The features that simplify system designs

SYNNER-E 3G simplifies system designs for those working with 3Gb/s, HD or SD sources in AES and Dolby E environments.

SYNNER-E 3G combines a video synchroniser, tracking audio delay, embedder, de-embedder, audio processor and video proc-amp, along with advanced handling of Dolby E and flexible delay compensation – all on one 100mm x 266mm board. It works with four groups of audio and can include integrated fibre input and output connectivity too.

With its combination of features making it the best solution for any embedding, de-embedding and timing requirements, SYNNER-E 3G will save you money and rack space. Powerful and cost-competitive, it’s not surprising that it’s been used in some of the largest projects in the world.

Multi-functionality on a single board

SYNNER-E 3G is one very powerful product.

With the timing coming from either SD or HD analogue syncs, it can synchronise the 3Gb/s, HD or SD video, de-embed up to four audio groups, mono route the audio channels, pass the linear AES through a tracking audio delay to resample it before any audio processing while detecting, synchronising and aligning any Dolby E, and finally re-embed the four groups – outputting video and embedded audio timed to your system.

It can embed and de-embed external AES and Dolby E too.

Synchronise the video

SYNNER-E 3G can both synchronise incoming video signals which are not locked to the local reference and compensate for timing delays within the video system.

It has two operational modes: synchroniser and delay line. Synchroniser mode is ideal for external sources that are not timed to station references such as satellite or remote contribution feeds. In synchroniser mode SYNNER-E 3G takes its timing from the external analogue reference and will automatically synchronise sources between 0 and 1 frame, fixing any incorrect frame rates plus any delays.

The ability to cross-lock allows it to conveniently use any existing timing signals, with a 3Gb/s, HD or SD input referenced to either HD tri-level syncs or SD Black and Burst. The reference loop-through on the RM70 rear module allows you to loop the analogue reference through a number of boards in a single frame – saving a DA and making cabling easy.

Delay mode takes its timing from the video input and is ideal for when the frame rate is correct but the source has been passed through equipment such as a chroma keyer, DVE or standards converter and and therefore been delayed for a few lines. The delay is adjustable in samples, lines and whole frame steps.

You can easily compensate for mistimed sources elsewhere in your system by adjusting the output timing relative to the reference through an entire frame using horizontal and vertical settings. Further fixed delays can then be added for matching purposes, meaning that the full delay can be set between four SD lines and 3.5 frames.

Should the reference be removed or the board powered without a connected reference, SYNNER-E 3G will revert to delay mode. Both manual and automatic freeze are available.

Embed and de-embed exactly what you want

SYNNER-E 3G offers complete freedom when embedding and de-embedding external AES or Dolby E audio.

There are eight bi-directional digital audio connections on the board which can each be independently configured as either an AES input or AES output, allowing the embedding or de-embedding of up to eight AES stereo pairs at the same time and in any combination.

This means that SYNNER-E 3G can accept an untimed feed of video and embed up to four groups of external AES or Dolby E audio, producing timed video and embedded audio with optional overwriting of audio channels. Or SYNNER-E 3G can take an untimed feed of video and embedded audio and produce video and separate AES or Dolby E audio, timed to station syncs.

Routing your audio

SYNNER-E 3G includes powerful audio routing, allowing full shuffling and overwriting of the mono channels.

At the heart of SYNNER-E 3G are two 32 input/16 output mono audio routing matrices. One is the embedder output router, with the other the AES output router.

These allow up to 32 possible audio input channels (16 embedded channels from up to four groups present on the input video, plus up to eight external stereo pair AES inputs) to be routed to 16 outputs for either embedding into up to four groups on the output video, or up to eight external stereo pair AES outputs.

Channel shuffling allows you to rearrange the audio tracks between the four groups, while with audio replace the external audio can overwrite some of the original audio channels from the video feed.

Ideal for Dolby E users

SYNNER-E 3G allows very flexible handling of Dolby E, with Dolby E data automatically detected and processed appropriately – ensuring it is routed in such a way that you can’t destroy the data.

SYNNER-E 3G can embed or de-embed up to 16 channels of Dolby E and will synchronise video containing Dolby E, linear audio or both – allowing a mixture of Dolby E and linear AES within a single audio group. How? It separates the Dolby E and linear audio and synchronises both types in the appropriate way before re-embedding the audio. When transporting Dolby E, any Dolby E stream must be treated as a stereo pair and no audio processing applied to ensure integrity of the audio.

It’s important to ensure that when Dolby E data is embedded, the guardband is in the correct place. SYNNER-E 3G has the ability to auto-correct timing errors with the guardband, aligning it correctly with the output video switching point.

