C10 HD - Integrated Blackrock Processor

Integrated Blackrock Processor Core


The Blackrock, SSL’s newest DSP processing innovation, has been assimilated into the control surface’s chassis, removing the need to reserve local rack space for console processing.

The next generation in DSP
The Blackrock provides the speed, stability and flexibility expected of SSL, including dedicated processing for every channel. 100% proprietary hardware and software ensures streamlined efficiency and robust, virus-proof reliability, with redundant PSUs and RAID 1 hard disks inspiring further confidence, all loaded inside the C10 HD frame.

Dual Computer Hybrid
The Blackrock is a dual computer hybrid: The dedicated console CPU provides processing for up to 96 full channels and their associated signal processing and bussing. The firewalled Integration computer provides secure access to the file management, diagnostics and SNMP facilities.

Processing Capabilities for Audio Distinction
The Blackrock’s internal processing is 40 bit floating point, using algorithms modelled from SSL’s legendary analogue consoles. The internal audio sample rate can be set to 48 or 44.1kHz, and sample-rate conversion is performed in 24 bit with options for dithering and word length, all ensuring that signals are protected from any degradation.

The console can be synchronised to a number of external clock sources, such as video sync, wordclock or AES11/DARS signals. Jitter performance is better than 4ps, accomplishing an exemplary low noise floor, as well as an image stability and audio quality which comfortably exceed the demands of HD 5.1 production.

Here are some more performance capabilities which you can expect from your Blackrock

  • >700 simultaneous audio paths
  • Over 500 simultaneous IO signals
  • Optimised algorithms can achieve up to 53 GFLOPS
  • In-built routing matrix handles >5 million crosspoints

Exceptional reliability and ease of maintenance
Blackrock offers the exceptional level of reliability which SSL customers have come to expect, and which the broadcast industry demands. Complete DSP redundancy is an optionwith the addition of a second Blackrock processing core and a MORSE Router. The console operating system, application software and computer hardware are all entirely unique to SSL, providing total protection against viruses and removing any need for constant security updates and virus-checking, even when moving projects between facilities. As the Blackrock is located within the console chassis, cabling problems are also minimised.

SSL’s own diagnostic software keeps a constant eye-out for erroneous parameters, and logs the console’s operating conditions, enabling faults to be detected and corrected pre-emptively. If a fault cannot be corrected, remote diagnostics enable SSL engineers to find and fix faults, often without waiting for an onsite visit.

The console’s DSP has its own self-healing software, providing fast, fault-tolerant processing recovery, with the status of each DSP chip being checked every sample period.

  • 100% virus proof due to proprietary technology
  • Redundancy PSUs and hard drives with option of complete redundant core
  • Remote diagnostics and logging over SNMP
  • Self-healing software