Apex
H I GH - D E NSI T Y, L A R G E- SCALE
DIGITAL AUDIO ROUTER
The Apex router combines the features
that audio professionals love with the
adaptability, reliability, and serviceability
that broadcasters demand—all while
using less power and less space than
any other system available.
PRODUCT DATA SHEET
Grass Valley™ solutions include one
of the broadest selections of routing
switchers, including the new Apex
digital audio routing switcher, the
highest density and most highly reliable
audio router available for large-scale
infrastructures.
The Apex router combines the features
that audio professionals love with the
adapt abilit y, reliability, and serviceability
that broadcasters demand—all while
using less power and less space than
any other system available. This industryleading design has a dozen patents
pending.
Central to the Apex system is its
adaptability. Scaling to 1024x1024 via a
unique Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)
switching architecture, it offers the
simplest expansion path available—for
both studio and mobile users. It handles
any data rate a facility could ever need,
supporting simultaneous synchronous
and asynchronous signals from 30 to
100 kHz. And it offers a set of audio
features not found in any other system—
KEY FEATURES
including a silent-switching design that
eliminates unwanted clicks and pops.
The Apex router is also highly reliable
and serviceable. It uses redundant TDM
matrix cards to keep signals moving
through a facility without interruption.
It features redundant power supplies to
maximize uptime. It uses a common air
chamber and an N+1 fan arrangement to
ensure even, uninterrupted cooling. Plus
its components are front removable and
hot swappable.
Adaptable to Any Large-Scale
Audio Environment
The Apex system uses an 11 RU
256x256 chassis housing a unique TDM
routing core enabling both a dense and
feature-rich product. The system features
cost-effective, reliable linear expansion:
you can interconnect multiple frames to
create matrices as large as 1024x1024
using only a handful of interconnection
cables and without the need for
expensive distribution amplifiers.
The Apex system offers similar physical
flexibility. You can stack its chassis
vertically or horizontally. And should
you need to work at great distances—in
different buildings, in different mobile
units, or even across town—you can
interconnect two chassis up to five
kilometers away.
Each Apex can contain one of two I/O
board types: one for 75Ω signals and one
for 110Ω signals. Each accommodates
32 AES pairs. The 75Ω board offers
unbalanced BNC connectors and BNC
MADI ports. The 110Ω board offers
balanced DB25 connectors and BNC
MADI ports. Both feature a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) design
that minimizes components and power
requirements and increasing overall
system reliability.
The multi-format support of the Apex
router includes AES digital audio (75Ω
unbalanced and 110Ω balanced), Multiple
Audio Distribution Interface (MADI), and
Dolby E formats.
11 RU 256x256 frame with either:•
75Ω unbalanced BNC connectors —
and MADI BNC ports
110Ω balanced DB25 connectors with —
MADI BNC ports
Up to four frames can be connected •
linearly to create routers up to
1024x1024
Simultaneous synchronous/•
asynchronous support for 30 kHz to
100 kHz signals
www.grassvalley.com
Conforms to AES75, AES110, MADI, •
and Dolby E specifications
All active components are front-•
loading and hot swappable.
Fan and power supply modules are •
redundant
Input or output expansion in •
32 crosspoint increments
One video and one audio sync •
reference per chassis (each with
redundant inputs) along with output
monitor ports for quality control
Various audio modes supported, •
including normal, mix, reverse
AES pair breakaway for full mono •
routing
Silent Switching with programmable •
V-fade for noiseless switching
PRODUCT DATA SHEET
SWITCH
POINT
WITHOUT
Soft Switch Dunking
WITH
Soft Switch Dunking
Pops and clicks occur when
the levels of switched signals
are differen
t
By bringing both signals to zero,
pops and clicks are reduced
The adaptability of the Apex system
also extends to its signal support.
Unlike other routing systems that force
you to purchase separate board sets
and sample rate converters to handle
multiple signal types, the Apex system
can automatically detect a signal’s
type (synchronous or asynchronous),
its rate (from 30 kHz to 100 kHz), and
then switch it properly—without any
additional modifications or intervention.
It can even switch a signal that has lost
its reference.
An Apex chassis features two sync
references: one video and one audio,
plus a redundant input for each. This
design enables you to use a video
reference for audio switching while
also supporting the proper, uncorrupted
switching of Dolby E signals.
Unrivaled Audio Features
Designed with audio professionals
in mind, the Apex system offers an
unrivaled set of signal-processing
features. These features include a silentswitching design to minimize unwanted
clicks and pops. You can turn this feature
on or off as needed.
For full mono routing, the Apex system
offers an AES Pair Breakaway feature.
While input and output signals are
always tied together as a left/right pair,
the internal routing engine separates the
pairs—hence the term breakaway—to
handle the signals independently. This
independent routing allows a control
system to view the router as either a
single-level stereo system in which the
pairs switch together, or in a singlelevel mono system with two levels of
mono audio. This capability also allows
the Apex system to support a full
complement of audio pair manipulation
modes, including normal, mix, and
reverse.
Ensuring High Reliability
To maximize uptime and reliability, the
Apex system uses redundant TDM
matrix cards. Should the primary matrix
card fail, a secondary redundant card will
take over immediately.
The system also employs redundant
TDM expansion links between chassis—
and connects those links in a fully
connected st ar topology. This topology
ensures that every chassis is speaking
to ever y other chassis, eliminating the
weak-link pitfalls of serial or daisy-chain
topologies.
To ensure even, uninterrupted cooling,
the Apex system uses a common air
chamber and an N+1 fan arrangement—
the same high-performance cooling
approach used in the Trinix NXT digital
video routing switcher. Additionally, the
Apex system design curbs overall power
usage by minimizing circuit board and
component counts. This significantly
reduces the load on the cooling system,
increasing the overall reliability of the
system.
