It's Time. Meet X5.
Meet X5, Wheatstone’s new flagship FM and HD audio processor.
Built from the ground up, it's based on several breakthroughs, including an innovative new approach to dynamics control and pre-emphasis management.
In more traditional audio processing designs, pre-emphasis is either managed by specialized limiting or carefully designed clipping that merely tolerated the pre-emphasis curve. Thinking about this problem, and the fact that it’s been over a decade since there has been a major development about dealing with pre-emphasis, Wheatstone set out, through our work with DSP, to come up with the ultimate solution to the problem.
We have seen what the power of DSP can do to restore audio and video over the years. What if we found a way to apply that thinking to FM pre-emphasis and peak control?
Enter LIMITLESS. FM peak control technology that reconstructs the audio after the application of pre-emphasis. No more dull smeary highs or spitty audio. Just clean and clear high end that’s perfectly matched to the texture of your HD audio.
X5 also leads the way with Unified Processing®, which allows the processor to share information between ALL stages. In the X5, the iAGC, Dynamics and Limitless Clipper work together no matter which control a user adjusts. Changes are made automatically, in real time, in ways never envisioned before.
The X5 also includes a totally redesigned limiter. As part of the Unified Processing system, this unique limiter, designed as 31 independent filter banks with no crossovers to colorize the audio, works directly with the X5's Limitless clipper, providing an audio blueprint for how the clipper should behave.
Additionally, X5 offers a full suite of static and dynamic RDS features along with with multi-stream UECP support.
The X5 adds a number of other state of the art features, including LIVE LOGGER which documents everything from remote logins to audio failover to preset changes. Our redesigned bass processor and enhancement controls in the iAGC that allow you to safely equalize your audio for maximum consistency. The days of “maybe it will sound better on the next song” are over. Your audio signature is preserved cut after cut, element after element.
Wheatstone’s popular HD/FM audio alignment makes the jump to the X5 with our FM&HD LIVELOCK. The sync works either with third-party HD/FM modulation monitors or by itself, using the FM/HD tuner built in to the X5.
Available with Wheatstone SystemLink™ option, an FM MPX over IP transporter with RIST connectivity for robust, secure and reliable transport over any IP link.
AES insert points are also available via PPMport. Users can now insert their ratings encoder into the processing system instead of placing it in front of the processor. This allows the X5’s specialized front end to deliver a steady audio diet to the encoder and increase the instances of watermark embedding. What’s more, the sonic transparency of the LIMITLESS clipper preserves the watermark for more reliable detection at the meter.
X5 also offers built-in watermark encoding for the Kantar Media ratings measurement system.
We’ve spoken a lot about what’s new in X5, but Wheatstone processing users will be happy to know that many of the features we’ve pioneered in previous models have been incorporated and improved on in the X5, including our legendary Multipath Mitigation algorithm, our composite processing system with selectable look ahead limiting or clipping, baseband192 composite AES connectivity, and a full set of analysis displays.
The X5. Processing for the needs of radio TODAY!
X5 Now Includes New Nielsen Audio Software Encoder
Wheatstone worked behind the scenes with Nielsen developers and has gone through the necessary testing to receive the Nielsen certification. The Audio Software Encoder is now integrated in our Aura X5 audio processor, which is available to FM stations.
Features
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New iAGC Intelligent Audio Management System reacts to program amplitude and density for perfect leveling
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New Bass Tools system with enhanced tuning features
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New LIMITLESS clipper technology assures open, airy highs with no smearing
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Expanded preset storage for up to 160 processing preset
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Digitized SCA inputs for pristine subcarrier generation and recovery
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Full RDS capabilities supports data import from popular automation systems
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AES insert points provide processed audio to watermark encoder assuring reliable coding under all program conditions
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Analog, digital and WheatNet-IP audio I/O with automatic ‘failback to primary’
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Built-in FM/HD tuner and automatic time alignment correction
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BS412 MPX Power Management assures compliance with European standards
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New look and feel, with an intuitive GUI and dual touch screens on the front panel
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New high performance stereo generator with SSB/DSB encoding methods
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New equalizer offers both parametric and Baxandall-style shelving EQ
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New advanced analysis features for displaying internal and external signals
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New post-processed loudness analysis conforms to BS-1770 standards
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Integrated diversity delay of up to seconds and adjustable in one sample (20uS) steps
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Exclusive stereo multipath controller technology for enhanced stereo coverage
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New comprehensive security features designed for mixed-use sites
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Wheatstone® baseband192 provides digital MPX over AES to transmitter
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Specialized MPX final processing increases competitiveness without MPX degradation
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Processor shares information between ALL processing stages to optimize program audio for any program format
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Remote processor control via wired Ethernet and Windows based GUI
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Specialized audio analysis functions display characteristics of processed audio, including:
- 1,024 point FFT
- Oscilloscope
- Energy versus Frequency
- 3-D plot of spectral content vs. time
- Spectral Dynamic Range shows before and after processing density (a Wheatstone exclusive)
- Display of the X5’s distortion masking clipper activity -
Dual front panel touchscreens, one for setup and processing adjustments and one for metering and analysis
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Separate FM and HD processing paths with individual final processing optimizes audio for each medium
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Front Panel headphone output and volume control allows monitoring of before and after processed audio
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Supports digital FM and HD audio transport over our exclusive SystemLink technology to maintain perfect FM/HD time alignment
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Intuitive front panel signal flow diagram allows access to any processing stage at the touch of a finger
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Front Panel analysis displays scrollable via the familiar cell phone ‘swipe’ movement
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System logs all processor activity including power ups, preset changes, and logged-in access from a remote GUI
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Optional built-in Nielsen or Kantar watermarking encoder
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Dual analog MPX outputs and twin subcarrier inputs; one MPX output may be selected to provide 19kHz sync to external RDS encoders
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Front Panel touchscreen control with Guru GUI for easy setup and processing adjustments
Wheatstone Processing Videos - X5
At NAB 2019, we introduced the X5 FM/HD audio processor along with our new MPX SystemLink™. Here are several videos with Jeff Keith and Mike Erickson taking you through some of the new features. Also, there are several videos of customers who've just heard X5 for the first time...
