Current EtherSound licensees include Allen & Heath, Archean Technologies, Audio Performance, AuviTran, Bittner Audio, Bouyer, CAMCO, DiGiCo, Digigram, InnovaSON, Lab X Technologies, Martin Audio, Mediachip, NetCIRA by Fostex, Nexo, Pinanson, Stardraw.com, VTG Audio, and Whirlwind. Several other Licensees exist but are waiting for product development to advance before going public.
Allen & Heath launched the iLive, a new live sound digital mixing console. The heart of the system is the iDR-64, a stand-alone 19" rack-mounting modular mix engine providing 64 channels into 32 mixes. The unit is controlled via an Ethernet network, as distinct from the EtherSound network and can be connected to a variety of controllers, including the new range of iLive control surfaces, Allen & Heath's PL range of remote units, third party devices, or a laptop/PC. Two EtherSound ports are provided for connection of an additional unit to expand the system to 128 channels, FOH/monitor signal splitting, and the connection of multi-tracks and other EtherSound-equipped devices. All channels and mix masters have EQ, dynamics and delay processing, with on-board FX, and an option for a built-in 32-channel speaker processor.
AuviTran launched AVB32-ES, an EtherSound to AES/EBU interface in a 19" 1U rack box. AVB32ES is available in three formats: 32 in, or 16 in/16out or 32 out. The AES/EBU inputs and outputs are split onto four DB25 connectors for size and cabling optimization. A Word Clock "in" on a BNC connector is available for external synchronization and four individual BNC "out" connectors enable the direct Word Clock synchronization of four external devices.
Digigram introduced a number of new EtherSound enabled offerings; ES881, ES1241 and ES16161 form a range of rack-mount AES/EBU to EtherSound interfaces in a variety of I/O configurations that will connect any digital product to an EtherSound network. ES881 offers four stereo AES/EBU I/Os while ES1241 and ES16161 provide two stereo AES/EBU inputs and six stereo AES/EBU outputs, and eight stereo AES/EBU inputs and eight stereo AES/EBU outputs respectively.
DioCore from InnovaSON is the first modular digital stagebox to offer audio transmission via EtherSound. The unit offers up to 64 ES I/Os controllable by any EtherSound management software such as ESControl or ESMonitor (available at no cost from Digigram and AuviTran). Pinanson a specialist in audio and video connectivity, launched its first digital product, an EtherSound stagebox with 48 mic/line inputs and 16 outputs all on XLR connectors. The microphone preamplifiers and the signal routing can be controlled locally on the device.
Stardraw.com unveiled Stardraw Control RC2 (Release Candidate 2). Stardraw Control is a software-based, unified framework that can control any remotely-controllable product from any manufacturer over any protocol, including EtherSound.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
