Pharos expands Multichannel Audio Server

A major new development of the Pharos Multichannel Audio Server (Pharos-MAS) is to make its first exhibition appearance at NAB 2004.
The new system incorporates automated remote ingest, offering full networking and media management for voiceovers and programme repurposing.
Ideally suited for radio and television applications, Pharos-MAS can be used as a stand-alone audio server or integrated into any automatic transmission system. Announcements and programmes can be recorded and filed using the in-built SQL database. Audio files are easy to find and can be used in playlists or played directly to air. Applications include radio announcements; programme store and forward, automated voiceover playout; multichannel audio playout; recording announcements and voiceovers.
Each audio server has independent RAID storage holding up to 96 hours of uncompressed audio. Broadcast wave (BWAV) files are used throughout to give the greatest possible file compatibility between Pharos-MAS and other audio production systems. Metadata is added to the file header including identifiers which are in accordance with the current proposed standards.
Pharos-MAS incorporates a record screen enabling announcers or voiceover artists to make their own recordings easily. To record an announcement, a new item is entered into the database or dragged from the search screen into the control panel. The record cue button is pressed. The transport controls then operate like those of a VTR to allow the clip to be recorded. The copy button allows an existing recording to be broken into segments. Make-lists can be imported automatically. The announcer simply enters a group code into the database to retrieve all the announcement,s which are to be recorded for a particular day and channel. Once the announcement has been recorded, it can be reviewed and trimmed. Using the unique Pharos audio jog function, it is easy to find the beginning and end of an item and save the new in and out points. Clips can be copied and saved with a different name or in a new version.
Pharos-MAS can be added easily to an existing video server environment or to a radio playout system. Various input and output configurations are available including stereo analogue or AES/EBU digital format. Audio files required for playout can be recorded automatically from DAT or CD using the Pharos ingest screen. Multiple tracks on one tape can be recorded in a batch, speeding up the process. BWAV files can also be copied directly on to the audio server and the logged in the Pharos Database. Files can be copied from server to server automatically or manually. This allows systems to be configured for full one-to-one redundancy.
Pharos audio servers are used by major television and radio broadcasters worldwide, both stand-alone and in conjunction with the company's wide range of systems for digital asset management, programme archiving, router and device control and playout.
(GB)