WorldCast Equinox - Release 3.1 - user manual
– 07/2011
Page 15
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3. WORLDCAST EQUINOX AT A GLANCE
This section provides an overview of the WorldCast Equinox and outlines how you can start using the World-
Cast Equinox to send audio. Section 3 contains more detailed information on the operation of the front panel
menu system and how WorldCast Equinox can be controlled by the WorldCast Codec Management System.
3.1. Introduction
The WorldCast Equinox is a full duplex, multi-algorithm audio codec offering conventional analog left and right
audio connections and AES/EBU digital audio connections operating through both fixed line X.21/V.35, dial up
ISDN, IP and SIP data interfaces. The WorldCast Equinox incorporates the enhanced versions of the apt-X
®
algorithm (reducing data transmission on the network by a factor of 4 to 1), and MPEG 3 for connectivity com-
patibility.
The unit is capable of delivering high quality audio used for inter-studio networking, remote/outside broadcasts
and STL/TSL applications. It is suitable for use in either AM, FM, DAB and many other broadcast and profes-
sional audio environments. Enhanced apt-X
®
offers 16 and 24 bit operation as an improvement over the per-
formance of the original standard 16 bit apt-x
®
algorithm. This has advantages for users involved in audio track
mastering applications requiring increased bandwidth and dynamic range.
Audio modes and bandwidths are dependent on the network bit rate, the algorithm, mode and frequency re-
sponse selected and the bit resolution of the desired audio. Bandwidths will range from 3.81kHz to 22.86kHz in
stereo mode and 7.62kHz to 24.38kHz when set for mono operation, the minimum usable bandwidth 24 bit en-
hanced apt-X
®
is 15kHz mono at 168kbit/s.
In an application where program continuity and integrity is required then the WorldCast Equinox can be config-
ured with one interface port (X.21 or IP) as the primary port and the another interface port as the secondary
port. If the connection to the primary port fails then the WorldCast Equinox will automatically switch to use the
secondary port.
The WorldCast Equinox is fully software driven, being menu controlled, configured and monitored through the
optional front panel keyboard and LCD display or via APT's WorldCast Codec Management System which runs
on a PC connected via LAN or WAN. A headphone socket provides for additional monitoring of the audio input
or output. The rear panel audio I/O's can be switched to accept either analog or digital signals and if required
the digital output can be synchronized with an external digital reference signal.
Additional interfaces allow for the connection of auxiliary data, alarms and opto-coupled control inputs.
3.2. Options
The following hardware options are available:
Dual IP port: dedicate one port to transport and one to monitoring.
Redundant PSU: increase the reliability of your codec.
Full Front Panel: directly set and control your codec. (Not available on Astral)
Partial Front Panel: Visual Monitoring of your codec
Algorithm packages will be available with future releases.
