Prism audio analyser checks equipment faults

The Hertfordshire-based company, which is part of the Vislink Group, specialises in encoder/modulators and SD and HD wireless camera systems for broadcast technology.

These systems are used by major broadcasters throughout the world and are in constant use in the day-to-day gathering of news stories and sports events.

Service department manager, Barry Smith, says two factors were instrumental in his department's decision to invest in a Prism Sound Dscope Series III.

First, the unit was already being used by Link Research's research and development department.

Therefore having the same audio test solution provided a constant platform for sharing test files and results between the two departments.

Second, Dscope Series III is also the audio test solution used by Briton EMS, a Bedfordshire-based company that is contracted to build and test Link Research's L1500 SD/HD wireless camera system.

'With recommendations from two entirely different sources, it made sense for us to look at Dscope and see whether it was suitable for our purposes,' said Smith.

'In the past we have used other manufacturer's equipment, but the results we were achieving were too variable and therefore not accurate enough for our purposes.

'With Prism Sound's Dscope Series III we can share test profiles and achieve repeatable test results, as well as confirm results with our subcontractors.

'It is generally used to confirm faults with audio but we do occasionally use it to provide detailed specs should our customers request them,' he added.

The Dscope Series III offers analogue and digital audio signal generation and analysis, plus support for digital audio carrier testing, quasi-anechoic microphone/loudspeaker analysis and testing of Windows sound devices.

Users can also define their own analysis filters or measurement algorithms.

Dscope Series III can be automated using its built-in VBScript interpreter, enabling the creation of custom test routines and pass/fail limit checking.

Test automation can also be accomplished with Dscope's COM interface, when using external automation software.

This makes Dscope Series III suitable for production line testing applications, where testing of many different types of functionality in different domains (analogue, digital, electronic, acoustic) can all be accomplished using this single unit.

The Dscope Series III system comprises a Windows PC (XP and Vista compatible) software application coupled with an external high-precision audio I/O processor for equipment-under-test (EUT) connection.