SYNNER-E 3G can also use incoming Ancillary Timecode (ATC) or an interlaced reference signal to determine the field sequence of a High Definition progressive video output, which helps to ensure that Dolby E has its guardband correctly positioned.

The invert output sequence control allows the Dolby E output to be timed in anti-phase to the ATC or interlaced reference, if required, to allow for subsequent processing.

Converting to or from Dolby E delays the audio by one video frame, and SYNNER-E 3G can therefore add a compensating delay to the video and linear audio to match all the signals.

Easy to time all your signals

SYNNER-E 3G offers a flexible range of video and audio delays to help match all your signals and ensure Dolby alignment.

For the video…
The synchroniser delay automatically adjusts over a range of 0 to 1 frames to provide the desired output timing.

A switchable one or two frames video delay, adjustable in whole frame steps, can match Dolby E or other big system delays and bring the video and audio timing back into alignment.

The Minimum synchroniser delay allows a further 0.5 frames delay to be added to the video and linear audio to ensure correct Dolby E alignment.

For the audio…
An internal tracking audio delay tracks the video delay, running the audio fast or slow to ensure the video and audio stay correctly timed and to avoid lip-sync errors. There are two tracking audio delays: one for the linear audio and the other for Dolby E.

A fixed audio delay of one or two frames can be added to both linear AES and Dolby E to match the equivalent video delay.

Up to 80ms of audio delay can be added on top of the tracking to compensate the linear AES for any small delay between the incoming video and audio signals caused by video processing.

A delay of between 0 and 1 frame can be added to a Dolby E signal so that the guardband is correctly aligned with the video timing, ready for embedding into the output video.

Finally up to 40 Dolby E samples of adjustable delay allows you to ‘nudge’ the position of the Dolby E frame relative to the video, so that you can deliberately offset the Dolby from its correct position to compensate for processing further downstream.

SYNNER-E 3G helps you monitor exactly how much delay has been set by indicating the total audio delay in milliseconds.

Optimise the audio and video

SYNNER-E 3G includes full audio processing of the linear AES.

The audio levels can be increased or decreased to match the rest of your system, or even be muted to silence. There are a total of 32 individual audio gain controls, for the 16 channels of audio de-embedded from the video audio and 16 channels of external AES audio. Each gain control is independently adjustable between +18dB and -18dB in 0.1dB steps.

Stereo to mono conversion is available to help those broadcasting a multi-language service. Each of the 32 audio input channels can also be individually inverted – allowing you to correct for any reversed wiring of differential pairs.

SYNNER-E 3G additionally includes a video proc-amp for picture optimisation and to help maintain colour fidelity, with adjustment of the video gain, black level and independent YUV gains by up to 200%.

Fibre connectivity - on the board

With SYNNER-E 3G you can have fibre input or output straight into the board – ideal when you need to send and receive signals beyond the local equipment bay and giving you even more functionality on a single module.

You can come in on fibre, embed, de-embed, synchronise. Or you can go out on fibre once you’ve synchronised and embedded. Just order either the FIP fibre input option, FOP fibre output option or FIO fibre input and output option.

Designed for SMPTE 297-2006 short-haul applications, the FIP is used to receive an optical input and the FOP to transmit an optical output using a Class I laser. The FIO can do both – giving you simultaneous fibre input and output. With a FIP or FIO fitted you can select your video input source to be taken either from the input BNC or the optical input.

Having the fibre integral to the board reduces the need to use up additional rack space for separate fibre optic transmitters and receivers – as well as saving you money.

SYNNER-E 3G can also support CWDM lasers if required.

Save rack space

SYNNER-E 3G is a space-saving 100mm x 266mm module which is housed alongside any other product in the standard frames – available in 4U, 2U, 1U and desk top box sizes – with up to 12 boards fitting in 2U.

There’s a choice of seven different frame rear modules (the RM47, RM49, RM58, RM59, RM61, RM62 and RM70) to access the inputs and outputs, with the rear modules chosen for their ability to be used with 110 ohm audio, 75 ohm audio and fibre input or output.

Easy and flexible control

SYNNER-E 3G is very straightforward to operate, with control options including board edge switches, an active front panel on the frame, a remote control panel, GPIs, SNMP and the Statesman PC software.

Up to 16 user-defined presets, containing the board setup data, may be stored and recalled.

Always know the status of your signal

One GPI output is reserved for alarm indication and may be assigned any number of 37 video and audio alarms, allowing comprehensive signal monitoring. The silence alarms can be delayed before triggering to prevent false alarming during quiet periods in the audio.