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Matrox Adds Realtime Audio/Video Compression to DigiMotion & DigiSuite

October 16, 1996 by

Dorval, Québec, Canada. Matrox Electronic Systems has announced an agreement with Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. of Japan to use Matsushita codec technology in a DV/DVCPRO module that will plug into the Matrox DigiMotion™ board. The module will add realtime compression and playback of dual streams of DV or hybrid DV/motion-JPEG audio/video to the board’s capabilities.

The Matrox DigiMotion board and DigiSuite™ software provide a high-performance platform for the development of professional video/audio editing applications like Softimage™ Digital Studio (code name), D Vision PostSUITE-XED/II™ and others. Along with numerous advanced video and image processing capabilities, the DigiSuite environment includes a full-blown digital audio mixer.

Filed Under: Biz, Pro Audio

Prodigy Licenses RealAudio for New Internet Service

October 16, 1996 by

Seattle, WA. Progressive Networks continues to evangelize it market-leading RealAudio Internet audio streaming technology across the broadest possible base. Progressive announced today that Prodigy Inc. has licensed RealAudio for a broad package of applications on its new-look Internet-based service.

The Prodigy Internet (PI) service was announced yesterday. It is targeted at the new-to-the-net market, and the approximately 90% of American homes that have yet to sign up for an online or Internet service provider. Incorporating enhanced multimedia features such as RealAudio within the PI software is intended to make it easier for new users to get full benefit of what the Internet has to offer, without the typical headaches associated with configuring plug-ins and helper applications.


PI subscribers will be encouraged to access audio and audio-based multimedia content on demand. RealAudio technology will ultimately be used in all content areas, with particular emphasis on delivery of interactive content in PI’s Music sections. Additionally, Prodigy has been granted worldwide distribution rights to the RealAudio player, and will offer the player for free as a pre-installed option to those downloading PI software or installing it from a CD-ROM.

Prodigy Internet The service is available at two prices: The Basic Plan, which costs $9.95 a month and provides ten hours of usage, with additional hours beyond 10 priced at $2.50 each; and the Unlimited Plan, which costs $19.95 a month, and provides unlimited untimed access to both the Internet and PI content. Prodigy Internet software is available (currently for Windows’95 only) at Prodigy’s web site.

Filed Under: Biz

MUSICAM Expands Range of Portable Audio Codecs/Mixers for ISDN and POTS

October 14, 1996 by

Los Angeles, CA. Some of the most interesting new product action at last week’s World Media Expo and NAB Radio Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center was in the area of codec and remote link technology for sending high quality audio point-to-point via ordinary telephone service or ISDN lines. The most energetic manufacturer on the WME floor in terms of new products was MUSICAM U.S.A.

Leading the lineup for MUSICAM was an enhanced version of the CDQPrima™ series of codecs for ISDN, which the company claims is already the fastest-selling audio codec on the market. The key new feature of the enhanced model is the addition of Layer III MPEG compression capability. With Layer III, the CDQPrima can now deliver 15kHz mono audio over a single ISDN “B” channel.

Front panel of the MUSICAM CDQPrima 120 Audio Codec

Added to the unit’s implementation of enhanced Layer II MPEG (MUSICAM®), the Layer III capability makes the CDQPrima extremely versatile and compatible. In addition to high quality digital audio, mono or stereo, it delivers SMPTE timecode, two ancillary data channels, eight relay contact closures, plus command and control channels, all on a single ISDN line.

Also on the ISDN transmission front, MUSICAM unveiled two new portable codecs with built in mixing capabilities. The top-of-the-line Olympian™ offers bidirectional stereo audio with no compromises. It includes the same MPEG Layer II (MUSICAM) and Layer III algorithms as the codec-only CDQPrima series. In addition to mono and stereo transmission, it supports dual-channel send of separate mono programs over two ISDN “B” channels. It can also send voice-grade analog audio over standard phone lines, when ISDN is unavailable.

MUSICAM's Olympian™ Stereo ISDN Portable Codec/Mixer

The company claims ultra-low distortion (0.01% THD+N) and superior signal-to-noise ratio (greater than 90 dB) for the Olympian. The standard configuration includes a built-in universal ISDN terminal adapter with integrated NT1, three mic inputs with stereo pan, a stereo line input, AES/EBU digital inputs and balanced line out. It also features numerous convenience features such as a snap-shot memory that saves presets of all operating parameters, including level settings, stereo pan position, ISDN numbers, bit rates, line format algorithm and mode, and sampling rate. The Olympian can match an incoming signal’s algorithm, mode, sampling rate and bit rate automatically.

For applications where absolute audio quality is less important, such as news gathering and voice over, MUSICAM introduced the RoadRunner™ portable codec/mixer. It offers similar automatic functions and convenience features as the Olympian, with MUSICAM enhanced Layer II and Layer III MPEG algorithms. But it is limited to mono send of a 15 kHz signal on a single ISDN “B” channel (or analog audio via standard phone line), has two mic inputs plus one mic/line input, and no digital I/O.

