Frontier Debuts Dakota and Montana
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| The Dakota |
January 28, 1999Frontier Design Group releases Dakota(TM), a superintegrated PCI soundcard
that provides a complete solution for digital audio, MIDI, and synchronization.
No other soundcard offers this level of integration, providing computer connections
to audio converters (such as Tango(TM) from Frontier Design Group), digital
mixers, tape machines, and Zulu synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, video decks,
sound modules, and more. Dakota supports industry standards, including ADAT
lightpipe, S/PDIF, SMPTE, MIDI, and ADAT Sync, and is compatible with today's
most popular sequencing and audio editing software.
Dakota has two pairs of ADAT optical ports for 16 audio inputs and 16 audio
outputs. Dakota has S/F`DIF digital audio 1/0 on RCA jacks via a breakout cable
that also includes an ADAT 9-pin sync input connector. Dakota also has two MIDI
inputs and two MIDI outputs on standard DIN-5 connectors, and an internal CD-ROM
digital audio cable for direct transfers of audio CDs.
Frontier Design Group is also releasing Montana(TM), an inexpensive
expansion card that doubles Dakota's optical I/O to make an impressive 32-in/32-out
system. Like Dakota, Montana has two pairs of ADAT optical ports, providing
16 input and output channels, all with 24-bit resolution. The optical ports
on either card can easily be switched from ADAT format to S/PDIF, providing
connectivity with DAT machines, MiniDisc recorders, or any other TOSLINK-compatible
equipment.
Montana includes additional synchronization features that are normally found
in expensive external hardware synchronization boxes. An RCA input synchronizes
the computer to an external video signal (NTSC or PAL) or to an external audio
word clock. Video sync can also come from an internal header, for direct connection
to a digital video board. Montana also has an ADAT 9-pin sync output. For maximum
flexibility, Montana features a dual-slot layout so it can be installed in either
a PCI or ISA slot next to Dakota.
Audio channels on both Dakota and Montana support SoDATm (SMPTE on Digital
Audio). This unique feature from Frontier Design Group lets you use any digital
audio input or output for SMPTE timecode. Standard audio channels, in either
ADAT optical or S/PDIF format, can be defined as SMPTE 1/0 ports using the Dakota
control panel ... no additional hardware is required. SMPTE signals are detected,
decoded, and delivered digitally from external analog converters.
Dakota's hardware supports SMPTE and MIDI timecode chase-lock. This is a great
advantage over software-based approaches that rely on real-time audio resampling
or repositioning. Hardware-based chase-lock eliminates these sources of audio
distortion and frees the CPU for other tasks.
Dakota and Montana support a wide range of industry standard interfaces, including:
- ADAT optical audio (8 channels per cable, which can be up to 33 feet
long)
- S/PDIF on electrical coax or optical cables
- MIDI using standard MIDI cables
- SMPTE using any compatible digital audio converter and its analog
I/O
- NTSC/PAL (BNC to RCA adapter included for cable flexibility)
- Word clock with optional 75-ohm termination
- ADAT sync input and output ports for sample-accurate, multi-machine
sync
Dakota supports an ultra-efficient PCI interface, essential for maximizing
multichannel digital audio capabilities. Dakota utilizes a bus-mastering interface,
and scatter-gather DMA is implemented to off-load the CPU even further. All
digital audio paths support up to 24-bit resolution. Dakota supports sample
rates of 44.1 and 48kHz, and dynamically resamples 8, 11.025, 16, 22.05, and
32kHz digital audio for playback through high-quality external converters.
Initially, Dakota is shipping with Windows 95/98 drivers and a control panel
for displaying the status of Dakota and Montana, and for setting options such
as input lock, audio routing, and SMPTE levels. Also included with Dakota is
a CD-ROM with Cool Edit Pro SE, a multichannel audio package that lets users
set up and record right away. The Dakota CD-ROM also includes demos of several
other popular audio applications and sound effects plug-ins.
Dakota has an MSRP of $865 (estimated USA street price is $649). Montana has
an MSRP of $325 (estimated USA street price is $249).
For more information, visit the Frontier Design Group at http://www.
FrontierDesign.com/ |
