Intraplex® Ascent

Multichannel Audio over IP Codec

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OVERVIEW

Built on the proven, award-winning Intraplex® IP Link codec technology, GatesAir’s Intraplex Ascent platform supports up to 24 audio channels with high-end features.

The scalability of Ascent makes it ideal for applications that require multiple channels of audio encoding and decoding at head-end sites. The high-density solution reduces cost and provides a path for convergence of IT and broadcast infrastructure. The interoperability between Ascent and IP Link codecs provides a complementary solution for remote contribution and distribution use cases.

Product Details

The Ascent platform continues the Intraplex tradition of providing an unprecedented level of reliability for audio over IP application. Built with enhanced network reliability and security in mind, Ascent supports the Dynamic Stream Splicing technology of our IP Link codec, which provides “hitless” protection for packet losses using the combination of time and network diversity for packet transmission, and FEC.

To further enhance reliability and security, the platform supports the SRT protocol encapsulation. SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) is an open-source protocol which provides low-latency, reliable and secure streaming of audio and video data. SRT’s reliability is accomplished by a built-in packet retransmission scheme; the security of streams is handled by the built-in AES- 128/256 payload encryption.

In addition to “hitless” protection, like the IP Link codecs, the Ascent also supports automatic failover between different incoming streams or stored audio.

This combination of capabilities gives Intraplex codecs a market-leading position in STL over IP technology and unmatched network transport reliability.

Ascent supports both physical audio interfaces (AES3, Analog) and AES67 (AoIP), with a maximum of 16 full-duplex or a total of 32 channels (combination of encode and decode). Physical audio interfaces can be ordered as 8-channel cards, supporting both AES3 and analog audio signals.

The Ascent product is built on the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) x86 architecture to leverage the scalability and cost of the technology. The product is available in a 1RU branded hardware server and as a software-only option.

Main Features of Intraplex® Ascent

8, 16, 24 stereo channels. Each channel can be full-duplex, encodeonly or decode-only
Supports AES3, Analog, and AES67 audio input and outputs
Standard Coding: Linear; Opus
AAC-HE, AAC-HEv2, AAC-ELD, AAC-xHE, MPEG 2, and MPEG 3 audio coding
Protocol Encapsulation: Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP); optional Secure Reliable Transport (SRT)
Streams: Multicast, Unicast, Multi-unicast
50 streams per channel with a maximum of 200 streams per system
Three independent IP interfaces for redundant network operation
Built-in silence sensor with optional stream switchover
Automatic backup to audio playout from USB drive or external audio source
Multicoding: can encode the same audio source in multiple formats
Prioritized stream sources at the output with automatic switchover and switchback between primary streams, secondary streams, and backup sources (streams, USB, external audio source)
Programmable RTP-level Forward Error Correction (FEC) scheme
Programmable time diversity and interleaving of streams to combat burst packet losses
Integrated scheduler for automated scheduled program switching
Integrated with Intraplex LiveLook (network analytics and monitoring software)
Web and SNMP for management
Multiple web account types to restrict access
GPIOs: up to 32 in, 8 out. Available for stream transport and alarm assignment
Network reliability
- Programmable RTP level Forward Error Correction (FEC)
- Optional Dynamic Stream Splicing with network and time diversity for “hitless” packet loss protection
- Optional Secure Reliable Transport (SRT): new protocol provides automatic packet retransmission method
IP Security
- Access control per interface
- Encryption of streams with AES-128

Main Features of Intraplex® Ascent

8, 16, 24 stereo channels. Each channel can be full-duplex, encodeonly or decode-only
Supports AES3, Analog, and AES67 audio input and outputs
Standard Coding: Linear; Opus
AAC-HE, AAC-HEv2, AAC-ELD, AAC-xHE, MPEG 2, and MPEG 3 audio coding
Protocol Encapsulation: Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP); optional Secure Reliable Transport (SRT)
Streams: Multicast, Unicast, Multi-unicast
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