31 March 2016, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
The Telos Alliance® announced today that it is now shipping the anticipated Z/IPStream™ R/2 stream encoder / processor. Telos Alliance will be giving live demos of the Z/IPStream R/2 at NAB booth #N1934, April 18-21, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 
The R/2 is the latest addition to its complete line of Z/IPStream software and hardware solutions for stream-processing and encoding from the Telos Alliance. As the hardware iteration of Telos' popular second-generation stream encoding/processing software, R/2 has all the capabilities of the Z/IPStream 9X/2 and X/2 software, while adding several new features in a convenient, compact 1RU chassis.
Adaptive Streaming Technology
The R/2 is ideal for high-density applications requiring multiple channels of streaming audio content, each with unique processing and encoding requirements. Multiple stream types can be encoded from each audio input channel for adaptive bitrate streaming applications. The R/2 encodes content at multiple bitrates, simultaneously, keeping the content frame aligned so that adaptive clients can seamlessly switch between bitrates as needed, without experiencing any glitches. R/2 supports both Apple HLS and Microsoft Smooth Streaming adaptive streaming formats.
Legendary Omnia® Processing
The 1RU chassis supports up to eight stereo audio input channels and features Livewire® and AES/EBU audio I/O. Each channel includes either standard Omnia® three-band processing or full Omnia.9 processing (optional) with exclusive ‘Undo’ plus de-clipping technology that reverses the damage done by hyper-processing and ‘brickwall’ audio mastering. Up to seven bands of processing and a comprehensive set of audio-analysis tools are standard.
R/2 Features xHE-AAC Codec, A Major Improvement for Ultra-Low Bit Rate Streams
The Z/IPStream R/2 hardware now includes the Fraunhofer xHE-AAC (extended HE-AAC) codec, in addition to other supported encoding algorithms like AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1/v2, and MP3. xHE-AAC is an upgrade of HE-AAC v2 with integrated speech-coding tools and more efficient tools for general audio-signal coding, creating audio that sounds equally good on both music and talk content. Selected as the mandatory audio codec for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale), xHE-AAC bridges the gap between speech and audio coding, and provides consistent high-quality audio for all signal types.
"Telos demonstrated xHE-AAC at the Amsterdam IBC in 2015, and the advancement was immediately apparent to all," says Max Neuendorf, Group Manager, Audio and Speech Coding for Fraunhofer Institute.
Starting at 8 kbps mono, xHE-AAC allows the transmission of good audio quality and, in addition, the potential delivery of more audio programs. xHE-AAC therefore enables new services even on bitrate-constrained networks. Because the coding efficiency of xHE-AAC enables streaming services to operate at lower data rates when needed, consumers and program providers reap major benefits. The listening experience, especially for users of mobile devices, is improved by reducing buffering times and increasing service reliability, while the lower bandwidth requirements reduce CDN costs for program providers and prevent data-plan overages at the consumer end. Z/IPStream is compatible with most popular CDNs.
Featuring New Metadata Processor
In addition to adaptive streaming, xHE-AAC, and audio-processing from Omnia, R/2 includes an all-new, flexible metadata processor, which allows it to not only accept metadata from multiple play-out systems, but lets broadcasters tweak the fields they want to present to listeners. Metadata can then be sent out to multiple destinations.
R/2 is available through all Telos and Omnia dealers. For more information, read our in-depth blog "The Stream Locomotive Is Leaving the Station."
To see Z/IPStream R/2 in action, come by the Telos Alliance booth #N1934 at NAB 2016, or contact Marketing Manager Krissy Rushing to make a booth appointment.
Press contact: Krissy.Rushing@TelosAlliance.com.
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About The Telos Alliance
For three decades, the brands of the Telos Alliance have revolutionized radio and television by pioneering disruptive, cutting-edge audio technology with the goal of helping global networks and local stations produce better programming, improve audience engagement, and bolster ratings. The Telos Alliance is made up of six brands—Telos® Systems, Omnia® Audio, Axia® Audio, Linear Acoustic®, 25-Seven®, and Minnetonka™ Audio. Distinctly and collectively, the Telos Alliance brands raise the bar for quality and innovation in the radio and television industries. Together, this group represents some of the brightest minds in radio and television broadcast audio, with dozens of awards and a growing patent and IP portfolio to back up the claim.
