyscom/Sony/etc all use twins when doing product development and testing 😅 Triples even! 🤣 For efficiencies of testing.

I was thinking about getting the Sony ECM88 (or perhaps ECM90) to use with my Sony digital wireless bodypacks, but this is concerning, do you know anything more about? What problems? How does it get resolved?

Exactly! If you want the versatility of jumping back and forth between bag or cart, and want equipment for both, then slot receivers are perfect! One day you can be using them naked by themselves, or perhaps in say a Sound Devices SL2 (or similar, such as COGA Sound SuperSlot Receiver Sleeve, Soundbag Dashboards, Sonosax SX-RX8+, or etc) then the next day you can use them in a Lectro Octopack / Audio Ltd A10-Rack / PSC 12 Pack / etc I'll possibly never (or at least not in the foreseeable future) buy again any receiver which isn't a slot receiver. As probably my next purchase will be like you a Lectrosonics DSR4, and/or a Sony DWR-S03D. (with the one possible exception, if I see a well priced secondhand Lectro Venue Field. But again, similar reasoning here: because my Lectro VRTs can't be easily used in the bag as well) I'd imagine even Nexus buyers will be getting one (or two plus) Sound Devices A20-RX superslot receivers as well, especially if the Nexus is your only one otherwise. As if it goes down, then you lose all at once all of your 4 to 20 channels!! Having a spare A20-RX at hand will save the day. Plus they might have those simple days when you don't need anything more than a MixPre and an A20-RX or two, but you'll be running around on your feet all day long. Perfect reason to use an A20-RX instead of a Nexus.

A smart move. They need explore every angle to extend the battery life of the A20-TX. As I kinda feel that battery life is an area Audio Ltd / Sound Devices Wireless struggled a bit more than others? Just a little. And that's why for instance the A20-TX reports a max of 12hrs (presumably on single use lithiums while on low power, 3x AA. The only wireless transmitter than uses triple AA batteries??) while the Shure ADX1 uses 3x AAA and gets to 10hrs on medium power with rechargeable batteries. Or Lectrosonics DBSMD that is over 12hrs with 2x AA single use lithiums while on high power, or over eighteen and a half hours if on low power. Indeed, as it uses e-Ink! So that it is always on. Wonder if more manufacturers might embrace this as well in the future? Or maybe using dual displays? (like a mirrorless cameras do, both a normal colour display and an e-Ink display on the top to always shot info while on standbye)

I'd say that is exactly the target market Sound Devices is thinking about with the Nexus Go (the "Go" in its name is the hint! It is for people "on the Go"). Plus also for cart users who don't need Dante, which I'd say is still most people. I feel Superslot is fantastic! As the entire industry has finally unified around this as a form factor for us. (even Zaxcom! Although... they've discontinued their Superslot receiver, it didn't last for long. But Lectro/SD/Wisyscom/Sony/Sennheiser all make current gen Superslot receivers) This is fantastic, as we can mix and match lots of accessories between products! Such as the Lectrosonics Octopack, PSC Six Pack, Audio Ltd A10-Rack, Sound Devices SL2 / SL6, Aaton Hydra, COGA Sound SuperSlot Receiver Sleeve, Soundbag Dashboards, Sonosax SX-RX8+, and more! I don't think any new standard would be able to achieve such a wide range of adoption by many many different competitors. Not without much hard work and many years passing.

Gotham Audio has put out a video already about the new Sound Devices Wireless products:

I can only guess, but I wouldn't be too surprised if they took out a little more than just Dante from the insides, as the Nexus Go is coming in a lot cheaper than the Nexus. So maybe the Nexus Go can't physically handle 20 channels, or maybe it can't, who knows. But no matter if it can or not, I'd say this is smart market segmentation by Sound Devices to offer a cheaper alternative, as I'm sure a lot of us had sticker shock when we saw the original Nexus! (although, the maxed out Nexus Go is only US$1K cheaper than the standard 8 channel Nexus) The Nexus is already 1/2 RU sized, so fairly small by rack gear standards. Small enough for bag use! If you go smaller, you'd be losing those glorious screens on the front of the Nexus 😞 Also, if you're going even smaller (1/4 RU?), then wouldn't that be getting too close in size to an A20-RX? I guess what we'd really like to see is if there was a Superslot quad receiver from Sound Devices, just like the Lectrosonics DSR4 or Wisycom MCR54! Perhaps in another five or so years we'll see an "A30-TX" come out which will be a Superslot quad receiver from Sound Devices. Perhaps someone will 3D print an accessory for the A20-TX to be like this? Just like some people have done for other transmitters before.

The Sound Devices A20-TX seems to give us all the goodness of the A20-Mini, but in a bigger form factor (similar to the previous A10-TX). Such as that massively super wideband capabilities, but now it is even wider: of 169 to 1525 MHz, with VHF being included as well. Also adds in the Phantom Power capabilities and longer run time of the previous gen A10-TX which many people wished the A20-Mini had (but couldn't due to its miniature size). Price for the Sound Devices A20-TX is US$2,450. First difference that immediately leaps out is that the A20-TX has 3x AA (vs 2x AA of the A10-TX): Battery run time is "up to 12hrs" for the A20-TX, which at first glance makes it comparable to the A10-TX? As the longest running option for the A10-TX is 12 hr 18 min for low power (10mW) with lithium batteries. Spec sheet indicates the A20-TX is almost identical in size to the A10-TX: 8.5 x 6.4 x 1.81 cm vs 83 x 64 x 18 mm The A20-TX might even be lighter? (if not counting the weight of batteries, as it is 3x AA vs 2x AA) Assuming the A10-TX is listed as its weight without batteries: 98gm vs 104gm Slight change in power output options: Low - 2 mW, Normal - 10 mW, High - 20 mW, Extra High - 40 mW vs Low: 10 mW, Med: 20 mW, High: 50 mW I like that there is the A20-TX Switch which is also announced: It is a little accessory that can be added to the top of the A20-TX, which allows you to mute/unmute the audio, I could see this being handy for a 1st / 2nd AS to wear for coms. The second major announcement is a cheaper 4 channel alternative to the more expensive 8 channel Nexus: "Sound Devices A20-Nexus Go" https://www.sounddevices.com/product/a20-nexus-go/ It's essentially very similar to the big brother Nexus, except it starts out with less channels: 4 vs 8 But just like the Nexus, the Nexus Go can also add extra channels to it after purchase, by paying extra to unlock them: Nexus has options for 20, 16, 8 channels vs the 8, 6, 4 channels of the Nexus Go. The Nexus Go drops the feature of Dante which Nexus has, but Nexus Go also drops the price in a big way: US$8,495 for the Nexus Go ( vs US$14,495 for the Nexus) Otherwise, Nexus Go and Nexus are more similar than different to each other. For instance both can use the A20-QuickDock for 8-Series. I was a little surprised to see that even the expansion license is the same for both the Nexus and Nexus Go is the same at US$2,500 even though this $2.5K for the Nexus unlocks 4 channels but only 2 channels in the Nexus Go? (I'd have hoped that for the same price, then they'd unlock the same number of channels? Or the expansion license for two extra channels on the Nexus Go would be lower?)