The latest addition to DB family of processors, the DB6 joins TC Electronic’s DB2, DB4 and DB8. It promises to ‘handle everything regarding loudness in one simple process – loudness metering at the input stage, up or down conversion, loudness processing, on-line lip-sync delay, loudness metering at the output stage and logging of all relevant loudness statistics’.
Housed in a single rack space, the unit allows processing of up to three simultaneous SD/HD/3G streams, making it one of the most compact systems available, and offering a competitive cost per stream.
The DB6 features two 5.1 processing engines per SDI stream, each able of delivering to any platform and any codec – HDTV, Mobile TV, Digital Radio or Podcast using AAC, Dolby, Ogg Vorbis, lossless or linear.
Its LoudnessWizard algorithm takes care of loudness correction, up-conversion from stereo to surround formats and down-conversion from surround to stereo. Once configured, it operates automatically and transparently. The algorithm is able to automatically detect the nature of any incoming signal and process as defined. The DB6 also integrates multichannel TC Delay, which may be adjusted live without artifacts and used for lip-sync, profanity prevention and loudness processing look-ahead.
Loudness Meter Loudness metering at the input and output stages is handled by TC Electronic’s Radar Loudness Meter, which includes Loudness History (S), Momentary Loudness (M), True-peak Level plus two user-definable parameters such as Program Loudness (I) and Loudness Range (LRA). Both Radar Meters even include a Statistics page showing all numbers and details at once, and both are capable of detailed 24/7 logging.
The DB6 is compliant with all major broadcast standards, including ITU BS.1770-3, ATSC A/85, EBU R128, ARIB TR-B32, OP-59. It comes loaded with presets with each of these standards in mind. However, standards are still being developed and refined. Thanks to open standards, a predictable and transparent loop has emerged, and it is now possible for broadcast production to take the entire signal chain into consideration including ingest and multi-platform delivery. When using the logged data for evaluation, the loop is closed.
Expandable with Transmission 3G cards, the DB6 is available in two versions – DB6 Multi and DB6 Single. While these appear similar, the rear panel connections allow the DB6 Single to handle one SD/HD/3G stream for local broadcasters and OB vans. DB6 Multi, alternatively, is able to process one stream right out of the box, but can accommodate two additional dual-engine cards to increase the count of total streams per unit to two or three, for processing multiple streams simultaneously. Each Transmission 3G card holds two multichannel processors and is capable of running two LM6 Loudness Radar Meters as well as two LoudnessWizard algorithms simultaneously.
Apart from the expandability of the DB6 Multi, both versions use identical, hardware and software algorithms.
TC Electronic has taken part in many aspects of defining and developing the standards mentioned and remains dedicated to keeping its broadcast equipment up to date whenever a new revision is released.
More: www.tcelectronic.com/db6
