Turner Entertainment Networks Installs TC Audio Processors

America's top rated cable networks have installed the TC Electronic DB-8 TV Transmission Processor, a multi-channel processing platform tailor-made for the broadcast industry and developed to comply with the specific demands of Digital TV.

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Processing includes real-time Loudness Control, Multi-band (5-band) processing, EQ, delay and Limiting

Turner Entertainment Networks recently celebrated the December 9th, 2002 move of TNT from pre-existing facilities to their new Network Operations Center in Atlanta. TNT was the 1st of 19 networks to make this transition. Other networks will begin to come online in rapid succession, Turner South in February, WTBS and TBS Superstation in March. Then after a short break, Cartoon Network, TCM and Boomerang will launch sometime in May. The balance of the Networks (Turner South, TCM, plus 4 TNT and 4 Cartoon Network feeds each for Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and a Pan-regional feed) will be switched over by October 2003.

All 19 network feeds use TC Electronic's DB-8 Digital Television Audio Processor. The DB-8 met Turner's requirement for independent channel processing and 75_ AES3 BNC termination with total bypass at power down. The DB-8's ability to process 8 channels of AES digital audio in any combination of mono, stereo or 5.1 were the deciding factors that won the job specification.

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On a number of these feeds, multiple languages are present (English on channels 1 & 2, Spanish on channel 3, Portuguese on channel 4, Descriptive Video Services for the Visually Impaired on channel 5 and French on channel 6.) Each of these feeds has two identical chains, called A and B, so the backup is indistinguishable from the primary channel. So there are hundreds of audio channels requiring processing. That task would have been quite difficult using conventional stand alone processors with faceplate controls with the usual small LCD screen. As an alternative, the DB-8 audio mainframe communicates via Ethernet with a graphical PC interface giving a detailed overview of 1, 2, or all 8 channels found in each 2U frame.

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Each DB-8 channel offers true loudness and multi-band processing, AGC, inter-sample accurate peak limiting and delay capabilities. Once the settings are decided upon they are stored to the internal memory of the DB-8 and the PC may be disconnected.

The DB-8 will then retain those settings, even after a power down cycle. Unique to the DB-8 is a user assignable routing that permits the system programmer to route internal signals through the 4 DSP engines in a flexible method that allows for the various processes to occur in mono, stereo and in 5.1.

Format control also permits the conversion of stereo to 5.1 using a proprietary algorithm that generates a credible surround field. The standard Matrix programs also permits a 5.1 mix to be summed down to LCRS, Stereo or Mono. The DB-8 also implements a new technology called Inter-Sample Peak Limiting. Not many digital limiters have been able to emulate the very best analog limiters. ISP limiting employs a digital up-sampling technology that results in a more transparent and artifact-free signal, even when in extreme limiting. On February 3, 2003 TC released version 1.20 software for the DB-8. This version offers improved real-time Loudness Control where new adaptive detection and leveling functions have been added, along with 28 new presets for Analog and Digital TV.

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For further information, please contact the Pro Audio department

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