A-RAY - Surround Microphone Suspension

A-Ray – modular surround microphone suspension

The A-Ray is a variable, modular surround rig for mobile or stationary use. It carries five microphones at distances from 50 cm to over 2 m – and you are completely free in your choice of microphones and polar patterns.

The telescopic carbon fiber arms can be adjusted in angle and spacing. They allow much larger spacings than conventional IRT or INA arrays: with the long arms, up to 222 cm from tip to tip are possible. This lets you build countless configurations, from a classic AB array and the Decca Tree to an OCT surround setup.

With the depth and spaciousness typical of spaced microphone techniques, the A-Ray is particularly well suited to classical and organ recordings and to ambience recordings for film. The A-Ray system has been in use for years at broadcasters such as ORF, NDR and MDR and at venues such as the Semperoper.

Quick to set up

The center bar carries sliding nodes with toothed flanges and quick-release skewers. They let you set the position and angle of the arms quickly. Depending on whether you arrange the nodes in one plane or perpendicular to each other, experimental 3D arrays are possible as well.

The tip of each arm and of the center bar has a 3/8" thread for the microphone mount. Using the center piece with its 3/8" connection, you mount the A-Ray on a boom pole or a stand with a 3/8" thread.

The A-Ray is made of aluminum and carbon fiber and weighs 1650 g. Folded down, it is 76 cm long and fits into the included carrying bag.

Accessories

The 6-channel A-MBOX breakout box with balanced signal routing and the matching A-MK6 multicore cable are available as options. You connect your microphones with the A-MXL-2F adapter cable (XLR-3F to TA3F); for the Schoeps Colette system there is the A-MK1.2LU adapter cable. The QAVS "MikeLink" pendulum joint is a good choice for suspending the rig.

If you only want to set up a Decca Tree, there is the A-RAY-DECCA with one pair of long arms.

Microphones, microphone mounts and cables are not included.