The DigiFi Platform - Digital Fidelity

Technical Specifications
Software
• Windows XP embedded – robust, well supported, rapid development cycles
• Server & client architecture
• Each physical box, Server or Client, can control up to 8 independent stereo outputs. Allows for OEMs to design their own
product range:
o Single output server, 4-output client to add Multi-room capabilities to an existing box.
o 4 output server, single output client to add audiophile quality to an existing multi-room installation.
• Service based architecture
o Play back
o Ripping
o Encoding
o Utility
• Transactional database – MSDE, runtime version of MS SQL server. Robust and fast.
• Remote Control Protocol – A means whereby User Interfaces can be developed divorced from the complexities of the
workings of the DigiFi.
• Interfaces
o IR/Touch – Can either run directly on a Server unit or remotely on a PC like device.
o PPC 2003 – Runs on any PDA running PPC 2003 and would connect to the DigiFi using WiFi.
o Crestron / AMX – The control unit can connect to the DigiFi using either IP or RS 232
o PC – Runs on a remote PC connected to the DigiFi using either LAN or WiFi
• Ripping & Encoding
o The user can have as much or as little involvement in these processes as they want,
o The basic operation can be as simple as inserting a CD into the drive and approximately 5-6 minutes later taking
it out again.
o The software supports an array of settings for both ripping and encoding that can be changed for individual CDs
if required.
o Ripping supports Burst, Synchronised, Secure and Paranoid settings for exact audio copies.
o Encoding supports WAV (i.e. no encoding), WMA and MP3 and various bit rates
• CD Information & Album Art
o Local CD database
o Internet connectivity for missing CDs
o Album covers downloaded from Digital Fidelity Server.
• Upgrading & Support
o Software updates downloaded from Digital Fidelity Server and applied. This service includes remote interface
upgrades.
o Support information uploaded to Digital Fidelity Server
• Mobile Player synchronisation
o Currently supports Mac & PC formatted iPods
Hardware
Digital Fidelity are primarily a software house but to demonstrate the functionality of our platform we have been involved in
building Hard Disk Audio products. The following is a description of Digital Fidelity’s chosen platform and why.
• Case – HUSH Technologies extended Mini-itx case with minor modifications to make it appear more CE i.e. centralised CD
tray. Capacity for twin 3½ hard drives.
• Motherboard – VIA EPIA M10000 with 512 MB RAM
o 1 G – Powerful CPU required for simultaneous playback, ripping & encoding. Play back only clients can utilise
lower power CPU’s which can be passively cooled and therefore do not require such a substantial case.
o VT 1616 sound chip – high quality on board sound that can deliver in either analogue or digital format.
o S-Video output for TV screen. Composite possible but at expense of SPDIF output
o USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 (Firewire) WiFi NICs, external hard drives, portable music players
o 10/100 LAN
• Hard drive – Seagate Barracuda 160 GByte drive. Robust and quiet.
• Optical drive - TEAC DW-224E-93 Slimline CD-RW / DVD Drive. Large on-board cache for faster ripping, DVD capacity for
large data transfers to units i.e. upgrading local CD Database.
• Sound Card – M-Audio Delta range. – High quality audio, flexible for multi-room configuration.
• USB NIC - Fujitsu Siemens Connectbird USB WLAN NIC, used external device to give more flexibility for positioning.
• Direct Display - Lilliput 7" Wide Screen VGA TFT Display with Touch screen, used external device to give more flexibility
for positioning.