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nexStage, Comprehensive Tools for Audio Post
…a Rosetta Stone for Music
In the world of consumer audio distribution, there are two modern release formats; SACD and DVD-Audio. Most digital audio products are able to handle some version of linear PCM which is good for CD and DVD releases but, increasingly, SACD capabilities are needed to stay competitive. Our nexStage product line bridges the technology divide between CD and DVD on one hand, and SACD on the other.
The nexStage Line:
PCM or DSD —It’s Your Call
DSD or Direct Stream Digital is the native file format for SACDs. Super Audio CDs are the successor to the universally accepted Compact Discs from the inventors of the Compact Disc, Philips and Sony. SACDs enjoy broad acceptance by consumers for their forward and backward compatibility, ease of use and “ultra–analog” sound quality. Record labels appreciate their tightly locked intellectual property protection and ability to deliver a single SKU to retailers.
According to the music industry website, www.sa-cd.net, over 4000 albums are now available in the SACD format. Consumers love the convenience, ease of use plus, guaranteed forward and backward compatibility of the SACD format. Having one disc that realy works in a car, home theater or portable player is greatly appreciated. Also, the CD–like controls of SACD players "make sense," to even the most technically challenged listener. As of the first quarter of 2006, the global installed base of Super Audio CD players numbers more than 13 million, with over 180 models currently available from 37 manufacturers at street prices starting at US$100.
Now, no matter what DAW or digital recorder you use, the nexStage tool complement provides the ability to create any digital audio release format, from multi–channel audio for SACD or DVD-A to good ol’ stereo CDs, all on your desktop.
A Suite for All Sessions
The nexStage line provides essential tools for any full service facility. Functionality ranges from “format conversion” or file format transcoding to authoring and premastering. Transcoding from DSD to linear PCM maintains the high level of fidelity captured in the DSD master while allowing you to process and distribute in the PCM space.
Now that DSD recorders are affordable, engineers who appreciate the sound of quality analog gear can finally adopt a hybrid production method that incorporates the best of their analog signal blocks with DSD digital recording and delivery. Wrapping DSD around a traditional analog workflow preserves the subjective “analog sound” while also future –proofing the assets in the digital domain.
AFC:
nexStage AFC provides fully adjustable
and bidirectional PCM to DSD and DSD to PCM conversion.
This means you can
start with a DSD master and convert it to whatever
sample rate and word length you need for your final product,
from 44.1/16 for CD on up to 192 k/24 for DVD-Audio,
all while retaining the subjectively superior quality
of the DSD
original. Or, take your 24 track master and bring
that material into the DSD domain for repurposing.
nexStage AFC includes nine different sigma delta remodulation
schemes, including Trellis E for the absolute highest
quality and the smallest possible file size. AFC also
multiplexes and de-multiplexes
DSD data, creating DSDIFF Masters. It even supports
up to 384 kHz LPCM, in case you need to include intermediary
LPCM processing or need
interoperability with PCM–only DAWs. For Windows 2000 & Windows
XP.
• Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM) to
DSD transcoding
• DSD to LPCM transcoding
• 44.1 to 384 kHz sample rates for LPCM
• 2.8224 MHz sample rate for Sigma Delta
DSD
• Multiplexes,
de-multiplexes and remodulates DSD
• Includes 9 sigma delta remodulator algorithms including
Trellis
• Batch process 24 channels quickly & easily
• Creating
DSDIFF Masters
• Available for Windows 2000 & XP
DSDeliver:
nexStage DSDeliver for AudioSuite is a unique
software plug–in for Pro Tools® LE and HD/HD Accel users.
DSDeliver creates DSD files from Pro Tools PCM audio for
SACD production. It upñsamples and reñdithers
PCM material, converting 2 to 6 channels of linear PCM into a DSD
stream.
nexStage DSDeliver supports a wide range of sample rates, from
44.1 to 192 kHz, and
word lengths from 8 to 32 bits. An embedded DST lossless compression
ratio estimator provides a fast, accurate estimation of the final
SA-CD
disc image file size…MORE….
• works right inside AudioSuite
• LPCM to DSD transcoding
• supports 44.1 to 192 kHz sample rates
• transcodes audio in Pro Tools to 2.8224 MHz sample rate (Sigma Delta)
DSD
• includes an embedded DST lossless compression percent
estimator
• stereo to multiñchannel support, 2 to 6 channels, for Red Book and Scarlet
book distribution
• Available cross–platform for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS
X
SACD Creator:
nexStage SACD Creator is an easy, “one-button” SACD premastering solution that converts DSD content into a complete SACD cutting master, ready for replication. SACD Creator is a comprehensive suite that converts DSD or DSD EM (Edited Master) files to a complete, verified SACD disc image. SACD Creator includes software metering, DSD to DST encoding, authoring, verification and logging via an simple graphical user interface. With integrated tape library support, SACD Creator is for Windows 2000 & Windows XP…MORE….
• converts DSD or
DSD EM files to a fully verified SACD disc
image
• provides soft metering
• performs DSD to DST lossless data encoding
• includes SACD authoring
• enables verification of finished image
• audit trail support with logging function
• supports delivery to AIT tape
mechanisms
• Available for Windows 2000 & XP
Check It Out
For more information on how you can enhance your rate
card while improving the quality of your finished product,
download an informative PDF (525
kB, requires Adobe Reader
5 or newer) highlighting the capabilities of the nexStage line. To get more information
on
the
entire
nexStage line of DSD authoring and transcoding tools, contact
your authorized Sonic
Studio reseller.
