"We are convinced that network-centric architectures integrating IP networks are the way that big broadcasters will operate in the future to efficiently manage content production and distribution, and to create multiple localized programs at the lowest possible cost," states Carl Conrad, Digigram product manager networked audio. "eXaudi devices like the XIP882 are the building blocks of such systems and enable broadcasters and their suppliers to unify their 'digital islands' from the studio up to the transmitter sites, such as radio automation, studio transmitters links, logging, monitoring, content sharing, or program localization."
Following the model of its industry-standard-setting PCX range of sound cards, Digigram has designed the XIP882 as an enabling technology device, which delivers its benefits only when integrated into broader systems developed by third party companies such as pro audio manufacturers, independent software vendors (ISV) or systems integrators. The XIP882 combines a ruggedized 2U 19" rack and a network Application Programming Interface (API), which enables Digigram's OEM development partners to control the equipment's functions with a significantly reduced R&D effort and to rapidly develop user interfaces. Several of Digigram's long-term development partners are currently integrating eXaudi into their product offering. Finnish software house Jutel has already shown an eXaudi powered version of its broadcast content management solution RadioMan at IBC 2004.
XIP882 features eight audio inputs and eight audio outputs in both analog and digital formats. An embedded matrix provides routing capabilities from any input (physical, file, or network IP stream) to any output (physical, file, or network IP stream). System wide, the IP network enables an every-input-to-every-output-routing matrix. eXaudi guarantees IP streaming with a professional Quality of Service (QoS), including Forward-Error-Correction (FEC)-based packet loss recovery, sample accurate stream synchronization and managed latency. [Note to the editor: "Quality of Service (QoS)" is a specific networking term, which refers to guaranteed performance levels on the IP network that are mainly achieved by managing the priority of IP streams. As every Internet user knows, network performance on IP networks without QoS, such as the Internet, can vary significantly.] XIP882 also performs audio processing functions inherited from Digigram's PCX sound cards, such as mixing, time stretching, or equalization, which can be dynamically inserted at any point of the signal chain. Finally, XIP882 encodes and decodes multiple formats such as MP3, MPEG4, or AAC+.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
