Deity Microphones has just announced the D4 DUO compact micro on-camera microphone and the BP-TRX transceiver.
D4 DUO
The D4 DUO is a compact micro-sized on-camera microphone that is well suited for use with smaller sized mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
The microphone features dual cardioid microphone capsules to capture the front and rear sound fields around the camera. The reason the microphone has been designed in this way is so that Vloggers and video journalists can capture their own audio directly so they don’t sound muffled or distant when they narrate a scene or ask someone on camera a question.
The D4 DUO features an AUX 3.5mm input that bypasses audio from the rear microphone capsule. This puts the front capsule’s audio on the left and your AUX audio on the right channel of your camera or recorder. Deity claims that the D4 DUO can capture crisp lavalier quality audio during an interview as well as capture a dynamic soundscape of natural sounds going on around you that you can layer back into your interview in post.
It seems like a novel idea and it will probably work in certain situations, but it is never going to replace a dedicated shotgun and lapel microphones.
The pickup pattern of the microphones two capsules places more emphisis on the front capsule as the rear capsule is always going to be close to the camera operator.
“The D4 DUO really embodies our company motto of product design which is Do More, Carry Less. Why carry around bulky audio attachments when you don’t have to. Videographers and content creators carry enough as it is, shouldn’t their gear do more than just one task.”
Andrew Jones, brand developer of Deity Microphone
Specifications
Specifications
| Pickup Pattern | Dual Cardiod |
| Capsule Size | 14mm |
| Capsule Type | PrePolarized |
| AUX Input Connector | TRS 3.5 mm |
| AUX Input Voltage | 2-5VDC |
| Output Type | Dual Mono/Stereo |
| Weight | 40g |
Price & Availability
The D4 DUO will retail for $99 USD and it ships with 2x Deity faux fur windshields, a Rycote Lyre Shockmount and a coiled 3.5mm TRS cable. Expect to see it at local dealers around the world at the end of Q2.
BP-TRX
Deity has also announced a new addition to its Connect family, the BP-TRX. This new member was designed to fill in the gaps that were missing with the current lineup.
So what is it?
The BP-TRX is technically a transceiver which means it can act as a traditional wireless microphone transmitter but also it can also boot itself into a mode that allows it to act as a single channel wireless receiver. This gives the BP-TRX a lot of versatility and allows you to use it in a variety of ways.
Deity has also added a stereo audio recorder and a TXCO timecode clock so it can operate as a standalone audio recorder or TX Box if need be. These features can also be combined with the transmitter or receiver boot modes.
The timecode accuracy of the BP-TRX is claimed to be ±0.2ppm. This puts the BP-TRX inline with most of the industry-standard SMPTE timecode boxes and recorders on the market. The BP-TRX drifts 1 frame after running for 24hrs. The battery life for the BP-TRX when booted into TC Box Mode is +25Hrs.
Additional BP-TRX devices can be timecode synced using a standard cable.
The ability to be able to use a BP-TRX to take an audio signal from a mixer and then send timecode to a camera as well as other devices, while also sending timecode directly to the mixer makes this a very versatile production tool.
When operating as a standalone pocket audio recorder the battery life is 21Hrs, 3x the battery life of the next priced TC miniature audio recorder at ⅓ it’s price.
Crippled in the USA
International sold BP-TRX units sold outside the USA will transmit and record TC audio at the same time while units sold inside the USA will be allowed to do either/or, just not both at the same time.
“People kept asking us to design a Deity Connect system that was a single channel kit. And honestly the idea bored us. We decided if we are going to make a single channel kit we should upgrade our old Deity Connect transmitter with a bunch of new premium features. But also make it something that was versatile enough that it would be useful, even if you never owned any other pieces in the Deity Connect family. The BP-TRX is a personal dream come true. It’s a wireless audio device that doesn’t turn into e-waste as soon as the user is ready to move on to professional thousand dollar wireless systems. Instead, you can repurpose it and keep it in their kit. And run it alongside your thousand dollar wireless system in a new capacity.”
Andrew Jones, brand developer of Deity Microphone
Specifications
| Modulation Type | Proprietary Protocol |
| RF Protection | Encoded RF Signal |
| Frequency Type | Advanced Adaptive Frequency Hopping |
| RF Output Power | 10mw, 25mW, 50mW, 100mW, AUTO |
| Latency | 19ms |
| Range (distance) | New Body |
| Bitrate/ Sampling Frequency | 24-bit/48KHz |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20KHz |
| Input Connection | Locking 3.5mm TRS |
| Input Type | Mono, Stereo |
| Input Level | Mic, Line |
| Input Mic Power | 3.3V |
| Input gain | -12db to +36db |
| Limiter Type | Guard Rail™️ Analog Limiter |
| Low Cut Filter | Off, 20Hz to 200Hz |
| Output Connection | Locking 3.5mm TRS |
| Output Type | XLR, DSLR, TC Sync |
| Timecode Accuracy | ±0.2ppm |
| Timecode Type | SMPTE |
| Timecode Frame-Rates | 23.976ND, 24ND, 25ND, 29.97ND, 29.97D, 30ND, 30D |
| Antenna Inputs | Internal & External SMA |
| Recording | BWF .wav file |
| Card Type | Micro SD |
| Card capacity | Up to 128GB |
| USB Update | exFat/Fat16/Fat32 |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery |
| Battery capacity | 2800mAh |
| Battery Life | 12Hrs RX Mode, 21Hrs REC Only Mode, 25Hrs TC Box Mode |
| Battery Charger | USB Type-C Charging Cable |
| Size | 83.75×63.5×18.5mm |
| Weight | 160g |
| Operating Temperature | -10℃ to +45℃ |
Price & Availability
The BP-TRX will retail for $249 USD and include timecode sync cables, a lavalier, USB-C charging cable, and a USB adapter for firmware updates.
The BP-TRX is well priced considering you are getting seven different devices all built into one unit.
What do you think of these new Deity announcements? Let us know in the comments section below or start a conversation over on our new forum.
