Broadcast audio equipment manufacturer Wheatstone has announced its fourth-generation WheatNet IP I/O unit, Blade 4.
New Bern, NC (August 8, 2024) – Broadcast audio equipment manufacturer Wheatstone has announced its fourth-generation WheatNet IP I/O unit, Blade 4, which continues to build on the intelligent AoIP network to combine studio facilities and create new workflows.
Blade 4 provides an AoIP toolset with audio processing, codecs, mixing, routing, control and operating system in a single rack unit. It includes optional dual OPUS audio codecs for streaming between studio facilities, home studios or broadcast sites, and an upgraded CPU with GPU graphics acceleration for running custom scripts, apps and virtual interfaces directly on the Blade 4 itself.
Blades are the I/O units designed and manufactured by Wheatstone that form the core of the WheatNet IP audio network, which can include over 200 interconnected elements.
Wheatstone adds Layers RIST protocol and AWS support
By adding Reliable Internet Stream Transport (RIST), an open source transport protocol designed for real-time video and audio transmission, Blade 4 now delivers improved network security and reliability, as well as lower latency and higher quality audio streaming over the public Internet, where connections are less reliable and distance causes greater delays.
This fourth generation blade is AES67 compliant for interoperability with a range of AES67 devices and supports SMPTE ST 2110, including NMOS detection.
The new unit combines I/O, control and audio tools in one AoIP unit for everything from streaming audio, mixing sounds and processing feeds to turning microphones on and off, controlling consoles and triggering mix-minus presets by show, venue or talent.
