The Net-Log audio logger, to be launched officially at NAB 2001 in April, is a new way to record and play audio. The Net-Log overcomes the inherent unreliability of PCs for long-term recording by providing a dedicated hardware recording platform that uses a simple network connection for audio playback. Prototypes of the Net-Log, shown at IBC Amsterdam and SBES Birmingham last year, were received with a great deal of interest.
It can record 4 mono, or 2 stereo, audio streams for playback using TCP/IP. Audio is encoded in mpeg layer 2 format and written to a large 30GB+ internal EIDE hard disk drive. Each channel, or pair of channels, can be programmed to record independently and can be configured with different sample and bit rates. This allows for several weeks of regulatory low-quality recording as well as high-quality re-broadcast recording on one machine.
There are a number of advantages of the Net-Log : Many radio stations throughout the world must log their station output for regulatory purposes. Net-Log allows them to do this with ease, being able to store over 6 weeks of audio on a 30GB hard-disk, together with the ability to archive to other media for long-term retrieval. Larger hard-disks can be installed to further to the amount of data available on-demand.
Even if logging isn't regulatory, Net-Log is providing audio to the desktop of anyone at the station - they don't need to go to the racks-room, or central technical area to play out a recording previously made. From their desktop, the sales team can check to make sure that advertising was played on time and create audio files to email to customers. Program controllers can snoop on their presenters, checking performance and checking that scheduled music was played. Station managers can check up on their competition and compare with the sound of their own station. The production team have much easier access to recorded audio from past radio shows for the preparation of future stings and trailers. No hunting around the office for tapes - just search for it on your PC.
All audio created by Net-Log is Windows Media Player compatible so files can be emailed to colleagues and customers and played out on any PC with a sound system.
Since the showing of the prototype Net-Log at IBC and SBES, Sonifex has already had many orders placed for the Net-Log on the strength of what was displayed. Julian Speed, Export Sales Manager, for Sonifex commented "Even though it wasn't fully tested, we decided to take Net-Log to the exhibitions anyway to assess customer response. Since then it seems that every time a distributor or client phones they ask about Net-Log. Initial reactions have been very pleasing and confirms our belief that we're onto a real winner with Net-Log."
