Overview
Wheatstone IP88-5M, Blade 5 Microphone Processor
Blade 5 is Wheatstone’s fifth-generation I/O and Mix Engine architecture for the WheatNet IP audio network, engineered to take broadcast reliability and redundancy to the next level.
Designed for studios where staying on air is non-negotiable, Blade 5 introduces advanced failure recovery at both the network and mix-engine level. Mirrored Blade 5 Mix Engines remain synchronized through a high-frequency heartbeat for instantaneous failover, while I/O Blade 5 hitless path redundancy keeps audio moving across dual network paths without packet loss, downtime or operator intervention.
Blade 5 also brings together the routing, control and audio tools expected from WheatNet IP—including audio processing, utility mixers, OPUS codecs, AES67 compliance, onboard metering, routing and logic intelligence, dual Ethernet ports, redundant power capability and two onboard clip players—all within a compact 1RU architecture.
Add Blade 5 I/O units to an existing WheatNet IP audio network, use a Blade 5 Mix Engine to power an Arcus, Strata, Tekton, LXE or GSX console, or build an entirely new WheatNet IP facility around fifth-generation reliability and redundancy.
Features
Mirrored Blade 5 Mix Engines: Primary and backup Blade 5 Mix Engines operate as synchronized mirrors, communicating through a high-frequency heartbeat. If the primary engine experiences a failure, the mirrored engine takes over instantaneously. No more dead air while a hot-standby launches and switches over in an emergency!
I/O Blade 5 Hitless Path Redundancy: Blade 5 provides redundant network paths through dual Ethernet connections with audio traveling over both paths simultaneously. If a network switch, cable or path goes down, audio continues over the remaining path without interruption.
I/O Blade 5 Hitless Path Redundancy: Blade 5 provides redundant network paths through dual Ethernet connections with audio traveling over both paths simultaneously. If a network switch, cable or path goes down, audio continues over the remaining path without interruption.
Blade 5 includes:
- Redundant power supply capability
- Dual Ethernet ports
- Hitless path redundancy
- Two onboard audio clip players
- Audio processing
- OPUS codecs
- Utility mixers
- AES67 compliance
- Onboard metering
- Routing intelligence
- Logic and control
- WheatNet IP network integration
Specifications / Documents
- 8 female XLR jacks for microphone-level signals (-50dBu nominal)
- 8 low noise mic preamps with 70 dB of digital gain control with phantom power on/off on each mic input
- 8 mono analog line-level outputs, on four RJ45 jacks
- 12 GPIO ports on two RJ45 jacks
- AES67 compliant, SMPTE ST 2110 supported
