Nevion Adds AES3, Audio Summing Mixer Functions to Virtuoso

Nevion has enhanced the audio media functions of its software-defined media node Virtuoso, with added support for AES3 digital audio, as well as low latency audio summing mixer functions for use in live in-facilities, remote and distributed production.

Virtuoso is a standards-based, virtualization-ready, software-defined media node that can perform a variety of real-time transport, processing and monitoring functions in the converged IP LAN/WAN network.

As well as its video capabilities, Virtuoso also provides advanced audio media functions. These include adaptation and routing between AES3, MADI and IP audio (SMPTE 2110, AES67), as well as audio processing functions such as embedding/de-embedding, shuffling, gain and delay control.

A new digital audio card for Virtuoso, designed to optimize the support for AES3, offers breakout panels that have either 16 BNC or XLR ports, and supports input sample rate conversion, making it easy to use in SMPTE 2110 systems.

The audio processor capabilities of Virtuoso have also been enhanced with a new low-latency audio mixer functionality. The audio processors can now be configured in matrix mixer mode supporting summing of any input audio source. Matrix sizes are flexible and configurations range from 8×8 and 16×4 up to 24×20, 16×32 and 64×8. Audio processing is supported on the input stage of the mixer as well as on mixer cross-points.

While the mixer capabilities of Virtuoso do not replace a studio or production mixer, they are designed to provide useful functionality for simpler audio mixer and mix-minus capabilities in radio and television production applications.

Virtuoso’s audio media functions have been selected and deployed by several television and radio broadcasters, for various applications. For example, they are being used as part of a SMPTE ST2110-based nationwide network connecting regional broadcast studios and event sites, and a radio production and distribution network.

“Nevion Virtuoso is very well known for its video capabilities – having been the first media node in the world to be deployed in live production with JPEG XS encoding, for example,” says Inge Hillestad, vice president of product management, Virtuoso, Nevion. “We are pleased to see that Virtuoso is now also being increasingly recognized by broadcasters as providing powerful, versatile and competitive audio capabilities for a variety of applications. That combination of video, audio and other functionality, which is constantly being added to, is what makes Virtuoso a great investment for our customers.”