Deity has announced the Theos digital wireless microphone system aimed at filmmakers. The Theos system also incorporates timecode capability and a 32-bit float recorder.
Theos
The Theos digital wireless microphone system comprises the DBTX transmitter unit and D2RX receiver unit. Both units are made from CNC-milled aluminum, which keeps the transmitter unit weight down to just 3.5 ounces (100 g). In addition, the transmitter and receiver have full-color LCD screens which display the status of the devices. These show audio levels, battery life, and other critical information. You can power Theos for up to 14 hours using the 3000 mAh Deity AA battery. You can also power the transmitter and receiver externally via their USB-C ports.
Wideband UHF spectrum
The Theos digital wireless microphone system uses a wideband UHF spectrum rather than the 2.4 GHz band used by some other systems. The 2.4 GHz band is used for Wi-Fi systems which can cause interference in some locations. In addition, the human body can block short 2.4 GHz wavelengths. This means you often need to maintain line of sight between a wireless microphone’s transmitter and receiver to ensure a good signal. However, Theos’s wideband UHF spectrum avoids these issues. Theos uses frequencies between 550-960 MHz depending on the local laws around the world.
Built-in recorder
The Theos digital wireless microphone system has a recorder built-in into the transmitter unit. You can use this to record an onboard backup audio file using Micro SD cards up to 128 GB capacity. The recorder also features both 24-bit and 32-bit float recording formats. 32-bit float has such a large dynamic range that you don’t need to worry about gain staging on your backup WAV files. In addition, the built-in recorder on Theos has an EIN self-noise of -130 dBu (A-weighting, gain at +30 dB, 150 ohm source impedance). Deity says this puts it on par with some of the most expensive audio recorders in the film industry.
Wireless timecode sync
The transmitter unit of the Theos digital wireless microphone system can be natively synced wirelessly from the Deity TC-1 timecode generator. Timecode makes it quick and easy to sync your audio and video files for editing. It’s also a great advantage if you are shooting with more than one camera. In addition, the Theos transmitter unit has a 3.5 mm jack so that you can sync it with third-party timecode generators.
Sidus audio app
You can remotely control the Theos digital wireless microphone system using the Sidus audio app. It allows you to perform frequency scanning and frequency assignment as well as frequency coordination between multiple receivers. You can also adjust the gain and remotely trigger the backup recorder.
What we think
The Theos digital wireless microphone system looks like another great product from Deity. The use of wideband UHF spectrum should help to ensure you don’t experience dropouts in your audio signal. However, the onboard recorder is a good backup to have in case of problems, especially as it can also record in 32-bit float. In addition, being to control the system remotely once the transmitter is on your talent via the Sidus app will make life much easier, especially for solo shooters. Another useful feature is the ability to wirelessly sync with the Deity TC-1 timecode generator or via wire with any third-party timecode generators. We wait to see what price Deity announces, but if you are in the market for a digital wireless microphone system, Theos may be worth your dollar.
Pricing and availability
Deity has not yet released the launch date or pricing for the Theos digital wireless microphone system.
