CALLISTO Modular DSP Audio System
March 3, 1999After having introduced 24-bit/96KHz technology into PC based audio processing,
SEK'D now pioneers a new concept of digital audio workstations. SEK'D is ready
to launch CALLISTO, a system which offers you the latest technology and modular
design at an affordable price.
CALLISTO is extraordinarily versatile, since various I/O modules can be combined
in many ways. The software provided for operation emulates the functionality
of a tape recorder and a mixer which can be freely configured. And everything
is processed in realtime. External effects can be directly inserted. Due to
an efficient DSP architecture there is no latency at all. CALLISTO's strictly
modular design enables all kinds of software and hardware expansions.
CALLISTO
- the system
CALLISTO basically consists of a PCI board equipped with two state-of-the-art
DSPs and two high speed interfaces, which can be connected to various 19"
I/O units.
The interconnection of the different modules is especially sophisticated, since
powerful 100 MHz network technology has been used for audio data transmission.
This technology makes it possible to transfer huge datasets and to connect I/O
modules over long distances.
At the beginning the product line will consist of four external studio-quality
19" devices:
CALLISTO CM 28 - the combi module
This multi-purpose device contains 10 analog I/Os equipped with 24-bit/96KHz
converters, one digital AES/EBU or S/PDIF interface (24-bit/96KHz) and two ADAT(TM)
ports. One multi-purpose control I/O can, for example, be used as a dual MIDI
In/Out or for ADAT(TM) sync or for connecting a MIDI extender module. The wordclock-IN
port can be used to integrate CALLISTO CM 28 into a master sync setup in a studio
environment.
With the CALLISTO CM 28 combi module up to 20 different input and output channels
can be used simultaneously - analog and/or digital, the choice is up to you.
CALLISTO CM 28
- 10 x Analog 24-Bit/96-kHz (1/4" TRS, Input 9/10 also on front panel)
- 1 x Stereo Digital 24-Bit/96-kHz (AES/EBU or S/PDIF, optical and electrical)
- 2 x 8-Channel ADAT
- 2 x MIDI I/O or ADAT Control/Remote
- Wordclock-In
- Headphone Out
CALLISTO AM 16 - the analog module
This module is designed as an AD/DA expansion and offers 16 analog inputs and
outputs (24bit/96KHz). The AM 16 also provides a control I/O and wordclock IN.
CALLISTO AM 16
- 16 x Analog 24-Bit/96-kHz (1/4" TRS, Input 15146 also on front panel)
- 2 x MIDI I/O or ADAT Control/Remote
- Wordclock-In
- Headphone Out
CALLISTO DM 32 - the digital module
This device has been especially designed for the transmission of digital data
streams. It is very well suited for interfacing digital effect processors and
mixers or for integrating digital multitrack recorders (e.g. Alesis ADAT(TM)
or Tascam DA88(TM).
The CALLISTO DM 32 is equipped with 4 electrical and 4 optical AES/EBU or S/PDF
stereo I/Os (24-bit/96KHz), 2 x ADAT(TM) and 1 x TDIF(TM) In/Out. The DM 32
also provides a control I/O and wordclock IN.
CALLISTO DM 32
- 4 x Stereo Digital 24-BiV96-kHz (AES/EBU or S/PDIF, optical and electrical)
- 2 x 8-Channel ADAT
- 1 x 8-Channel TDIF
- 2 x MIDI I/O or ADAT Control/Remote
- Wordclock-In
CALLISTO MX 08 - the MIDI extender module
The MIDI extender module has been designed for controlling external MIDI devices.
It provides 8 MIDI I/Os and can be connected via control I/O to the combi module
or analog/ digital module.
CALLISTO MX 08
CALLISTO - high resolution audio
Being one of the pioneers in the realm of high resolution audio processing,
we paid special attention to CALLISTO's audio quality. The uncompromising deployment
of state-of-the-art AD/DA converters ensures brilliant sound fidelity and extremely
high dynamics. Thanks to modern 96KHz technology CALLISTO can also be used for
DVD productions.
The 32-Bit-Float-Format is used consistently for internal audio processing.
This technology ensures highest audio quality and facilitates very sophisticated
audio processing without any sound degradation. Internal distortion is almost
impossible.
CALLISTO - DSP technology
During operation CALLISTO uses very little resources. The CALLISTO CARD and
the external I/O units are equipped with fast DSPs, which can do all the computing
by themselves without the support of the host computer.
Of course, several CALLISTO CARDs can be installed into a PC. This not only
increases the number of I/O units which can be connected but the DSP performance
as well which is available to the system as a whole. And you don't have to worry
about which task is carried out by which DSP. This problem is solved by the
resource optimizer, which takes care of the best possible assignment of tasks
in a transparent way. Even the DSPs of the I/O units are automatically integrated
into the system to expand the general computing power of CALLISTO. This means
that the system can be expanded as your requirements grow.
CALLISTO - the mixer
When designing the mixer's user interface we tried to emulate conventional
studio and mixer technology as closely as possible. This will help you to find
your way around the CALLISTO software immediately and to quickly get acquainted
with the system.
The number of channels, their structure and combination can be freely configured.
In addition the CALLISTO software offers an extensive project management, which
allows different setups of I/O assignments as well as the tracks used and the
mixer structure to be freely defined, stored and recalled at any time.
The mixer provides many features of conventional mixing consoles like compressor,
limiter, expander, gate, subsonic, de-esser, equalizer, aux send, pan, volume,
group and master switches, mute, PFL or solo in place, VCA groups etc. The gain
of the modules' analog inputs can also be conveniently remote-controlled using
the CALLISTO mixer.
High resolution VU meters exactly show the current levels. Since I/Os or tracks
can be freely assigned to channels, a clear layout of the mixer is always guaranteed.
All of the 'tape recorder functions" can be easily controlled using the
transport bar.
CALLISTO - an open system
The CALLISTO audio workstation can, of course, work together with other hard
disk recording software. Provided that the required drivers are installed, CALLISTO
can communicate with computer programs like Cubase VST, Logic Audio, CoolEdit
and Samplitude.
In addition to the multimedia drivers required by Windows itself ASIO, Direct
Sound, Windows NT(TM) and future standards like AudioX are supported as well.
An open architecture facilitates the integration of Pluglns. Important manufacturers
have agreed to support CALLISTO or are already working at different expansions.
CALLISTO - perfect combinations
It only takes a CALLISTO CARD and a CALLISTO CM 28 combi module to open up
fascinating possibilities: 28 (twenty-eight!) inputs and outputs can be connected,
20 inputs and outputs can be used simultaneously. They can be combined with
a freely configurable mixer and several recording channels - 32 channels and
more are possible, depending on the hard disk performance. These are the features
of the minimal configuration.
And one more goody: Since the CALLISTO CARD provides a second high speed interface,
you can expand the system at any time using the same or a different module.
What about an additional analog module equipped with 16 I/Os, for example. This
would expand the system to 26 analog, 2 digital, 2 ADAT and 4 MIDI I/O channels.
And if this is still not enough, simply install another card into your computer
and connect additional modules - all you have to keep in mind are your requirements
and your budget.
The chain of devices could be continued forever. Create combinations yourself.
The number of CALLISTO CARDs that can be installed is only limited by the capacity
of PC. For more information, visit Sek'D at http://www.sekd.com/ | 
