For over 20 years Nixer Pro Audio has worked directly with leading audio manufacturers to design and introduce cutting edge products, supporting systems integration and custom solutions. Based on this pedigree and experience the 'Nixer Pro Audio' brand was launched in 2017, building on the highly successful portable PD Dante network diagnostic, control and audio monitoring solution. Today, the Nixer Pro Audio range encompasses an expanding range of high quality and cost-effective AoIP monitoring and diagnostics tools, used daily within the live, installed and broadcast audio environments.
Nixer understands there is a clear need to monitor channels from multiple networks in a broadcast master control environment. The challenge was met by the Nixer RL Series of 1U AoIP Monitoring Tool and Mixer solutions that can be specified for Ravenna or Dante, with four models that are able to cover from 64 up to 256 channels from a single operator position.
The design of the RL series demanded a practical solution to being able to easily cater for both network protocols. In their search for a proven solution, Nixer discovered the Merging ZMAN which is pin compatible with the Audinate Brooklyn 2 board and also offered the high channel counts that the design demanded. After a more in-depth evaluation, the Nixer team decided that ZMAN was the ideal fit, allowing an easy deployment.
The ZMAN family of modules is first and foremost designed to provide a high performance media transport that is tightly synchronized (ultra-low jitter and wander), deterministic, and low latency for networked I/O end-points. What sets the platform apart from other offerings is the additional processing capabilities that are built-in, with 2x ARM CPUs and serious FPGA real-estate. To foster the adoption of Ravenna and AES67 networking capability, Merging designed the boards to be pin-compatible to Dante Brooklyn II boards, enabling OEMs to quickly expand the possibilities offered by existing designs. With ZMAN, manufacturers are able to implement solutions with support for PCM up to 384kHz, if desired, while being able to fit up to 32 Ravenna/AES67 streams, for 256 audio channels, with audio routing, mixing, and EQ, all in the same platform. ZMAN is supported by a complete family of software drivers for Windows (ASIO) Mac (CoreAudio), and Linux (ALSA), with full support with the ANEMAN Audio Network Manager software.
The nixer RL Series becomes also automatically ST2110 compatible with ZMAN, and the company's next target is to implement NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 during 2021, as well as a remote control option using an iPad via Wi-Fi. Monitoring of the networked audio streams can be done on the unit's built-in speakers or to external speakers or headphones, while the high-resolution touchscreen offers comprehensive metering and status information. All this is contained in a 1RU 19" enclosure with redundant power supply sockets on the rear panel. On the same panel are the analog outputs, AES3 I/O and a number of Ethernet ports, according to the choice of channels available in each model. All of the units can operate at 44.1kHz, 48kHz and 96kHz.
Some companies are reticent to share what OEM solutions they have adopted, and even resist listing their products on industry databases. Not so with Nixer who openly embraced working with Merging and the company's OEM program, deciding to join the Ravenna partner program and to be open about the technical solution that was implemented. Seeing the value of being part of the wider AoIP community was important to CEO, Nick Fletcher. “The fastest way for a small, growing company like Nixer to keep abreast of developments is to join with other Ravenna partners where we benefit from the experience of companies like Merging Technologies who have met the technical challenges as they have developed. We greatly value this relationship."
Merging Technologies is a Swiss manufacturer with over 30 years of experience in developing professional audio and video products for a wide range of entertainment and media industries.
www.nixerproaudio.com
www.ravenna-network.com
www.merging.com
