Ceiling beamforming microphone MAS-A100 - SONY SON-MAS-A100

The SONY MAS-A100 is a digital ceiling microphone designed for recording and speech reinforcement. Its beamforming technology uses an array of microphone capsules housed inside one low-profile cylindrical enclosure. Sophisticated digital signal processing identifies the direction from which sound arrives, helping the system deliver clear speech to listeners.

Sony’s high-performance DSP and proprietary algorithms extract speech while suppressing unwanted feedback. Working together with the noise suppression functions, they automatically detect and attenuate ambient noise, improving speech intelligibility. The unit is intended for fixed ceiling installation at a height of approximately 3 m from the floor. Once it has been installed and configured with the MASM-1 software, it is ready to operate, while the microphone and associated installation remain virtually invisible.

The presenter can move around the room without being restricted to a particular spot and keeps both hands free. Compared with a handheld microphone, this allows the presenter to concentrate on the presentation. The MAS-A100 also avoids the practical work required by a conventional lavalier or headset microphone: a sound engineer or boom operator does not need to attach a bodypack to the speaker’s belt, route the cable beneath the clothing, position the headset on the head, or possibly secure the boom carrying the capsule with adhesive tape. These tasks take time and require a second person, whereas the ceiling installation does not place a microphone on the presenter.

The audio interface is Dante and provides two output channels simultaneously: one for speech reinforcement and one for recording. The unit combines beamforming with Sony’s intelligent feedback reduction. There is no separate power connector because PoE power is supplied directly through the Ethernet network. Dante support allows the switch and the other system components to be connected with a standard CAT5e or CAT6 network cable. Dedicated managed switches must be used.

Operation is handled through the free MASM-1 software. The same application can calibrate the microphone by sending dedicated test signals to the audio system. After the presenter’s movement area and the audience size have been identified, it can determine how many microphones are needed for optimum results. Configuration also covers microphone gain, narrow, standard or wide capture range, selectable feedback and noise-reduction levels, noise gate, equaliser and an API for an external control system.