New WMAS Standard Promises More-Flexible, Protected Wireless Operations Shure, Sennheiser establish early beachheads in what could be a game-changer By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The lengthy narrative around the arrival of Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems is seemingly at its end. In October, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conferred its bureaucratic blessing on the RF technology that allows significantly denser multiplexing of audio channels onto a single wideband RF carrier. Referred to by the only slightly less unwieldy acronym WMAS, the new standard promises an easier and more flexible wireless workflow and greater protection for other services sharing the same frequency band. It is widely considered a game-changer for managing wireless signals in a narrower, denser spectral environment in the wake of multiple spectrum reductions over the past two decades.
The approval has also opened a new front in the wireless-microphone competition, one in which two of the sector's largest brands, Sennheiser and Shure, have quickly staked substantial claims.
Sennheiser's Joe Ciaudelli: With WMAS, you're using the same RF channel and the same amount of bandwidth for [multiple mics] as for one.
It is definitely the start of a new era of wireless-microphone technology, says Joe Ciaudelli, director, spectrum and innovation, Sennheiser. Noting the nearly six years the FCC spent considering the technology and the eight months, from February to October, it took to publish its finding in the Federal Register, he adds, We expect the competition to be rigorous.
Shure Senior Director, Product Management, Nick Wood puts the arrival of WMAS into broad context: Any change in the UHF TV bands is a really big deal given the changes that have happened over the past 20 years, most of which affected access to spectrum. This one is a great development because it changes what we can do with it, and Shure has been determined to push the envelope with spectrum efficiency. What can be done with the spectrum that we have and the WMAS regulations unlock a new innovation space for us. We want to use that to let the people who produce these events, including broadcast sports, to be able to do more with the spectrum they have that day and be able to say yes to one more wireless microphone.
Two Competitive Fronts Sennheiser's flagship WMAS offering is the Spectera line, introduced at IBC in September (the technology is already an ETSI standard in Europe) and demonstrated at the Americas Spectrum Management Conference in Washington, DC, last month. It features wideband, bidirectional bodypacks and a central unit that can handle up to 32 I/O. Its bidirectional wireless ecosystem supports data and audio control in a single RF carrier for all components and for such parameters as IEM volume, audio level and settings, RF health, and battery status. Sennheiser asserts that it is able to accommodate an entire production in a single wideband (6- or 8-MHz) RF carrier.
Shure's entry takes the form of a new iteration of the company's Axient wireless series: Axient Digital PSM combines its first digital wireless in-ear monitoring solution with its first WMAS-enabled product. It was announced Oct. 22 (although it had been selectively previewed privately two weeks earlier during the AES/NAB expo in New York, at which Sennheiser did not exhibit). Stereo capability enables Axient Digital PSM to operate as two discrete channels, allowing a stereo audio channel to function effectively as two mono IFB channels. Additionally, the capability to send Dante signals to the Audio Digital Transmission Exchange (ADTX) simplifies routing. The WMAS wideband implementation supports up to 28 channels per 6 MHz in the U.S. and 40 channels per 8 MHz in Europe; a narrowband mode provides access to more RF output power per channel while maintaining spectral efficiency at 17 channels per 6 MHz.
Changing the Game The new FCC rules will allow WMAS to operate in the broadcast-TV bands and in the 600 MHz duplex gap on both a licensed and an unlicensed basis and in other Part 74 LPAS (low-power auxiliary stations) frequency bands on a licensed basis. Power restrictions are 50 mW in the VHF-TV bands, 250 mW conducted power in the UHF band, 20 mW in the 600 MHz duplex gap (653-657 MHz), 250 mW conducted power in the 1435-1525 MHz band, and 1 W conducted power in all other bands, according to the FCC's website. WMAS will enable more wireless microphones to operate in the available spectrum (more microphones per megahertz of spectrum), providing additional options when more microphones are needed.
The WMAS rules do not alter existing spectrum rights or expectations regarding spectrum access and availability related to other authorized users' sharing the frequency bands with wireless-microphone operations (including, for example, broadcast licensees, Wi-Fi, and white-space-device users).
Sennheiser's Take For broadcast-sports applications, Ciaudelli - who contends that Spectera is the most innovative product the nearly 80-year-old company has ever produced - notes a broadcaster's typical complement of one transmitter for a microphone and one receiver for an IFB. That, he says, can be condensed into a single transceiver using Spectra WMAS. There's a similar benefit for large-scale events, such as the Olympics, in which various echelons of wireless mics are in either active or on standby status as a production unfolds.
