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The Shure AD3 plug-on transmitter transforms any microphone into an advanced, portable Axient Digital AD Series wireless microphone, delivering impeccable audio quality and RF performance, wide-tuning, and encryption features. Compatible with Axient Digital AD4D and AD4Q receivers in Standard or High Density modes, AD3 features a custom, fast, and secure XLR connector design, support for both conventional AA and Shure SB900-series rechargeable battery options, and simple, userfriendly controls and menus. The AD3 is housed in a lightweight, rugged, metal chassis and is designed to resist sweat, moisture, and debris.
AA alkaline batteries (2) | 80B8201 |
USB-A to USB-C cable | 95A39299 |
Zipper bag | 95D2313 |
Pouch with belt clip | 95A44910 |
SB900B rechargeable lithium-ion battery | SB900B |
Note: If you remove or replace the batteries without turning the transmitter off, the device will turn on again when the batteries are replaced.
To ensure accurate display of transmitter runtime, set the battery type to match the battery you have installed.
Note: If a Shure rechargeable battery is installed, selecting a battery type is not necessary and the battery type will display Shure.
Shure SB900 series lithium ion batteries offer a rechargeable option for powering the transmitters. Batteries charge to 50% capacity in 1 hour and reach full charge within 3 hours.
Single chargers and multiple bay chargers are available to recharge the Shure batteries.
Only charge Shure rechargeable batteries with a Shure battery charger.
2 mW | 10 mW | 35 mW |
8+ hours | 8+ hours | 5+ hours |
Note: Phantom power, RF output and the impedance of the connecting device can impact battery life.
When using a Shure rechargeable battery, the receiver and transmitter home screens display the number of hours and minutes remaining.
When operated with AA batteries, or without batteries, the AD3 transmitter can be powered by connecting the USB-C port on the bottom of the transmitter to a suitable power source.
When a Shure rechargeable battery is inserted, the USB connection can power the transmitter while simultaneously charging the battery.
Important Tips for Care and Storage of Shure Rechargeable Batteries
Proper care and storage of Shure batteries results in reliable performance and ensures a long lifetime.
For additional rechargeable battery information, visit www.shure.com.
Note: A Battery Hot warning indicates that transmitter battery needs to cool off. Otherwise, the transmitter will shut down. Let the device cool down and then consider swapping the transmitter battery to continue operation.
Identify any possible external heat sources to the transmitter and operate the transmitter away from those external heat sources.
All batteries should be stored and operated away from external heat sources in reasonable temperature conditions for best performance.
Transmitters are compatible with the following AA battery types:
A 5 segment battery indicator representing the charge level of the transmitter battery is displayed on the screens of the transmitter and receiver. The following table contains the approximate remaining transmitter runtime in hours: minutes.
Battery Indicator | Battery Runtime (hours: minutes) | |||
UHF | 1.x | |||
2 mW/10 mW | 35 mW | 2 mW /10 mW | 30 mW | |
![]() | 8:00 to 6:00 | 3:30 to 3:00 | 5:30 to 4:15 | 3:45 to 3:00 |
![]() | 6:00 to 4:00 | 3:00 to 2:00 | 4:15 to 3:00 | 3:00 to 2:15 |
![]() | 4:00 to 1:45 | 2:00 to 1:30 | 3:00 to 1:45 | 2:15 to 2:00 |
![]() | <1:45 | <1:30 | <1:45 | <2:00 |
![]() | <0:45 | <0:45 | <0:45 | <0:45 |
![]() | <0:15 | <0:15 | <0:15 | <0:15 |
Use the controls to navigate menus and update settings.
X | Hold button to turn transmitter power on and off. Acts as a 'back' button to return to previous menus or pa rameters without confirming a value change. |
O | Enters menu screens and confirms parameter changes |
∨∧ | Use to scroll through menu screens and to change parameter values |
Tip: Hold the ∧ button while powering on to enter safe start mode.
The home screen shows transmitter information and status.
