Input Sources

Input Sources

Up to 15 channels of audio plus one Metadata Control Track are supported. The control track is always located on Channel 16. To avoid confusion, the level meter for the control track is blue in color, and the control track cannot be assigned to any audio groups.

Groups

Every audio signal belongs in an input group. Input groups may contain as few as one audio channel (mono) and as many as 15-channels. Up to 10 Input Groups are supported.

Creating or Removing a Group

Input Groups are created by clicking the "+" button at the bottom left corner of the Sources window.

To remove an Input Group, select the group to be removed then press the "-" button at the bottom left corner of the Sources window.

Naming a Group

Input Groups can be given a "friendly" name to make them easier to identify.

To name (or rename) a Group, click on the appropriate Name field, enter the desired text, and press "Enter" to save.

Keep in mind the chosen name will not only be used internally when building Switch Groups and Presets but will carry through the broadcast chain all the way to the viewer who will use it to adjust any enabled interactive controls, so choose your group name wisely!

Assigning Audio to a Group

Click the button under the channel number to assign that channel's audio to the Group. Every audio channel must be assigned to a Group in order for it to be included in the final presentation and rendering. Each audio channel can only be assigned to one Group.

Soloing an Audio Input Channel

Soloing an input channel will replace the audio at the Monitor Output with the soloed channel or channels. To solo an input channel, click on the level meter for the channel you wish to solo. To release the solo function, either click on the level meter of the soloed channel or press the “Solo Release” button.

AMS supports additional solo capabilities, such as soloing Groups, Switch Groups, and output channels. All additional solo functions are located on the Monitor Output page and will be described in the appropriate section of this manual.

Audio Input Definition

This section of the Input window is where the properties of the audio groups are defined. Configurable properties include the audio service type, whether the audio is channel-based or object-based, the channel format (if channel-based), the language code, and whether or not APTO loudness processing is applied.

Kind

The Kind field defines the type of audio service for the Group. Options include:

• Undefined (default)

• Complete Main

• Dialog

• Music

• Effect

• Mixed

• LFE

• Emergency

• Audio Description

• Hearing Impaired

• Voice Over

• Spoken Subtitle

• Commentary

Format

The Format field defines the audio format for the Group, and for channel-based audio, how many channels are used. Options include:

• Mono

• Stereo

• 3-channel (Left, Right, Center)

• 5.1

• 5.1.4 (5.1 + 4 overhead speakers)

• 7.1.4 (7.1 + 4 overhead speakers)

• Object

Note that Audio Objects are always a mono source.

Language

This Language field allows the operator to set the ISO 639 language code for the audio Group. This information will carry through the entire broadcast chain and will allow the viewer to select their preferred language.

APTO

AMS includes Linear Acoustic APTO loudness control, the latest and most advanced loudness control technology offered by Linear Acoustic. APTO can be individually enabled or disabled for each Input Group.

Key controls are adjustable in the APTO window on this page, and the ability to create, modify, store and recall APTO processing profiles is found on the System Menu page.

Interactivity Controls

One of the features of advanced audio systems such as MPEG-H is the ability to offer the viewer some simple controls to adjust and personalize their listening experience.

Some common examples of these adjustments include:

• Raising the level of the dialog to make it easier to understand

• Choosing where to pan an audio object (such as the PA announcer in a sporting venue) in the horizontal plane

• Choosing where to place an audio object in the vertical plane

Interactivity controls can be enabled or disabled for each Group. The lower and upper limits of each control as presented to the viewer can be adjusted by clicking on the control which opens a pop-up window.

Gain is available to both channel- and object-based Groups. Azimuth (horizontal) and Elevation (vertical) controls are only available to audio objects.