Nautel and Omnia Propose Industry Standard for MPX over AES

Award-winning technology first expressed as Omnia Direct to be opened up to industry.

Hacketts Cove, Nova Scotia and Cleveland, Ohio — After winning multiple awards at the recent NAB convention, manufacturers Nautel and Omnia are proposing that the digital composite interface developed by  the two companies be adopted as an industry standard.

The long sought after goal of a fully digital transmission chain which doesn't sacrifice loudness has now been realized due to the collaboration between Omnia and Nautel. Introduced as Omnia Direct, the technology permits a single AES-EBU cable between the Omnia 11 and the Nautel NV Series transmitter to carry the baseband signal in digital form. This 100% digital path eliminates the noise and distortion of A/D converters and reduces potential overshoots, while ensuring full FCC mask compliance. This direct digital transfer eliminates the need to use an analog composite signal, which prior to this collaboration was the only reliable way to ensure maximum modulation for station loudness.

Nautel and Omnia are now proposing that this technology be made available via an adopted industry standard to other processing and transmitter manufacturers. "By opening up the implementation details of this collaboration, it will give the industry an opportunity to develop interoperable solutions," said Peter Conlon, Nautel President and CEO. "Customers will have the choice of their transmitter and processor, and be able to use digital multiplex, and the industry can avoid the possibility of incompatible standards."

"Both of our companies are very excited about the ability to offer the digital equivalent of the analog BNC-to-BNC composite (MPX) connection, where we can take the output of the audio processor's stereo generator and couple it directly to the modulator of the exciter," said Frank Foti, Telos Alliance CEO and Omnia Audio founder. 

"Interest in this technology was overwhelming at NAB. Although both Omnia and Nautel expended a great deal of time, energy and resources in developing the interface, we feel it is important enough to the Radio industry to make it an open standard for all manufacturers."

At NAB, both Omnia and Nautel announced that the MPX over AES capability would be offered at no charge to their customers. 

Initially, the functionality is available on Nautel NV Series transmitters from 3.5kW to 44kW and the Omnia.11 processor. New transmitters are shipping with the feature as standard, and older NV series transmitters may be upgraded with the NV software release 4.0 which is now in controlled introduction.

(Press Release)