There are four pieces of information that you can choose to see on the home screen. Use the arrow buttons to select one of the following choices:
Name
Frequency Setting
Group (G) and Channel (C)
Device ID
The following icons indicate transmitter settings:
![]() | Battery runtime in hours and minutes or bar display |
![]() | Key: Displayed when encryption is enabled |
![]() | Lock: Displayed when controls are locked. Icon flashes if you attempt to access a locked control (power or menu). |
![]() | STD: Standard Transmission Mode |
![]() | HD: High Density Transmission Mode |
Lock transmitter interface controls to prevent accidental or unauthorized changes to parameters. The lock icon appears on the home screen when a lock is enabled.
Tip: To quickly unlock the transmitter menu, press O and select None.
Use IR Sync to form an audio channel between the transmitter and receiver.
Note: The receiver band must match the band of the transmitter.
Note: Any change to the encryption status on the receiver (enabling/disabling encryption) requires a sync to send the settings to the transmitter. New encryption keys for the transmitter and receiver channel are generated on every IR sync, so to request a new key for a transmitter, perform an IR sync with the desired receiver channel.
The transmitter can be manually tuned to a specific group, channel, or frequency.
Firmware is embedded software in each component that controls functionality. Periodically, new versions of firmware are developed to incorporate additional features and enhancements. To take advantage of design improvements, you can upload and install new versions of the firmware by using the Shure Update Utility. The Shure Update Utility is available for download from http://www.shure.com/.
When performing an update, first download firmware to the receiver, and then update transmitters to the same firmware version to ensure consistent operation.
The firmware numbering for Shure devices uses the following format: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.BUILD (e.g., 1.2.21.1). At a minimum, all devices on the network (including transmitters), must have the same MAJOR and MINOR firmware version numbers (e.g., 1.2.x).
RF mute prevents transmission of the audio by suppressing the RF signal while the transmitter remains powered-on. The home screen displays RF Muted in this mode.
Note: Turning the transmitter off and on or replacing the battery will restore Output to On.
Power on in safe start mode to prevent interference with other devices. Hold the ^ button while powering on your device until the Safe Start menu appears.
Safe Start menu options:
Use the navigation buttons to make changes.
Tip: To exit the Safe Start menu, push X.
Note: Previous settings for locks, RF, and phantom power will be retained when the transmitter is powered on in safe start mode.
The Tx Overload message appears when the audio input experiences a high level signal. The audio LED turns red as an additional indicator of an overload. Reduce the input signal or enable the input pad to remove the overload condition.
Tip: To enable the input pad, navigate to Audio > Pad and select 12 dB.
The transmitter contains an internal tone generator that produces a continuous audio signal. The tone is helpful when conducting a sound check or for troubleshooting the audio signal chain. The level of the tone is adjustable from -60 dB to 0 dB and the frequency can be set to 400 Hz or 1000 Hz.
Tip: Always start with the level set to -60 dB to avoid overloading speakers or headphones.
Turn off the tone by selecting Off from the menu or by cycling the transmitter power.
When linking two or more transmitters to a receiver, there may be a difference in volume levels between microphones or instruments. If this occurs, use the Offset function to match the audio levels and eliminate audible volume differences between transmitters. If using a single transmitter, set Offset to 0 dB.
Freq
Press the O button to enable editing of a group (G:) channel (C:) or frequency (MHz). Use the arrow buttons to adjust the values. To edit the frequency, press the O button once to edit the first 3 digits, or twice to edit the second 3 digits.
Power
Higher RF power settings can extend the range of the transmitter.
Note: Higher RF power settings decrease battery runtime.
Output
Sets the RF output to On or Mute.
Phantom
Adds phantom power for condenser microphones. Select +12V or +48V as required by the microphone.
Input Pad/Boost
Adjust the pad to avoid overloading the audio input or add a boost to low output sources. Choose between 12 dB, Off (default), and +12dB.
HP Filter
High-pass filter. Scroll up to turn on the filter and set the low-frequency rolloff in Hz; scroll all the way down to turn off. Range: 40 Hz to 240 Hz.
Polarity
Selectable polarity assignment for the audio input connector:
Offset
Adjust Offset level to balance mic levels when using two transmitters or when assigning multiple transmitters to receiver slots. Adjustment range: -12 dB to +21 dB.
Tone Gen
Tone generator. Transmitter will generate a continuous test tone:
Device ID
Assign a device ID of up to 8 characters.
Locks
Locks the transmitter controls and power switch.
