Sony is shipping its new beamforming microphone, the MAS-A100. Designed for a range of meeting, lecture and presentation environments, the ceiling-mount microphone offers audio for both speech reinforcement and recording with a combination of beamforming technology and Intelligent Feedback Reducer function. The microphone has a dual-channel output for simultaneous recording that captures the speaker’s and students’/participants’ voices. The MAS-A100 also offers support for Dante2 and Power Over Ethernet (PoE) for installation.

The MAS-A100 achieves hands-free speech reinforcement without requiring hand-held or body-worn microphones and subsequent batteries or device management. This is enabled by a combination of beamforming technology and a feature called Intelligent Feedback Reducer, which can extract sound while suppressing unwanted feedback with Sony’s digital signal processing. After capturing voice, the microphone’s Automatic Gain Control function automatically adjusts the output volume to be consistent regardless of the presenter’s location, making lectures and presentations easier to hear.

The MAS-A100’s Automatic Calibration function automatically optimizes the audio processing parameters for speech reinforcement by generating and capturing the test signal during the installation process. Sony’s free-of-charge Microphone Array System Manager software (MASM-1) can help centralize configuration and management of multiple microphones in various rooms via an IP connection.