Tango24 Audio Converter Now Shipping

(Click for a close-up)

Tango24 is shipping now! Frontier Design Group has upgraded its successful Tango 8x8 audio converter system to full 24-bit digital resolution, improving audio performance without increasing cost. Tango24 features ADAT lightpipe digital I/O for maximum flexibility in the studio, connecting to lightpipe-equipped I/O cards in computers, digital mixers, and tape machines. Tango24 also features balanced +4dBu analog I/O on 1/4" TRS jacks for clean, quiet connections to other analog equipment.

"Tango24 is what computer-based studio owners are seeking," says Charlie Hitchcock, co-founder of Frontier Design Group. "They know that optically-coupled external converters eliminate the computer noises found in analog soundcards. They want standard interfaces, flexible clocking options, and a solid design. Tango24 builds on these features of Tango and adds an absolute requirement for modern equipment - 24-bit resolution."

Tango24 shares many features with its popular predecessor. All inputs and outputs can be individually set to +4dBu (professional) or -10dBV (consumer) signal levels. Word clock input and output are provided on BNC connections, for synchronizing multiple units or for locking Tango24's clock system to an external master. Front panel switches let you set the clock source to the word clock or ADAT optical input, or to internal crystals for 44.1 and 48kHz operation. Tango24's front panel also includes eight sets of level meters, switchable to inputs or outputs. Separate LEDs indicate signal-present, -3dB below full-scale, and clipping for each channel.

Tango24 is housed in a rugged 1U rackmount enclosure. Since it uses ADAT optical I/O, it can be located up to 10 meters (33 feet) from the computer. In addition to its ADAT optical in and out ports, Tango24 has a ADAT Thru port for archiving audio material to an ADAT MDM without re-cabling optical connections. Tango24 can be connected to any ADAT optical computer interface, including Frontier Design Group's latest super-integrated PCI card -- Dakota.

Tango24's estimated USA street price is $699.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• 8 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs
• 24-bit resolution with 128x oversampling converters
• Frequency response +-0.05dB, 20Hz-20kHz
• THD+N 0.002% A-weighted
• S/N ratio (EIAJ) 105dB
• Dynamic range 105dB A-weighted
• +4dBu and -10dBV signal levels, selectable per channel
• True differential balanced signals on professional TRS jacks
• ADAT optical in/thru/out
• Internal (44.1 or 48 kHz) or external clock selection
• Word clock in and out (BNC connectors)
• Locks to external 39-51 kHz sample rates
• Level indicators on front panel, selectable to inputs or outputs
• Rugged 1U rackmount enclosure
• Connects to any I/O card with ADAT optical (lightpipe) ports

Tango24 and Dakota are trademarks of Frontier Design Group, LLC. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.