Advancing the Technology for Professional Audio

Transcription

1 Advancing the Technology for Professional Audio The basic architecture of professional audio has not changed in at least 50 years. This architecture depends on a centralized mixer for control. All microphones, instruments, and other input sources are wired to the inputs of the mixer. Amplifiers and their speakers are connected to the outputs of the mixer. Setting up these systems requires operators to design and track complex signal routing just to make sure each input and each output are connected to exactly the right channel. For example, a microphone can be plugged into any mixer input, that input can often be configured or mapped to any given mixer channel, and mixer channels need to be configured or mapped to various mixes, which represent outputs. These outputs also need to be connected to the right amplifiers and speakers. The more inputs, the more complex the signal routing becomes. Even modern sound systems that feature digital technology are built on the same old mixer-centric architecture. This centralized architecture depends on technology that is even older. For example, the XLR connector that is the primary method of connectivity in live performance systems, was invented in the early 1950s. In today s world of advanced distributed communication using tablets and smartphones, shouldn t we be surprised that the same connector and architecture used in microphones when the Beatles arrived in the USA back in 1964, are still the primary methods for live performance today? If it works, why change? Traditional audio architecture But changing just for the sake of advancing technology is not a good reason to change a solution that already works. For example, using a digital audio network doesn t make much sense if signal mapping makes it harder to use and if the solution costs a lot more. In fact, technology for professional live audio should not advance unless that technology can make a sound system easier to setup and use, add new features that are significant and desirable, or significantly reduce cost of ownership. Arria.Live was invented to make professional live sound systems simpler and cost effective with significant new functionality. Arria.Live uses technology as a tool to exceed those objectives, not as the premise for change. Making Sound Systems Simple Arria.Live was created first to make professional sound systems easier to operate for professionals and amateurs alike. Research suggests that signal routing and input mapping are the most common and also the most complex challenges to be solved by installers and sound technicians. Getting everything plugged in the right way to the right place, then mapping the signals to the right channels and back again to the right speakers and mixes can be overwhelmingly complicated, particularly with channel counts above just a few. Arria.Live uses smart network technology to eliminate signal routing completely. Arria.Live inputs (such as microphones) announce themselves on the network, and then configure themselves to communicate with outputs (such as speakers) all without user intervention completely eliminating the need to manually decide which input goes where. By eliminating the need for complicated channel mapping, Arria.Live technology dramatically simplifies setup and use of professional sound systems. This is particularly valuable in venues where many varied configurations are used places

2 like colleges, high schools, churches, and community centers and where volunteers, amateurs or event staff are not professional (read: expensive) sound engineers. In contrast, digital media transports such as Audinate s Dante remove some of the weight of traditional snakes and provide extended channel routing backbones for large venues (like stadiums and convention centers). But for most live installations, these transports add layers of signal routing and mapping, actually making sound system harder to setup and use. Who wants that? How Does It Work? Arria.Live audio architecture Arria.Live technology works by making endpoints including microphones and speakers smart. Each has a tiny but powerful signal processor on board. Each processor is then connected to other endpoints using a standard Ethernet network. These endpoints talk to each other continuously to maintain precise audio synchronization and control integrity. Arria.Live uses today s technology to create a much smarter fully distributed live performance sound system. Elimina ng Complex Signal Rou ng Making sound systems simple requires eliminating the channel mapping and signal routing problem. Because Arria.Live is built on distributed processors, every smart endpoint is attached to the same wire. That means endpoints can be plugged into the network just about anywhere. With Arria.Live patented technology each endpoint identifies itself on the network, and configures itself to transmit or receive audio. No mapping is required. No signal routing is required. All devices run on the same wire, so they re all there where you need them. No signal routing, no channel mapping. Simple. Elimina ng the Mixer Arria.Live Smart Dynamic Microphone With Arria.Live s patented architecture, every speaker becomes a mixer but each speaker mixes information only for itself. Each speaker assembles the sound exactly as the user desires right or left, main or monitor with each input playing with the right volume, EQ and effects. With each speaker creating just the perfect mix for itself, the system scales easily from one speaker to dozens of speakers without running out of channels. But there s more. Each speaker participates in a group of outputs, called a mix. A mix is just a collection of speakers that play the same combination of input settings. Mixes are stereo, so a speaker can be placed on the left, the right, or anywhere in between. That means you can have a mix that has 5 speakers, for example, with two for left channel, two for right channel, and one for the center of the stereo field. Speakers can be assigned to about any configuration of left, right, and center that you like. While speakers in an Arria.Live system mix audio only for themselves, they cannot act independently, of course, or the result to the listener would be confusing and distasteful. Instead, speakers and inputs continuously communicate with each other to maintain perfect audio synchronization and control integrity so that the sound field is perfect every time.

