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Can SD and Lectro build Zax like products?


Ramsay

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I've been watching all the interesting products which Zaxcom have come up with and I'm wondering if companies like Lectrosonics and Sound Devices can legally build devices which have similar cool features like radios which record or Zaxnet type communication between devices. Thoughts?

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All three companies and lots of others you don't mention, have patents, so there are some things that would require licenses...

however these companies, and other "usual suspects" (plus newcomers and others) all have their own ideas and tend to go their own way, rather than copy each other...

This is really no different that in so many other fields and industries.

As I recall, there is, or was a company in China knocking off SD mixers...

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(NOT A LAWYER)

I would think that a modern Zaxcom transmitter is a combination of a radio and a recording device. Neither function is a patent specifically awarded exclusively to Zaxcom. Some of the methods of control probably are patented, such as Zaxnet, which is a network mostly comprised of a 2.4GHZ wireless network that transmits control data embedded in a SMPTE timecode signal. Some of the feedback of the system is via the UHF signal though, so not all of the features are specific to Zaxnet. I'm not aware of any other recording transmitters, but Zaxcom is not the first to offer remote control, that award goes to, I believe, Sony.

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" network that transmits control data embedded in a SMPTE timecode signal. "

err...

NOPE...

got that backwards...

" that award goes to, I believe, Sony. "

Shure is also doing remote control on their premium systems (Axient)...

Our little universe (a niche, actually) is pretty small... there are a lot of folks out there making and selling lots of wireless microphones. very few of their customers are interested in transmitters recording, especially since there are also a lot of various small recorders being widely sold for folks who want a small recorder. .

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Who made the first mixer that can also record?...... and look how many choices there are now. Patent or not, if SD or Lectro wanted to compete with Zax's ideas, then they better start soon IMO. I hope the show in Amsterdam this September shows something promising from SD, if not..... well, I guess my decision is an easy one.

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Some Zaxcom press releases mentioning patents:

Zaxcom Receives U.S. Patent for Wireless Recording Technology

June 15, 2010

http://www.zaxcom.co...recordingpatent

Zaxcom Launches Two New 125mw Transmitters with PowerRoll (Pat. Pend.)

August 11, 2011

http://www.zaxcom.com/pr-trx900la

Zaxcom Introduces New Plug-on Digital Recording

Wireless Transmitter Featuring NeverClip

April 12, 2012

(patent pending)

http://www.zaxcom.com/pr-trx742

(At least some of the) US Patents issued to Zaxcom:

http://1.usa.gov/PvWe8L

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It would be a sad day if the boutique companies that we know and love get into patent trolling of the kind that is going on in the smartphone arena. SD, Zaxcom and Lectro all make great products and I pretty much use a mix and match of all them since some seem to work better in some situations than others and as long as their R and D people are continually working to bring us great toys then I'm sure all three companies will have a bright future within our specialised community.

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" "hi-jacked...version". "

Then it is no longer a "SMPTE TC signal".

Thus, TC information is contained in a Zaxnet signal

If the ubits are being twiddled, but the protocol itself is untouched, I'd say it's still SMPTE TC. But the fact that it's being sent over radio as a digital signal (rather than an analog one) might make both statements true.

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I can't wait for Lectro to build recording transmitters with timecode capabilities across their wireless range a la Zaxcom... Don't get me wrong, I love my Zaxcom gear, but Lectro gear in my experience is better built to withstand the daily abuses of location sound.

I really hope Lectro is listening!

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Zaxcom has patented our recording wireless transmitters and has many patents pending for this feature as well as other features on different products we make. As a company we work very hard to invent, perfect and commercialize new technology. The patent process allows us to have exclusivity to the inventions that we develop for a period of time. The development of our products especially in a limited market is very costly and the patent process allows us to get a return on that investment and to continue to innovate new products.

Glenn Sanders

President Zaxcom Inc.

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" "hi-jacked...version". "

Then it is no longer a "SMPTE TC signal".

Thus, TC information is contained in a Zaxnet signal

" If the ubits are being twiddled, but the protocol itself is untouched, "

yes, I thought of this last evening, and ate CROW for dinner...since if only the contents of the UB in a SMPTE standard TC signal are modified, in accordance with SMPTE spec's, that "it" would remain a SMPTE TC signal; in this case, the signal would be readable, jammable, etc., directly by any SMPTE TC device. IOW, if the signal is not directly acceptable to other SMPTE devices, cross platform, then it is no longer a SMPTE signal, it is either a propriatary signal, readable and usable on specific devices, or it is an unusable signal (maybe not up to spec's)

" The development of our products especially in a limited market is very costly and the patent process allows us to get a return on that investment and to continue to innovate new products. "

...in a very limited market.

excellent point!

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