ATC Labs Perceptual Soundmax Q24-6888HD, FM plus 5 HD Channel Processor

ATC Labs Perceptual Soundmax Q24-6888HD, FM plus 5 HD Channel Processor

Eight Services: FM, five HD Radio services, streaming and digital MPX. Everything a station sends out, from one 2U processor: the analog FM air chain, the full HD Radio multicast from HD1 to HD5, a StreamMax™ stream for every HD service, and the FM composite as a digital MPX signal. Each HD service gets a Signature SoundMax Sound of its own.

Perceptual SoundMax™ Q24-6888HD series is a top-of-the-line AI-driven audio processor designed for FM, AM, and highest functionality Digital/HD Radio broadcasts, as well as streaming simulcasts. Built on a sophisticated high-resolution 24-band dynamics processing engine, it leverages advanced psychoacoustic modelling, multiple deep-network ML algorithms, and accurate harmonic analysis to deliver a signature sound that is loud, punchy, and consistently balanced—all while minimizing listener fatigue.

• Enhanced consistent loudness: 24-band processing packs far more audio density than 5- or 6-band processors — higher average modulation and wider coverage.
• Crisp & clear sound: Free of phase distortion and never over-processed: clarity, loudness and presence together.
• Embedded deep audio AI: Patent-pending real-time multi-class classification — noise, speech, music, genre — adapts the processing.
• Dynamic Listening Fatigue: Reduction Unique to SoundMax, conditions the audio envelope in six bands to minimize listener fatigue.
• Intelligent Loudness Control: Steady, filling and consistent loudness, held at your target on every program.

In Depth

SoundMaxManager™: One PC controls every SoundMax on the network and the front panel does the same on the unit itself.

Finds SoundMax units on the network automatically; SNMP compliant

Profiles, Basic and Advanced tuning — export and import between units

Streaming set-up, stream input and AES67 in and out

RDS encoder: the full RDS data set and the automation feed

Monitoring, with firmware updates and configuration backup over the network

Inputs / Outputs

• Program paths
  • Services: 5 — MAIN/HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4 and HD5 (HD Radio), or DRM services A, B and C; each with its own processing profile
  • Streaming Path: The MAIN/HD1 stream on a processing path of its own
  • Diversity Delay: Up to 12 s on MAIN with respect to HD1, accurate to ±2 samples, trim ±10 samples; CALIBRATE NOW measures and sets it
  • HD1 Output: AES/EBU, XLR male, −20 to 0 dBFS, sample rate follows the main digital output
  • HD2 – HD5 Inputs: AES/EBU, XLR female, 110 Ω, 44.1 or 48 kHz auto-sense, 16 or 24 bit
  • HD2 – HD5 Outputs: AES/EBU, XLR male, −20 to 0 dBFS, sample rate follows the matching input
• Digital Audio - Main
  • AES/EBU Input: 32, 44.1 or 48 kHz auto-sense, 16 or 24 bit, −25 to 0 dBFS, XLR female, 110 Ω
  • AES/EBU Output: 44.1 or 48 kHz, −20 to 0 dBFS, ±0.3 dB 5 Hz – 20 kHz, 50 µs or 75 µs pre-emphasis
  • Digital Composite: 192 kHz over AES, on the dedicated MPX OUT connector
  • Audio over IP: AES67 in and out on the AOIP port — L16 or L24, 44.1 or 48 kHz, stereo or mono, output packet time 0.125 to 4 ms, PTPv2
  • Network Stream Input: The main path can take an HTTP or UDP stream (AAC-ADTS/TS, MP3-TS or HLS) as its source, set in SoundMaxManager™
  • Failsafe: Automatic switching from the primary input to a secondary one
• FM Composite
  • Outputs: 2 × BNC, ITU-R BS 412 compliant — OUT1 composite or MPX; OUT2 composite, MPX or 19 kHz pilot. Individual level, −12 to +12 dBu (+12 dBu max), 24-bit conversion
  • Inputs: 2 × BNC — SCA or an external 19 kHz pilot on IN1; an external RDS/RBDS encoder on IN2
  • RDS Encoder: Built in — PS (static or dynamic) and RadioText (static, or "now playing" from automation, appended or overwritten), fed over TCP or UDP as client or server. Or an external RDS/RBDS encoder on IN2
  • Nielsen™ Watermarking: In the box — CBET encoding with the station SID and check digits, time-code insertion, radio mode, prior-watermark overwrite and EAS handling
  • Signal to Noise: ≥ 90 dB, 20 Hz – 15 kHz
  • Distortion THD: ≤ 0.02 %, 20 Hz – 15 kHz
  • Stereo Separation: ≥ 60 dB, 20 Hz – 15 kHz
  • 38 kHz Suppression: ≥ 90 dB
  • Pilot: 19 kHz ±1 Hz, level adjustable 6 – 12 %, protection 65 dB relative to 9 % injection, ±500 Hz
  • RDS Protection: > 60 dB relative to 4 % injection, ±2 kHz
  • Pre-emphasis: 50 µs or 75 µs, software selectable
• Streaming
  • Streams: 5 — MAIN/HD1, HD2, HD3, HD4 and HD5, each encoded independently
  • Encoders: AAC-LC, HE-AAC v1, HE-AAC v2, MP3
  • Bitrates: 24–384 kbps AAC, 32–320 kbps MP3
  • Encapsulation: ADTS or MPEG-2 TS for AAC; MP3 or MPEG-2 TS for MP3
  • HLS: Up to 2 bitrates for adaptive HLS, chunks 3–10 s
  • Delivery: CDN primary/secondary push over HTTP or HTTPS, including Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage (AWS SigV4); Icecast — your own server or ATC Labs' servers in Asia and North America; built-in HTTP server; UDP unicast/multicast
  • Players: Android and iOS native players, VLC, and every browser with HLS, AAC or MP3 support — Edge, Chrome, Safari, Firefox
• Control
  • SoundMaxManager™: Over the CONTROL/STREAM port from any networked PC, which finds every processor automatically; SNMP compliant
  • Front Panel: Color touchscreen and rotary knob, headphone jack with level control; built-in test tones, sweeps and pink noise, and diagnostics
  • GPIO (optional): 8 inputs and 2 outputs, opto-isolated and floating, on DB-25 — user-programmable for factory preset, user preset, bypass, test tone, input and stereo or mono
• Physical
  • Chassis: 2U, 19-inch rack, 483 × 88 × 430 mm
  • Installation: Allow 1U of free space above and below, and 10 cm of clearance at the rear, for airflow
  • Weight: 5.5 kg
  • Power: 105–260 V AC, 45–60 Hz, IEC detachable cord
  • Environment: 0 – 50 °C, up to 95 % non-condensing, 3000 m ASL
  • Compliance: ETL listed to UL standards, CE marked
  • In the box: The processor, power cord, rack-mounting kit, Ethernet cable, SoundMaxManager™ software, operation manual, warranty certificate and a test report