The core of Astro Spatial Audio’s object-based immersive audio solutions.
SARA II
Created for live events, touring and installations that need power redundancy.
Black Engine
Created for installations of all kind and object-based player solutions.
To harness the potential of object-based 3D sound within the live entertainment industries, the highest standards must be met. Astro Spatial Audio has responded accordingly by walking away from limited FPGA-based signal processing. Instead, SARA II relies on a Linux-based CPU design, delivering huge benefits in terms of power, scalability and upgradability.
Even with full CPU processing, latency can be guaranteed to be below 5ms. Control couldn’t be simpler with browser-based access to an intuitive GUI, and simultaneous control from multiple devices, ranging from mixing consoles and DAWs to tablets and phones running either Android or iOS. In addition, theTypical system diagram for 3D Spatial Audio in a Live Application Technical Specifications Audio and control Audio inputs 32 standard (expandable) front panel of each SARA II boasts a 2.8″ TFT LCD colour touchscreen with a number of different control options.
Developed and manufactured in Europe, the SARA II Premium Rendering Engine occupies just 3U of a standard rack and the Black Engine 4RU, both offering up to 128 MADI configurable audio network pathways at 48kHz/24bit resolution. All paths are assignable to at least 32 audio input channels that can be rendered to up to 128 independently processed sound source outputs.
To ensure reliability, the SARA II rack-and-road-ready engine hosts several on-board redundancy options, while systems can be linked as required to form massive immersive experiences across vast spaces. Use of the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol delivers interoperability with third party systems.
Key Features
| SARA II | Black Engine | |
| Minimum 32 configurable audio objects | X | X |
| Up to 128 output channels | X | X |
| Madi I/O | X | X |
| Robust rack-mount housing | 3RU | 4RU |
| Low noise cooling | X | X |
| Web-browser based control | X | X |
| Redundany options | X (power redundancy optional) | X (no power redundancy option) |
| 2.8″ TFT interactive touchscreen | X | – |
System diagram
for a typical 3D Spatial audio live application
