Interval Zero's RTX64. The platform of choice for the next gen cutting edge digital audio systems

[Mivera]

I posted a bit about this in another thread. This technology is so awesome I thought it deserves it's own dedicated thread. Please see video below for details. He explains it better than me:

http://www.intervalzero.com/revolutionizing-real-time-development-with-rtx/

 

[Mivera]

How Merging utilizes this technology in their cutting edge Masscore system:

 

[Mivera]

Another audio application utilizing the technology to build a virtual sound card for the AVB Audio over IP protocol. With a standard $56 Intel 210 NIC, you can turn your Windows based PC into a powerhouse 64 channel I/O AVB capable workstation with up to 24/192 PCM support, and 8 endpoints on 1 network!.


http://www.audioscience.com/internet/products/avb/hono_avb_vsc.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-I210-T1-Network-Adapter-E0X95AA/dp/B00ESFF2JC

Datasheet:

http://www.audioscience.com/internet/products/avb/datasheet_hono_AVB_VSC.pdf

 

[Mivera]

Amir,

Since Interval Zero are the same guys behind Windows Embedded, and the old Windows CE, during your time at Microsoft, did you have any communication with their team?

 

[amirm]

I can't find the name of the principals on their web site so not sure if I know any of them. Their history says they were a separate company all along and not part of Microsoft.

As to their platform, you would need an application that runs on top of their stack. Standard audio workstation software does not.

 

[Mivera]

I can't find the name of the principals on their web site so not sure if I know any of them. Their history says they were a separate company all along and not part of Microsoft.

As to their platform, you would need an application that runs on top of their stack. Standard audio workstation software does not.

Yeah everything must be custom built to work, but once it's all built right, good luck competing with DSP chips and FPGA's.

 

[amirm]

An FPGA can have nanosecond response time to external event. Even with a real-time kernel, you can't achieve such performance. For audio, that is not needed of course.

What this platform provides which FPGAs cannot is ease of programming. If you want to have faster time to market and ease of programming using a CPU core is a very good option.

 

[Mivera]

An FPGA can have nanosecond response time to external event. Even with a real-time kernel, you can't achieve such performance. For audio, that is not needed of course.

What this platform provides which FPGAs cannot is ease of programming. If you want to have faster time to market and ease of programming using a CPU core is a very good option.

Not just ease of programming. Moore's law doubles the performance of Intel CPU's every 18 months. That will never happen with FPGA's or DSP chips. Also cost's savings. It would cost $1000's just for the FPGA silicon alone to outperform the inexpensive Intel skylake I7 quad core processor. And one of the most important factors is, you need to computer in the system regardless, so why not utilize it's capabilities? This system makes FPGA's and DSP's look like a joke for audio server/DSP applications.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Another audio application utilizing the technology to build a virtual sound card for the AVB Audio over IP protocol. With a standard $56 Intel 210 NIC, you can turn your Windows based PC into a powerhouse 64 channel I/O AVB capable workstation with up to 24/192 PCM support, and 8 endpoints on 1 network!.

http://www.audioscience.com/internet/products/avb/hono_avb_vsc.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Intel-I210-T1-Network-Adapter-E0X95AA/dp/B00ESFF2JC

Datasheet:

http://www.audioscience.com/internet/products/avb/datasheet_hono_AVB_VSC.pdf

To add to the list, note that miniDSP has been developing AVB devices for some time and showed an AVB-based 8channel DAC prototype at CES2016.
https://www.minidsp.com/products/network-audio

 

[Mivera]

To add to the list, note that miniDSP has been developing AVB devices for some time and showed an AVB-based 8channel DAC prototype at CES2016.
https://www.minidsp.com/products/network-audio

Yes I'm familiar with their AVB stuff. There's quite a few DAC's out there now that are AVB/Dante compatible.

The Minidsp DAC is quite low end and is only max 24/44.1 PCM capable. But it's still pretty cool.

These crown amps are also AVB compatible:

http://audioxpress.com/article/Crown-DCi-Network-Display-Amplifiers-go-AVB.html

Meridian also uses AVB for all of their network stuff.

 

[amirm]

Not just ease of programming. Moore's law doubles the performance of Intel CPU's every 18 months.

Forgive me for nitpicking , but sadly 2016 is the year that Moore's law is officially dead after 50 years of governing us: http://cacm.acm.org/news/200377-int...s-its-tick-tock-model-of-chip-making/fulltext

"Intel Accepts That Moore’s Law Is Finally Dead, Drops Its ‘Tick-Tock’ Model Of Chip Making

Earlier this year, the science journal Nature wrote that for the first time, in March, the worldwide semiconductor industry’s R&D plans won’t revolve around Moore’s Law. Many experts predicted the same and called 2016 the year when Moore’s Law dies. Well, the time has finally come when the law is going to become a dead to letter to everyone.

Moore’s Law has been wavering for some time and the latest blow came in the form of Intel’s announcement that it’s going to change how it makes computer processors. Thanks to the same law, over the past years, the power of our computing devices has doubled every two years. However, Intel has admitted that it’s finding it hard to continue to shrink transistors and circuits on its upcoming family of processors. Thus, the company is dropping its ‘tick-tock’ manufacturing approach."

 

[Mivera]

Forgive me for nitpicking , but sadly 2016 is the year that Moore's law is officially dead after 50 years of governing us: http://cacm.acm.org/news/200377-int...s-its-tick-tock-model-of-chip-making/fulltext

"Intel Accepts That Moore’s Law Is Finally Dead, Drops Its ‘Tick-Tock’ Model Of Chip Making

Earlier this year, the science journal Nature wrote that for the first time, in March, the worldwide semiconductor industry’s R&D plans won’t revolve around Moore’s Law. Many experts predicted the same and called 2016 the year when Moore’s Law dies. Well, the time has finally come when the law is going to become a dead to letter to everyone.

Moore’s Law has been wavering for some time and the latest blow came in the form of Intel’s announcement that it’s going to change how it makes computer processors. Thanks to the same law, over the past years, the power of our computing devices has doubled every two years. However, Intel has admitted that it’s finding it hard to continue to shrink transistors and circuits on its upcoming family of processors. Thus, the company is dropping its ‘tick-tock’ manufacturing approach."

Well I'm sure that they will still advance faster than FPGA's and DSP chips. Regardless, you need a PC in the chain anyways on top of the DSP or FPGA with most modern audio setups. However, if anyone can show me a more cost effective, and higher performance system, with greater ease of programming and upgradability, my mind is wide open