Always looking for ways to make our systems even more reliable, we have recently incorporated the DirectOut Technologies EXBOX.MD into our playback systems. This game-changing interface brings an unmatched level of reliability to our shows, managing redundant playback from multiple digital sources using the Enhanced Automatic Redundancy Switching (EARS) technology. Supporting both MADI and Dante connectivity (64×64 of each), the EXBOX.MD is capable of high channel count redundancy, able to swap sources in a single sample. And of course it features redundant power supplies as well.

A standout feature of the unit is the fast sample rate conversion, allowing the integration of different system components running at different sample rates. This is especially helpful for running older content or hardware as part of a system, but still taking advantage of higher quality audio built into our newer and higher end inventory. This little box isn’t just limited to playback and conversion, but can be an amazing tool for redundancy for any source. This even includes things like immersive processing engines.

The EXBOX.MD allows us to run two identical instances of QLab (our preferred show control and playback software) on two Mac Mini computers. If there is any hardware failure or slight jitter in the playback of the main, the EXBOX.MD will automatically swap to the backup. It’s so quick and subtle a swap, even our operators won’t know it’s happened until they go looking. – Connor Hicks, Director

We’ll be rolling out the EXBOX.MD in more and more of our touring packages this year, and look forward to the awesome reliability that it affords our customers, ensuring flawless shows night in, night out.