AES Preview: Weiss DNA1 Processor

(Click for a close-up)

Weiss Engineering will show the DNA1 96kHz/24-bit audio restoration and enhancement processor at the 119th AES Convention. The Gambit Series processor comprises a noise removal section followed by an ambience recovering and gain control section that offers real-time simultaneous denoiser, decrackler and declicker, in addition to the K-Stereo Ambience Processor.

The denoiser, developed in cooperation with the Pure Notes Company (UK), reduces all types of wideband and non-stationary noises, such as tape hiss or air conditioning hum, using a novel adaptive approach to noise reduction that does not require a spectral noise footprint. Three automatic modes, a manual mode and a semi-auto mode may be engaged depending on the level of fine-tuning necessary for the task.

The decrackler and declicker algorithms, designed in the Weiss Engineering R&D lab, provide three independent sub-systems - DeCrackle, DeClick and Smooth - to detect and remove a broad range of impulsive noises, such as static, scratches and clicks from vinyl recordings. Three DeClick preset parameters support easy operation or expert fine-tuning.

The K-Stereo Ambience Processor, licensed from Bob Katz of Digital Domain, allows the operator to recover lost or amplify hidden ambience, space and imaging by extracting and processing original ambiance information in post production. This process can restore spatial information after denoising, for example, or compensate for bit-rate reducing data compression formats. Alternatively, it may be used to generate stereo from mono signals without adding artificial reverberation, a process also known as stereoization.

In the gain control section, the output control regulates stereo balance and stereo width, as well as the overall signal level. Users may also enable POW-R, the acclaimed technique for transparent and smooth word-length reduction to 24, 20 or 16 bits. An ergonomic front panel interface also provides access to standard features like dynamic and 128-snapshot MIDI automation as well as extensive high-resolution metering and channel status information.

MSRP: $8,900