Overview

SOUND4 IMPACT is sound processing technology at its best. No small detail is overlooked in this product which delivers innovation, multifunctionality and dependability in equal measure to produce the consistently loud and clear sound you need. It has a powerful processing chain which includes 2-band input Automatic Gain Control, based on signal strength and no longer on electrical average values. It automatically detects differences in levels to smooth out variations in sound perception. Its structure ensures perfect stability and enhanced vocals combined with a good bass presence.

The SOUND4 IMPACT introduces an innovative process - mono and stereo parts of the signal are processed separately to obtain perfect consistency in terms of both sound and level. Therefore, in moving reception, when the FM receiver switches from stereo to mono and back to stereo, the sound variations and changes in level are reduced by over 90%. In the SOUND4 IMPACT processing chain, the stereo expander can be used substantially without any limitations.

With the 6-band processor, a single algorithm guarantees the gain in each of the bands in order to complete sound stability. “Coloring” is controlled by the Fidelity parameter, which means that it is possible to have a "purist" and a "colored" sound texture. The 3-band limiter prepares the work of the final limiter and is provided with a very powerful algorithm, simplified to the maximum, so that it is not encumbered with useless parameters.

One of the most significant features of the SOUND4 IMPACT is the 4-band parametric equalizer, which is not there to "build a sound" but rather allows some final little touch-up that may be required before the final limiting section.

Software Options Available *

SOUND4 IMPACT has reliable backup capabilities and a number of options. These include Basic and Full RDS, Streaming Extension, IP TX + RX and Dual IP TX + RX to name but a few. It can also perform Internet radio streaming and has six fully configurable encoders supporting MP3, AAC and HE-AAC v1 and v2. A full list of all software options is available below:

• Basic RDS Encoder
• Full RDS Encoder
• Streaming Extension
• IP Tx
• IP Tx2
• IP Rx
• IP Rx2
• IP RX + Tx
• Dual IP Tx + RX
• IP Pass Through
• Emergency URL Player
• Emergency Audio Player

* All Software Options are subject to an additional payment. For pricing please Contact Us.

SOUND4 IMPACT comes in a convenient, compact 1U case and has a dual power supply, which is a standard feature of all SOUND4 In-box products and provides constant, uninterrupted operation of your unit. Combined with an affordable price and the easy-to-use remote control interface, this is the ultimate sound processing tool.

The SOUND4 IMPACT

• Dual Power supply
• 2 Processing path: FM & HD
• Inputs: 2 AES/EBU 32 to 192 kHz, 2 analog, 2 AES-67/Livewire, 2 IP Codec (SOUND4 IP CONNECT), 2 SUB (insert for RDS/RBDS...)
• Outputs: 2 AES/EBU 32 to 192 kHz, 2 analog, 2 AES-67/Livewire, 2 IP Codec (SOUND4 IP CONNECT), 2 MPX
• Digital AES/EBU and wordclock synchronization inputs.
• 3 independent Ethernet ports: Admin, AES-67, IP-CONNECT
• GPIO: 8 inputs, 8 outputs, advanced management with scripts
• GPS Sync for System time and AoIP Sync
• Micro SD: High capacity management, SDXC compatible standard (up to 2TB), for music storage and more
• Two USB ports: front and rear (for preset & upgrade loading and other functionalities)
• Headphone output on front panel with the possibility to listen each Input or Output
• Full Routing management: Patch points with Insert and Mix on all stages, routing of signals to any Inputs and Outputs
• Automatic failover input switching with crossfade
• Diversity Delay: up to 20 seconds
• Relay switch for automatic by-pass
• Fully controllable from front Panel
• GUI remote control compatible 32 & 64 bits - Windows 7, Windows 8 & 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, 2008 R2, 2012 and Linux (Debian)
• HTML5 GUI: Inputs and outputs setup, preset change, upgrades...
• Start-up time of SOUND4 IMPACT: 2 seconds to be on air (Analog Input or AES/EBU input)
• Total DSPs computing power for audio Processing: 16,2 Giga Flops (Sharc 40 bits with floating point + other DSPs)
• Total ARMs computing power for product management and extra functions: 4 GMips

User-Friendly Control Interface

• Sound setting from one single screen - you no longer need to open and close windows to go from one function to another
• Two modes - Basic and Advanced. Basic mode provides simplicity and rapidity; Advanced mode allows you to explore all the processor functionalities. There are also ultra-rapid VU meters for true control over modulation
• Advanced meterings with FFT and MPX Power
• Unlimited “Undo/Redo” versioning function for presets with possibility of recall
• Innovative “compare to reference” function
• Log comment feature follow each preset
• A readable and interactive path diagram
• A remote connection manager to control several processors
• Works with the following operating systems - WXP SP3, W7 32& 64 bits, W8 32 & 64 bits, WS 2008 R2, WS 2012, Linux (Debian)

Processing

• HQ Sound, main sampling process frequency of 192 kHz.
• 2-band AGC
• 4-band EQ + Tone FX and Stereo FX
• Stereo enhancer
• 6-band process with Fidelity and Sound Impact System (S.I.S.)
• 3-band limiter
• 4-band EQ
• Final limiters
  • FM path - Bass Clipper + FM Limiter + MPX Limiter
  • HD path - Look Ahead limiter for the HD output
• Voice Smoother to avoid distortion problems on certain voices
• BS412 compliant MPX power controller
• Typical processing delay at 1 KHz:
  • HD output: 15.2 ms
  • FM output: 28.1 ms
  • MPX output: 33.8 ms

Other key points:

