NTP Technology announces a major addition to the capabilities of its DAD AX32 ultra-high-quality digital/analogue/digital converter.
The AX32 is now available with version 1.3 firmware which accommodates up to a total of 48 channels of analogue inputs or analogue outputs or a combination thereof.
As a result, the AX32 can have 48 microphone preamplifier and converter inputs or a combination of 32 input channels and 16 output channels.
A total of six analog cards can be housed in the AX32. Each card slot accepts an eight-channel line-level A/D converter, eight-channel microphone input or eight-channel D/A converter with analogue line output. The cards can be combined in any permutation.
Version 1.3 also adds the ability to control the sampling rate of the IP audio interface powered by Dante (TM), and full support for redundant IP audio connection plus a word clock output feature supporting all the sample rate frequencies (44.1 to 192 kilohertz) or just the base sample rate of 44.1 or 48 kilohertz.
All the functionality is controlled from the DADman 4.0 with new comprehensive features for channel strip management of all the channels, as well as an improved router matrix configuration.
Existing AX32 units can be upgraded with the new firmware and DADman control software. New firmware for the Dante Brooklyn II IP Audio card is also available. System configuration is highly flexible and includes IP Layer 3 Ethernet-based audio networking powered by Dante.
Up to 48 full-bandwidth channels can be forwarded via the AX32 along a single Category 5 cable using IP. This ensures flexible and cost-efficient cabling from a recording studio to a control room. The connections can be part of a standard Gigabit Ethernet local area network.
The optional microphone preamplifier incorporates analogue gain control in 0.5 decibel steps as well as digital gain control with 0.1 decibel precision. Dynamic range of analogue to digital and digital to analogue conversion is 126 decibels. The preamplifier’s equivalent noise floor is -132 decibels.
The AX32 is equipped with AES/EBU and MADI inputs and outputs plus a Dante interface for use with compatible third-party products as well as audio workstations running on Apple OS X or Windows platforms.
A versatile interface structure allows the analogue-to-digital, digital-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters to be assigned to any digital interface, as well as patching between the interfaces on a channel-to-channel basis.
The AX32 can be controlled from the front panel which interacts with four adjacent pushbuttons to allow adjustment of key converter parameters. Full remote control can be accomplished using NTP Technology’s DADman software or via Ethernet.
Existing users of DAD audio converters include Abbey Road Studios, Alchemy Mastering, Bauer Studios, Benny Andersson’s RMV Studio, Classic Sound, CMC Studios, Collegium Records, Danish Radio, DEX Mastering, DPA Microphones, Echopark Studios, Galaxy Studios, Hana Music Montreux, Helsinki Music Centre, Lindberg lyd, Magne Furuholmen, Master Touch, McGill University, Moscow Music Conservatory, NDR Hamburg, NHK, NRK, Opéra de Dijon, QVC shopping channel, Real Sound, Royal Danish Opera House, Royal Opera House London, Sidney Opera House, SK Works, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, SoundWorks/Jeff Sheridan, Spanish Radio, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Stock Fish Records, Swedish Radio, Telarc International, Timbre Music, Ultimo Productions and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra.