Both the TC DB4 MkII & DB8 MkII employ cutting-edge technology to enable stations get rid of listener complaints about jumping levels, and to transmit in analogue and digital with optimum processing for both feeds.
With TC Electronic's advanced technology, broadcasters can be confident they always conform to EBU, ATSC and ITU Loudness and True-peak level standards across all platforms and all formats. Owners also enjoy the broadcast world's highest resolution, lowest latency and lowest distortion with DB4 MKII & DB8 MKII.
The original DB4 & DB8 were already the world's most popular broadcast processors. Now with the new MKII versions, TC have packed in simply more of everything:
More Metering
The MKII versions feature EBU R128 & ATSC A/85 compliant new LM6 Loudness Meters, new SNMP functions and you can always ‘go back in time’, reviewing one full week of detailed logging, even without connection to a computer. In DB4 MKII, the LM6 meter is always available in addition to its two multi-channel audio processors.
More Redundancy
With several thousand units operating constantly all over the world, there is plenty of proof that the original DB4 & DB8 processors rarely fail. On the other hand, live broadcasting always calls for the ultimate level of ‘operational safety’, so TC have ensured that the DB4 & DB8 MKII will never be without power. Owners get the same power supply as the original units - but now there are two of them. There are also double the fuses, mains inlets and even the Swiss-made Papst fans. If one of the power supplies should fail, the other will take over instantly, and the power supplies can even be fed from independent power sources.
More Compatibility
TC's DB2, DB4 and DB8 processors are famous for their preset compatibility, allowing installations of any size to use the same settings. DB4 MKII and DB8 MKII are just as user-friendly and you can run any preset from the original DB4 and DB8 units straight out of the box.
More Trickle-Down
DB4 and DB8 processors have a record of introducing novel solutions that facilitate multi-platform broadcast ("Trickle-Down processing") from one, low latency frame. The MKII's continue on the same path with generous new functions that work regardless if metadata has been correctly set upstream or not.
Mastering Quality
Synchronous 48 kHz sampling and 48 bit processing throughout, in combination with massive jitter rejection, ensures high audio resolution and perfect timing, even if you have long transmission lines feeding a processor. In fact, you could cascade hundreds of DB processors without degrading the sound as much as a single pass through HDTV data reduction.
July 2011 - New V3.20 Software adds even more processing...again!
This latest free software update adds full ITU-R BS.1770-2 compliant loudness processing & metering plus mobile TV optimisation - DMix Optimum Mobile Platform Delivery.
In just one engine, DMix can downmix, loudness process and true-peak limit any mono, stereo or 5.1 source. Input formats are dealt with automatically without the need for metadata, downmix takes place at overload-proof 48-bit resolution, loudness processing complies with ATSC or EBU standards, and transparent transcoding keeps the output perfectly conditioned for mobile TV, iPod or IPTV. Even a wide loudness range feature film is transcoded automatically on the fly at an impeccable audio quality.
Compatibility between DB-4 and DB-8
The DB4 MkII includes the same processing and I/O capabilities as DB8 except for holding two separate processors, instead of the four inside DB8. For example, one DB4 MkII can apply different processing to four mono, two stereo or two 5.1signals, or to a combination such as one stereo and one 5.1 signal.
Both DB4 & DB8 MkII are preset compatible. If you know how to operate one of the them, you know how to operate both. DB8 is primarily designed for large broadcast centers, whilst the DB4 may be a more appropriate match for OB linking or a regional station, but they share the same processing, the same presets and the same physical I/O structure – and even the same program to control them.
Identify Your Opportunities
If your station is moving in digital and seeking to identify advantages, DB8 & DB4 MkII will provide all the possibilities you need to transmit in 5.1 now, as well as to experiment and find the right competitive angle for the future. These advnaced processors can easily adapt to your audience's changing needs.
Foundation
TC's involvement with high quality digital audio dates back to the mid-80's with pre-DSD technology being employed in the still ubiquitous TC 2290 delay. TC's commitment to digital excellence continued over the years with equipment for the music, film & mastering industries. The multi-channel processing found in the DB8 & DB4, for instance, was originally developed for film and those tools have been refined for demanding broadcast applications. Or dynamics control, where some of the latest end-listener distortion cancelling methods originally invented for mastering have been built in.
The know-how of TC's skilled engineers is the strong base of the DB8 / DB4 platform. From the purist and quality-conscious hardware engineers to software writers of whom some were involved with designing the MPEG codecs, the TC team forms a competent, non-dogmatic design group ready to take broadcast audio to the next level.
I/O Options
The DB4 & DB8 both handle up to 16 audio input and 16 audio output channels. There are two slots available, and you can choose any combination of SDI, AES/EBU Unbalanced or AES/EBU Balanced.
SDI
The SDI card for the DB4/DB8 supports all commonly used SD and HD formats. While de-embedding and embedding 8 channels of audio (48 kHz, 24-bit), selectable from the four SDI Groups in chunks of four audio channels, it passes the video side untouched.
Processing may be inserted on any two of the four SDI Groups, and re-embedding may take place on any two groups. Consequently, the machine enables cross patching of audio and format conversion between SDI Groups. The design features two separate SDI inputs, of which one is active at a time, and two parallel, separately buffered outputs.
The DB’s present an attractive SDI solution with massive jitter rejection, 48-bit processing and low latency. They also feature bit transparent, synchronous data handling, enabling routing of data reduced audio, such as AAC, DTS or Dolby E. Two SDI cards can be mounted, processing up to 16 audio channels.
HD Audio
- Embedded audio multiplexer and demultiplexer
- Supports 38 HD video formats
- Supports eight audio channels at one time
- Fully SMPTE 299M compliant & compatible with common non-compliances
- Up to eight bit errors can be corrected in each audio data packet
- Full support for 48 kHz synchronous or asynchronous 16-bit, 20-bit and 24-bit audio
- All four audio groups can be deleted
- Any two audio groups can be replaced when operating in multiplexer mode
SD Audio
- Embedded audio multiplexer and demultiplexer
- Supports 6 SD video formats
- Supports eight audio channels at one time
- Compliant to SMPTE 272M A and C & compatible with common non-compliances
- Full support for 48 kHz synchronous 16-bit, 20-bit and 24-bit audio
- Programmable audio sample distribution
- All four audio groups can be deleted
- Any two audio groups can be replaced when operating in multiplexer mode
Automatic Bypass
The DSP6000 SDI card (bypass version) features automatic bypass at power-down or at loss of power. Even at boot-up, audio and video is passed lossless to transmission.
AES/EBU BNC, Coax, Unbalanced with hardware bypass
The AES/EBU BNC (coax) card features 8 Unbalanced I/O channels. With 8 BNC connections it is especially designed for broadcast installations as they often prefer the 75 Ohm unbalanced BNC connections that support considerably longer cables. At power off, the frame is hardwire-bypassed via relays ensuring NO signal loss.
AES/EBU SUB-D, Balanced
The AES/EBU SUB-D card provides 8 channels of AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs. Interfaces have a characteristic impedance of 110 Ohm and the card comes with a DB25 to Multiple XLR breakout cable.
TC ICON MKII Hardware Remote
Up to 8 mainframes can be controlled via the TC ICON MKII Hardware Remote, but DB8/DB4 units are most often controlled via PC or Mac using the free TC Icon Software Editor. When using up to four instances of the TC Icon Software Editor; 32 frames can be controlled simultaneously.
DB4 / DB8 MkII Algorithms
Click HERE for full details of the DB4 / DB8 MkII algorithm palette...