The Net-Log has been specifically designed for long-term recording and archiving through the use of dedicated hardware recording platform with a simple network connection for audio playback. The playback software on a network-connected PC streams the audio to the desktop where it can be played or saved as a file.

The Sonifex Net-Log is a 4-channel audio recorder that can record weeks of programming on a large internal hard drive. The unit has been designed as dedicated hardware for reliability reasons, i.e. there is no PC motherboard in this machine. Although PC-based systems are excellent for playback, they are generally not robust enough for continuous 24/7/365 recording. Net-Log has been designed from the ground up to offer:

- High reliability for continuous operation.
- High audio quality (mpeg compression).
- Compatibility with existing and Windows-based broadcast systems (bwf files can be saved).
- Automatic operation with very user-friendly software.

All audio created by Net-Log is compatible with Windows Media Player™, so files can be emailed to colleagues and clients and played on any PC equipped with an audio system.

There are many applications for Net-Log, from radio stations recording their broadcasts for regulatory purposes, to small call centres, law firms and security companies using them for monitoring. Net-Logs have been installed in courtrooms and police interrogation rooms for audio monitoring.


Radio Broadcast Recording

When recording is required by authorities, Net-Log provides a perfect, easy-to-use and elegant solution, allowing playback of requested recordings within seconds. But even if recording isn't regulatory, Net-Log can still stream audio to anyone's desktop in a radio station – no need to go to the rack room or central technical area to play back a previously made recording. It therefore presents the following advantages:

- From their office, the sales team can verify that advertising was broadcast on time and can create audio files to email to clients.
- Programme controllers can monitor their presenters, check their performance and ensure programmed music was broadcast.
- Station managers can monitor their competition and compare it with their own station's sound.
- The production team has much easier access to recorded audio from past radio shows for preparing future jingles and trailers.

Net-Log records in mpeg layer 2, the standard for broadcasting, so you can be sure that audio files created with Net-Log are compatible with almost all available mpeg-based automation systems. File downloads can be made in mp2, mp3 or linear .wav format, and broadcast wave format (bwf) files are supported as standard, ensuring close integration with your broadcast systems.


Key Features of Net-Log

- Dedicated and reliable multi-channel recording hardware.
- Easy-to-use Windows™ remote operation for playback, archiving, streaming and configuration.
- Independently configurable channel pairs to record at different sample rates, different bit rates and in mono or stereo.
- Configure channel recording duration according to your needs, e.g. 2 channels of low quality recording for 12 months with two channels of high quality recording for 1 month, on a single machine.
- Recording inputs can be remotely controlled, e.g. covert recording from the mic-live output of a mixing console.
- Automated voice recording - each channel can automatically start and stop recording by setting audio threshold levels, meaning it can be used for voice-controlled systems and telephone recording.
- Up to 250,000 recordings per channel can be made.
- Each Net-Log has its own IP address, so multiple machines can be installed on the same network.
- Alarm indicators and fail-safe remote controls.
- Password protection and system security access rights.
- Support for hard drives up to 2048 GB.
- Recordings can be made using the optional G.729 algorithm, allowing longer recordings and lower network traffic. G.729 audio quality is comparable to MPEG L2 at 32kbits/sec when recording/playing speech.
- Recording on Net-Log can be serially controlled by Crestron and Televic meeting room controllers.


Hardware Description

Net-Log is a 1U rack unit that has 4 mono recording inputs on 3-pin XLR connectors with potentiometer gain controls and LED level indicators for each input. These accept 2 stereo or 4 mono audio streams which are encoded in mpeg layer 2 format and written to a large internal IDE hard drive. The disk size is continuously increased as technology improves and Net-Log can support sizes up to 2048 GB. Contact [email protected] for currently installed disk sizes.

Net-Log has 2 serial ports on 9-pin D-sub connectors which are used to program the machine's IP address and to download new software. Additionally, there is a 15-pin D-sub connector used for remote recording control of inputs and for alarm outputs (hard drive failure and archiving warning).

A 10Mbps RJ45 network port is used to connect Net-Log to your PC network and audio is streamed using TCP/IP. Audio can be streamed simultaneously to one or multiple PCs, while simultaneously archiving audio data to an IP server automatically in the background. All Net-Log configurations and operational features are controlled from a connected PC using Net-Log-Win software.