MERGING MAD Infrastructure Pack

Product overview

The MERGING MAD Infrastructure Pack unlocks the broadcast features of MAD (MERGING Audio Device), MERGING's RAVENNA/AES67 network audio driver for computers: virtual machine support, ST2022-7 seamless protection switching and NMOS IS-04 and IS-05.

MAD provides up to 128 inputs and outputs from and to the network and is free to download. When purchased, the MAD Infrastructure Pack unlocks additional MAD features particularly useful for broadcasters. Modern broadcasting increasingly depends on remote production: audio captured at a venue can be streamed live to a mixer running in a virtual machine in a data centre, while an operator in another city monitors and controls it in real time, cutting equipment shipping and travel and letting operators mix several events in different locations on the same day.

Key features

• Virtual machine support: ideal for productions running resources in a data centre
• ST2022-7 seamless protection switching (class A and B)
• NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 discovery, registration and connection management
• Up to 128 PCM inputs and outputs at 48 kHz; 16 at DXD and 384 kHz
• 16 DSD inputs and outputs at DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256
• Up to 192 internal bridge channels to route audio between applications
• 16 system audio channels for everyday computer applications, alongside low-latency ASIO

Built for remote production

Virtual machine compatibility lets MAD run where the production's processing runs, in private or public clouds. This approach offers great flexibility, reduces equipment shipping and travelling and lets one team mix multiple events across different locations on the same day.

ST2022-7 seamless protection switching

In an ST2022-7 broadcast facility, audio is carried over two separate networks all the way through the signal chain: if one network goes down, audio carries on uninterrupted, helping to eliminate single points of failure. It is also valuable for maintenance, allowing a switch to be replaced or reconfigured without stopping production.

MAD bridge channels

MAD is not just an interface for computer applications to reach the network: it also provides up to 192 internal channels that can be used to route audio between applications.

Any application on the network

By combining low-latency ASIO with 16 system audio channels, MAD lets virtually any application on the computer connect to the RAVENNA/AES67 network.

In the box

• MAD Infrastructure Pack licence (unlocks the features in MAD, which is a free download)

MERGING MAD Infrastructure Pack: frequently asked questions

Do I need the Infrastructure Pack to use MAD?

No. MAD, with up to 128 inputs and outputs from and to the network, is free to download. The Infrastructure Pack unlocks virtual machine support, ST2022-7 and NMOS IS-04 and IS-05.

Which ST2022-7 classes are supported?

Seamless protection switching class A and class B.

How many channels does MAD handle at high sampling rates?

128 I/O at 48 kHz, 64 at 96 kHz, 32 at 192 kHz and 16 at 352.8 kHz (DXD) and 384 kHz; in DSD, 16 I/O at DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256.

What are bridge channels?

Up to 192 internal channels that route audio between applications on the same computer, without leaving the driver.

Where can I buy the MERGING MAD Infrastructure Pack in India?

The MERGING MAD Infrastructure Pack is available from Shivansh Electronics, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, with delivery across India.

Workflow 1: Remote production in the cloud

Broadcasters producing events from a central facility.

Connections

Setup

1. Install MAD in the virtual machine and activate the Infrastructure Pack.
2. Subscribe to the venue streams.
3. Mix in the cloud-hosted application.
4. Monitor and control remotely in real time.

Tip: One team can mix several events in different locations on the same day.

Workflow 2: Redundant broadcast networks

Facilities running two separate AoIP networks.

Connections

Setup

1. Connect the computer to both networks.
2. Enable ST2022-7 in MAD.
3. Send and receive streams on both paths.
4. Replace or reconfigure a switch without stopping production.

Tip: If one network goes down, audio carries on uninterrupted.

Workflow 3: NMOS-managed facility

Broadcast plants with central connection management.

Connections

Setup

1. Enable NMOS in MAD.
2. Let the registry discover the computer (IS-04).
3. Make connections from the controller (IS-05).
4. Check the streams in the receiving applications.

Tip: NMOS lets the computer appear like any other device on the broadcast network.

Workflow 4: Routing audio between applications

Studios chaining playout, processing and recording software.

Connections

Setup

1. Assign bridge channels in MAD.
2. Route the outputs of one application to them.
3. Select the same channels as inputs in the next.
4. Add network streams as needed.

Tip: Up to 192 internal bridge channels are available.

Workflow 5: System sound on the network

Studios that need everyday applications on the AoIP network.

Connections

Setup

1. Select MAD as the system audio device.
2. Route its 16 system audio channels to network streams.
3. Use ASIO for low-latency production software.
4. Monitor everything on the network.

Tip: Combining ASIO and system audio lets virtually any application connect to the network.

Workflow 6: High-resolution recording

Music and archive recording at DXD or DSD.

Connections

Setup

1. Set the sampling rate to DXD, 384 kHz or DSD.
2. Subscribe to up to 16 channels.
3. Record in the production software.
4. Return to 48 kHz for 128-channel projects.

Tip: PCM capacity scales with rate: 128, 64, 32 and 16 I/O.