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From April 8th to 12th, SOUND4 will participate to the most important Radio show in the world, which will take place at Las Vegas Convention Center. Innovation awaits you...
SOUND4 introduce “ULA”, the Universal Lan Audio
What is ULA?
ULA means “Universal Lan Audio”, in few words this is not a new standard, but a “compatible concept” where audio IP sources from different standard are now compatible and exchangeable. With ULA, we can catch a Livewire source and send it in Ravenna network... Thanks’ to ULA, sources from different standard are fully cross compatible. For now, ULA integrates 2 standards (Livewire and Ravenna), we will add more standards soon.
A good news for SOUND4 customers: All SOUND4 products (PCIe cards) are now ULA compatible.
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SOUND4 ULA 8-Playout
The Universal Lan Audio Playout Card (Ravenna & Livewire compatible)
What is the scope of SOUND4 ULA 8-Playout?
This card is mainly used as a sound card to directly play to Lan Audio (Livewire or Ravenna). Of course it is also possible to record from Lan Audio. This card is dedicated to OEM Integrators who also need advanced functionalities, like Mix Engine and 3D matrix audio.
What is the capacity of the cards?
- 8 Stereo inputs (Play)
- 8 ULA Inputs (Livewire or Ravenna)
- 8 Stereo outputs (Record)
- 8 ULA Outputs (Livewire or Ravenna)
What is the difference with a software driver solution?
- Low Latency: 1.3ms
- ULA compatible (Ravenna & Livewire)
- Stability: this is a hardware solution!
- 3D Matrix
- Mix Engine built in
- 100% Link&Share compatible!
3D matrix, what for?
Until now the principle of operation of an audio matrix was to connect the inputs and outputs by their crossover points in a grid. This is the classic mode: “two dimensions” (input to output).
With the 3D mode, SOUND4 introduces a notion of priority in the Matrix engine. In practice when connecting sources to destinations, it is now possible to define an order of priority, from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest priority).
It is then possible to establish source scenarios of backup, priority, mixing group directly in the heart of the 3D matrix. The aim is to simplify the task of OEM Integrators. Because operation will be extremely simplified, this new concept invented by SOUND4 will also reduce cost for end users...
A Mix Engine Built In...
The 3D audio matrix has also a Mix Engine with a capacity of 16 inputs to 16 outputs. Cross-fades are assignable separately for each source. Thanks to the 8-ULA SOUND4 Playout, it is no longer necessary to use external mixing engine to mix playout sources with ULA sources (Livewire or Ravenna).
100% Link&Share compatible
The Link & Share is the SOUND4 control protocol, in practice it is a Telnet layer that provides read and write access to all parameters of SOUND4 products. Through Link & Share, the OEM Integrators can directly send commands to one or many other SOUND4 cards. In fact the Link & Share can be seen as a “modern” generation of GPIO...
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SOUND4 IP – The Audio Networking Solution
What is the scope of SOUND4 IP?
SOUND4 IP is a complete solution dedicated to dynamic Audio IP Networking. SOUND4 IP is Much more than point-to-point sound streaming…
Have a look at all the AUDIO IP solutions available… Although an essential point, none of these solutions take signal processing into account! None of them allow for synchronization... None of them offer a secure routing in the event of an IP link failure... None of them offer stream duplication without decoding and re-encoding... In many cases, the most commonly used codecs impose significant delays, up to a few seconds... Network architectures are fixed and cannot be adjusted according to the new demands of the broadcasting management...
What is the capacity of a SOUND4 IP card?
A SOUND4 IP can handle up to 32 links, each Link can run a Single way or Duplex transmission. All links are dynamically re-assignable with link&Share protocol, there is no limitation in SOUND4 IP...
Saving operating cost by Bandwith repartition…
Thanks to IP Pass-Through functionality, it is possible to rebroadcast a link from a receiver without decoding and re-encoding.
This functionality is really appreciated by Broadcasters who need an important bandwidth to deliver IP to many Transmitters. Audio networking is buildable like a tree: from studio departure some links will serve 4 or 5 receivers, then each receiver will rebroadcast without decoding to 4 or 5 others receivers...
A built-In preprocessor to optimize codec's job
As a Sound processor manufacturer, we always pay attention to levels... In SOUND4 IP we have implemented a pre-processor to optimize levels and of course optimize codec's job.
SOUND4 IP is usable in all circumstance, even for live broadcast where levels are not always correctly controlled... Of course, pre-processing is by-passable for users who don't need it!
