Merlin

Merlin is the newest addition to Tieline’s powerful family of audio codecs and is designed to deliver rock solid, high fidelity IP audio over an extensive range of public and private IP networks. It also supports connections over transports including IP, ISDN and POTS.

Flexible Applications

The 1RU Merlin rack mount IP codec delivers high quality bidirectional stereo and full duplex communications for point-to-point and remote broadcast connections. It is ideal for studio and remote truck installations and delivers:

• High fidelity point-to-point stereo, or
• Point-to-point stereo plus a separate bidirectional IFB channel, or
• Up to two mono connections to different Tieline IP codecs, or smartphones using Report-IT.

Merlin features:

• High reliability over IP networks without Quality of Service
• Support for ISDN or POTS network connections
• Powerful audio and data routing
• Simple local or remote command and control
• Recallable connection programs

 

Reliability and Connectivity

Merlin will connect to all Tieline IP broadcast codecs, including G3, Bridge-IT and Genie codecs and Report-IT Enterprise smartphone applications.

It has dual 1 Gigabit (10/100/1000) onboard Ethernet ports, dual redundant power supplies, audio silence detection and IP network backup solutions to ensure you’re always on the air. An automated network failure detection feature provides switching to a backup IP LAN connection. You can also fail over to backup ISDN or POTS connections as required using optional ISDN or POTS modules.

Merlin is specifically designed to deliver a wide variety of point-to-point and remote broadcast connections over the full suite of wired and wireless IP networks, including:

• Public Wide Area Networks (WANs)
• Private Local Area Networks (LANs)
• 3G and 4G wireless Networks #
• Wi-Fi and WiMAX Networks #

SmartStream: Rock Solid Audio using Inexpensive IP Links

As an IP audio pioneer, Tieline was the first major codec manufacturer to integrate SmartStream features such as Automated Jitter Buffer management, Forward Error Correction (FEC) and error concealment techniques in all IP codecs. These features dynamically respond to variable conditions over unmanaged IP networks like the public internet to ensure reliable streaming.

Now SmartStream PLUS has revolutionised IP broadcasting by delivering the rock solid and reliable STL-grade audio quality you would expect over a T1/E1 link by using inexpensive unmanaged IP networks like the internet for remotes.

Save Money Now with SmartStream PLUS Redundant Streaming

Some other manufacturers charge thousands of dollars for IP management software like SmartStream PLUS as if it’s an optional extra. However Tieline believes high performance and STL-grade rock-solid reliability is an essential part of each and every broadcast, and delivers its renowned SmartStream PLUS as standard in Merlin codecs.

Tieline can show you how an investment in new codecs will pay for itself in just a few months by using SmartStream PLUS over inexpensive IP links to transport STL-grade, high fidelity audio at a fraction of the cost of synchronous leased lines. With SmartStream PLUS:

1. Stream simultaneous redundant data streams and deliver seamless redundancy by switching back and forth, without loss of audio, from the nominated primary data link to the backup link if one fails and then subsequently recovers. Note: Use IP links from two different IP network providers for optimal redundancy over mission critical STL connections.
2. When multiple redundant audio streams are sent, the decoding codec automatically reconstructs audio into a perfect single stream on a first packet arrived basis to ensure audio integrity.

Flexibility and Interoperability

	Tieline G5 ISDN module

Many broadcast networks are transitioning to IP but still require connectivity over ISDN or POTS. Tieline Merlin codecs deliver flexibility by allowing you to connect over ISDN, POTS or IP networks as required. Simply purchase optional ISDN G5 or POTS G5 modules, insert them in the codec and you are ready to connect over ISDN, POTS or IP on demand.

Merlin supports both IPv4 and IPv6 (Dual Stack) protocols, so broadcasters can be assured that they have made a smart investment for the future as new networks and technologies emerge over time.

Connect over IP with any SIP-enabled IP codec brand that supports the EBU N/ACIP tech 3326 standard, as well as VoIP telephone devices supporting G.711 and G.722. Merlin is also compliant with I3P EBU334 requirements for interoperability of AoIP production intercoms.

Algorithms

Merlin is capable of 16-24bit 22kHz low latency linear PCM audio at up to 48kHz sampling and features aptX® Enhanced, LC-AAC, HE-AAC v1 and v2, AAC-LD, AAC-ELDv1 and v2, Opus, MPEG II, MPEG Layer-3, Tieline Music and MusicPLUS, G.722 and G.711 algorithms.

# Requires 3rd party device

* Feature not available in the first release.