Auracast

[Searey81]

Hi Folks, just putting out feelers if anyone is using this technology for iem’s and how might they be getting along?

[Derek H]

It looks interesting and I see Listentech has some Auracast gear available but until Apple gets on board with Auracast it won’t be very useful for us. And who knows how long that could take. Apple tends to drag their feet and kick and scream before implementing technology that they didn’t come up with themselves especially if they have competing or similar systems already in place. Look how long it took for them to put USB3 on a Mac. In the meantime, I would have zero interest in providing and maintaining compatible Bluetooth receivers or earbuds for people. I could see setting up an Auracast transmitter at the village and have it be strictly BYOD self serve kinda thing. It could be nice to take the load off of providing individual Comteks and headphones to all the random people that show up. Not only in teens of equipment but also work load for the sound utility keeping track of them all.  
… Again if it doesn’t work with Apple then this is all moot for us. 
 

I would be very curious to try it on set and see what kind of range it’s able to achieve, how bad the latency is and if it interferes with other wireless systems already in use. 
 

Either way, it probably wont be up to us for long if Auracast  becomes common-use and people come to expect it. 
 

 

[Johnny Karlsson]

No thanks. Bluetooth is not reliable on set, has a delay, and would you really save time/workload handling out Comteks vs teaching people how to set things up on their phones? And then blame you when something goes wrong. Imagine trying to mix while you’re circled by people wanting you to troubleshoot….

Besides, Comtek / IFB rental income is not something any of us should want to give up. And it still works better than anything else available.

 

 

[Derek H]

That’s what I thought too at first but then I looked into what Auracast is and how it’s different from the usual Bluetooth tech. Is more like a traditional radio broadcast and doesn’t require the same bidirectional pairing that Bluetooth does. This also allows it to use a lot more transmission power. Worth a look for certain setups. We regularly get asked by people (producers, executives, etc..) if they can use their wireless headphones or earbuds to listen in and as time goes on this is only going to become a more common request and eventually will get embarrassing to keep turning them down. 
 

I also have no interest in troubleshooting individual phones but if it’s something people can just figure out on their own like getting on a public WiFi and proves reliable then it has potential. And counterpoint, Comteks are not completely trouble-free either. 
 

Good point about the revenue stream with Comteks but you could charge for the Auracast transmitter especially if you can make the case it’s being requested by above the line folks.