Secure your links is an obsession for us...
In SOUND4 IP Product, everything is done to offer you tools and functionality to secure and backup links.
Users can set a backup link is case the main one falls down. Moreover, SOUND4 IP is the first Audio Overs IP codec which manages Fall-back links with dynamic data assignment. An example: the radio can use ADSL link for main service and IP satellite (2-way) for backup. The main advantage of 2-way sat is cost because it is usually proposed for a limited quantity of data transfer, the disadvantage is also the cost if data transfer is not managed. With SOUND4 IP Fall-back link management, it is possible to start or stop sending data to satellite when it is needed, then the basic subscription for 2-way sat can cover a backup program for more than 20 hours per week which is largely enough!!!
About protocol, codecs & Links capaticty...
At SOUND4 we have a solid reputation in Audio over IP, this is the reason why we use our proprietary protocol with our own IP corrections, QOS management... This choice offers the best stability because it is designed for actual technology and realistic line characteristics. Our protocol is based on UDP standard.
About codecs, in SOUND4 IP we provide two types of codec:
- Linear (PCM)
- SOUND4 LD, our own proprietary low delay codec. Adjustable from 64 to 384 kbps.
Our codec is not only low delay, it is also working with low bandwidth (transparent at 128 kbps). SOUND4 LD codec is not an mpeg based codec, it doesn't generate artifacts with mpeg based audio sources.
Concerning Delay, 50 ms for encoding/transport/decoding is an achievable goal on a good SDSL line.
A SOUND4 IP can handle up to 32 links, each Link can run a Single way or Duplex transmission. All links are dynamically re-assignable with link&Share protocol, there is no limitation in SOUND4 IP...
100% Link&Share compatible
The Link & Share is the SOUND4 control protocol, in practice it is a Telnet layer that provides read and write access to all parameters of SOUND4 products.
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SOUND4 Panels premiere!
What is a SOUND4 Panel ?
This is a fully customizable virtual keyboard solution.
What is the use of a SOUND4 Panel?
A panel is used to send commands to one or more SOUND4 cards, it can also display meters and status.
What are SOUND4 Panel typical uses?
To change an entry in a card, change an IP route, change the source of an IP encoder, display if a card is receiving the modulation input, display the status of a function, change a preset, change a gain...
Where may SOUND4 Panel be used?
In the technical stage for advanced operations or in studios for simple operations.
Is it possible to connect multiple Panels on multiple cards? Yes there is no limit, one or more cards can receive commands from several different Panels.
How are commands generated by the Panel sent?
SOUND4 Panels use the Link & Share protocol developed by SOUND4, it is a Telnet based protocol.
SOUND4 is Livewire compatible, is it possible to send commands to Axia products?
Yes, absolutely! In simple installations without Path Finder Pro, it is possible to send commands or view status directly from a SOUND4 Panel. In a complex system where SOUND4 and Axia products cohabit, there are many advantages to send commands from a SOUND4 Panel ...
Are all SOUND4 products compatible with Panels? Sure, all SOUND4 products are compatible, however an update (free) is required for products delivered before
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Premiere of the Alarm Stacker
The Alarm Stacker is a monitoring application compatible with all SOUND4 products. It allows you to set alarms for many parameters and send them by e-mail. SMS alarm functionality will be implemented soon.
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WebRadio processing: a new streaming engine for SOUND4 x8...
This product was introduced in pre-release last year at Radio 2012, and won the famous "Cool Stuff Award" at NAB in Las Vegas in 2012. For those who have not had yet the chance to discover the first processor with 8 channels streaming solution, it will be running a live demo with 32 WebRadios and 192 streams, all housed in a 2U server!
A new streaming engine: if SOUND4 x8 is already a huge worldwide success, SOUND4 decides to go further by opening new formats and extending compatibility: today SOUND4 x8 can push streams to Icecast2, Shoutcast, RTMP, RTMPE, RTMPT, RTMPS, RTMPTE, RTMPTS, RTSP, RTP ... For reminder, the SOUND4 x8 card is able to stream up to 48 streams in the following format: AAC, HE-AAC, HE-AACv2 and MP3.
On the Ergonomic side, streaming engine has undergone a complete overhaul. It is now possible to save and load configuration per stream, per channel or for all channels. The "copy / paste" is now available when setting stream parameters, which makes operation faster.
Posted on April 4th 2013
During “NAB - Las Vegas
SOUND4 will reveal again new products and functionalities...
