Archive: News & Press Releases

05/2006

AES 2006 New Product: Familiar Functionality in Compact Form

STAGETEC introduces new NEXUS single-unit Base Device / Ideal for outside broadcasting applications

Paris (France), May 2006: At this year’s European AES Convention Germany’s manufacturer of professional audio equipment STAGETEC has introduced a new ultra compact 1-U Base Device version to its popular audio routing system NEXUS. Instead of the usual NEXUS design with the cards mounted upright – requiring at least 3-U racks – the new space-saving version is populated horizontally, giving five free slots for cards plus a sixth one for the CPU board. Equipped e.g. with the new NEXUS 8-channel microphone board XMIC the new NEXUS provides a maximum of 24 microphone inputs and eight returns – more than adequate for applications where portability and flexibility is required rather than a large number of I/Os!

“The new NEXUS single-unit base device recommends itself whenever just an extension of the NEXUS network with a few I/Os is needed”, says Dr. Klaus Scholz, managing Director of STAGETEC. “This is for example true for broadcast coverage of race meetings such as cycling, skiing, or motor racing where microphones have to be placed along the entire course. An ideal application for the new NEXUS!”, he continues. The 1-U Base Device is also attractive as a standalone solution for studios, in tight OB truck installations or indeed any situation requiring a space-saving alternative to standard NEXUS Base Devices.

For the new NEXUS mini-rack the backplane accommodating the high clock-rate TDM bus was redeveloped from the ground up, since this method of crosswire board installation requires a different bus layout to that of the 3-U version. The mini-rack Base Device also incorporates a horizontally mounted cooling fan that activates when necessary and avoids overheating due to the high component density. A real novelty in STAGETEC products and an real advantage too as it allows the single-unit device to be installed virtually everywhere, even immediately above the PA system power amplifier, or basking in the hot summer sunshine at the top of a camera crane! Despite this redesign, all familiar NEXUS functionality remains the same: The free choice from a huge number of NEXUS boards suitable for almost any application, the 256 time slots for each Base Device and maximum fail-safety thanks to redundant power supplies in each Base Device.

About STAGETEC
Berlin based STAGETEC is one of the founding companies of the SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP based in Buttenheim, Germany. The SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP, a consortium comprising three companies, is one of the major system integrators in Europe and a leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality digital audio products such as NEXUS, AURUS, CANTUS and the C.A.S. product series. MEDIAGROUP installations can be found at hundreds of venues throughout the world, e.g. in broadcast stations, OB Vans, theatres, government buildings and multipurpose halls.

About NEXUS
The fully digital NEXUS is one of most versatile audio network and routing systems on the market today and a core product of STAGETEC. Build up completely modular and connected via glass fibre, NEXUS forms decentralized networks of any desired size. A wide choice of individually configured boards mounted in compact 19’’ racks make NEXUS a true multi-purpose device, providing not only audio routing but also A/D and D/A conversion, signal processing, audio format conversion, signal transmission (SDI), power amplifier control, plus intercom matrix and talkback functionality. Thus, applications range from large audio networks in broadcasting houses, theatres, stadiums and multipurpose venues to the use as an I/O-Matrix for mixing consoles, studios, and OB Vans as well as to the interconnection of recording studios, stages, sound-reinforcement facilities, and other areas.