SoundGrid

SoundGrid is a networking and processing platform audio application made by Waves Audio and developed in cooperation with DiGiCo.[1]

It consists of a Linux-based server that runs the SoundGrid environment, compatible plug-ins, a Mac or Windows control computer, and an audio interface for input/output (I/O). It is used for live sound, broadcast, and post-production and provides a low-latency environment for audio processing on certain hardware audio mixing consoles, e.g., DiGiCo, Allen & Heath, and Yamaha.

Features
  • Low latency (less than 1ms) for SoundGrid-compatible plugins.
  • Runs on Intel CPUs and 1Gbit/s Ethernet networks.
  • Integrates with analog and digital mixing consoles.
  • Provides redundancy and recovery.
  • Splits output to record on a standard digital audio workstation (DAW).
  • Comprises network infrastructure for sound installations.

Audio transport and system control

SoundGrid is a proprietary Ethernet Layer 2 protocol and EtherType. It routes audio between networked I/O devices and processes it on plugin servers connected to the same network. The I/O device converts SoundGrid packets to standard and proprietary audio protocols.

Audio processing

Using native processing, SoundGrid runs on standard CPUs under a modified Linux operating system (OS). Waves Audio says this provides "predictability, stability, and low latency," previously exclusive to dedicated DSP-based systems.[2]

Separate computers provide SoundGrid processing:

  • One or more SoundGrid servers are dedicated to audio processing in a customized Linux OS optimized for audio processing.
  • A Windows or Mac computer runs SoundGrid Host, the host application, and the user interface.

Audio interfacing

Audio interfaces with SoundGrid by integrating a SoundGrid-programmed FPGA (Xilinx Spartan 3) into a mixing console's I/O ports. The FPGA receives I2S or other audio signal formats and converts them to the SoundGrid format. The FPGA also transfers control messages between control nodes external to the SoundGrid network and the SoundGrid control application.

Control software

SoundGrid audio processing, connections, system configuration, and monitoring are controlled by the SuperRack (previously MultiRack) SoundGrid control application, which runs on Windows and Mac computers, including embedded systems. SuperRack SoundGrid displays rows of virtual plugin chains, named Racks, each of which chains up to eight Waves plugins. A Rack processes audio from a user-selected input and sends the processed output to a user-selected output. SuperRack SoundGrid offers remote parameter control and navigation over MIDI or an inter-application API by integrating with the console's host application.

System configuration

To configure a system, the user:

  • Connects and routes audio between system components
  • Configures I/O devices
  • Configures plugin servers
  • Sets system sample rate, block size, and latency
  • Monitors and controls system and component status
  • Sets redundancy and recovery modes

Scalability

Users can configure SoundGrid systems for optimal effectiveness per channel count, processing capabilities, routing, and sample rate—and expand them by adding I/O or processing devices.

See also

References
  1. Inglis, Sam (July 2015). "Waves/Digico Digigrid Networked Audio Infrastructure". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. Brashler, Drew (2017-08-07). "Waves X-WSG Latency - How "Low-Latency" is it really?!". Drew Brashler. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.