Summary
Studio Codec for Managing 6 Simultaneous Remotes
Rapidly expand your remote capability with the award winning Merlin PLUS and manage up to 6 bidirectional mono connections with IP codecs or smartphones using Report-IT, saving money on codec hardware costs and reducing studio rack space requirements.
Features
Overview
Merlin PLUS is the ideal 1RU codec for studio installations and offers a simple, compact and scalable solution for managing multiple simultaneous remotes. Use Merlin PLUS for:
Up to 6 simultaneous bidirectional mono remote connections.
—– Merlin PLUS connected to 6 remotes
2 x Bidirectional mono or stereo remotes, each with separate bidirectional IFB communications channel.
Streaming multiple algorithms simultaneously at different sample rates and bit-rates.
Reliability and Connectivity
Merlin PLUS will connect to all Tieline IP codecs, including G3 codecs, Bridge-IT, the Genie family of codecs and Report-IT Enterprise smartphone applications. It is designed to connect 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 #
It has dual 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. Automated network failure detection provides switching to a backup IP LAN connection.
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 STLs, audio distribution and remotes
Save Money Now with SmartStream PLUS Redundant Streaming
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:
The codec can stream simultaneous redundant data streams from both Ethernet ports 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 connections.
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.
These combined measures ensure Tieline is capable of offering an IP solution, in which the payload capability of your network infrastructure is the only limitation to successfully distributing, reliable, high fidelity IP audio across broadcast networks.
SmartStream IP Delivers …
Some other manufacturers charge thousands of dollars for IP management software like SmartStream as if it’s an optional extra, however Tieline believes high performance and rock-solid reliability is an essential part of each and every broadcast, and therefore delivers its renowned SmartStream IP management software for free.
SmartStream PLUS delivers an additional layer of mission critical redundancy and is available as standard in Tieline’s Merlin PLUS
Flexibility and Interoperability
—— ISDN G5 (Euro) angle
Tieline G5 ISDN module
Many broadcast networks are transitioning to IP but still require connectivity over ISDN. Tieline Merlin PLUS codecs deliver flexibility by allowing you to connect over ISDN or IP networks as required. Simply purchase the optional G5 ISDN module, insert it in the codec and you are ready to connect over ISDN or IP on demand. Click here to learn more about Tieline ISDN options.
Merlin PLUS 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 PLUS is also compliant with I3P EBU334 requirements for interoperability of AoIP production intercoms.
Algorithms
Merlin PLUS 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. Merlin PLUS supports up to 6 simultaneous streams of Opus encoding.
Asymmetric encoding and decoding* lets you send high quality audio in one direction and save on data by sending low bandwidth comms or program on the return channel.
# Requires 3rd party device
* Feature not available in the first release.
Can be purchased with Wheatstone compatibility
Technical Specification
| Input/Output Specifications | |
| Analog Audio Inputs | 2 x Female XLR line inputs |
| Analog Audio Outputs | 2 x Male XLR |
| AES3 In | 1 x female XLR (Channel 1 in; shared with Ch1 analog input) |
| AES3 Out | 1 x male XLR |
| Auxiliary Input | 1 x 6.35mm (1/4″) Mic/Line level Jack on rear panel |
| Female DB-25 | 4 additional analog or digital inputs/outputs |
| Headphones Out/Aux Out | 1 x 6.35mm (1/4″) Jack on rear panel and 1 x 6.35mm (1/4″) Jack on the front panel |
| Control Port In/Out | Four relay inputs and four opto-isolated outputs for machine control via a DB15 connector. |
| Audio Input Impedance | High Impedance > 5K ohm |
| Output Impedance | <50 ohm Balanced |
| Clipping Level | +22dBu (input and outputs) |
| A/D & D/A Converters | 24 bit |
| Frequency Response at 48kHz | 20Hz to 22kHz |
| THD and Noise (Analog) | <0.0035% at +16dBu or -89dBu unweighted |
| THD and Noise (Digital) | <0.000056% |
| Analog Signal To Noise Ratio | >98.5dB at +22dBu, unweighted |
| Sample Frequencies | |
| IP Sample Frequencies | 16kHz, 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz |
| Algorithms | |
| IP | Tieline Music, Tieline MusicPLUS, G.711, G.722, MPEG-1 Layer 2, MP3, LC-AAC, HE-AAC and HE-AACv2, AAC-LD, AAC-ELD, Opus, 16/24 bit aptX Enhanced |
| IP (uncompressed) | Linear PCM16/24 bit 48kHz sampling |
| Data and Control Interfaces | |
| USB | USB 2.0 Host port on the front panel |
| LAN | 2 x 10/100/1000 RJ45 connectors |
| Advanced Networking | VLAN tagging (IEEE 802.1Q,802.1p) |
| Serial | RS232 up to 115kbps with or without CTS/RTS flow control via female DB9 connector, can be used as a proprietary data channel |
| Protocols Supported | Tieline, DHCP, SNMP, DNS, HTTP, IGMP, ICMP, VLAN, IPv4/v6, FEC, SIP/SDP (EBU N/ACIP Tech 3326 compliant), RTP, I3P EBU3347 compliant |
| ISDN via module | Optional via module slot |
| POTS via module | Optional via module slot |
| Front Panel Interfaces | |
| Display | 256 x 64 monochrome LCD |
| Keypad | 21 button keypad |
| Navigation | 5 button keypad |
| General | |
| Size | 1U x 19″ Rackmount |
| Dimensions | 19” x 1.75” x 13.5” [482mm (W) x 44mm (H) x 343mm (D) including rear connectors] |
| Weight | 6lb 7.7oz/2.94Kg |
| Power Consumption | Dual AC 100-240V IEC power inlets; 1A – 50-60Hz |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) |
| Humidity Operating Range | 20% ≤RH ≤70% (0 to 35°C/32°F to 95°F), non-condensing |