STAGETEC presents new digital Audio
Console at IBC
German manufacturer STAGETEC is known for its innovations
in digital mixing technology. The company invented the combination
of digital routing and mixing, an ingenious technical design
which has since seen success in nearly 200 CANTUS / NEXUS
installations throughout the world. Now STAGETEC has done
it again, and is once more breaking new ground, this time
with its digital Direct-Access Console AURUS.
With AURUS, STAGETEC has added an easy-to-use mixing system
to its range of digital products. Packed with a high number
of space saving dual encoders, every channel strip offers
direct access to all audio parameters. The visual feedback
of these parameters is given by alphanumerical displays and
LED indicators within the strips: ideal features for a console
in OB Trucks, production, and live applications.
Flexible and time-saving
One key goal during development was the fast and simple user
interface of the console-important in big facilities with
changing staff. AURUS offers a universal pre-configuration
of the internal signal flow. However, the flexibility of
the console can be increased by changing the order of the
functions such as compressor, filter or inserts within
the channels. This makes AURUS as flexible as the freely
configurable - and still successful - CANTUS.
Thanks to its pre-configuration, AURUS works immediately
just like an analogue console. In a big system with up to
96 channel strips and as many as 300 audio channels, this
offers valuable time savings.
The ability to use two independent control consoles in parallel
on one single AURUS system is one of the standard features
of the product. The same is true for multichannel processing
and monitoring as well as for various automation functions:
There's no need for upgrades to achieve them.
Metering and more
The meter bridge comprises high resolution TFT colour displays
that can be toggled between different metering types. The
displays are located directly in the sound engineer's view
and can be customised to the user's methods of working.
Besides showing the meter section, the TFT displays are
also used for monitoring the console's configuration or
the detailed status of the audio parameters, such as filter
settings or routing information.
STAGETEC standards
AURUS, like all STAGETEC products, offers state-of-the-art
digital audio quality. Signal processing is consistently
performed by a 40-bit floating-point arithmetic, thus allowing
the high quality of the internal functions (e.g.. EQ, filter
and dynamics) while guaranteeing a clip-free signal flow.
Another standard feature in all STAGETEC products is reliability.
All AURUS components are checked constantly by a test routine,
giving an error message as soon as a fibre-optic cable is
disconnected or any other failure occurs. And if one of the
AURUS cards needs a service, it can be changed during operation
because all modules are simply hot-pluggable.
Compact dimensions and a low weight, will make AURUS a popular
choice for OB Trucks and other outside broadcast facilities.
Complete audio net
AURUS is fully integrated with the digital router NEXUS STAR.
This offers all features of the NEXUS audio network to
the AURUS user: including outstanding TrueMatch A/D converter
with 28 bit resolution, a variety of digital I/O formats
and de-centralised installation of all inputs and outputs.
NEXUS is used as a digital routing system in many radio applications,
from a small local routing device up to a widespread installation
connecting several rooms and buildings to one audio net.
In such an audio network, the individual routing elements
are connected via fibre-optic cables which are simple to
install in outside broadcast applications as well as in fixed
installations.
Combined with the AURUS mixing console, such a network can
offer a high grade of interconnectivity between a number
of studios and control rooms, for example. Alternatively
fibre-optic cables can be used to connect remotely-placed
microphones to the AURUS console on the OB Truck. Even long
distance connections over some kilometres are no problem
with this technology.
High interest
AURUS is the latest generation of digital mixing consoles,
confirming STAGETEC's ground-breaking position in the field
of digital mixing technology. At IBC, as at AES in Munich
in May 2002, the new product generated considerable interest
among users, and will be ready for shipping early in 2003.
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