TRiX of the trade…

Zaxcom has manufactured wireless microphone systems for nearly half a decade now. The latest system is an entire revamp of the product line. The TRX wireless system has lumbered through various rumors of function and has settled in on a wonderfully helpful and working system. Depending on your purchase date (anytime after November 06′) the various system options may have not been available. So let me help sort out what is capable with this powerful little system. Here’s a quick layout of all of the most pertinent parts.

1. TRX900/900AA– Remote controlled wireless transceiver.
2. TRX10– IFB option for TRX900 series.
3. EA100– Volume controlled 1/8^th inch TRS jack for monitoring recordings or IFB.
4. TRX901-Internal recording option for TRX900 series.
5. STA100– Stereo Adapter with 2 line level inputs, external power input, and timecode/ audio output.
6. IFB100– IFB remote control transmitter. Stereo audio input, timecode, external power.
7. RX900M- mono ENG receiver
8. RX900S– stereo ENG receiver
9. RX4900– 4-unit single rack mount receiver capable of receiving up to 8 channels of audio. Backward compatible with all Zaxcom wireless.

Seems daunting doesn’t it. Don’t worry, I struggled with this (and still do) so I made this list for myself over a year ago. I’ve edited it periodically to adapt to Zaxcom’s vision and my own understanding. Break it down.

Starting with the TRX900 or TRX900AA, the names alone indicate it is clear you have an option. The TRX900 runs on a single 3-volt Lithium battery. The TRX900AA simply runs on a pair of AA batteries. I’d definitely recommend Lithium or rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride AAs if you’re not externally powering the transmitter. It can also be a transceiver. If you add the TRX10 option, the unit can receive timecode, return audio (from the IFB100) and remote record/stop functions for the additionally optional internal recorder (TRX901). As you can see these items are interdependent. If you are using the unit for stereo transmission you’ll need the STA100 adapter. This unit screws into the side of the transmitter and provides a stereo input, mono output (for headphones, or camera return when used with the IFB100). It also adapts the transmitter for external powering.

The receiver is quite basic. All of the receiver models include frequency scanning. The RX4900 and the RX900S are also mono compatible. The RX4900 is a four to eight channel rack receiver. It will receive four mono transmission or four stereo transmissions. The RX900S and RX900M are ENG receivers.

The IFB100 has several possible uses. In a cart situation the IFB100 broadcasts program audio to TRX900 transceivers with either the STA100 or EA100 adapters. In addition, it also sends generated or jammed timecode to the transceivers equipped with the TRX901 recording option.

For ENG use the IFB100 is a companion to the RX900S receiver. Mounted on the camera, the IFB100 can send return audio and camera timecode back to the mixer via the TRX900.

I hope this has helped clarify a complex and amazingly capable system.