SOFT SWITCHING AUDIO SIGNALS
By bringing audio levels to zero at the switch point, clicks and pops in the audio are
reduced.
www.grassvalley.com
PRODUCT DATA SHEET
Video Sync
Audio Sync
Video Sync
SD and HD
Video Sources
48 kHz
Audio Sources
44.1 kHz
Audio Sources
96 kHz
Audio Sources
Fully connected redundant
TDM expansion cables
ExpansionEquipment Room
Production
Suite
Trinix NXT Video Router
Apex Audio Routers
Kayak
HD Digital
Video
Switcher
Audio Mixer
Apex Audio Router
Sync Generator
Maestro SD/HD
Branding &
Master
Control System
Fiber Interconnect
TRINIX
NXT
3Gb/s DIGITAL VIDEO ROUTER
The Apex supports two power supplies
that operate as completely redundant
supplies. That is, one supply can fully
provide enough power to operate the
router even under maximum load.
The power supplies of the Apex system
are also load sharing. In a system with
two power supplies, for example, both
supplies actively supply power at the
same time. This approach improves
overall system reliability by lowering
the output of each supply. Lowering the
average output of a supply, relative to its
maximum, reduces the likelihood of its
failure.
Ensuring High Serviceability
The Apex also offers maximum
serviceability. Its passive rear panel
allows all modules to be hot swapped
from the front of the chassis—even
power supplies and fans. This approach
allows you to keep the router online
during upgrades and to avoid going
behind the equipment rack to perform
any service-oriented tasks.
Complete Control System Support
The Apex router is designed to support
all Grass Valley routing control systems,
including the Encore™, Jupiter™, and
Series 7000 control systems.
FACILITY FIT
The Apex router supports a broad range of audio signal formats, such as 30 to
100 kHz synchronous or asynchronous AES (balanced or unbalanced), Dolby E, or
MADI signals, which can be timed to either video or audio sync.
PRODUCT DATA SHEET
SPECIFICATIONS
75Ω Version
AES–3id–1995 coaxial transmission •
of AES signals
SMPTE 276M for coaxial transmission •
of AES signals
AES–11–1997 synchronization •
standard
Inputs
Input Connector:• 75Ω BNC
unbalanced (50Ω compatible)
Input Sample Rate:• 30 to 100 kHz
Outputs
Output Connector:• 75Ω BNC
unbalanced (50Ω compatible)
Output Impedance:• 75Ω
Output Sample Rate:• 30 to 100 kHz
(sync/async)
110Ω Version
AES–3–1992 with the exception of •
75Ω coaxial I/O
AES–11–1997 synchronization •
standard
Inputs
Input Connector:• 25-pin D female
Input Impedance:• typical 110Ω
±20%, at frequencies from 100 kHz
to 12 MHz
Input Sample Rate:• 30 to 100 kHz
Outputs
Output Connector:• 25-pin D female
Output Impedance:• typical 110Ω
±20%, at frequencies from 100 kHz
to 12 MHz
Output Sample Rate:• 30 to 100 kHz
(sync/async)
ORDERING INFORMATION
Frames, Fans and
Power Supplies
APX-FRM-34075
Apex 256 base chassis – 1PS, 1CX, 1CL,
1FM – unbalanced (75Ω)
APX-FRM-34110
Apex 256 base chassis – 1PS, 1CX, 1CL,
1FM – balanced (110Ω)
APX-PS-34000
Apex power supply 150W
100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz
APX-FM-34000
Apex fan module with two fans
I/O & Matrix
APX-IN-34075
Apex 75Ω input board – 32 inputs
APX-IN-34110
Apex 110Ω input board – 32 inputs
APX-OP-34075
Apex 75Ω output board – 32 outputs
APX-OP-34110
Apex 110Ω output board – 32 outputs
APX-MX-34000A
Apex TDM matrix board – 1280x256
MADI
AES–10
Inputs
Input Connector: 75Ω BNC unbalanced
(50Ω compatible)
Outputs
Output Connector: 75Ω BNC
unbalanced (50Ω compatible)
Environmental
+0° to +35° C
Physical
Chassis: 19.25 inches (11 RU) high x
19 in. wide x 11 in. deep (489 x 483 x
279 mm)
Weight: 63 lbs. fully loaded
Fiber Extension Components
APX-FBR-EXT
Apex fiber extender
APX-SFP-M300
Apex small-form-factor, plug-in, multimode transceiver for 300m optical cable
APX-SFP-S5000
Apex small-form-factor, plug-in, singlemode transceiver for 5,000m optical
cable
Alarm
The relay connector is a BNC type and
meets SMPTE 269M-1999
Power
Total: 163W
AC Power Input
Mains Connection: IEC connector,
separate mains input for each power
supply module
Voltage Range: 100 to 240V 50-60 Hz,
universal, auto-ranging
Accessories
APX-CX-34000
Apex matrix controller – XPT only
APX-CL-34075
Apex 75Ω license board
APX-CL-34110
Apex 110Ω license board
CUSTOMER SUPPORT & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Our customer support and professional services offerings ensure optimal system performance and maximize uptime. These services include call centers staffed around the clock,
commissioning, professional training courses, and technical maintenance programs and service agreements.
www.grassvalley.com/support
© Copyright 2011 Grass Valley USA, LLC. All rights reserved. Grass Valley, Encore, Jupiter, and NetConfig are trademarks of GVBB Holdings S.a.r.l. All other
tradenames referenced are service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Specifications subject to change without
notice. RMC-4004D-4
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