ZMAN - Audio Network Module for RAVENNA / AES67 Ecosystems

The ZMAN family of modules is first and foremost designed to provide a high performance media transport that is tightly synchronized (ultra-low jitter and wander), deterministic, and low latency for Networked I/O end-points. What sets them apart from other offerings is the additional processing capabilities that are built-in, with 2 x ARM CPUs and serious FPGA real-estate.
Merging is strongly committed to foster the adoption of AES67 networking capability by making available, as a simple to integrate module (pin-compatible to Dante Brooklyn II), all required functionalities for OEMs to take advantage of this rapidly evolving market.
If you are interested and want more infomation, just contact us.

Features

  • High resolution sample rates up to 384kHz PCM, DXD and DSD256
  • Up to 64 RAVENNA/AES67 streams, 256 audio channels
  • PTPv2 Master or Slave, IEEE-1588-2008 standard
  • Support for industry standard SMPTE 2110
  • Support for ST2022-7 Seamless Protection Switching
  • NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 support
  • AES3 I/O up to 192kHz
  • Channel based audio routing (512 x 512 Matrix)
  • Ultra-low latency on-chip mixing engine (128 inputs x 32 outputs)
  • 28 freely assignable EQ bands
  • On-board ultra-low jitter and ultra-low phase noise clock
  • Fully compatible RAVENNA/AES67 protocols over Gigabit Ethernet
  • Discovery, Configuration and control via WebUI, NMOS, Ravenna, SAP, ANEMAN and JSON API

Benefits

  • Compact Mezzanine board, small form factor 59.6 x 44.5 mm
  • Ultra-low phase noise clock
  • Automatic device network discovery (Bonjour)
  • Built-in ARM processors + abundant FPGA-based DSP in a single chip
  • Compatible with any RAVENNA/AES67 device on network
  • SDK and API for easy integration
  • Use case examples through configuration scripts
  • Simple firmware update via network
  • Optimized compatibility with Merging Technologies products portfolio, including easy I/O connection with Anubis Peering feature

Audio Specifications

  • Sample Rate 44.1kHz/48kHz, 88.2kHz/96kHz, 176.4kHz/192kHz
  • Up to 64 RAVENNA/AES67 streams, 256 audio channels
  • Optional high resolution support for DXD, 384kHz, DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256
  • L16/L24/L32 sample encoding
  • I2S/TDM Audio format
  • Network input audio buffer up to 16k samples
  • Word clock IO for synchronization

Hardware Specifications

  • Single Power supply 3.3V, under 5W
  • Xilinx SoC Zynq based design
  • Dual core ARM Cortex A9 processors, ARMv7-A architecture
  • DDR3 Memory (512 MB)
  • NOR Flash (128 MB)
  • Standardized RGMII interface for Gigabit Ethernet switches or PHY, IEEE Std 802.3
  • Mezzanine connectors (3 x 80 pins)
  • Pin compatible to Dante Brooklyn II (Mini-PCI)

Block Diagram

ZMAN Block Diagram

Interface Specifications

  • 1x I2S in 1x I2S out (Master/Slave) with 8 data lines each
  • 1 x I2C Master
  • 1 x SPI Slave and 1 x SPI Master
  • 1 x RGMII
  • 1 x UART (up to 921’600 bauds)
  • GPIO
  • Differential clock input to support
  • OCXO, Atomic clock or GPS
  • disciplined oscillator

Price-Performance Options

ZMAN 010
  • 64 x 64 I/O@1FS
  • 80 DSP slices (FPGA)
ZMAN 020
  • 256 x 256 I/O@1FS
  • 220 DSP slices (FPGA)

ZMAN + ZOEM

Audio Networking and Processing development kit. The quick-start Platform for initial Evaluation.

Evaluation kit ZOEM for ZMAN

  • Single power supply
  • Easy mezzanine prototyping
  • Fully exposed GPIO and audio I/O
  • On board Gigabit Ethernet switch and PHY
  • Dual Ethernet copper ports & SFP Fiber port
  • 1 stereo AES-EBU input and 1 stereo AES-EBU output
  • Debug console available on standard micro USB port
  • Out of the box DAC-like Web remote UI
ZOEM - Audio Networking and Processing development kit