D&R Airlite-USB AES3/EBU Option

AES/EBU Digital output option for on air production console

Digital AES/EBU main stereo outputs:

The console is prepared to accept an extra pcboard with all the electronics to create a full digital output on the already installed 3 pin XLR. 

The AES/EBU option of the Airlite can be configured as a 24 bit 48Khz or 24 bit 96Khz codec with the option of -9dbfs or -20dbfs reference. The codec used is from AsahiKASEI, manufacturer of codecs used in many Pro audio applications.

*Can only be used in the main surface

Mic, Line, USB and Internal VoIP

The AIRLITE mixer has 3 balanced, phantom powered mic inputs with inserts for voice processors. Eight stereo line inputs, 4x USB channels  and 1x Telephone VoIP channel.
If you want to connect to an analog phone line a Cleanfeed output is available for connection to an external Hybrid.

Only one physical USB connection is the interface for transferring  4 stereo audio channels from and to your PC, plus control data from the control section and for the meter application.
The VoIP Channel 8 has its own USB connector to be able to have your calls coming from another PC. Connection to a second USB connector on your main PC is of course also possible. Dedicated Talk back to the VoIP channel makes conversation with callers very easy.

The Cue bus is also a communication buss, so the announcer can easily have a discussion with the caller while ON-AIR.
Just hit the two related CUE buttons and you’re talking.

And... when a call comes in your attention is instantly drawn by a clear signal to be seen on the Meter screen.
There is a very musical 3 band Equalizer on channel 1-3.
The stereo Aux send can be selected  pre or post fader.
And all high quality low noise mic inputs have a high quality built in low cut filter.

Smart Module Programming

The AIRLITE modules can be easily tailored to your own needs as you can see on the software program pages shown below or in the manual.
All 8 modules have their own page  where you can program Cue reset enabled by line, Mic, Fader, On etc.
You can even decide if you want 10dB fader gain or not.
Both ON-AIR busses 1 and 2 can be enabled by Line or Mic.

You can even  program your own switch colors, activate the CRM mutes per module and program the  Studio Remote and if you want your Phantom on or off individually, this is programmable per channel.

GPIO functions have the following states;

• Continuously
• Pulse by ON
• Pulse by OFF
• Pulse by ON/OFF

 
And... all settings can be stored (write) and loaded (read), see the software pages below that indicates all its possibilities.
The manual gives of course more detailed info on this subject.

Straight forward Master Section

The master section is designed for Radio. It houses all the master controls such as the stereo Aux send and return, Control Room Monitor (CRM), Announcer and a  high level, low impedance, phones output.

Auto Cue provides both the Announcer and CRM outputs to follow the CUE selections. CUE reset cancels all activated Cue selections.
Of course the Control Room Monitors are muted automatically to cut control room level when the D.J. Mic is active.
 
A Studio output (announcer) that normally follows the main output can be routed by activating Auto Cue  in a way any Cue signal that is selected can be heard.
 
Three Talk-back switches individually activate the built-in talkback microphone which has its own gain control for communication to VOIP, Announcer and Aux outputs.
Talkback can also take place to all outputs at the same time.
 
The NON STOP button at the top of the design routes USB channel 4 to the program output when activated.

Mic Line Input Channel

The AIRLITE  has an internal USB voice tracking bus that can be directly routed to a play-out system with Voice tracking capabilities, such as our AIRCAST software.
A very low noise mic input, followed by a musical equalizer, drives a smooth running fader that controls a stereo VCA.
As a result noisy faders will never happen in this design. Also the fader start is electronically detected by the control voltage generated by the fader.
 
The AIRLITE can also be used for production while ON-AIR when it is put into the NON-STOP mode.
This Non-Stop switch (located in the master section) routes the first USB channel directly to the main outputs. It does this also automatically when the internal silence detector detects silence (parameters can be set in the software).
The CUE switch is also a communication system to easily talk to callers outside the broadcast.
 
The ON switch and also the fader have “fader start” possibilities when needed.
 