The RoadRunner™ Mono ISDN Portable Codec/Mixer

Finally, at the low end of its new product intros, MUSICAM brought out a studio version of its FieldFone audio codec for regular phone lines. The StudioFone™ is intended as the studio side of a field reporters’ link, enabling broadcast quality digital audio back to the studio via a single regular analog phone line. Both the FieldFone and the StudioFone offer frequency response approaching 9 kHz, and a “Sound Shaper” feature to sculpt the frequency response for optimum quality when sending music or other program involving higher bandwidth.

Filed Under: Biz, Pro Audio

Enco Shows DADPRO Digital Audio Delivery System

October 11, 1996 by

Los Angeles, CA. ENCO Systems Inc. is exhibiting the DADPRO on-air, management and production system at WME. The digital audio delivery system is designed for live-assist, automated or satellite-programmed broadcast applications. The DAD workstation can replace all of the traditional recording and reproduction equipment found in a typical broadcast studio. It runs on non-proprietary computer hardware and uses industry-standard network architecture.

DAD interfaces with all commonly available professional broadcast equipment such as multichannel editors, consoles, routing switchers, and satellite receivers. It also supports wide-area networking, which allows any number of facilities to be linked and to share audio files as well as other data globally.

ENCO is also showing two ancillary products that combine with DADPRO to provide total forward control of localized spots, ID’s, and other audio, as well as scheduling instructions: the DADSAT satellite-based store forward management system, and the DAD JR low-cost workstation for unmanned downlink applications.

Filed Under: Biz, Production

Put Your Radio Station on the Web: Integrated Package Shootout at NAB Radio Show

October 9, 1996 by

Los Angeles, CA. Probably the hottest new-product rivalry at this year’s NAB Radio Show and World Media Expo (today through Saturday, Oct.9-12, Los Angeles Convention Center) is the battle of the integrated web site production packages. FreeRange Media and the Radio Data Group (RDG) have each launched suites of software designed to make it easy for radio stations to establish a live, interactive broadcasting presence on the Internet.

Free Range Media Inc. announced Audio Palette™, an “automated radio station website solution.” This package focuses on building a community at the web site, and delivering RealAudio” web-casting of broadcast content in both live and archival forms.

“Two key things necessary to create a popular website are to build delivery of fresh content and interactivity with the audience into the website, says Andrew Fry, President of Free Range Media. “Until now, this has been an expensive proposition for radio stations, because they demanded expensive development and maintenance. Our solution requires no custom development, it automates administration using our AudioVCR™ technology, and it incorporates our Community Suite™ of interactive and website administration products.”

The included AudioVCR module is a website audio administration tool. It allows the site manager to set blackout periods, record programs automatically, turn live feeds on and off, schedule live events, and to specify and sequence audio leads to precede retrieval of archived broadcasts. It is an integral component of easily and cost-effectively managing website audio content including advertisements the station sells.

Free Range points to an example station that is already up and running using the Audio Palette package. At KIRO Newsradio 710 in Seattle, traffic, news, weather and other scheduled broadcasts can be accessed by web listeners who were unable to listen to the radio wave broadcast. Listeners benefit from the value of accessing information they previously couldn’t on their schedule, and the station benefits by extending the time-value of their material.

“Giving our listeners 24-hour access to the latest information, even archived information is incredibly valuable,” says Tom Clendening, General Manager at KIRO. “Web access translates directly into increased listeners and that is what makes our business tick. As a business, we’re always looking for new sales opportunities and the website give us that.”

The software suite includes WebChat, WebNote (a bulletin board system), QuizMaster, SurveyBuilder, and six other interactive products that allow the station to query, poll and interact with its listeners during broadcasts or as part of promotional events, local community topics, national debates and more. These community-building capabilities have the advantage of creating new content for a station at little or no additional cost, along with a side benefit of attracting more listeners to the website.

Audio Palette requires RealAudio Server by Progressive Networks, and a Netscape, Apache, or NCSA web server. Minimum hardware requirements are a Sun Microsystems Sparc-5 running Solaris operating system, or a 133MHz Intel Pentium PC running Unix or Windows NT. Prices vary with the features purchased and start at $5,000 (US) per palette. A variety of specialized palettes will become available in the fourth quarter of 1996 including “Talk Radio,” “Rock-n-Roll,” “Classical,” and “Country-n-Western.”

RDG’s package is called MediaNext™, a “custom server software solution designed for even the most novice of Internet users.” The software allows a site manager to update the site on the fly, from any web browser, at any time. It features private password-protected administration pages on the web site. The webmaster fills in the blanks on the form, clicks a button, and the web page is immediately updated.

“This is an integrated solution for broadcasters who want to derive new revenue from the promotion and use of their web sites,” comments RDG President Michael Rau. “It’s for the station that can’t afford additional staffing to maintain those sites.”

MediaNext includes modules for updating text on the station site, including news, sports and weather pages (MediaText™); managing and updating hot links to other sites (RDG Link Manager); organizing, rotating, and billing for web site banner advertising (AdNext™); updating station events and/or a concert calendar (RDG Events Manager); and a listener database, demographics and marketing management tool (DataNext™).

“Our software makes maintaining and updating a web site as quick and easy as possible,” said Rau. “It puts the station in control. You shouldn’t have to rely on any third party to update your site.”

Other capabilities of the RDG package include a “Now On Air” page, which rotates pictures of air talent automatically to coincide with the broadcast schedule; Interactive Trivia, and an Interactive Guestbook.

Filed Under: Biz, Tech
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