The Telos Alliance's R/2 is the latest addition to the company’s line of Z/IPStream software and hardware solutions for stream processing and encoding. The R/2 is the hardware version of Telos’ second-generation stream encoding/processing software, including all of the capabilities of the Z/IPStream 9X/2 and X/2 software, while adding several new features in a compact 1RU chassis.

The R/2 is ideal for high-density applications requiring multiple channels of streaming audio content, each with unique processing and encoding requirements. Multiple stream types can be encoded from each audio input channel for adaptive bitrate streaming applications. The R/2 encodes content at multiple bitrates, simultaneously, keeping the content frame aligned so that adaptive clients can seamlessly switch between bitrates as needed, without experiencing any glitches. R/2 supports both Apple HLS and Microsoft Smooth Streaming adaptive streaming formats.

Available through all Telos and Omnia dealers, the R/2’s 1RU chassis supports up to eight stereo audio input channels and features Livewire and AES/EBU audio I/O. Each channel includes either standard Omnia three-band processing or full Omnia.9 processing (optional) with exclusive “Undo” plus de-clipping technology that reverses the damage done by hyper-processing and “brickwall” audio mastering. Up to seven bands of processing and a comprehensive set of audio-analysis tools are standard.

The Z/IPStream R/2 hardware now includes the Fraunhofer xHE-AAC (extended HE-AAC) codec, in addition to other supported encoding algorithms like AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1/v2, and MP3. The xHE-AAC format support is an upgrade of HE-AAC v2 with integrated speech-coding tools and more efficient tools for general audio-signal coding, creating audio that sounds equally good on both music and talk content. Selected as the mandatory audio codec for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), xHE-AAC bridges the gap between speech and audio coding, and provides consistent high-quality audio for all signal types.

Starting at 8 kbps mono, xHE-AAC allows the transmission of good audio quality and, in addition, the potential delivery of more audio programs. xHE-AAC therefore enables new services even on bitrate-constrained networks. Because the coding efficiency of xHE-AAC enables streaming services to operate at lower data rates when needed, consumers and program providers reap major benefits. Reducing buffering times and increasing service reliability improve the listening experience, especially for users of mobile devices. The lower bandwidth requirements reduce CDN costs for program providers and prevent data-plan overages at the consumer end. Telos said Z/IPStream is compatible with most popular CDNs.

Featuring New Metadata Processor
In addition to adaptive streaming, xHE-AAC, and audio-processing from Omnia, the R/2 encoder includes an all-new, flexible metadata processor that allows it to not only accept metadata from multiple play-out systems, but also lets broadcasters tweak the fields they want to present to listeners. Metadata can then be sent out to multiple destinations.