Synthax has debuted the new Ferrofish A32 Audio Format Converter.
The new Ferrofish A32 employs a 400 MHz Sharc processor to handle all digital format conversion with support for 32 audio channels on both input and output and versatile options for handling digital audio.
The new Ferrofish A32 was designed for MADI (optical and coaxial), supporting as many as 64 channels using a pair of fiber or coaxial cables for a distance of up to 1.2 miles.
With its MIDI over MADI feature, the new A32 can be remotely controlled using MIDI data embedded into the same cable carrying MADI audio. The audio transfer between the MADI input and MADI output is done with zero latency, so multiple A32 units can be daisy chained without any added latency or delay compensation.
The A32 supports a wide range of audio formats. With four sets of ADAT TOSLINK inputs and outputs, this converter enables use of all 64 analog channels supported by the A32, making this unit well suited to recording environments. Further, one of the ADAT connectors can alternately be used as an optical S/PDIF or AES/EBU interface. With its own internal sample rate converter, the A32 can operate even when it is not synchronized to an external clock.
Supporting 32 balanced input channels and 32 balanced output channels on D-Sub connectors, the A32 incorporates converter chips with audio performance (32kHz -192kHz) that are supported by an analog amplifier circuit. The gain of each channel can be adjusted separately in 0.5 dB increments. The standard audio levels (+4 dBu, +13 dBu, and +20 dBu) are switched in the analog circuitry, so performance of the analog converters is maintained.
The converter provides four high resolution TFT displays that facilitate precise level metering of all 64 analog channels—inspiring confidence that audio signals are optimized as they pass through the unit.
Rounding out its set of features, the new A32 employs SMUX technology to transmit high bandwidth digital audio up to 192 kHz using lower bandwidth technology, resulting in minimum stress on the processor. There’s also a front panel headphone/submix output for easy control, preset capabilities for easy system management, individual delay-compensation of all analog outputs, and, of course, support for BNC Wordclock.
Mathias von Heydekampf, managing director at Synthax, offered these thoughts on the new Ferrofish A32 Audio Format Converter.
“The new A32 is an invaluable tool for a wide range of audio production tasks. Not only is it an ideal unit for anyone involved in studio recording, it is invaluable for any production environment where a large number of audio channels in a variety of formats converge. I’m confident this new converter will be well received by audio pros everywhere.”
