For the most part, wireless audio signal transmission applications are provided by two competing companies starting with the letter S.
Each has their benefits and drawbacks. But now, let's have a naive dream.
Make them talk to each other.
Let's have a universal wireless audio signal codec / data transmission protocol, similar to the MIDI standard of synth communication.
There are many situations when this would come in handy. As the market shares seem to be about 50/50, people who use S1 will often bump into S2 users, and the logical thing would thus be to enable both systems to talk to each other.
Examples:
A theatre uses a S1 in-house system. Guest artist who visits brings their S2 headset and system, but wants to have a spare headset provided by S1 as a back-up. To facilitate a quick headset change, it would be smart if the S1 was running the entire time and the S2 could dial in to the S1 system. Granted, thorough frequency management would probably be sufficient, but in times of narrowing frequency bands, more efficient use of available frequencies, by using the same codec / transmission standards if needed, could help make things run smoothly.
A low budget theatre inherits four transmitters from S1 and four from S2, plus a receiver unit from S1. Maybe the S2 unit happened to break down or was sold off. Now, they have a production with seven leading roles who require headsets. It would be beneficial to be able to use all the transmitters with the S1 receiver.
Another theatre has been using S1 gear for a long time, but due to some special features which are only provided by S2, they want to switch to S2. For sustainability reasons, however, they still want to use their older S1 gear in combination with S2. Instead of having to throw everything away, they could use the universal codec mode.
Obviously, this can only be applied to future devices. Those should have
- their individual firmware (either S1 or S2) to ensure downwards compatibility
- the new universal transmission standard
- the ability to send both signals in an encrypted mode
- cross-compatible re-chargeable batteries. It has happened that guests with an S2 system had short-lived batteries with no replacement at hand. If those guests could be helped with long-lived re-chargeable batteries from an S1 system, that would be a big help.
How could this be achieved?
- The new compatibility mode would require both companies (and any other competitors) to send standardised data packages which transmit signal / battery information etc.
- Encryption would have to be standardised, and used.
- An Universal ID allocating / syncing system would be required.
- In compatibility mode, any device needs to recognise and allow "foreign" devices to send or receive signals.
- Ideally, I would envision a universal protocol that can run on different codecs and automatically recognises which codec is used, so that multiple devices can talk to each other. For example, if you are using a state-of-the-art transmitting unit, the Universal Protocol should run on, and recognise, 16-QAM. However, if any of the devices that need to talk to each other has an older / less complex codec, like only using phase shifts, the Universal Protocol should automatically switch to this older standard for the oldschool transmitter, and use an algorithm to avoid any data transmission conflicts.
- Latency should be 3 ms max., as usual.
Obviously, the Universal Mode would limit the range of special functions that could be provided by system-specific applications. The sound may be different, as different encoding systems apparently make a difference. However, I can see thousands of potential situations where compatibility between devices from different companies would be incredibly beneficial. In the age of the climate crisis, any approach to increase longevity of existing systems and use fewer resources / produce less new material is a big plus. Green Technology will be increasingly embraced by Early Adopters and politics, e. g., in the EU, by governmental bodies, and so on - it could be possible to raise substantial funding for this idea.
I do not think that this idea would threaten either S company's sales. Both systems have their advantages, both work reliably and safely, and happy customers will usually stick with one of the two. It will remain best practice not to combine the two (or more) if it can be avoided. However, it would be a shame to miss out on the advantages an Universal Mode could offer. Most importantly, increased flexibility of frequency use at a time when available frequency bands are under constant threat of further narrowing - especially considering the fact that wireless audio signal transmission purposes are classified as Secondary Users in Austria, with Primary Users and their interests having priority over us.
Looking at mobile phone chargers, the EU has issued legislation to standardise chargers and charging slots, which has made enduser life a lot more convenient, yet hardly affected mobile phone sales. A similar form of legislation could require the Universal Protocol to be put into practice. Ideally, I would imagine it to have global compatibility. Similar to the MIDI Association, the basic foundations could be laid out at the next WRC.
To conclude, I hope that some smart brains consider this idea and will put it into practice. My main motivation behind this suggestion is to see more of a Green Event Industry taking forms, to make the AV industry more sustainable wherever possible.