Digigram Hitplayer

The ideal solution for providing and controlling audio at remote locations

HitPlayer combines two stand-alone audio players with IP network services into a superior solution for both automated and interactive audio applications. Whether the program material is streamed, played from local storage, or a combination of both, HitPlayer is an innovative choice for background music, public address, entertainment sound, interactive audio systems, and transportation information.

The Hitplayer, the first catalog product in Digigram's professional IP audio range, was formerly developed and marketed by Aztec Radiomedia as the "Hitplayer-L". It is now sold by Digigram, which has taken over all networked audio activities of Aztec Radiomedia, as a result of the recent reorganization of the Digigram group.

Applications:

• Background music in shops, restaurants, and other public places.
  
• Informational and directory systems in transportation facilities and museums.
  
• Commercial and jingle insertion for over-the-air and web broadcast.
  
• Backup program source for broadcast radio.
  
• Audio for amusement parks and tourist facilities.
  
• Announcement and entertainment systems in trains, buses, and other vehicles.
  
• Corporate and institutional radio.

HitPlayer-L is unlike any other audio player.

• An internal hard disk stores weeks of audio content. Industry standard, digital audio file formats, such as mp3 and MPEG Layer II, are used to maximize quality and the number of files that can be stored.
  
• Audio selections are played based on programmed playlists, a playback scheduler, and/or network commands. Playlists can be updated by automatic or on-demand synchronization with remote FTP servers.
  
• HitPlayer-L can act as either a server or agent for reliable UDP/IP unicast or multicast. Multiple high-quality audio channels can be managed from a single point-of-control.
  
• Two independent stereo players with individual outputs. These may be combined into a single output with mixing and crossfades.
  
• Network control of HitPlayer-L and interaction with other equipment is accomplished using Aztec Radiomedia's IP2 operating system. IP2 connects HitPlayer-L to intranets, extranets, or the Internet for TCP/IP control and updating. It embeds standards-based interfaces, enabling developers to build a variety of remote management scenarios that:
  
  • Determine status and send commands using TCP, UDP, Telnet, SNMP, HTTP, and standard web browsers.
  • Program automatically generated events and alarm notifications via e-mail, HTTP requests, and SNMP traps.
  • Update digital audio files and system firmware using FTP.
    
• Connection to network is provided by 10BaseT Ethernet or an external modem that supports PPP.
  
• Two RS-232 serial ports for device management.
  
• HitPlayer-L is designed for rapid implementation. Both stand-alone and large scale integration are possible.
  
• Flexible operation is provided by two different configurations:
  
  • Rack-mounted HitPlayer-L
    
  • SPX420 OEM board for easy integration into custom hardware configurations.

Local audio storage

HitPlayer-L uses standard, economical FAT32 formatted IDE hard drives. These are capable of providing weeks of non-repeating audio programming. The hard drives may be quickly installed or removed (three screws and two connectors) and may be placed into a PC to preload content.

Audio networking, standard networks

Digigram's audio networking technology provides reliable, multichannel digital audio broadcasting over standard networks. Using UDP/IP, streams can be sent to a single, distant site (point-to-point) or numerous (point-to-multipoint) destinations.

The widespread availability of network bandwidth makes this an efficient and high-quality choice for closed audio networks. A HitPlayer-L can function as either a server or an agent. Multiple audio channels may be transmitted on the network by HitPlayer-L servers and assigned to agents. Audio channel priority can be established so that an announcement made over the assigned priority channel mutes ongoing programming.

Many devices can become audio networking agents using the SPX420 OEM board. For example, the SPX420 may be used to create a network of powered speakers.

Program management Using Playlists

Automatic playback is accomplished using the playlist function. HitPlayer-L has two, independent players, each managed by its own playlist. The playlists can be configured to link to a single audio output with mixing and crossfading capabilities. The HitPlayer-L's playlist function offers the following:

• Popular software such as Powergold or Winamp may be used to create playlists.
  
• Playlist files are stored using .pls and .m3u formats, enabling each song or jingle to be programmed using complex conditional rules based on:
  
  • Time of day
    
  • Specific start or stop time
    
  • Frequency of playback, including maximum number of plays within an authorized time window
    
• Continuous play can be started by an external trigger or programmed date/time parameters.
  
• Playlists can be sequenced.
  
• A powerful scheduler, using simple text files, adds the flexibility to add time- and date-dependent announcements and jingles.
  

The HitPlayer-L maintains a detailed history of all files played and significant system events. This is useful in providing proof-of-play when selling advertisements. The log file can be retrieved in multiple ways: local terminal, FTP, web browser or TCP. Log file size is user programmable.

Audio Interface

HitPlayer-L comes standard with two independent, line-level stereo outputs. These are provided on phono (RCA) connectors. A balanced, XLR output connection is optional. Balanced line level audio inputs are also available as an option for local recording and to feed a HitPlayer serving as a streaming server.

TCP/IP network connectivity and services

HitPlayer-L, as an audio object on the network, is remote controlled using popular browsers, Telnet consoles, TCP and UDP connections, and SNMP managers.

Standard TCP/IP management enables quick building, with simple network strategies and minimum expense, huge extranet networks for background music applications. Content providers are able to personalize each BGM location thanks to the management flexibility provided by the HitPlayer-L.

An Ethernet interface is provided to connect locally or globally via any TCP/IP network such as the Internet. HitPlayer-L does not require a dedicated network and it has a DHCP client to obtain an IP address and network parameters from a server.

Via easy-to-use Internet standard FTP, HitPlayer-L can be programmed to update its digital audio data files and playlist content automatically, at specific intervals, by synchronizing with a local or remote FTP server. This powerful feature allows hundreds of HitPlayer-Ls to automatically connect, fetch, and update their music content, time/date dependent schedules, and playlists according to a convenient schedule. Updating is also possible by satellite and other means using the asynchronous RS-232 interface

Management options include:

• Web browser: HitPlayer-L has an integrated Web server that allows it to be configured in a user-friendly and intuitive manner. It can be customized with standard Web editing tools that can include buttons, images, Java applets, ActiveX controls and files of any type.
  
• Telnet and TCP: Using a regular TCP connection, or UDP broadcast features, you can remotely control one or several HitPlayer-Ls from an external application.
  
• SNMP agent: HitPlayer-L can be administrated using SNMP protocol.
  
• HitPlayer-L also offers the ability to send e-mails, SNMP traps, and HTTP database requests over the network. Any event detected by HitPlayer-L can trigger these messages.
  
• IP2 operating system and SDK is embedded in the HitPlayer-L to enable developers to build automation applications and complex systems. A Telnet÷RS-232 gateway is provided by the IP2 operating system.