If you wanted to record and transmit at the same time with a wireless system, you will need to inquire about a Zaxcom product as they have the rights to do so. Today, Zaxcom and Deity Microphones announced the signing of a license agreement for five patents. The deal gives the new BP-TRX units sold in the United States the capacity of transmit and record audio at the same time. This is the first time that Zaxcom has allowed another company to use its patent.

Check out my first look at the Deity Connect BP-TRX.

Patent agreement

The license agreement covers all BP-TRX units already shipped to the United States, and all new units produced in the future. US customers will have access to international firmware updates from firmware V1.1 (released early June 2021). Customers who have already made pre-orders and are waiting for their BP-TRX units can perform a firmware update on the first day of ownership to unlock all new features.

“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Glenn Sanders and the Zaxcom team. We are excited to show our US customers the full potential the BP-TRX will have on their video shoots. It has been a long 2 year journey to design the BP-TRX and this licensing agreement with Zaxcom is the icing on the cake of all that hard work.

Andrew Jones, Deity Microphones brand developer

A little history

In 2005, Zaxcom released the TRX900 transmitter, which obtained a patent for the ability to transmit and record audio in timecode. It was a world first and was recognized for a Technical Achievement Award in 2016 by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with an Emmy Award and in 2017 by the Motion Picture Academy.
Today, Deity Microphones becomes the first brand to license these Zaxcom patents.

This is great news for US customers. The patent was an obstacle for many years and was frustrating for companies that offered transmission and recording functions with international versions, but had to have a separate model for the United States. While frustrating the competition, Zaxcom has allowed its technology to protect the innovations it has created.
It will be interesting to see if Zaxcom enters into further patent deals with more companies in the future. The possibility of recording and transmitting at the same time is very convenient.

Acquired patents

It’s pretty cheesy, but I’ve listed them below if you’re interested in the actual patents.

Virtual wireless multitrack recording system

It is important to mention that Zaxcom has sued many companies over the years to protect their innovations. Lectrosonics has spent a lot of time in court with Zaxcom. Do you remember JuicedLink? They also made a device called “Little Darling,” which was a small portable audio recorder. This device infringed a Zaxcom patent and has been shut down. JuicedLink was a small business that did not survive the legal process.

I’m not sure why Zaxcom decided to sign a deal with Deity, but I think it makes a lot of sense as the two companies make very different products and cater to different users. Zaxcom is primarily a UHF system designed for the broadcast and film industries, and Deity is a 2.4 GHz system for independent and budget filmmakers. The market for the two types is very different and should not hurt the sales of Zaxcom’s offerings, as the retail price difference is very large. A Zaxcom transmitter alone costs over $ 1,500. If they can make a few bucks on the deal, everyone wins.

The only BP-TRX sells for $ 249. Timecode kit (2-piece kit) priced at $ 479, and Deity Connect Deluxe Kit for $ 699. I think you get what you pay for, and versatility is the name of the game for the BP-TRX. In addition, for US customers, you now have the recording and transmission function just like the rest of the world.

Do you like what we do and want to support Newsshooter? Consider becoming a Support Patreon and help us continue to be the best source of professional tool information and reviews for the independent filmmaker.