Marker
When enabled, press O to drop a marker in Wireless Workbench.
Battery
Displays battery information:
About
Displays the following transmitter information:
Reset All
Restores all transmitter parameters to factory settings.
Issue | See Solution... |
No sound | Power, Cables, Radio Frequency, or Encryp tion Mismatch |
Faint sound or distortion | Gain, Cables |
Lack of range, unwanted noise bursts, or dropouts | Radio Frequency (RF) |
Cannot turn transmitter off or change frequency settings, or can't pro- | Interface Locks |
gram receiver | Interface Locks |
Encryption Mismatch message | Encryption Mismatch |
Firmware Mismatch message | Firmware Mismatch |
Transmitter Battery Hot message | Tx Battery Hot |
Antenna Fault Red LED | RF |
Handheld transmitter shuts down during use | Clean Battery Contacts |
Make sure that the receiver and transmitter are receiving sufficient voltage. Check the battery indicators and replace the transmitter batteries if necessary.
Adjust the system gain on the front of the receiver. Ensure the output level on the back of the receiver corresponds to the mic/ line input setting of the mixing console, amplifier, or DSP.
Check that all cables and connectors are working correctly.
The transmitter and the receiver can be locked to prevent accidental or unauthorized changes. A locked feature or button will produce the Locked screen on the LCD panel or the lock icon will flash on a transmitter.
Re-sync all receivers and transmitters after enabling or disabling encryption.
Paired transmitters and receivers must have the same firmware version installed to ensure consistent operation. See Firmware topic for firmware update procedure.
If the transmitter battery does not cool off, the transmitter will shut down. Let the device cool down and then consider swapping the transmitter battery to continue operation.
Identify any possible external heat sources to the transmitter and operate the transmitter away from those external heat sources.
All batteries should be stored and operated away from external heat sources in reasonable temperature conditions for best performance.
If neither blue RF Diversity LED is illuminated, then the receiver is not detecting the presence of a transmitter.
The orange RF Signal Strength LEDs indicate the amount of RF power being received. This signal could be from the transmitter, or it could be from an interfering source, such as a television broadcast. If more than two of the orange RF LEDs are still illuminated while the transmitter is off, then that channel may be experiencing interference, and you should try a different channel.
The red RF LED indicates RF overload. Overloads have the potential to cause interference in multiple system installations. If you are experiencing an overload, turn off the receiver to see if it is causing interference with other components.
The numerical channel select button also turns red to indicate interference.
If the transmitter is more than 6 to 60 m (20 to 200 ft) from the receiver antenna, you may be able to increase range by doing one of the following:
If you see the red RF LED on a receiver, try the following:
The Antenna Fault red LED indicates a short circuit condition or excessive load at an antenna port.
Clean the battery contacts with an electrical contact cleaner designed for gold contacts and safe on plastics.
Didn't find what you need? Contact our customer support to get help.
Mic Offset Range
12 to 21 dB (in 1 dB steps)
Battery Type
Shure SB900 series Rechargeable Li Ion or LR6 AA batteries 1.5 V
Battery Runtime
@ 10 mW
Shure SB900B | > 8 hours |
alkaline | > 7 hours |
Dimensions
126 mm x 44.5 mm x 44.5 mm (5.0in. x 1.8in. x 1.8 in.) H x W x D
Weight
Without Battery | 240 g (8.0 oz.), |
with AA batteries | 263 g |
with Shure rechargeable battery | 280 g |
Housing
Cast Metal
Operating Temperature Range
-10°C (-14°F) to 50°C (122°F)
Note: Battery characteristics may limit this range.
Storage Temperature Range
-40°C (-40°F) to 74°C (165°F)
Note: Battery characteristics may limit this range.
