Tieline has announced its Merlin IP audio codec, offering bidirectional stereo and full duplex communications for point-to-point and remote broadcast connections over the full range of wired and wireless IP networks.

Built on the Commander G3 rackmount codec, the 1U-high Merlin rack mount IP codec is aimed at studio and remote truck. ‘Merlin is designed to connect to all Tieline IP codecs, including G3 codecs, Bridge-IT and Genie,’ says Charlie Gawley, Tieline APAC & EMEA Business Development Executive. ‘Merlin also supports two simultaneous IP connections with smartphones using the Report-IT Enterprise application.

Merlin initially will be available as an IP-only codec, with future support adding connection over ISDN and Pots using interchangeable connection modules, which can be added via dual rear panel module slots. This adaptability will provide the ability to connect over a variety of network transports and allows broadcasters to transition from older networks into IP networks as required over time.

‘Tieline’s proprietary SmartStream IP technology provides advanced network management tools for dynamically responding to variable conditions over lossy IP networks, especially in situations when QoS is unavailable,’ Gawley says. ‘SmartStream also delivers compatibility across both IPv4 and IPv6 network infrastructures – to future-proof broadcasters as new networks and technologies emerge over time.’

Merlin also features dual redundant power supplies, audio silence detection and seamless network backup via dual Gigabit LAN ports. Automated network failure detection provides switching to a backup IP LAN connection, or alternative transport.

‘Merlin is also designed to be managed by Tieline’s new Codec Management System, which allows you to use any computer to manage your entire network of IP codecs remotely,’ adds Gawley. ‘You can even adjust individual codec settings like algorithms, jitter buffers and forward error correction.’

More: www.tieline.com