High quality analog microphone manufacturer Neumann, an affiliate company of contact center headsets maker Sennheiser USA, has reportedly introduced an eight-channel version of its DMI-2 digital microphone interface.

Neumann claims the new DMI-8 offers more channels at less cost per channel in a space-saving rack-mountable chassis. Like the Neumann DMI-2, it delivers flawless AES 42 to AES/EBU conversion; multiple-microphone synchronization even without a sample rate converter; automatic Word Clock or AES 11 synchronization; sample rate output from 44.1 to 192 kHz; and unparalleled control and storage of digital microphone settings from either a Mac or a PC using Neumann’s intuitive RCS software.

But it also adds new features, including computer-free gain adjustment, multi-unit cascading up to 128 channels, and a variety of industry-standard multi-channel output formats.

External commands, such as an “On Air” red light indicator, can be controlled via a nine-pin user port. Output formats are ADAT optical and D-sub 25 with Tascam and Yamaha (News - Alert) pin assignments. In addition, open architecture allows later connection to other multi-channel interfaces and audio networks, such as EtherSound and MADI.

“In addition to sounding phenomenally rich, detailed, and accurate, Neumann digital microphones save time and money,” said Christopher Currier, product manager, Neumann USA, in a release. “We’re pleased to offer an eight-channel unit, which greatly reduces the per-channel cost and simplifies the setup of a digital microphone complement. While we were at it, we added requested features, such as in-the-box gain control, and extended the concept to include multi-unit control and cascading.”

Neumann products are distributed exclusively in the U.S., Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean through Sennheiser USA, located in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Sennheiser made news earlier this month when it announced that it had expanded its Sound Academy seminars by adding “Seminars4Worship,” a traveling workshop for worship leaders and technicians. The series of workshops, now underway, includes an in-depth wireless personal monitor mixing session led by Kent Margraves, Sennheiser’s installed sound applications manager.