Audio Input
Connector 3-pin female XLR
Configuration
balanced
Impedance
Pad-12 dB | 26.64 kΩ |
0 dB | 6.64 kΩ |
Boost12 dB | 6.64 kΩ |
Maximum Input Level
1 kHz at 1% THD
Pad-12 dB | 21 dBV |
0 dB | 9 dBV |
Boost12 dB | 3 dBV |
Preamplifier Equivalent Input Noise (EIN)
System Gain Setting ≥ +20
-115 dBV, A weighted, typical
Phantom Power
+48 V(7 mA maximum), +12 V(15 mA maximum)
High Pass Filter
Two-pole (12 dB per octave), cut off frequency selectable from 40 to 240 in 20 Hz increments
Antenna Type
Dipole
Impedance
50 Ω
Occupied Bandwidth
<200 kHz
Channel-to-Channel Spacing
Standard Mode | 350 kHz |
High Density Mode | 125 kHz |
varies by region
Modulation Type
Shure Axient Digital Proprietary
Power
2 mW, 10 mW, 35 mW
See Frequency Range and Output Power table, varies by region
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
< 0.12 W/kg
Band | Frequency Range ( MHz) | RF Power ( mW)*** |
G53 | 470 to 510 | 2/10/35 |
G54 | 479 to 565 | 2/10/20 |
G55† | 470 to 636* | 2/10/35 |
G56†† | 470 to 636 | 2/10/35 |
G57 | 470 to 616* | 2/10/35 |
G62 | 510 to 530 | 2/10/35 |
G63 | 487 to 636 | 2/10 |
H54 | 520 to 636 | 2/10/35 |
K53 | 606 to 698* | 2/10/35 |
K54△ | 606 to 663** | 2/10/35 |
K55 | 606 to 694 | 2/10/35 |
K56◇ | 606 to 714 | 2/10/35 |
K57△ | 606 to 790 | 2/10/35 |
K58 | 622 to 698 | 2/10/35 |
L54 | 630 to 698 | 2/10/35 |
L60 | 630.125 to 697.875 | 2/10/35 |
P55 | 694 to 703, 748 to 758, 803 to 806 | 2/10/35 |
R52 | 794 to 806 | 2/10 |
JB | 806 to 810 | 2/10 |
X51 | 925 to 937.5 | 2/10 |
X55 | 941 to 960 | 2/10/35 |
X56††† | 960 to 1000 | 2/10/35 |
*With a gap between 608 to 614 MHz.
**With a gap between 608 to 614 MHz and a gap between 616 to 653 MHz.
***Power delivered to the antenna port.
†Operation mode varies according to region. In Brazil, High Density mode is used. The maximum power level for Peru is 10mW.
††Limited to 10mW for Vietnam.
†††Only in UK; F-variant only.
△Output power limited to 10 mW above 608 MHz.
◇Korea defines power as conducted (ERP) which is 1dB less then declared in table.
K55 606-694 MHz
Country Code | Frequency Range |
A, B, BG, CH, CY, CZ, D, DK, EST, F | * |
FIN, GB, GR, H, HR, I, IRL, IS, L, LT | * |
M, N, NL, P, PL, RO, S, SK, SLO, TR | * |
all other countries | * |
* This equipment may be capable of operating on some frequencies not authorized in your region. See Licensing Information.
G56 470-636 MHz
Country Code | Frequency Range |
A, B, BG, CH, CY, CZ, D, DK, EST, F | * |
FIN, GB, GR, H, HR, I, IRL, IS, L, LT | * |
M, N, NL, P, PL, RO, S, SK, SLO, TR | * |
all other countries | * |
* This equipment may be capable of operating on some frequencies not authorized in your region. See Licensing Information.
K57 606-790 MHz
Country Code | Frequency Range |
A, B, BG, CH, CY, CZ, D, DK, EST, F | * |
FIN, GB, GR, H, HR, I, IRL, IS, L, LT | * |
M, N, NL, P, PL, RO, S, SK, SLO, TR | * |
all other countries | * |
* This equipment may be capable of operating on some frequencies not authorized in your region. See Licensing Information.
If water or other foreign objects enter the inside of the device, fire or electric shock may result. Do not attempt to modify this product. Doing so could result in personal injury and/or product failure. | |
Never disassemble or modify the device, as failures may result. Do not subject to extreme force and do not pull on the cable or failures may result. Keep the microphone dry and avoid exposure to extreme temperatures and humidity. |
Note: Use only with the included power supply or a Shure-approved equivalent.
Shure Europe GmbH
Department: Global Compliance
Jakob-Dieffenbacher-Str. 12
75031 Eppingen, Germany
Phone: +49-7262-92 49 0
Fax: +49-7262-92 49 11 4
Email: EMEAsupport@shure.de
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
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