With WMAS, he explains, you could give the vast majority of the spectral resources to the mics that are currently on-air. The mics that are, let's say, on deck' you give just enough resources to make sure that they remain linked to the base station in a ready mode. You're using the
North America Stories
18/03/2026
Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4.
Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...
18/03/2026
SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...
18/03/2026
The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...
18/03/2026
(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...
18/03/2026
SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...
18/03/2026
Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...
18/03/2026
Brainstorm transforms productivity and sustainability with Suite 7 at NAB Show 2...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, today unveiled its educational presentations for the 2026 NAB Show. This year SMPTE will ...
18/03/2026
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, gaming, and more, today ann...
18/03/2026
Digital Alert Systems
Preview
2026 NAB Show
April 19 - 22
Booth C3452
At the 2026 NAB Show, Digital Alert Systems will showcase Version 6.0 of its DASDEC ...
18/03/2026
Setplex today announced that it will showcase its complete, fully integrated Zapflex platform for the first time at the 2026 NAB Show, introducing powerful new ...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking DP for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Director of Photography for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy Feature Film- I...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Location, Sound for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Location/Sound for Low Budget Dramed...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Film - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
Calrec Redefines Broadcast Workflows at NAB 2026 with its Most Powerful Hardware...
18/03/2026
Oscar Nominated Two People Exchanging Saliva Posted with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio handle...
18/03/2026
Boston Conservatory Presents Celebrated Musical Satire Urinetown Performances for this Center Stage production will take place at Boston Conservatory Theater ...
18/03/2026
Charlie Puth Joins Switched on Pop at Berklee NYC The Berklee alum spoke with host and Berklee NYC professor Charlie Harding for a live taping, answering audi...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Preparatevi Alla Terza E Ultima Stagione De La Legge di Lidia ...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Drops Teaser and First Look Images for The Chestnut M...
17/03/2026
NASA+'s Rebecca Sirmons and Brittany Brown offer unique look at live streami...
17/03/2026
The transition to IP has fundamentally reshaped professional media infrastructures. Video, audio, and increasingly metadata now circulate as independent, precis...
17/03/2026
Live sports streaming can push every element in your video delivery chain to its limit, exposing every potential weakness in seconds. When the Super Bowl, the O...
17/03/2026
Texas Athletics sought to modernize its media production, enhance fan experience...
17/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast...
17/03/2026
TNA Wrestling and iHeartMedia announces a new multi-platform collaboration that will integrate iHeartMedia across TNA's premium live events, weekly televisi...
17/03/2026
The goal was to transform Hard Rock Stadium into a global leader in sports and e...
17/03/2026
Spectrum has announced the launch of its new Multiview feature in the Spectrum TV App, giving customers the ability to watch up to four NCAA men's or women&...
17/03/2026
Genius Sports deal also covers data technology, AI, fan engagement, and performance analysis....
17/03/2026
Net Insight is supporting the rollout of a new state-wide centralized operation with Rede Massa, which is an SBT affiliate, the Brazilian regional television ne...
17/03/2026
Featuring audio from practice sessions, qualifying races, and Grand Prix races, the film represents Apple's sports-media ambitions
At Sunday night's Ac...
17/03/2026
Live broadcast has always been one of the most demanding environments in media a...
17/03/2026
DirecTV is introducing several new viewing features, including a multi-screen March Madness Mix channel and an updated Sports Central mobile app hub, ahead of...
17/03/2026
Deltatre has announced a multi-year partnership with ATP Media, the media arm of the ATP Tour, covering broadcast graphics, data, and production across the 2026...
17/03/2026
The Detroit Pistons have announced a third consecutive season partnering with Sc...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/03/2026
3D streaming infrastructure provider Miris today announced the launch of a public beta for its new 3D asset streaming platform. Miris is building the infrastruc...
17/03/2026
As media organizations face mounting pressure to produce more content, faster, while maximizing value and operational efficiency, Tedial, a leading provider of ...
17/03/2026
Brainstorm, a leading manufacturer of real-time graphics, augmented and virtual production, is launching the newest version of its platform, Brainstorm Suite 7,...
17/03/2026
Limecraft today announces the release of Limecraft 2026.2, the second platform update in its 2026 release cycle. Limecraft is an AI-powered production platform ...
17/03/2026
Broadcast Solutions, a leading system integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast and media industry, showcased its latest broadcast and V...
New WMAS Standard Promises More-Flexible, Protected Wireless Operations Shure, Sennheiser establish early beachheads in what could be a game-changer By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
