Symetrix has released the Control Server platform and a USB Audio Card for its Dante-enabled Radius and Edge DSPs and updated Composer v5.6, its open architecture design software.
Control Server is a web services platform for control of network AV systems, including Symetrix Radius, Edge, Prism, and Solus NX DSPs. It is programmed using Composer and offers wired connections for an AV network and built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity for control.
The platform is equipped with one instance of Symetrix' Mixer app, which provides 32 channel strips, each with an assignable fader and a mute button, and offers dynamic screen-sizing and orientation. Users can group and hide channels, assign custom labels and colours, and adjust the fader resolution and travel. Multi-touch functionality enables multiple faders to be adjusted at the same time, like a physical mixer.
The web-based Mixer instance can be saved to a smart device's home page to appear as a native app. Additional instances of Mixers may be purchased as needed. Multiple users can operate the same instance of an app, and user access control can be provided via username and password security for each user.
Control Server's hardware unit has a 1000 Base-T Ethernet port for Symetrix Composer host control, web-based administration, and control of devices on an AV network. The half-rack space unit mounts in a standard 1 U rack tray (an optional, ½ U filler panel is available), or can be used with an optional ½ U surface-mount bracket all available from Symetrix. Power is delivered by an external 12 VDC adapter.
Symetrix' USB Audio Card for Radius and Edge DSPs enables audio devices connected to these DSPs to send audio to, and return audio from, any computer that supports USB Audio Class 1 or Class 2. Most operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, and UNIX, provide generic USB Class 1 drivers. A Class 2 driver for Windows is provided by Symetrix.
The USB Audio Card provides two modes of operation: speakerphone and line in/out. Each mode offers two configuration settings. Speakerphone mode provides plug-and-play connectivity, and enables one input channel and one output channel. Soft-codec acoustic echo cancelling (such as Skype, WebEx, and GoToMeeting) can be disabled in favour of Symetrix' wide-band, low-latency AEC processing. Line in/out mode is configurable for 2×2 or 8×8 recording and playback, using courtroom recording or audio production software. The USB Audio Card adds eight USB audio inputs and eight outputs to a Radius AEC or Radius 12x8 EX, and up to 32x32 input and outputs for Edge DSPs.
Symetrix has also released Composer v5.6, programming software for Windows to support the control server and the USB Audio Card. With Composer v5.6, the web interface diagnostic page now shows Dante-related diagnostics, and each DSP unit supports connections with up to four Shure devices. The company has also added Juice Goose Super-modules to control Juice Goose iP Series power sequencing and control devices. These Super-modules, which feature Symetrix' custom graphic user interface, provide simultaneous user control of each individual pod, enabling the user to individually or sequentially power the pods up and down.