What Makes X5 Different? Cool New Stuff...
MPX SystemLink™
MULTIPLEX STUDIO-TO-TRANSMITTER LINK
The available MPX SystemLink extends the X5 with HD/FM alignment from your studio to your transmitter site. It carefully keeps the HD and FM packets in sync so time alignment done with the processor at the studio is maintained straight through to the receiver.
FM & HD LiveLock
FM/HD SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION
Integrated HD and FM analog signal alignment keeps listeners and people meters tuned in to your station even during extreme HD/FM blending conditions. No external boxes needed and no more “dip and skip” in reception that can cause listeners to tune out and people meters to reset, affecting TSL.
HD and FM composite audio are converted to a single WheatNet stream at the X5 and sent over a data link (min 20 mbps) to the SystemLink decoder. There, the audio is converted back to two (2) analog composite signals, one baseband192 (MPX over AES) signal as well as an AES HD signal.
Because all audio is kept in the same IP stream, they arrive at the destination simultaneously and remain in sync. If packet loss occurs, both signals experience the same duration and time alignment is maintained.
Limitless Clipper
ZERO DISTORTION CLIPPER
Perfect peak control without a trace of IM distortion, no matter how much HF energy you put into the X5!
We re-thought the relationship between peak control and HF pre-emphasis! Limitless Clipper uses proprietary high-frequency distortion cancelling technology to pass the highs, but not the overshoot. No more “spitty” highs or pops from clipping; no IM distortion whatsoever. This clipper will take all the highs you can give it, and never give you back IMD.
This clipper, along with X5’s Phase Linear dynamics, gives you the most powerful FM processor on earth.
Unified Processing
COHESIVE INTEROPERATIVE FUNCTIONALITY ACROSS THE ENTIRE PROCESSING CHAIN
Key to the X5's exceptional sound is its ability to have every function in the processing chain be informed by and capable of reacting to every other function simultaneously.
Each X5 function in the processing chain interacts closely with other functions to deliver just the right amount and type of processing needed, letting you create a sound that’s as close to the original as possible while still dominating the dial.
Live Logger
LIKE THE NSA FOR YOUR X5
Live Logger keeps track of everything happening on your X5. Preset takes? Remote login? Audio failover? Every event is date and time stamped so you can review it. X5 takes audio to a whole new level and, with Live Logger, gives you absolute and complete peace of mind.
PPMport
INSERT LOOP FOR PEOPLE METERS
X5 features an insert loop to interface your ratings encoder AFTER the processing. This delivers a signal with greatly reduced audible artifacts, which ensures you’ll be moving all those meters out there.
Multipath Mitigation
MORE PATH. LESS MULTI.
X5’s multipath mitigation delivers your signal to more listeners while PPM Port’s smart AES insertion points ensure each and every one of those PPMs register. Better sound delivered to more radios – sound that cuts through and sounds amazing.
AirAura X5 Display Gallery
WheatNet-IP Extends AirAura X5's Power
With WheatNet-IP BLADE-3s, you get a virtual rack room in a 1-rack space box. They handle all the I/O (AES/EBU, SPDIF, AOIP, MADI, SDI and AES 67) and provide full routing capabilities. Each BLADE-3 gives you two 8x2 utility mixers, 12 universal GPI/O ports, 128 software logic ports, silence detection, built-in audio clip player, stereo multi-band audio processing, and much more, assignable anywhere on the network. With it you can create workflows that would require a ton of third-party gear.
