Wheatstone SystemLink™ megaplexer for linear audio and the whole MPX enchilada, including FM/HD alignment, across any high-speed link.
Wheatstone SystemLink 24-Bit Megaplexer
SystemLink is a 24-bit megaplexer for transporting linear audio and the entire FM MPX signal, including RDS, pilot and FM/HD alignment, across high-speed links. At 24-bit resolution, SystemLink is able to get across the detail necessary for high quality audio.
Not only does SystemLink maintain linear audio and the full, 24-bit resolution of the MPX payload, it also includes the FM/HD alignment detail that many FMs in the U.S. carry.
SystemLink is in use by our X5 FM/HD and MP-532 audio processing customers as a 24-bit MPX option and as a way to keep HD and FM signals in sync from the processor at the studio straight through to the receiver in the transmitter.
SystemLink is also an important piece of the “audio processing in a cloud” puzzle because it can deliver high-quality, 24-bit MPX across high-speed links from cloud data centers to the transmitter site.
SystemLink is now an option in our Layers Software Suite as the MPX output of the Layers FM module, which includes multiband processing, PPM watermarking and full RDS capabilities as instances in an onsite server or off-site at cloud data centers. SystemLink is also available for most Wheatstone audio processing units, including our flagship X5 FM/HD audio processor and our multiprocessor, the MP-532 and Lion audio processors, and Wheatstone Layers FM.
Using SystemLink for your STL
MPX SystemLink
MULTIPLEX STUDIO-TO-TRANSMITTER LINK
Ever wish you could keep your FM/HD processor in your studio instead of at the transmitter site? MPX SystemLink is an optional 1RU product for the X5 that maintains HD and FM alignment (LiveLock) from your studio to your transmitter site. It carefully keeps the HD and FM packets in sync so time alignment done with the processor at the studio is maintained straight through to the receiver.
HD and FM composite audio are converted to a single WheatNet stream at the X5 and sent over a data link (min 20 mbps) to the SystemLink decoder. There, the audio is converted back to two (2) analog composite signals, one baseband192 (MPX over AES) signal as well as an AES HD signal.
Because all audio is kept in the same IP stream, they arrive at the destination simultaneously and remain in sync. If packet loss occurs, both signals experience the same duration and time alignment is maintained.
SystemLink Encoder:
- Accepts processed analog or digital MPX audio
- Accepts AES digital HD audio
- Accepts subcarriers from host processor
- Transports FM and HD signals over a dedicated IP path to the Decoder
- FM and HD packets are locked in sync. HD time alignment cannot get out of sync.
SystemLink Decoder:
- Delivers analog or digital AES MPX processed FM audio
- Delivers AES digital HD audio
- Delivers subcarriers output embedded in MPX signal
- Receives FM and HD signals over a dedicated IP path to the decoder
- FM and HD packets were locked in sync at the encoder. HD time alignment cannot get out of sync.
SystemLink is available for Wheatstone Layers FM and Lion, X5 FM/HD and MP-532 audio processing products.
