AURUS Characteristics
Quality Control
Stage Tec products are manufactured for professional applications and therefore built to exacting standards. Their audio quality and hardware components meet even the most stringent requirements.
Digital audio processing at 40 bits with floating-point calculation as well as the excellent analogue components of the NEXUS router/switcher system ensure superb audio quality and maximum headroom for recording, mixing, and public-address applications. The AURUS complies with all requirements regarding analogue inputs and outputs as described in the IRT specification booklets 3/2 and 3/5. The quality of the digital and analogue audio interfaces has been tested and approved by the Rundfunk-Betriebstechnik institute (RBT, Nuremberg/Germany), RAI (Italy), ABC’s Evaluation Labs (New York), and CCTV (China).
Quality First
All panels are subjected to thorough tests before they are shipped. The test routines and measurement sessions are aimed at ensuring that all functions work as expected and that the specifications detailed in the data sheets are indeed accurate. Each panel is first subjected to highly efficient, computer-controlled test routines, inspected by hand and subjected to durability tests within the entire system. More complex boards must also pass stringent endurance and individual tests.
Logistics
The following features make the AURUS mixing-console system perfectly suitable for OB vans and live use: the low console weight, the extremely compact audio processor NEXUS STAR, the scalable routing matrix, and low power consumption, resulting in low heat dissipation.
Audio Quality
Digital audio processing with 40-bit floating-point arithmetic and the excellent analogue components of the NEXUS routing system provide the highest fidelity sound for recording, mix-down, and sound-reinforcement applications.
System Boot
NEXUS Base Devices - and therefore the entire routing system - are ready for operation within a few seconds after powering up or mains failure and recall all settings valid before the system was powered down (data-memorization facility). System set-up and signal-distribution settings are also included in the data memory.
Data stored on the AURUS mixing-console system will survive even the longest power failure. When the outage is over, the console will restore its previous settings within a few seconds and will immediately be functional.
The configuration computer requires approximately one minute to boot.
Fibre-Optic Connections
The deployment of fibre-optic cables for system control and audio, data and word-clock information distribution simplifies the installation and makes the system insusceptible to electromagnetic interference and ground-loops.
Flexibility
AURUS and NEXUS modular concept allows for a customised set-up of the overall system, which can be expanded by special functions as required.
Flexibility is provided even to existing users. The free configurability of channel and sum assignments as well as the channel layout that can be altered at any time allow for perfect project-specific adaptation to a multitude of different tasks. The various types of automation and the library functions simplify recurrent jobs.
Synchronisation
All NEXUS Base Devices and AURUS audio processors in the overall system synchronise to a common clock source. The clock signals are distributed in the system via fibre-optic connections, making a separate word-clock network superfluous.
AURUS and NEXUS support the standard sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz and 96 kHz.
The NEXUS controller boards (XCPU, RCX) are fitted with precision WCL generators and can be used as studio master clock.
At sync-source failure, the overall system automatically switches to a different source; if no valid external source is available, internal synchronisation will be enabled. The sync preferences can be controlled via an editable list.
Distributed System
AURUS and NEXUS are mostly structured as systems with distrib-uted control and processing, so failure is usually limited to partial functions.
For example, if the configuration computer breaks down, the console will remain operable - only the configuration can no longer be changed. At console failure or on disconnecting the fibre optic console connection, the audio processor will continue functioning, and the most recent audio-processing settings will be retained.
Audio processing is channel-specific, meaning that if malfunctions occur on an RMD board, only those channels processed on that board will be affected. This also simplifies identifying the defective board. A redundant RMD configuration can be implemented on request.
The concept of the virtual console, too, is protective: If malfunctions occur, the configuration can quickly be changed (for example, the channel assignment) in order to bypass any failed components.
Autonomous Processor System
The AURUS/NEXUS system is based on proprietary Stage Tec technology. This system comprises a multitude of special processors that perform decentralised calculations for the various tasks at hand. This approach not only improves system stability but also allows for a higher data throughput, so that all adjustments are carried out and applied in realtime. The operating software was conceived and written by Stage Tec for this particular purpose.
A personal computer running a customised version of Microsoft Windows is embedded into the console. The familiar Windows GUI interface ensures a perfect start for every user. However, no computer is required for basic use of the console. Even if a computer fails or crashes, the console will remain fully functional — the only difference is that no new configurations can be created. In this case, it is still possible to load (user-defined) projects stored in the console memory.
Power Supply
One of the outstanding features of the AURUS is its low power dissipation (standard console: approx. 250 W, plus 20 W per audio-processor board). Therefore, it is highly suitable for mobile use.
The AURUS consoles as well as the NEXUS STAR which accommodates the audio processor feature power-supply units with automatic supply changeover. When feeding the power-supply units from separate power lines the console will continue working if one supply line breaks down. If required, Base Devices and audio processors can also be equipped with redundant power supplies.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the AURUS mixing-console system is supported in numerous ways. For example, the operating systems of NEXUS Base Devices, AURUS audio processors, and control-computer boards can be updated simply via the main-console configuration computer.
The audio processor and NEXUS Base Device boards can be replaced during operation (»hot swap«); the same applies to the control panels.
Maintenance of the NEXUS routing system is performed from the main-console configuration computer. Error messages and the locations of any failed boards are displayed on the TFT colour screen.
All relevant events will also be logged to the control computers.