VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Gregory Best · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks Frank! I'll probably wait a bit longer and see what improvements are made.
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georgethetech · Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 11:59 pm Post subject:

In addition to F2's notes, here's mine lifted right off the Gear FAQ:
Q: Should I get AudioTX or Source Connect?

A: Hooooboy, this is a dusie!
ERS has clients who use Source Connect or AudioTX Communicator, and some even have both. Coming from someone who supports both technologies and designed outofhear.com's bridging system which handles both systems, in my experience, here is the bottom line:

1- AudioTX needs less bandwidth when using an IP connection to achieve a similar level of sound quality as Source Connect

2- AudioTX can be used with an ISDN modem and NT1 adaptor as well as in Internet connection. Source Connect is IP only.

3- AudioTX requires that at least one user has a Static IP address so that the other user will know what address to connect to and can save it as a preset. Otherwise the IP address will be different each time, a major inconvenience. Source Connect manages your contacts on their serve so either of you can use any IP address without issue.

4- AudioTX requires the user who receives the connection (usually the studio) to know how to setup Port Forwarding and possibly a dyndns.org account, should they have a dynamic IP address.

5- AudioTX will likely NEVER run on a Mac without running Windows in Bootcamp. SC runs on Mac or PC, Pro Tools or many VST compliant applications.

6- AudioTX has no way to "Patch In" to another software the way Source Connect can. EG: If your audio chain relies on an EQ, compressor setting, or the like in Pro Tools, Source Connect will receive your audio signal post processing so your client hears your voice tweaked the way you like it. AudioTX is STRICTLY a stand alone product and has no way to "ReWire" into another application.

7- AudioTX requires the use of a proprietary USB dongle, which if lost or damaged voids the use of your software. When purchased you must wait for it to arrive from the UK and pay a considerable shipping fee (around $75) to cover the insurance at $1000 or so. SC uses an iLok, for which you can use their "Zero Downtime" service to keep a spare iLok USB key on hand should you lose the licensed iLok.

8- Source Connect costs only $395 for the standard version, which is adequate for most home studio users. Just get an iLok, purchase the license, and you are good to go. If you buy it from ERS you'll receive free over the phone setup assistance, which is not available from Source Elements or AudioTX.

9- Source Connect support is Europe AND US based, while AudioTX is only in the UK and generally harder to reach.

Outofhear.com can bridge AudioTX to Source Connect, as well as ISDN L2 Mono 128 and APT-X, and they are affordable in comparison to the other services out there.
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Gregory Best · Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks George. SC may be the best alternative for me for now. I'll keep it in mind. It is nice we have such tech. Savy folks on vo-bb as you and Frank.
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verbcrunch · Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:45 am Post subject: audio quality

I've never used Audio TX so I can't comment, but i WILL share this observation...

I've always used looping as a quick way to determine the integrity of a signal chain. Feed the same thing back through the chain over and over, and flaws in the chain become apparent after a few passes.

With and ISDN to ISDN - a loop deteriorates within 10 passes or so. The grainy digital quanitzation and noise renders the audio unrecognizable. This is at a L2 Mono 128 64/48 setting.

With Source Connect (at "high quality") - the loop remains intact after over a hundred passes.

If you're happy with the quality of ISDN, you should be ecstatic with SC, and probably Audio TX.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

verbcrunch · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

I can NOT get ISDN where i'm at in Melrose, Massachusetts. I offered Verizon $10,000 to do the install, they still won't do it. I paid Dave Immer at DigiFon to negotiate, and had the Kiss 108 Chief Engineer deploy his resources - Verizon apparently would have to rip up roads to get an ISDN line here and steadfastly refuse. For a couple of years, I was renting space in ISDN friendly areas, but ended up not really doing any work there, it was a waste of money. This past Dec I bailed on the 3rd studio and now just use Source Connect.

I just did a phone patch with new client, a TV station, who asked nervously "are you ISDN only"? She explained she had one "old school" commercial producer who still insisted on using ISDN, but she was trying to get everyone to stop using it. (this conversation literally 10 minutes ago!) I think this is the way the wind is blowing. I've stopped trying to jump through hoops to get ISDN here, when all of my clients are dropping use of ISDN anyway. They are quite happy downloading, using FTP.

So I use Source Connect to bridge with an ISDN studio, and say I have ISDN. I include ISDN phone numbers in my signature. I sure don't want to lose any work because i don't really have ISDN, so i make the appearance, and can deliver if someone calls me on it.

BTW, bridging with DigiFon is typically around $100. OutOfHear might be less. If you do less than one ISDN session a month (like i do), it might be more cost effective to use a bridging service instead of having your own line. I still pay $80 a month to keep my one remaining ISDN connection active, only because I don't know if I could ever get it installed again.
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Frank F · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

Rellis, I feel your pain.

After eleven months of having the Telco threaten me with disconnect within four days of my paying the bill in full, I just canceled my ISDN lines. I use AudioTX and can bridge with the IP side to ISDN when necessary.

Last year 22 client stations used ISDN exclusively, this year two. Those final two stations have agreed to use my secure .ftp site and phone patch through Skype. The other stations asked me early-on if I would be OK with doing a phone patch session and sending a file via email or .ftp - I believe you know my answer.

Do the "so-called" agents who require ISDN or clients who need ISDN need to know you do not have ISDN installed at your private studio? And will it matter? Only you and the producers can answer that question.

The winds of change are blowing hard.

Funny, I think I wrote about the demise of ISDN as a viable tool some time last year... but then again, I may be mistaken. Or not.

Toodles

F2
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georgethetech · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

As long as the studios in Hollywood that rely on ISDN refuse to learn "new tricks" , or Ma Bell pulls the plug (Russian roulette) it will remain a standard in the Promo world. Anyone remember when Western Union sent their last telegram? I suppose when TelCos decide ISDN loses more than it makes, say goodbye to ISDN.
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

ISDN has done very well in Germany and much of Western Europe...but when the number of US users per 1000 is less than half that of Spain's users it doesn't seem to have much of a future.
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:59 am Post subject:

I've had Source Connect for a couple of years and have had a few sessions with it (not that many, but some) and everything worked great.

I have now decided to jump into the ever shrinking U.S. ISDN pool, but it is a decision that I have made because I'm getting a great deal on a Zephyr AND the technology is still available here where I am.

We'll see, but I know that there are some studios that I want to work with that won't even look at you (RIGHT NOW, yes this may change) unless you have ISDN and I'd like to work with more studios in Europe where it's still in heavy use.

For me it's worth it right now....in 5 years, who knows, but if I can get 5 years out of it, that works for me.
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
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