AudioControl Delivers Eight-Channel DigitalAudio Processor

For more than two decades AudioControl has been internationally recognized as the leader in equalization components for home theatre and home audio reproduction. Over the years AudioControl has introduced a long series of innovative sound processing products and the new Diva Programmable 24-Bit Digital Audio Correction System stands as the companyís new flagship design. By applying leading-edge digital signal processing technology, the new Diva, says the company, delivers a dramatic real-world gain in the potential quality of cinema and music recordings reproduced in the home.""As audio and home theatre systems become more capable and more complex, the problems of program and room equalization become more troublesome,"" says Tom Walker, President of AudioControl. ""Divaís digital-domain EQ lets us attack these problems without introducing a whole new set of difficulties - with DSP we can derive a far greater range of EQ characteristics. And, once weíve implemented Divaís eight channels of high-quality processing, we can factor in signal alignment and dynamics processing at the same time. Thereís no question that Diva marks the future of audio processing, by bringing system owners and designer/installers the ability to correct room acoustics, compensate for program variations, and reflect personal taste with unprecedented power and flexibility.""Diva implements fully independent, digital-domain sound processing for up to eight audio channels. Says the company, the Diva endows each with an ultra-precise (10-microsecond) digital delay for extraordinarily high-resolution system signal alignment, and incorporates unique, configurable multichannel dynamics processing. The design employs dual 24-bit Motorola 56303 digital audio processors, a DSP ""engine"" capable of more than 160 million instructions per second (MIPS), for all its audio processing and so delivers detail and transparency suitable for even the highest-end audio and home theatre systems. To preserve its superb processing quality Diva incorporates top-quality, high-performance analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, supplying 24bit precision for each of the eight analog inputs and outputs, ensuring full transparency of all signals for all channels.Each channel of Diva equalization can be configured for multi-band control, with both fixed-band, constant-Q (""graphic""), and parametric control. Diva offers equalization over the entire audio band, from 20Hz to 20kHz. The productís high-resolution time delays can implement signal alignment with an accuracy of 1/8-inch. Next, Diva incorporates configurable, multichannel dynamics processing, with a flexible implementation of pure, digital-domain compression, expansion, and limiting, for designing custom-tooled ""soundscapes"" based on program-source, recording format, time of day, or individual preference.Diva has extraordinary memory systems - twenty-four setups can be created and stored, each reflecting variations of EQ, inter-channel signal delay, and dynamic processing. Additionally, flexible bass management and channel-routing options permit setups to incorporate different system configurations, for music/movies, or stereo/multichannel - or virtually any other system-design need or personal preference.Diva is also fully compatible with DolbyÆ Digital, DTSÆ Digital Surround, or any other current or future multichannel audio format. The on-board RS-232 serial port empowers the installer/designer to integrate Diva fully into a sophisticated home theatre system. Different Diva setups can be automatically associated with different source-components, surround modes, or other system options. And the systemís memory data is stored in non-volatile flash memory, safe from power outages without requiring a backup battery.Despite its unprecedented audio-processing power Diva is simple to use. A large, bright, VFD screen displays an intuitive graphical control interface. Self-prompting menus and dynamically assigned labels guide the user to one-key commands for all primary functions and parameters, while creating a clean, unintimidating control panel with just 10 push buttons and a single knob. Diva incorporates a two-level security lockout so that parameter changes may be disabled while still enabling serial-port control.The AudioControl Diva is designed and manufactured by AudioControl, utilizing select analog and digital components at its Washington State facility. Diva is assembled with an all-metal chassis conforming to the ""2U"" EIA rack mount dimensions, and is supplied with removable rack mount hardware. Like every AudioControl product, Diva carries a solid, five-year parts-and-labor warranty.Available now the Divaís suggested retail price is $8900. For more information phone Audio Controlís Chris Kane at 425 775 8461.