Digispot II Matrix: Your Guide to the World of Virtual Switching
- 10.09.2014
What is the need of a radio station that daily operates dozens of internal and external audio streams, allocating and redirecting them in the right directions? The answer is simple: a modern matrix circuit switching and a convenient system of control and monitoring.
What is the need of a radio station that daily operates dozens of internal and external audio streams, allocating and redirecting them in the right directions? The answer is simple: a modern matrix circuit switching and a convenient system of control and monitoring.
A switching matrix based on devices Axia xNode and the application Digispot II Matrix for the switching control at radio stations provide great opportunities for the distribution of incoming, internal and outgoing audio streams, allowing you to create a route of any complexity.
This solution is especially beneficial for those of radio stations where there are a lot of internal or external audio streams, as it allows to achieve flexibility, scalability, and even a certain mobility of the radio station. The matrix of such block type provides a rapid deployment of broadcasting, as it does not require laying audio cables, and all necessary cabling infrastructure is created using the structured cabling system.
The application Digispot II Matrix allows you to build logical interconnections between the physical inputs and outputs of the switching matrix through the user-friendly interface, without any time consuming manipulations with the settings of the equipment. You can organize simple or complex routes of the audio streams 
exactly as you need. Automatic and manual switching control, planning schedules, sound quality control, backup at different levels, condition monitoring of the signal and analysis of any errors – these are only some of the opportunities offered by Digispot II Matrix.
The main advantage of Digispot II Matrix in comparison to similar software is its stability and ease of use due to performance optimization of specific tasks. No special knowledge or an in-depth study of the installed equipment is required to configure the application. An experienced engineer can do it themselves using a detailed user manual.
How does the Matrix work?
In one form or another, various matrix solutions are used by many of retransmitting stations and stations with their own multi-program broadcasting, embedded programs and advertising. However, the equipment used for these purposes is often not universal. It requires the introduction of additional devices or imposes restrictions on the organization of the switching. Thus, a wrong stereotype was formed, that a matrix is an expensive and inefficient solution.
The solution based on Digispot II Matrix is intended for broadcasting on a radio station with multiple independent programs by using a digital switching matrix based on Axia xNode devices. Such a switching network allows the use of modern audio technology AoIP with the protocol LiveWire (Telos Systems), further development of which is a technology standard Ravenna. It means that the switching matrix based on blocks of Axia xNode will always be compatible with studio equipment by any manufacturers that support the Ravenna standard, in case you decide to change or upgrade it.
The matrix based on Axia xNode and Digispot II Matrix can be deployed using existing server capacity, without having to buy any additional equipment. In case of a failure of the primary server, the solution can be quickly transferred to another server and continue broadcasting, which cannot be done by using a ready-made matrix of other manufacturers. Therefore, the matrix based on Axia xNode and Digispot II Matrix costs several times less than its counterparts.
The application Digispot II Matrix contains two modules: a server and a client. The server module Digispot II Matrix-service provides the switching and backup of the input signal. The client module Digispot II DJin Matrix Client allows you to visually monitor and control the switching matrix. Both modules are optimized to work on Windows. The switching network based on Digispot II Matrix is completely independent from the rest of Digispot II automation system applications, and supports up to four workplaces of the customer. In the software application, there are no restrictions on the number of inputs and outputs, so the bandwidth of the switching system depends on the equipment used.
Opportunities of the Digispot II Matrix
The application Digispot II Matrix is designed for switching of any input signals of the matrix to any of its outputs. The operator of the switching and distribution control room can do it manually. The system also has the ability to operate automatically according to the scenario previously created with the module Schedule. This module is a list of operations that are scheduled for a specific time. It allows you to make a daily schedule of switching, supervise the work in the normal mode and monitor the status of real-time events. The Schedule module supports templates that are set in advance and are activated on a specified date. After this, the system is guided by the set parameters up to the manual deactivation of the pattern.
Presets can be configured in the application for a maximized automation of the process of switching control. These are groups of switching performed at the same time. Presets can be combined into macros - wider group tasks running simultaneously.
While working with the switching, the security of the system is extremely important, because you can hardly bear silence in the live broadcast. Virtual lines with a group of automatic inputs with different priorities are created for reserving the signal. In case of signal failure on the current input, a stream with the highest priority input where the signal is present comes to the output group. This line allows you to automatically switch to the reserved inputs, if the time of the absence of the signal exceeds the value specified in the settings. For reservations at the server level, Digispot II Matrix is installed with the same configuration settings to the backup server of the radio station. Thus, the work of Digispot II Matrix is clustered.
Reservation at the customer level is performed using the hot standby option in the application DJin: Air-X. This scheme involves the installation of a backup broadcasting station with the program DJin: Air-X that constantly communicates with the main broadcasting station. In the matrix, while creating a group of inputs, the reserve station has the highest priority after the primary, which allows it to “pick up” the broadcast in a critical moment instantly without any audible delay.
The best assistant in troubleshooting is the system information which is transferred to the event log. Digispot II Matrix shapes the history of events that can be analyzed by the operator and signals for potential problems. If there is a conflict or error during the operation of the program, a special warning system alerts the user about the need to double-check their actions.
The sound signal at any point of the switching matrix can be checked by using file pre-listening. It is sufficient to adjust the output, which the signal will always be switched to the signal from the selected input or output. Later, the technical control is activated with one click. Another handy feature of the matrix based on Axia xNode is that there is no need to take one of the physical outputs for audio cable, as well as to lay it to the operator's switching and control room. With the help of a single-channel driver Axia IP-Audio Driver, file pre-listening is carried out on the same network cable through which the control over the matrix is implemented.
The client module Digispot II DJin Matrix Client can display the status of the connection with the matrix graphically, signal the levels at the inputs and outputs, switching and file pre-listening channels, as well as help to respond quickly to the events using pre-defined commands. All these parameters are set by individual adjustment indicators and buttons. The indicators display the status of communication with the matrix and the signal levels at the inputs and outputs. The buttons can be assigned with performance of any commands for switching and file pre-listening, as well as color change (for some of the buttons) in the performance of a particular task.
You can combine any number of indicators and buttons in the layout for more convenience. They can be quickly replaced by the operator of the switching and control room based on the current situation. The color and font scheme can be set by each user according to their preferences. Thus, you can create a fully functional virtual on-screen control panel, giving it its own style or the style of your radio.
Digispot II Matrix unites all incoming audio signals under one simple interface, as if you were working with a conventional router, and spares the operator from having to jump from place to place, managing radio infrastructure. Software tools allow you to configure all the switching in such way that it becomes easy to plan one-off and regular events. The entire switching network adapts flexibly to a particular object while meeting the needs of your radio station.
