| Windows XP Pro powers digital radio broadcasting device |
Nov. 18, 2003
 Want to set up your own digital broadcast station? Chipmaker VIA Technologies and WorldVibrations, a multimedia production company, say they have teamed up to create an easy-to-use "digital radio station" for on-the-air, Internet, corporate network, satellite, or in-house broadcasting purposes.
(Click to enlarge photo)
According to WorldVibrations, the $2,495 WorldVibrations Radio Station (WVRS) performs all of the functions of a professional radio station, offering a live or fully automated "on-air" studio, a production studio, and streaming media encoding. The company expects the device to be used in a wide range of digital broadcast applications, from round-the-clock music or information stations on the Internet and on-the-air, to corporate programming, local arts performances, sporting events, church services, and more.
WorldVibrations says the WVRS can operate fully automated and unattended, precisely scheduling programs, music, and announcements 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or, it can be taken to a remote location to broadcast live performances, conferences, news, or sporting events. It can run in the background while its professional audio interfaces and software are used to record, organize, store and schedule new programming, print out logs, and automatically create Web program schedules.
The WVRS is packaged in an aluminum case with the look of a high-end stereo component and, like a stereo component, features quiet, fanless operation. The WVRS provides audio input connectors for professional studio microphones and audio consoles, and outputs for amplifiers or public address systems and, if licensed, radio transmission equipment.
What's inside?
The WVRS's embedded computer consists of VIA's Mini-ITX form-factor (6.5 x 6.5 in.) EPIA M10000 mainboard, running Microsoft's Windows XP Professional. The VIA mainboard is based on a 1GHz x86-compatible VIA C3 processor, along with an VIA UniChrome CLE266 chipset containing an embedded MPEG-2 decoder and integrated 2D/3D graphics core. Other onboard functions include memory, LCD display controller, digital audio outputs, S-Video and RCA TV-Out (NTSC & PAL), 10/100 Fast Ethernet, USB 2.0, Firewire (IEEE1394), ATA/133, and extensive power management functions.
VIA says its Envy24 multi-channel audio controller chip contributes to the WVRS's "outstanding audio quality" and is capable of satisfying "the most demanding playback and recording requirements." According to VIA, the chip incorporates 20 high resolution digital mixing channels along with 12 inputs and 12 outputs for analog and digital connections, and is one of the first audio controllers to support 24-bit resolutions. It also supports 96kHz sampling rates. The chip also includes a Microsoft Win9x architecture based DirectSound accelerator that interfaces to AC'97 devices.
Availability
WorldVibrations expects to begin shipping the WSVRS in January, 2004. Further info is available on the company's website.
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
news feed