Author: mattwaddell

The 2026 IPS Pro-Audio Show

Oct 10, 2026
The Hub, London, South Bank University, United Kingdom (UK)

Sound Devices will be attending the IPS Pro-Audio Show 2026 at The Hub, London South Bank University. Join us to explore the complete Astral Wireless ecosystem, get hands-on with the new Astral Mini Plus transmitter, and see the latest 8-Series and MixPre II workflows in action. We’re looking forward to connecting with professionals from across the TV, radio, film, live events, education, recording studio, streaming, and gaming industries.

Free registration available at:
https://proaudioshow.uk/

Event Details

Sound Devices Open House at Gotham Sound

Oct 19, 2026
Gotham Sound, New Jersey, New York, United States (US)

Join Sound Devices and Gotham Sound for an open house featuring Astral Mini Plus, Astral Wireless, and the 8-Series. Get hands-on with the latest gear and connect with fellow audio professionals.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET

[Event Details]

NAB NY

Oct 21, 2026 – Oct 22, 2026
Javits Center, New York, New York, United States (US)

Sound Devices is heading to NAB Show New York at Booth #448. Join us to explore the complete Astral Wireless ecosystem, get hands-on with our 8-Series and MixPre II recorder lineup, and connect with the Sound Devices team throughout the show. We’re looking forward to meeting broadcasters, filmmakers, and audio professionals from across the industry.

Register for a FREE Exhibits Pass using code NS6585

[Event Details]

Trewlapalooza 2026

Oct 2, 2026 – Oct 3, 2026
LA, California, United States (US)

Join Sound Devices at Trewlapalooza 2026 in Los Angeles. Get hands-on with Astral wireless systems, explore new production sound workflows, and meet the people behind the gear. Don’t miss our session on Friday, October 2 at 2:00 PM. [tickettailor.com]

Let’s Meet at Trewlapalooza: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/trewaudio/2348876

[Event Details]

Astral Wireless v8.40: Faster, More Flexible, More Reliable

Astral 8.40 is now available, introducing a range of workflow, control, monitoring, and reliability enhancements across the Astral Wireless ecosystem.

This release delivers faster receiver startup times, expanded Quick Setup memory, enhanced monitoring capabilities, improved system control, and a number of reliability improvements designed to streamline operation in demanding production environments.

To download firmware v8.40, please click this link to the product download page.

Workflow Efficiency & Faster Operation

Day-to-day operation is faster and more efficient. Reduced Astral ARX receiver boot times mean your system is ready sooner, while firmware updates for Astral Outpost are now accessed through a single, centralized menu for a more intuitive process. Quick Setup memory has also been expanded from four to eight slots, allowing you to store and instantly recall more configurations across different setups. 

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Expanded Control & System Flexibility

System control and automation have been refined. You can now assign handheld transmitter display colors using AstralComm and DiGiCo macros, enabling consistent visual organization without manual adjustment. Local ARX receiver and webGUI AstralComm macro triggering and notifications make it easier to test automation paths directly on-device, while Mirror Mode improvements allow key functions like ID and Nexlink antenna selection to be accessed from secondary receivers, increasing flexibility and redundancy. 

Audio performance and integration also benefit from an extended global RX output gain range of -20 to 40 dB, offering more precise level matching across a wider range of equipment.  

Reliability, Safety & System Integrity 

Reliability updates help protect against interruptions and ensure predictable system behavior. Optional power-off confirmation reduces the risk of accidental shutdowns in critical moments, and a revised Factory Defaults process now performs a complete reset, including unpairing transmitters and clearing memory slots. The tone generator is also automatically disabled after a power cycle, preventing unintended output during startup. 

Monitoring & User Awareness 

Monitoring is clearer and more actionable. Astral ARX receivers now display Astral TX transmitter battery levels as a percentage, giving you more precise visibility so you can plan and react with confidence. 

Key highlights in Astral 8.40: 

  • Support for Astral Mini Plus transmitter
  • Quick Setup memory expanded from 4 to 8 slots
  • AstralComm Macro-based control of handheld transmitter display color
  • Local AstralComm macro triggering and test notifications
  • Centralized firmware update workflow for Astral Outpost
  • Extended RX output gain range from –20 to 40 dB
  • Full reset behavior for Factory Defaults
  • Tone generator disabled after power cycle
  • Transmitter battery level shown as percentage on Astral ARX receivers
  • Reduced Astral ARX8/16/32 boot time

Astral Wireless Manuals 

  • PDF and online manuals have been updated to reflect the changes listed above. 
  • These can be found on the product download pages. 

Products Mentioned

Astral ARX16

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Astral ARX32

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Astral HH

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Astral Mini Plus

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Astral Outpost

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Astral TX

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Astral ARX16

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Astral ARX32

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Astral HH

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Astral Mini Plus

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Astral Outpost

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Astral TX

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