A software configuration manager is part of the delivery to configure your personal settings for modules and master.
 
The AIRLITE is designed for ON-AIR Internet radio production work in the studio or at home.

USB Channel
Every AIRLITE USB Channel can accept a stereo source from a play-out system such as our AIRCAST.
Levels can be set by the gain control. Pre listening can be done by the CUE switch and the ON switch can activate tracks of the Play-out system.
This can also be done by “faderstart”. The fader is controlling a high quality stereo VCA.
In case you run a classic station with CD players, the USB input can be switched to stereo line.
 
The CUE is also a communication bus that allows callers on the VoIP channel to listen to the music and DJ without being on-air.
 
USB ROUTING
There are four USB stereo in- and outputs available on the Airlite.
The inputs are internally routed to channel 4 to 7 where the USB input of channel four is also routed to the Non-Stop switch.
 
The USB outputs, seen as inputs on your PC, are connected to the Program output, Aux send, Voice track and Air-in.
 
The Air-In input can be connected to your external processing unit and in this way you can stream your processed signal directly to the Internet without the use of an extra sound card.

VoIP Channel

Channel 8 of the AIRLITE mixer is a dedicated Voice Over Internet Protocol channel. (VoIP).

Simply plug the dedicated VoIP USB  cable from the mixer to your PC and set up a connection, for instance with SKYPE or any other  provider that offers telephone services over the Internet such as http://www.counterpath.com/bria/.

It needs to be a service provider that allows you to use VoIP for your telephone connections.

A separate Gain control and VoIP send control let’s you adjust the send and return levels.

An incoming line (visible on screen) can be pick up by the blinking Conn button, pre-listened by the CUE switch and brought into your radioshow by the ON switch and/or Fader.

If you want to use  an analog Hybrid, we have added an extra cleanfeed output on the back of the console to feed an external Hybrid and you can return the signal in the VOIP channel with the input selector selected to Line.

The internal built in Electret Talkback microphone can be routed to the caller outside the broadcast by activating the TB  to VoIP switch in the master section.

Or you can use your DJ mike by activating the CUE switches in both the DJ channel and the Telco channel.

USB control section
On the right side of the AIRLITE mixer you see 16 illuminated (green/red) switches.
 
These switches can be used to control functions in your Radio Automation software such as starting jingles.
Recording a voice track while ON-AIR is one of the possibilities. The USB control software, that is part of the package, can be easily programmed by yourself, to make radio even more exciting. Just hold a CUE switch for 3 seconds and the mixer goes into VOICE TRACKING MODE. How easy!
 
Any switch can perform a function of your play-out software that you decide would be convenient to control.
Master controls can be found in the master section for  Announcer, Phones and CRM.
When activating the Auto Cue for CRM and the Announcer, any selected CUE can be heard.
 
As soon as the DJ mic opens the CRM mutes of course to avoid feedback but only if CRM auto Cue (auto deactivate) is ON.
 
TALK BACK to all important outputs is directly accessible on the right hand side.
 
The NON STOP switch instantly routes the first USB stereo signal (channel 4) to the main outputs which makes the mixer available for (pre)production again.

Power Supply and more
The AIRLITE is powered by an external heavy duty switched mode power supply that accepts AC voltages between 90 and 230 volts.
The control surface can be easily mounted inside furniture as a drop through unit.
All in and output connections are conveniently made on standard Jack / Cinch and XLR connectors.
 
Power supply input is a heavy duty 5 pin locking XLR connector.

Software
The AIRLITE sends out control signals over USB, based on the HID protocol. This also means that  the main output signals can be displayed on a TFT screen in a beautiful meter application.
 
Program and CRM stereo signals are shown on a high resolution PPM.
 
On the right side you see the status of various console functions. Indicators such as  ON-AIR 1 or 2,  Non Stop mode, Silence detection, Mic-On and CRM mute. And also incoming calls will be shown.
 
Channel status and input selection is displayed at the bottom of the TFT screen (not included in the delivery).
At the same time this software application shows you a  professional looking Radio clock that is synchronized with your local PC.