GETTING DOWN TO BASICS

Ideal if you require an entry level system, the flexible TANDEM-110 can be configured as a single embedder, a single de-embedder, a dual embedder, a dual de-embedder or a mixed embedder/de-embedder.

WHAT DO I NEED?

Buy the basic 100mm x 266mm motherboard and then select any two piggybacks providing external inputs or outputs from a choice of six to suit your application.

Combine two HD-DIP2 piggybacks for a dual embedder, or an HD-AIP2 with an HD-AOP2 for a mixed embedder/de-embedder. If you're embedding or de-embedding analogue audio, you must also fit a HD-DCDCV18 PSU. TANDEM-110's kit format means that you can build the exact product you require, wherever you are - just remove one piggyback and fit another.

CHANNEL SHUFFLING

AUDIO DELAY

Each half of TANDEM-110 has a built-in adjustable audio delay of up to 681 milliseconds which will compensate for any video processing, such as a video feed going through an ARC, a DVE or being converted to and from MPEG.

AUDIO PROCESSING

With TANDEM-110 you can change the level of the audio being embedded into or de-embedded from the SDI. Channels can be adjusted independently across a range of -42dB to +18dB meaning you can easily select the desired volume on each one, or even mute it to silence.

The board can additionally perform stereo to mono conversion - useful for those transmitting multiple languages, with a mono audio track allowing room for four.

QUALITY CONTROL

TANDEM-110 guarantees a high quality output every time with sophisticated audio error masking and contiguous packing of audio data to ensure correct transport of multiple audio groups.

A variety of sophisticated techniques are employed to protect and minimise the effects of cuts to untimed and asynchronous SDI, SDI corruption and TRS loss in the SDI signal.

It also has a Toolbox Analyser which can be used to investigate the state of audio and other data embedded within a video signal. This powerful troubleshooting tool allows engineers who are not getting expected results to diagnose the system fault responsible.

When de-embedding digital audio, the TANDEM-110 can continue to produce a valid AES stream (with digital silence) if the selected audio group or SDI stream disappears. Under these circumstances the AES output can be locked to the digital output piggyback's AES reference input. Maintaining a valid AES output is important as it ensures that other AES equipment in the system can remain locked and does not cause audio disruption.

TANDEM-110 is also fully compatible with Dolby E.

AUDIO MONITORING

A stereo analogue audio monitoring output - available on the frame rear modules or on the headphone socket at the front of the board - can be used to preview any of the sources.

It is possible to connect the monitor signals of several TANDEMs to allow complete frame monitoring.

CONTROL

Controlling TANDEM-110 is easy.

Auto configuration gets you started by detecting which piggybacks are fitted and selecting the basic function (embed/de-embed) and the most common setup for the groups and delays and so on.

You can then make any further adjustments from either board edge, the frame active front panel, a remote control panel, SNMP or the Statesman PC Control System, with settings saved on power down.

REAR MODULES

Flexible outputs are available, using the RM04, RM05, RM06, RM07, RM08 and RM36 frame rear modules.

The 'easywire' RM36 features its audio connections on a 64-way DIN 41612 connector which stretches the full width of the rear module and therefore gives more room to solder the wires on to the individual pins.