Merging Technologies at ProLight+Sound 2012
posted:
Horus has been designed as a stand-alone converter of the highest quality, but its utility is hugely increased by becoming an IP “node” on a RAVENNA network. Combined with Merging’s MassCore, performance and flexibility takes on another dimension and allows comprehensive routing and control of the astonishing I/O capability of the converter.
Looking at the features of Horus in more detail reveals how much has been condensed into such a small form factor:
· “Classic” Analogue to AES/EBU and/or MADI conversion
· “Classic” AES/EBU and/or MADI to Analogue conversion
· Up to 24 channels of highest quality mic/line inputs and line level outputs
· Gain, mic/line or phantom power can be selected on a per-channel basis
· 480 x 282 pixel touchscreen TFT
· RAVENNA Ethernet port provides up to 176 I/O channels @1Fs
· Supports PCM sample rates from 44.1 to 192 kHz, with Premium version extending to 384 kHz, DXD and DSD
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In RAVENNA mode
· It becomes an IP “node” fully configurable from one Ethernet cable
· Allows routing on an 8 channel granularity level of up to 128 channels of MADI, 24 channels of AES/EBU and 24 channels of analogue to/from Ethernet
· Allows routing in parallel analogue to AES/EBU, MADI and Ethernet (and vice versa)
This highly scalable solution has applications right across the industry from the simplest location recording and mastering to major broadcast facilities, OB vans, live sound and large installation projects. Ease of installation and set-up makes Horus an obvious choice by saving large quantities of cable, minimising rack space and increasing reliability.
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The Ovation Media Server and Sequencer is quickly gaining ground in a wide array of applications due to its open architecture and the flexibility of its audio engine. In its latest guise, Ovation 3.0 has already proven to be a major leap forward in the control of audio in major venues such as theme parks. The theatre industry is also embracing the power of the system and the ease of editing the tracks and adjusting the cues. These features are of major benefit to the live events and music venue operators and being incorporated into a networked audio system with Horus offers possibilities that have been dreamt about for years.
At the heart of the Ovation3 system is one of the most flexible and intuitive cue sequencers available. Capable of huge multitrack audio playback (up to 384 tracks) of any file type or sample rate (realtime SRC) combined with control protocol firing for interaction with any system configuration (MIDI/RS-232/GPIO/RS-422/LTC/Script/…), Ovation is proving itself to be a new standard for configured live event playback.
Within the same application exists an incredibly powerful internal mix engine. Combining playback audio and feeds from live inputs, the mixer can then be manipulated by mouse or through remote protocols such as EuCon, Oasis and MIDI/HUI. Then, once balances have been created, it is possible for the user to save mixer snapshots and embed them in cues for recall with user definable glide times. Output is provided over optional MADI/AES/TDIF/Analogue and incorporates the Ravenna Ethernet audio protocol as standard, which allows it to connect to Horus.
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Ovation3 also provides an easy to use and easy to configure remote interface for the system with the WebServer option. Using any web-enabled device, it is possible to connect to the Ovation show over http and access all the firing controls through any standard web interface. And, as the WebServer option is connected using JavaScript, a white paper provided with each Ovation3 system allows the possibility for the creation of custom interfaces using basic web page design.