Prism Sound has announced the ADA-128, a modular audio conversion system offering up to 128 channels of 32-bit A/D and D/A conversion at sample rates of up to 768kHz.
The company’s highest performance product to date, the ADA-128 is the latest in Prism Sound’s Dream A/D and D/A converters and complements its existing range – which includes the ADA-8XR multichannel converter.
‘This is the first product of a new generation of Prism Sound converters, and we are confident that it will be well received by audio professionals across many different disciplines, including music recording, postproduction, broadcast and installation,’ says Prism Sound’s Sales Director, Mark Evans.’ It builds on everything that is great about Prism Sound conversion but takes it to a new level in terms of power and flexibility. It is also a very cost effective solution for people who require a high channel count – to put this into perspective, for 128 channels of our flagship ADA-8XR conversion it would cost approximately £25,000 more and take up a lot more space in a rack.’
Designed as both a conversion system and a high-performance, networkable audio distribution and processing system, the ADA-128 is built around a flexible 2U-high mainframe that can be loaded with up to 16 analogue and digital IO modules (each of which nominally provides eight input or output ports, or both). Up to four Host modules provide bidirectional multi-channel connections to host computers, workstations, networks etc. The ADA-128 provides free routing between all of these inputs and outputs under detailed user control, as well as a wide range of processing functions.
‘The ADA-128 has a host of exciting features including low-jitter master clocks, flexible routing and synchronisation options and a comprehensive store system for fast-access factory and user presets,’ Evans adds. ‘However, one of its key benefits is the ability to independently synchronise the I/O cards to create four different domains, each with its own sample rate and clock. This level of flexibility is unprecedented and will definitely appeal to facilities with more than one control room, as well as projects requiring a large amount of I/O.’
The inspiration for the ADA-128 came from discussions between Prism Sound MD Jody Thorne and The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, a faculty of Birmingham City University: ‘The Conservatoire was looking for high-quality converters and knew Prism Sound’s reputation in this area, which is why they approached us,’ Thorne says. ‘Our discussions identified the need for a high channel count conversion system that could be networked across their entire facility. As this didn’t exist, we set about designing it and that project formed the basis of the ADA-128. This has now gone beyond their original specifications and we have ended up with a product that is absolutely perfect for many more customers in the installation market.’
During the development period, The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has installed Prism Sound ADA-8XR converters in its studios and will now take delivery of the first ADA-128 units to roll off the production line, to be followed by the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
More: www.prismsound.com