3 And yes, because of Arria.Live s distributed mixing technology, the traditional centralized mixer, used for more than 50 years, becomes obsolete. Elimina ng Channels With smart endpoints connected together on a network, each device configures itself and identifies itself on the network. As a result, the very concept of channels goes away. An operator does not have to consider which channel is mapped to a given audio source. There are no channels. With Arria.Live technology you operate on endpoints directly not on some arbitrarily assigned channel. Such a solution is far more intuitive for amateur and professional operators alike, and greatly simplifies usage. User Control Arria.Live Microphone Parametric EQ Screen Every modern professional audio mixer system today provides remote control using a tablet such as an ipad. Arria.Live provides an ipad interface as well. However, in the distributed architecture of the Arria.Live system the ipad is not remote-controlling a centralized mixer it is sending control instructions to all smart endpoints, so that they can configure themselves. It s not so much remote control as it is conducting an orchestra. Using simple gestures, the ipad application coordinates all the endpoints so that they work together in perfect synchronization while maintaining control integrity. Professional live sound systems based on Arria.Live technology become far easier to setup and use: by eliminating complex signal routing and mapping, by removing the need for a complicated centralized mixer, by operating directly on endpoints instead of channels, and by coordinating each endpoints actions in perfect synchronization. New Features A radical change in architecture should provide new functionality in addition to making sound systems easier to setup and use. Because endpoints, including microphones and speakers, are smart, they can now do things they could not have done before. Some examples of Arria.Live Smart Speaker Converter what can be done with Arria.Live smart endpoints are as follows:arria. Live based technologies allow clear visual identification of any device. Each device includes full-color LEDs that light up in a variety of ways. For example, choose a color for the fader on the ipad, and light up a microphone with a matching color. There s never confusion as to which device you re working on. Colored tape is no longer necessary. Arria.Live inputs (including microphones) can be very easily grouped together as makes sense to the operator. For example, put all the drums in a group. Put all the vocals in a group. Even put all the sopranos and altos in separate groups and combine those groups together as a vocal group. Grouping simplifies mixing for large events and shows, similar to using VCAs or sub-mixes on traditional mixers, but far simpler to setup and far more flexible.

4 Because Arria.Live control applications are not tied to centralized mixers, channel order and position on the screen can be easily changed with a simple drag-and-drop action. Arria.Live technology can tune a room like never before. Every speaker can have its own EQ, position, delay, and feedback protection, allowing unprecedented audio quality for every audience member, even in difficult venues. Arria.Live technology provides a simple drag-and-drop method to make a speaker a member of any mix, providing various monitor mixes not like complicated AUX channels, but simply as a collection of speakers (one or more) that work together. And of course, each performer can have and control their own mix if desired. Because Arria.Live devices are smart, they can provide much more information than just their channel configuration. Devices can store and recall device name, image, owner, manufacturer, custom settings (such as wireless microphone frequency or battery level), preferred mix preferences, and more. The Arria.Live control protocol is open (based on the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol) and extensible so that any application can control sound system parameters with the appropriate permissions, of course. New applications can be developed by systems integrators or app developers. A complete SDK for ios and Windows devices is available. Arria.Live Smart Input Converter Such capabilities are simply not available in the older sound systems architectures that we have used for so many years. With a step up to Arria.Live technology the possibilities for new functions and additional innovation are just beginning. Cost Effective New sound systems architectures only make sense if they can be implemented cost effectively. Arria.Live technology uses standard Ethernet network technologies available anywhere, and common, smart components to build smart endpoints. This keeps costs low, with typical Arria.Live installations costing less than digital systems built with a traditional architecture. Scalability is a key value of the Arria.Live architecture. Scalability means that you can buy just what you need now, and then add more as needed. Need more speakers? Just add them. Need more inputs or microphones? Just add them to the network. There s never a time when buying the 9 th input or the 17 th input requires tossing your 8-channel or 16-channel mixer to get something more expensive. Get just what you need and add as you grow! Arria.Live Mix Overview Screen And of course, since the Arria.Live architecture simplifies setup and use, an expensive sound engineer is not required. Arria.

5 Live systems can be controlled and setup by volunteers, event staff, or others not trained in the intricacies of signal routing and mapping. Also, there s no need to spend hours troubleshooting complex, multi-channel signal paths looking for what went wrong. Arria.Live systems save time and money because they are smart and self-configuring. Summary Professional Audio sound system architectures haven t changed much over the years. But changing the technology is only valuable if it will make the solution simpler to use, or add new features, or increase cost effectiveness. Arria.Live distributes intelligence in every endpoint. This architectural change makes sound systems far easier to install by eliminating signal routing and channel mapping completely. In addition, Arria.Live adds new capabilities never before available. Finally, Arria.Live technology provides simplicity and functionality in a cost-effective way.