TDM Audio Pro UVC Case Disinfects Your Microphones

Audio Gear News

by Mark ZdunnekDecember 2^nd, 2020

The French company TDM Audio Pro has created an IP67 certified rigid hermetic and shock-proof 34L UVC case with 2x UVC 24W bulbs claiming to eradicate bacteria and viruses.

There is of course a need to “clean” wireless transmitters or lavalier microphones, especially amid the current pandemic. Disclaimer: Whether this works with SARS-CoV2 (referring to COVID-19), the author of this article does not know.

Technical Overview

Inside a case enclosure (int. dimensions: 465 x 335 x 220 mm), running on 220-240V AC power, objects suitable for the purpose up to a usable height of 8cm may be placed among the UVC lamps. The estimated lifespan of each of the lights is ca. 8,000 hrs. The manufacturer calculates and advises to change those lamps after roughly 4,000 hrs to sustain the product’s effectiveness.

When the UVC case is powered on for the first time, a 5-minute self-test function is started, after which the product can be used. The manufacturer provides a detailed “How to use it” section in the respective user manual (TDM Audio Pro UVC CASE User Manual, 2020). This section includes recommendations on how and which gear to place inside, describing LED functionality and the 5 min running time of the “cleaning” process. 

In a nutshell, 5 min after pressing the red front-facing button, the red LED turns off, signaling the completion of the process. Ultimately the main idea is to eradicate most if not all of the viruses that could lurk around on clip-on mics and similar interchangeable gear. If the product works as proclaimed, it could be useful, indeed.

It would then fit all sorts of live-event, TV, show, and many other video productions where multiple people need to use the same pieces of gear. For details about their calculations and claims, please also refer to the respective company documents (TDM Audio Pro Presentation, 2020). The product is available for around 499€ (excl. tax).

The Claim of the Product

In short, the company describes similarities between several types of viruses, discussing UVCs and coronavirus and offering their solution. Thereby they are citing a SARS-CoV study published in the 121st issue of the “Journal of Virological Methods” (Darnell et al., 2004) that they sum up so that their chosen UVCs eradicate 95% of the SARS-CoV from 2003.

Disclaimer & FDA Statement on UVC

The author of this post doesn’t hold a degree in an adjacent field of medicine, epidemiology, infectious diseases, virology, etc., to estimate if this piece of gear will help at all for the designated purpose. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) provides a current overview of preliminary scientific information regarding “UV Lights and Lamps: Ultraviolet-C Radiation, Disinfection, and Coronavirus” (FDA, 2020) with the details current as of 08/19/2020 upon release of this article.

This page currently states that

“UVC radiation has been shown to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-Coronavirus, which is a different virus from the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. The destruction ultimately leads to [the] inactivation of the virus. (…) UVC radiation may also be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). (…) However, currently[,] there is limited published data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UVC radiation required to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus.”

(FDA, 2020)

Conditions of Use and User Manual

Please also carefully read the “Conditions of use” section in their “The UVCs impact on the SARS-CoV-2” (TDM Audio Pro Presentation, 2020) document and the “Disclaimer” section from the product’s user manual (TDM Audio Pro UVC CASE User Manual, 2020). Thus especially note their information about possible harm and dangers when using the product for any purpose. Please also note their details on how to use the product. Finally, this article’s author is not responsible for any form of loss, harm, or danger when using this product. Please critically consider further expert information and non-partisan scientific peer-reviewed publications not only but especially in renowned and well-established scientific journals about the topic.

Link: website

Do you think we need such equipment regularly nowadays? How do you endeavor to clean your gear currently, and what types of products do you use? Let us know in the comments blow!