Livewire Comes to Public Radio Satellite System

IP-Audio-friendly IDC satellite receivers soon to arrive at 800 NPR stations

04 March 2010, Cleveland Ohio, USA

More than 800 NPR affiliates will soon receive new International Datacasting satellite receivers with built-in Axia Livewire connections. As part of a refurbishment of the Public Radio Satellite System, NPR Distribution has chosen IDC to supply its new, state-of-the-art, SFX4104 EXP Pro Audio Satellite Receivers – each with a Livewire-enabled Ethernet port ready to connect directly to an Axia audio network.

"Livewire" is the trade name for technology developed by Telos Systems, Axia’s parent company, to transport uncompressed, real-time digital audio using standard switched Ethernet. International Datacasting is part of a growing list of more than two-dozen Axia Audio Partners who are equipping their products with native Livewire interfaces. This allows multiple channels of audio and data to be routed to an Axia IP-Audio network via a single Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for multiple discrete I/O connections.

The Axia IP-Audio system allows broadcasters to build audio networks of any size using switched Ethernet to connect a few rooms, or an entire facility. Axia networks have a total system capacity of more than 10,000 audio streams, and can carry hundreds of digital stereo (or nearly a hundred surround) channels over a single CAT-6 cable, eliminating much of the cost normally associated with wiring labor and infrastructure. Products include the popular Element 2.0 modular broadcast console, the PowerStation integrated console engine, the IP-Intercom system, a family of “audio nodes” that allow easy mixing and matching of digital, analog and microphone audio, and a comprehensive suite of network administration and routing control software.

Axia IP-Audio networks are now on-the-air in more than 1,500 studios worldwide.

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Axia, a Telos company, builds Ethernet-based professional IP-Audio products for broadcast, sound-reinforcement and commercial audio applications. Along with the popular Element 2.0 modular console for on-air, commercial production, audio workstations and personal studios, Axia products include the PowerStation integrated console engine, intercom systems, digital audio routers, DSP mixers and processors, and software for configuring, managing and interfacing networked audio systems.