D-MEXX
Ethermidi, Range-X:
Flexible
and cost-efficient audio and midi routing
D-MEXX,
a joint venture formed by pro-audio developers
C-MEXX and DSound, have announced their first
product delivery. The Ethermidi and Range-X
product lines focus on routing of audio and
midi signals with unmatched ranges and operation
flexibility.
Ethermidi
is the first-ever midi technology addressing
any standard midi interface thru ethernet networks,
thereby allowing virtually unlimited ranges
and wireless connections.
Regardless
of where, how and when they are linked in the
network, even multiple Ethermidi interfaces
and their midi ins and outs can be utilized
instantly by a stationary or mobile PC with
Ethermidi WindowsXP-compatible driver installed.
And consequently, all Ethermidi devices' ins
and outs become available to any midi-aware
software running on that PC, just as if the
machine had a midi interface connected directly.
Areas
of possible applications include theater, live
performances, stage control, TV shows, mobile
recording units and broadcast trucks as well
as fixed installations. A typical application
would be to control midi components using a
WLAN-equipped notebook that needs to stay mobile
and midi-connected at the same time.
"Ethermidi
4x4", the first product in the Ethermidi
product line, will provide ports for connecting
up to four midi devices per unit. Scheduled
to start shipping in March 2004, the list price
has been set at 579 EUR incl VAT.
In
terms of both initial investment and installation
simplicity, the D-MEXX "Range-X" interface
technology is a distinctly cost-efficient approach
for extending ADAT or SPDIF connections -- by
75 meters (200 ft.) and up when using AES/EBU
cabling, with zero latency.
Interfacing
each linked device with "Range-X"
boxes, a single such-enhanced cable link can
carry
-
4 or 8 audio channels in 24 Bit/96 kHz or 24
Bit/48 kHz between standard Adat (Toslink) devices,
-
or one optical signal between standard SPDIF
devices.
While
"Range-X" receiver/transmitter support
two concurrent connections (In and Out), possibilities
include but are not limited to a strictly bi-directional
connection between two "Range-X" boxes
respectively between two Adat or SPDIF devices:
Just as well, a given "Range-X" point
could for example transmit audio to a second
while receiving audio from a third.
Due
to the low acquisition and installation costs,
the "Range-X" extender solution is
not only suitable for connecting digital devices
over wider distances:
For
example, a single microphone cable fitted in
place as a part of a given installation setup
could be replaced by an AD / DA converters-enhanced
"Range-X" connection transporting
up to eight mike signals instead of just one.
Similarily, studio setup planning providing
for complex and costly analogue multicores could
instead consider rather straighforward and inexpensive
"Range-X"-based connections.
"Range-X"
cable extender are scheduled to ship starting
March 2004, at a list price of 287 EUR inkl
Mwst a pair.
Company
background information: D-MEXX is a joint venture
company set up in 2002 by C-MEXX and DSound
to combine their extensive knowhow in the areas
of controlling/routing of audio and midi plus
respective PC-based real-time processing.
Based
on this synergy, D-MEXX has started to develop
technologies and product implementations that
are distinctly more flexible and the same time
more cost-efficient than previous approaches.
Besides the before-mentioned Ethermidi and Range-X
technologies and products, their development
work currently includes the Dmatrixx concept
of a powerful digital mixing matrix.
(M. Kaiser - KlangKonzepte)
Topics of 2004
