AES70 - CB Electronics to join the OCA Alliance

One of the prime reasons to visit the Los Angeles AES this year was to investigate ethernet control.

For the past 30 years CB have specialised in machine control using the Sony P2 protocol. For some time we have looked for a way forward using Ethernet but could not find a unified control protocol. There is AES67 but it does not define a method by which audio streams are discovered, connected or controlled. This year the AES published AES-70 specification based on the OCA (Open Control Architecture) protocol. AES-70 can be used to control audio streams and networked audio devices.

As a result of our discussions with the OCA Alliance, we felt is important to participate in defining the standard.  CB have started a project to develop applications using AES 70. Initially we are adding AES 70 to the TMC-1 - to enable control of networked inputs and/or outputs as the first stage in developing a networked monitoring system.

For the past 25 years interfacing old and new technologies has been a part of our business model. We will design  similar solutions to integrate AES 70 devices with existing and new technology.

PD-1v2 firmware - Now with 192 tracks

The latest PD-1v2 update available from the PD-1 web page allows a maximum of 128 tracks on the Main Output and 64 tracks on the Aux Output. The diagram below shows how to connect the PD-1 with two protools and run the PD-2-win/mac software on one of the protools/

New PD-2 Software for the PD-1

We have released the first version of the new PD-2 software for existing PD-1 users.

The main advantage of the new software is that you can record on up to 128 tracks on one protools or 2x64 tracks two protools. There are now 16 stems each of which can be up to 16 tracks wide. To access the extra stems/tracks the [Assign] key becomes a [Bank] key. To allow for object stems of greater than 16 tracks I am in the process of adding a link command that will allow multiple stems to be linked. Print Master Stems and Linked stems may be placed on the second bank as they do not need to be accessed as often.

The new Mac/Windows app. allows you to define the stem layout. The first version on this software is suitable for users with a single PD-1 and I am working on an new version that will allow users with two PD-1's to define different stem layouts on each PD-1. Here is a screenshot

After showing this to a PD-1 user they suggested an alternative layout which I worked on below

Whilst the traditional layout worked well with track counts up to 48, I can see that the alternative layout fits on a single screen with no scrolling required. When object stems of greater than 16 tracks are added they spill across multiple stems which are generated automatically.

You can download the first version of the Mac/Win app. now, if you decide to try it out you can install the firmware in your PD-1 and use it for about a week before it will demand that you pay for a License! I will issue a revised version of the app with a firmware upgrade before the end of the year.

For the future I am developing the PD-2. This includes a OLED display and Ethernet connection to allow both of the PD-1 serial ports to be dedicated to machine control and the possibility of 192 tracks or 2x128 tracks. A hardware upgrade should be available for existing PD-1 users.

The PD-3 which combines the PD-2 with a TMC-1 is available now

To Fit the PD-3 in an S-6 Module we had to make a compromise and lose the three keys on the left. The PD-2 will include these keys.

New! PD-1 software for Atmos

We will be releasing a new version of the PD-1 software soon that will enable both ports to be used to control DAW's this will allow a single PD-1 to record and monitor up to 128 tracks. Atmos requires 10 channel wide stems for the 9.1 bed, to accommodate this we have changes the [Assign] key to a [Bank] key and changed the way the stems are accessed. The Bank key will allow access up to 16 stems in two banks of 8  each stem can have up to 16 tracks in two banks of 8.

The only drawback is that this will not allow the use of two PD-1's in daisy chain, to accommodate this we are working on new 4 port processor board which will also be available as an upgrade to existing units if there is enough demand.  

TMC-1-XMon/A-Mon RJ45 Breakout Box

A large number of studios are now flood wired with CAT5/CAT5e/CAT6 STP/TP cable. The circuit below is for the optional breakout box to connect the HD-15 on the TMC-1 to a RJ-45

There should be no problem connecting the RS422 control via Ethernet cable, depending on the cable type and cable length it may also be possible to feed the Headphones down the same cable – if not then use a audio cable and connect to the Headphone in socket

Note: The T/B Mic output should be fed via audio cable or possibly a separate STP Cat5e/Cat6cable.

We tested this today in the office and it worked well with RS422 and Headphones in the CAT5 cable and a separate cable for the Talkback mic. I now need to find a much longer RJ45 cable as I only had a 10M cable to test with!

TMC-1v2-win/mac

I am about to release a new version of the TMC-1 configuration program, now that there are four different versions of the TMC-1 (Avid XMon, NTP Penta, Trinnov D-Mon and CB A-Mon) it has become more difficult to keep the TMC-1-win/mac configuration program in sync with the changing User key setup. Two changes were needed to solve this problem!

1) Save user functions by name, the method of saving the settings, the original TMC-1 program saved the settings as the offset in this list, not a problem if you do not change the list order - but this makes problems when adding functions in appropriate order. Saving by name solves this problem.

2) Read the user functions from the TMC-1, instead of keeping and updating a list of the user key functions in the TMC-1 program - read them from the TMC-1, that way the two programs are always in sync!

Two simple changes, like most solutions obvious once you see them!

TMC-1, A-Mon and XPand Manual Updates

I have spent the last two days updating manuals and some web pages with Daniel Gollety our previous French Distributer and my friend of more than 30 years. This was exhausting for both of us but we are happy with the results - especially after updating every screen shot of the TMC-1.

It was important for me to have both an outside proof reader and someone for whom English is not their first language, in English as in most languages there are many different ways of saying the same thing - some are easier to understand than others. It is well known that I do not write the best manuals!

The English versions are now on the web, the French versions will be on the web next week.

Thank You Daniel!