Combined Media System for Recording Studios

Our client, a fiber optic-based technology provider, intended to introduce a revolutionary modular media system for professional use within recording apps, live sound, and broadcast production. The expected system was to provide best-in-class performance and be able to handle high-throughput data while remaining cost-effective and lightweight. However, the client struggled with financial issues, which forced them to postpone the development.

Resume the promising development and launch to market the high-performance media system for professional use while minimizing financial and technical risks.

Develop firmware and provide remote control for the combined media system to ensure multi-optional data routing over the fiber optic.

To provide top-notch operation of the future media system, the PSA team developed real-time firmware for all 7 modules of the combined product ensuring their separate and joint operation. The media product provides a full-fledged fiber optic communication system providing data transfer up to 155MBit/s. It comprises the following components running on Atmel’s SAM7 processor and Xilinx FPGA:

• System controller for internal communication management

• 16-channel microphone preamp for amplification of the microphone’s signal

• MUX device for combining and transmitting multiple signals over a common medium

• MADI device for transmitting multiple channels over a single cable enabling high-end audio, and encoding audio information for display

• Front panel in different variations for the information display and system control

• Ethernet video processor and transmitter

• Intercom analog audio processor

The fiber optic hub developed by PSA provides redundant fiber optics commutation logic and supports typical configurations of a star, daisy chain, ring, and hybrid topology. The PSA team also implemented a TCP/IP stack and the client’s proprietary protocol to allow for remote configuring and monitoring of the devices. 

To provide the end-user with a system design, remote configuration, and control, we delivered a Windows and Mac-running desktop app, compatible with the client’s industrial platform. Our team provided scalable system architecture based on the plug-ins concept to support new types of audio devices, which dramatically improved the performance, and chat functionality to other network apps.

A rich functionality set allows for flexible system configuration providing: 

• Investigating the network topology and creating the map representation

• Parameter settings, save and recall configurations

• Network status display

• Real-time audio metering data display

• Multiview support

• A customizable layout

• The alternation between on-line and off-line modes

• Off-line topology creation and editing

Over the initial scope, we offered and implemented a high-end pre-fader listen (PFL) option for the audio module through the host system sound card, thus amplifying product value. 

The full range of tests involved board, device, and system-level tests, as well as support of the client's team with beta testing. For the client to be able to modernize their device, we ensured knowledge and technology transfer onsite, as well as long-term support after the product delivery.

• Requirements definition
• Documentation review and updates
• Firmware development
• Software development
• Board, Device, and System testing
• Documentation creation
• Long-term support