Euphonix Unveils Audio Processor, Converter

At IBC, Euphonix showcased the new digital processing engine, the DF66
DSP SuperCore, and a new range of modular digital and analog audio
converters.

mixing systems. The new digital processing engine works with both Max
Air and System 5-B/BP broadcast consoles and is also available for the
System 5-F/P audio post models.

The new DSP SuperCore is an extremely powerful and modular DSP system,
which supports dual-redundant power supplies, and an optional 100%
redundant DSP SuperCore system. This failover redundancy system allows
for a completely redundant, backup DF66 DSP core to run in parallel
with a primary DSP core. In the event of a failure, the entire DF66
audio path, including all I/O devices and router, is switched over to
the backup system.

The DF66 DSP Core is a 4U chassis, and provides the primary
signal-processing engine for the System 5 and Max Air digital-audio
mixing consoles. It is comprised of a system board and up to six
plug-in SP662 DSP cards. Although the DF66 design is optimized for
typical audio mixing applications, the hardware itself is actually a
highly flexible platform for real-time DSP, signal I/O, and routing
between these functions. This technology will enable a wide variety of
potential future applications. Key aspects of the design are
scalability, modularity, serviceability, reliability, and of course,
outstanding audio performance. Expansion beyond the capacity of a
single chassis can be achieved by linking multiple chassis together.
This is accomplished with a proprietary audio link design, which
maintains full floating-point resolution throughout the signal
path.

Each of the DSP SuperCore cards features 8 Analog Devices SHARC DSPs
and an FPGA based 4K (4096) channel audio router. With up to six cards
in a single chassis there are nearly 25,000 discreet signal paths
available within the DF66 DSP SuperCore that can be controlled from the
console’s PatchNet software. With each SP-662 card added to the DF66
core there are also four MADI inputs and four MADI outputs available
for connecting I/O devices and other external devices such as DAWs
(Digital Audio Workstations). Up to twenty-four MADI inputs and outputs
are available from a single DSP SuperCore chassis. At 48KHz that
equates to 1,536 audio channels in and out of the DSP SuperCore, 768
channels at 96kHz and 384 channels at 192kHz. The DSP SuperCore can
operate with any AES10 MADI compatible converters including the
Euphonix range of multi-channel analog and digital converters
supporting a wide variety of formats including AES/EBU (75ohm and
110ohm), plus SDI.

The DSP SuperCore supports all current Euphonix broadcast mixer models,
including the 106 channel base model, and has the capability of
supporting much larger configurations simply by adding extra DSP cards.
As well as the standard Euphonix mixing functions the DSP SuperCore
also supports new features including, larger channel counts per core,
increased channel delays of up to 2 seconds, enhanced dynamics with
compressor and expander/gate per channel, built-in 4096×4096 router bus
processing, and SNMP monitoring. All this in a smaller form factor and
less weight! The small 4RU size is good news for installations in both
mobile trucks and today’s crowded machine rooms. The new DSP SuperCore
will work with any Euphonix Max Air or System 5 control surface
allowing an upgrade path for existing clients.

“The new DSP SuperCore is a very powerful and flexible DSP solution
that can be scaled up to meet any task, both in the broadcast and audio
post world.” explains Euphonix CEO, Martin Kloiber. “We are one of the
only manufacturers to use a mixture of DSP and FPGA processing which
allows us to support 40 bit floating point and gives our design
engineers the ability to maintain audio quality and provide a wider
range of features. The full 100% redundancy option provides
broadcasters with an absolute rock solid solution that can react to any
adverse failure. It also gives us enough processing power to expand
console features beyond their current limits, extending the life of all
our digital mixing systems.”

Euphonix today announced a new range of modular digital and analog
audio converters and remote mic preamps aimed specifically at the
broadcast market. The new converters complement the existing range of
Euphonix multi-channel I/O converters by adding a highly modularized
product that can be tailored to match the facility’s I/O requirements.

The new range of converters is based around a 3RU 19″chassis conforming
to the DIN 41494 specification. 10 different input/output cards are
available offering many different combinations including AES 10 MADI,
AES/EBU (both 75 and 100 ohm), SDI with embedder and de-embedder, and
analog converters up to 24bit/96KHz sample rate. A high quality,
24-bit, 142db signal to noise, 4-channel microphone preamp module is
also available with remote Ethernet control of gain and phantom from
one or multiple consoles. The system can handle up to 56 mic preamps,
with MADI card connectivity, in a single rack.

The rack is available with dual redundant PSU options, different sync
options, and with Ethernet and serial card options for remote
monitoring and control. I/O Cards offer from 4-8 channels (up to 56 for
MADI) making it possible to provide a wide variety of I/O within a
single unit. Euphonix’ existing converter products are high-quality
multi-channel converters and microphone preamplifiers in a 2RU form
factor but with fixed 24-channel modularity. Euphonix continue to
manufacture and support their line of 2RU converters including the
FC726, the popular 56-channel digital format
converter.

“This new range of modular converters, in combination with our existing
multi-channel converters, makes it much easier for our broadcast
clients to exactly match the I/O with their specific needs,” explains
Euphonix CEO, Martin Kloiber. “The new converters offer networked
microphone control and also give us SDI capability.”