Overview

SOUND4 FIRST provides all the most important functionalities you need in an FM/HD processor and sets the bar high both in terms of performance and affordability. Designed to deliver a sound of uncompromising quality, this tool gives you 2-band processing, a digital stereo generator and an IMPACT Clipper.

One of the most important advantages of this product is the fact that audio airs just three seconds after powering on the device. This tool is fully BS-412 compliant and comes with an HD Limiter, a Low Distortion Bass Clipper and a Low Distortion FM Limiter. SOUND4 FIRST has Analog, Digital and AES-67/Livewire inputs and outputs, as well as an MPX FM output. It also solves the so-called “blending problem” resulting from the switch of receivers from stereo to mono, bringing you a constant level of clear audio.

The impressive backup functionalities ensure a reliable, uninterrupted audio feed. SOUND4 FIRST provides a streaming output fully compatible with all standard servers, including HLS.

Software Options Available *

There are a number of options and additional features that make the SOUND4 FIRST even more valuable. These include Basic and Full RDS, Streaming Extension, IP TX + RX and Dual IP TX + RX to name but a few. 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 FIRST has a compact 1U case and a dual power supply which is a standard feature of all SOUND4 In-box products and ensures uninterrupted operation of the unit, as well as a user-friendly remote control interface to provide clients with easy setup - a clever choice for your station.

The SOUND4 FIRST

• Dual Power supply
• 2 Processing path: FM & HD
• Inputs: 2 AES/EBU 32 to 192 kHz, 2 analog, 2 AES-67/Livewire or 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 or 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 FIRST: 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
• 2-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: 3 to 6 ms
  • FM output: 18.5 ms
  • MPX output: 25 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 and 2-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

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

The SOUND4 FIRST 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.