ES881 offers four stereo AES/EBU inputs (eight ES channels) and four stereo AES/EBU outputs (eight ES channels) while ES1241 and ES16161 provide two stereo AES/EBU inputs (four ES channels) and six stereo AES/EBU outputs (12 ES channels), and eight stereo AES/EBU inputs (sixteen ES channels) and eight stereo AES/EBU outputs (16 ES channels) respectively. ES881 and ES1241 come with XLRs on the digital audio inputs and outputs while ES16161 features Sub-D connectors. All devices offer sample rate converters on each input, as well as World Clock input and output.
In live applications, from touring to installed sound, these products provide the gateway from digital sources and destinations, such as processors, effects and digital mic preamplifiers, to the rest of the EtherSound network. The audio path thereby remains in the digital domain incurring minimal latency and minimal signal loss by avoiding D/A or A/D conversion. Bulky and unsightly cable runs are kept to a minimum as the traditional "snake" is replaced by a single Ethernet cable (Cat 5, Cat 6 or fibre optic) capable of transmitting and receiving up to 64 EtherSound channels.
A further EtherSound development from Digigram is the LX6464ES PCI network sound card with DirectSound, Wave, and ASIO drivers. It can transmit and receive up to 64 EtherSound channels, thus connecting computer-based audio applications to the EtherSound network. In a live environment the capacity to receive up to 64 channels from an EtherSound-ready mixing console and record them straight onto a computer's hard disk for mix down at a later date, offers a highly cost-effective solution for multichannel recording.
EtherSound-ready consoles are currently available from Allen & Heath, DiGiCo (in development), InnovaSON; and Yamaha (via an AuviTran card). LX6464ES also provides the perfect solution for logging applications in, for example, a courtroom installation or Parliament where there is a need to record many channels from different rooms across the building via an EtherSound network. For hotels, conference centers and other multiroom venues, LX6464ES offers the ability to play back up to 32 stereo music programs from just one PC, or 64 in mono mode.
In broadcast, ES881/ES1241/ES16161 and LX6464ES form a compelling solution for multi-channel audio delivery and distribution via standard Ethernet. Further EtherSound product launches targeted at the broadcast market are planned in the upcoming months.
(Lee Baldock)
