Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer R8 Technology

The reliable one-box solution to get your content on-air

The Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer™ R8 technology is a flexible and highly reliable professional broadcasting solution for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale).

It combines internal audio encoding, support for external and remote audio encoders, multimedia data management, and multiplex generation. A convenient and user-friendly web interface enables configuration and system monitoring via remote access (ContentServer-as-a-Service concept). 

The Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer is a complete head-end system possessing triple functionality:

• Internal audio encoding and support for remote audio encoders
• Multimedia DataServer for data service management
• DRM Multiplex Generator

Application and target audience

The system is typically located in the studio, in a playout center, at the transmitter site, or within dedicated network provider premises – with full remote control for administration and data provision. Whether a community station, a local or regional broadcaster, or a network provider, the system's functionality perfectly complements your needs.

For receiver manufacturers, the “Developer Edition” achieves close to 100% test coverage for signaling, audio configurations, data services, and multiplexing options. 

Always up to date

Thanks to continuous development, the ContentServer technology provides broadcasters with the latest standard upgrades and improvements.

New features introduced with the Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer R8 include:

• Convenient overview of the current on-air multiplex, including live content previews and source status
• Automatic loudness normalization and limiting
• Input and output of MDI/DCP streams via SRT - Secure Reliable Transport
• A new Journaline encoder and XML documentation developed from ground up for streamlined content management
• Full support for all regional text profiles including Arabic right-to-left and bidirectional scripts as well as Indian, Chinese, Thai and African profiles
• Additional secure contribution interfaces such as SFTP
• Improved support for virtual machine environments

The DRM ContentServer “Developer Edition” supports advanced receiver testing and development with an integrated MDI to IQ file converter (DRM Modulator).

Perfect match

Various versatile interfaces for audio and content provision pave the way for straightforward integration into studio playout systems and complex broadcaster and network provider environments.

The ContentServer “Developer Edition” makes possible a nearly complete feature coverage of the respective digital radio standards and the associated specifications, such as audio encoding and data services.

Keeps you on air - at all times

The ContentServer technology has earned a worldwide reputation for the highest reliability and quality. This is further enhanced by powerful redundancy features – including redundancy groups across distant head-end locations.

Highlight features at a glance

• Convenient, user-friendly web interface for configuration and system monitoring via remote access (ContentServer-as-a-Service concept), with an instant quick-help box for every parameter and direct links to the relevant documentation sections.
• Powerful monitoring system controlling all system functions including content provision.
• Internal audio encoders with AES67-AoIP live audio input (Livewire, Ravenna) and consumer-type streams (Icecast/SHOUTcast), internal soundcards (with optional adaptive resampling, SRC) or file upload, as well as advanced support for remote audio encoders.
• Support for all DRM specified audio codecs and audio configurations, including MPEG xHE-AAC, legacy AAC, and 5.1 surround sound.
• Loudness normalization amplifies or attenuates the incoming audio to obtain and maintain the target loudness level specified in Loudness Units relative to Full Scale (LUFS).
• Backup audio encoding makes the ContentServer switch automatically to a pre-defined backup/standby audio source in the event that the primary audio source fails or signal errors – such as silence – are detected.
• Audio Cross-Redundancy: Deploying a new Smart Silence Detection technology, ensures perfectly valid multiplex outputs from all ContentServers of a redundancy group even if a live audio input source fails.
• Data provision via established protocols such as UECP, FTP/HTTP or XML/JSON RPC API.
• With its natively included, configurable Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) import interface for DRM EWF (Emergency Warning Functionality), the ContentServer automatically creates EWF alarm announcements and EWF program content for DRM transmissions.
• Automatic creation of playlists as Journaline pages: the list of recently played songs is derived from the Text Message DL+ information and accessible to the listener through Journaline.
• Redundancy Group operation allows two or more ContentServers to be connected locally or even works across remote sites while providing a single configuration and data upload interface, as well as time-aligned reconfigurations with frame-synchronous MDI output.