• 19 kHz embedded pilot to gain close to 1 dB more in loudness!
• Auto-Mono: Switch off pilot 19 KHz on mono sources for better receiving in FM
• Stereo Matrixing for better stability in loudness and sound tone when the receiver switches from mono/stereo/mono
• Adjustable Filters Frequencies in 2-band AGC, 6-band Process and 3-Band Limiter

Extra

• Basic RDS encoder (with scrolling PS)
• Full RDS (UECP-compatible)
• IP Codec - SOUND4 IP CONNET (manage up to 32 Links!)
• Emergency Player: Audio program backup, 2 music libraries, 1 Jingle Library + rules management
• Audio streaming - 3 encoders (MP3, AAC, HE-AAC v1 & v2), compatible with all delivery servers (Icecast, Shoutcast v1 & V2, HLS, Flash, Wowza)
• Link & Share - 100% of all parameters are accessible via the telnet protocol
• Software Panels - the device allows you to create your own panels with unlimited functionality
• Preset Sharing - the ultimate solution to manage an unlimited number of processors. All of them are automatically updated if one of them is modified

Input State

The SOUND4 IMPACT has four inputs - Digital, Analog, IP (Livewire or SOUND4 IP Connect) and PCI.

On the software interface, the input currently in use is indicated by a triangle on the left side of its name.

2-Band AGC

With the SOUND4 IMPACT, the first processing function is the 2-Band AGC - automatic gain control whose main purpose is to stabilize the loudness level applied to the input of the processor and prevent noticeable level differences between recent and old titles.

Tone FX

The Tone FX makes coloring of sound before dynamic processing possible. To do so, it groups together two types of processing functions:

• A 4-band parametric equalizer;
• An effect system making it possible to strengthen low frequencies and high frequencies.

The two functions offer results that are entirely different, which is why they are gathered on one single screen.

In Basic mode, use of the four parametric equalizers is simplified to the maximum. Only the gain for each correction is accessible. For FX Bass and FX Treble, dosage of the effect is also made accessible.

In Advanced mode, users have access to all equalizer parameters (gain, frequency and Q factor).

Stereo FX

SOUND4 IMPACT has a true stereo enlarger, 100% mono-compatible. Its role is to sublimate the existing stereo image. It will thus never create stereo in mono sources.

In addition to embellishing the stereo image, it also has a 3-band stereo image limiter acting on the control of the energy transmitted by the stereo sub-porter at 38 kHz. This unique functionality limits issues currently caused by the traditional enlargement processes. The stability of reception in areas disturbed by multiple routes is thus greatly optimized.

The 6-Band Process

The 6-band Process is the heart of dynamic processing. With SOUND4 IMPACT, a single algorithm guarantees the gain in each of the bands in order to complete sound stabilization. “Coloring” is controlled by the Fidelity parameter. Thus, it is possible to have a purist and a colored sound texture.

The 3-band Process is achieved through the revolutionary algorithm S.I.S. (Sound Impact System), which makes it possible to maintain the authenticity of the original sound attacks.

The 3-Band Limiter

The main purpose of the 3-band Limiter is to prepare the work of the final limiter. It is also provided with a very powerful predictive algorithm, which has been simplified to the maximum, so that it is not encumbered with useless parameters.

The 4-Band Parametric EQ

The parametric 4-band equalizer is by far the most impressive feature of the SOUND4 IMPACT. It is not there to "build a sound"; it allows some last little touchup if necessary before the final limiting section.

In Basic mode, use of the four parametric equalizers is simplified to the maximum. Only the gain for each correction is accessible. For FX Bass and FX Treble, dosage of the effect is also made accessible.

In Advanced mode, users have access to all equalizer parameters (gain, frequency and Q factor).

The Final Limiter

The Final Limiter comprises two sections - one for FM applications and one for HD applications.

The FM Section consists of a Bass Clipper, guaranteeing powerful bass without distortion, an FM limiter and an MPX limiter.

The HD Section is specifically designed for high quality digital applications (HD/DAB/DRM). This is a look-ahead type of limiter and in this mode the outputs are not limited to 15 kHz.

Assignment of Outlets

The outlets of SOUND4 IMPACT are fully assignable. For example, the analog outlet may replicate the signal which is applied to the analog input, the digital outlet delivers an HD signal, the TX1 outlet delivers the MPX signal and the TX2 outlet drives the 19-kHz pilot signal.

SOUND4 IMPACT is offering as an option the Kantar Media Audio Watermarking Technology for audience rating. Today, depending on the country, radio stations can be listened to on FM, DAB or Streaming, and polling companies need to know the audience results for each of the media.

In the SOUND4 IMPACT, watermarking is always carried out at the end of the processing chain to guarantee maximum watermarking quality.

The SOUND4 IMPACT is the most advanced watermarking processor and can tag up to 3 different feeds:

• 1 for the HD/FM output
• 1 for the 1st streaming encoder
• 1 for the 2nd streaming encoder

About Kantar Media watermarking technology:

SNAP audio watermarking technology by Kantar has been designed for TV and Radio audience measurement. In addition, it can also be used for the synchronization of a second screen application. SNAP watermarking carries 2 types of information, a channel identifier and a timestamp for linear content and a timecode for non-linear content.

The audio watermarking technology can be described by 3 main properties: the inaudibility of the watermarking, the amount of data carried by the watermarking and the robustness of the watermarking.

The SNAP technology remains inaudible thanks to a very complex acoustic model and preserves the quality of the sound. This is a crucial property for TV channels and Radio stations that invest time and money into getting the best quality for their sound. Regarding the amount of data, the SNAP technology proposes a single payload for Channel and Content identification. The robustness of SNAP watermarking in the broadcast chain is also a key element. SNAP is robust to low encoding bitrates, and to adaptive bitrates. Don’t hesitate to contact Kantar support to get bitrate recommendations depending on the audio codec.