General Specifications
Analog Line Input
Type: Electronic Differential
Input Impedance: > 10Kohm (bridging)
Optimum Source Impedance: < 1Kohm
A/D Converter: AKM5394, 192kHz, 24-bits
Digital Line Input
Data Standard: AES3 (AES/EBU)
Data Amplitude:
Per AES3-2003 assuming minimum allowable output signal amplitude of 2V and minimum allowable input signal amplitude of 200mV
AES Receiver: CS8416, 192kHz, 24-bits
Type: WheatNet-IP
Data Type: 100 BaseTEthernet Network per IEEE 802.3-2008
Input Gain Adjustment Ranges
Gain Range: +/ -24dB
Gain Adjustment Resolution: 0.5dB
Gain Calibration:
Input Failsafe
A gain control setting of 0.0 aligns an external 0dBFs signal with the X5’s 0dBFs internal reference
Type: Automatic
Analog Fail Cause: Audio level below -24dBu (fixed)
Response Time: 30 seconds (fixed)
Digital Fail Cause 1: Audio level below -48dBFs (fixed)
Response Time: 30 seconds (fixed)
Digital Fail Cause 2: Corrupted or invalid AES data
Response Time: Immediate (fixed)
Failsafe Direction: Digital to Analog/Analog to Digital (no Digital to Digital)
Audio Level Balance
Type: Common to both Analog and Digital Inputs Analog/Digital L/R Balance Range: +/-12dB
Control Resolution: 0.5dB
Voice Symmetry via Phase Rotator
Operating Modes: In/Bypass
Filter Type: 4th Order All-pass
High-Pass Filter
HPF Filter Class: 24dB/octave Butterworth
Frequency range: 20Hz – 300Hz
Parametric Equalizer
Sections: Four
Frequency Range: 20Hz – 20kHz
Bandwidth Range: 0.2 – 3.0 octaves
Boost/Cut Range: +/- 14.0dB
Options: Bypass
Bands 1&4 Shelving
5 Band AGC/Compressor with iAGC
Drive Gain Range: -12.0dB to +6.0dB in 0.5dB steps
AGC/Compressor Thresholds: - 50dBFs to -70dBFs
AGC Attack: 50mS to 3000mS
AGC Release: 1000mS to 7000mS
AGC Band Coupling: 0dB to -6.0dB per band to key band
Compressor Attack: 10mS to 1000mS
Compressor Release: 50mS to 3000mS (3Sec)
Compression Ratio: 2:1 to 20:1
L+R Mixer: Boost/Cut +/-6dB
L-R Mixer: Boost/Cut +/-6dB
Gating Mode: Slow Release/Hold
Gate Threshold Range: -20.0dB to -79.5dB, plus OFF
iAGC Attack/Release Speed: 2 to 7.0 seconds
iAGC Threshold: -60.0dBFs to -40.0dBFs
iAGC Window Size: 0dB to 8.0dB
iAGC Operating Style: Linear or Adaptive
Crossover Frequencies
Band 1/2: 60, 80, 120, 150 Hz
Band 2/3: 250, 364, 530, 700 Hz
Band 3/4: 1.2, 1.59, 1.73 kHz
Band 4/5: 4.49, 6.17, 7.55 kHz
31-Band FM Peak Limiter
31-Band Limiter Drive: 80 – 100%
Clipper Drive: -6.0dB to +6.0dB
31-Band Limiter Knee Shape: Soft/ Hard
Pre-Emphasis: Flat/50µS/75µS
Stereo Encoder
Reference grade Stereo Encoder with embedded Composite Processing, Test Oscillator, SCA digitizer, and balanced and unbalanced composite outputs.
Composite Processor Modes: Oversampled Clipper or Lookahead Limiter MPX Processing Drive Range: +/-6dB
Automatic Multipath Limiter: 10% to 100% in 5% steps, plus Off 19kHz Stereo Pilot Injection: 0-20%, 0.1% steps
19kHz Stereo Pilot Phase: +/- 22.5 degrees referenced to 38kHz
SCA 1 & 2 Input: Analog, 10Kohm input impedance
Maximum SCA Input Level: +24dBu
Gain Control Range: -79.95dB to +10dB; OFF Stereo Encoder Operating Modes:
Analog Left/Right Only: Analog L/R or Analog L/R De-Emphasized
Stereo Multiplex: Unbalanced MPX Output
TX 1 & 2 Output Standard Level: 3.5V P-P (1V RMS)
TX 1 & 2 Maximum Output Level: 8V P-P into 1Kohm (BNC Outputs)
BS.412 Power Control: On/Off (Bypass)
BS.412 Power Control Options: Level/Style/Speed/Calibration/Action
System
Headroom Level: >20dB
Nominal Operating Level: -20dBFS digital
FM Path Processing Latency: 46mS maximum – all features engaged HD Path Processing Latency: 29mS maximum – all features engaged Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1%, 20Hz – 20kHz *
Intermodulation Distortion: <0.1% SMTPE *
Signal to Noise Ratio: >80dB * Signal Chain Internal Dynamic Range: >144dB
Stereo Separation: >50dB (FM) 100dB (HD) *
Crosstalk: >50dB, 20Hz – 15kHz (FM) 20Hz – 20kHz (HD) *
Power Requirements: 100-250 VAC (auto sensing)
50/60Hz, 100 VA Max.
Power Connector: EMI suppressed IEC male
Shipping Weight: 37 pounds
Operating Temperature: 0 to 50 degrees C (32 to 122 degrees F)
Overtemp alarm reporting via APP@50 degrees C
* Bypass Preset, unity gains, and 75µS pre and de-emphasis
All specifications subject to improvement or change without notice.
