SARA II
SARA II – the premium rendering engine behind Astro Spatial Audio
The core of Astro Spatial Audio's object-based immersive audio solutions.
Extraordinarily powerful, it is quick to deploy and scalable for every environment.
SARA II Premium Rendering Engine
Key Features
- Minimum 32 configurable audio objects
- Up to 128 output channels
- Dante™ or Madi I/O
- Robust 3RU rack-mount housing
- Low noise cooling
- A range of redundancy options
- Web-browser based control
- 2.8" TFT interactive touchscreen
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.
Developed and manufactured in Europe, the SARA II Premium Rendering Engine occupies just 3U of a standard rack, offering up to 128 MADI or 128 Dante™ configurable 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.
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, the front panel of each SARA II boasts a 2.8" TFT LCD colour touchscreen with a number of different control options.
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.
Typical system diagram for 3D Spatial Audio in a Live Application
Technical Specifications
- Audio inputs
- 32 standard (expandable)
- Audio outputs
- Up to 128 channels
- Sample rate
- 24 bit @ 48 kHz
- Latency
- < 8 ms, incl. loudspeaker management
- External control
- Open Sound Control (OSC) for MIDI, RS232 and GPIO
- Front panel display
- 2.8" TFT LCD color touch screen
- Standard: MADI
- 1 x optical (SC) and coaxial (BNC)
- Option: DanteTM
- 1 x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port
- Wordclock
- Selectable internal / external (BNC)
- Network
- 1 x Gigabit on Ethercon Neutrik NE8
- Maintenance only
- 1 x VGA, 1024 x 768 or higher, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet
- RAM
- 16 GB
- Internal storage
- 2 x 120 GB Solid State Drives
- Redundancy
- RAID 1 SSD (internal), optional parallel SARA II Engines
- Input voltage
- 100 – 240 Vac, 50-60 Hz, 6.3 A max
- Max output
- 450 W
- Connector
- Neutrik PowerCon NAC3MPA-1
- Option
- Redundant PSU, 2 x 500 W, 8 A with audible and visual warnings
- Housing
- 19" rackmount, 3 RU
- Dimensions
- WxDxH 482 x 550 x 132 mm (19" x 21.7" x 5.25")
- Weight
- 11.9 kg (26 lbs) plus cables
- Operating system
- Linux CentOS
