Executive Summary
UCYNCU Platform is a cutting-edge audio and GPIO routing and mixing
platform designed for scalability, security, and flexibility. It
features a distributed architecture with centralized control, enabling
seamless management of audio streams and GPIO devices across a
network. UCYNCU leverages the proprietary SHD1X protocol, which
prioritizes security and efficiency, while also offering
interoperability with industry standards like Axia, Dante, and AES67.
Introduction
In today's interconnected world, the seamless integration of audio and
GPIO control is essential across a wide range of industries. From live
sound and broadcast production to building automation and industrial
control systems, the need for a reliable, secure, and flexible
platform has never been greater. Introducing UCYNCU, a revolutionary
system engineered to redefine how we manage audio routing, mixing, and
GPIO control in even the most demanding environments.
Traditional audio and GPIO control systems often suffer from
limitations that hinder their effectiveness and scalability.
Proprietary protocols, complex configurations, and a lack of
centralized management create barriers to efficient workflows and
system-wide control. Security vulnerabilities can also pose
significant risks, especially in sensitive environments.
UCYNCU: The Solution
UCYNCU addresses these challenges head-on with a powerful, distributed
architecture that combines centralized control, high-performance audio
processing, and robust security. At its core lies the innovative SHD1X
protocol, a proprietary communication framework designed for
reliability, efficiency, and unparalleled security.
Audio Format
-
The system can carry any audio format to its endpoint but is
optimized for HD audio (AAC, WAV).
-
In cases of throughput or latency challenges, the system can
dynamically adjust to utilize MP3 for reduced bandwidth consumption.
SHD1X Protocol
-
TCP/IP Unicast: SHD1X uses TCP/IP unicast
communication by default for reliable data transmission.
-
Latency: Requires a network latency of less than
96ms for optimal performance.
-
Packet Loss: Tolerates up to 1% packet loss.
-
Bandwidth:
- Minimum 64Kbps for a single mono signal.
- Minimum 128Kbps for a stereo channel.
-
Open Standard (Future): SHD1X will become an open
standard for the Linux world, offering support for 2 stereo
channels and 2 GPIO channels for free.
System Components
1. Endpoint/PC/Node/Processor (Wizzlebit Application)
-
Each endpoint can handle up to 16 stereo (or 32 mono) channels,
depending on the Wizzlebit license.
- Network Requirement: 100/1G/10G
-
The Wizzlebit application is responsible for capturing/playing
audio, potentially mixing channels, and sending/receiving audio
data to/from an engine or server.
Minimum Requirements:
-
Processor: Intel Core i3, AMD Ryzen 3 (or equivalent), Raspberry
Pi
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Storage: 30GB HDD
- Network: 100 Mbps Ethernet port
-
Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Linux Mint 21, Debian 11
Recommended Requirements (especially for Virtual PCs):
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 (or equivalent)
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
-
Network: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port (2 recommended for redundancy)
-
Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later, Linux Mint 21 or
later, Debian 11 or later
Wizzlebit Models:
| Model |
Audio Channels (Stereo) |
GPIO Channels |
Network |
| Wizzlebit Free |
2 |
2 |
100MB |
| Wizzlebit-Plus |
8 |
8 |
100MB |
| Wizzlebit-Max |
16 |
16 |
1GB/10GB |
2. Engine/Engine Mixer (Proton Device)
-
Each engine can handle up to 16 endpoints, each with up to 16
stereo (or 32 mono) channels, depending on the Proton Engine model
and Wizzlebit license.
-
Network Requirement: Gigabit Ethernet (consider 10 Gigabit for
optimal performance).
-
The Proton Engine application performs mixing, potentially with
additional processing, and sends the mixed output to the server.
-
Features a web-based interface accessible from any modern web
browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) on Windows, macOS, or
Linux.
- Requires a dedicated physical or virtual appliance.
Minimum Requirements for Engine Appliance:
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 (or equivalent)
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Network: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
-
Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Linux Mint 21, Debian 11
Recommended Requirements for Engine Appliance (especially for
Virtual Machines):
- Processor: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 (or equivalent)
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Storage: 512 GB SSD (NVMe recommended)
-
Network: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port (2 recommended for redundancy, 10
Gigabit optimal)
-
Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or later, Linux Mint 21 or
later, Debian 11 or later
Proton Engine Models:
| Model |
Audio Channels (Stereo) |
GPIO Channels |
| Proton-Engine-Plus |
16 |
16 |
| Proton-Engine-Max |
32 |
32 |
3. Server (Neutron UCYNCU)
- Each server can handle up to 16 engines.
-
Network Requirement: 10 Gigabit Ethernet (for Neutron-Server-Max).
-
The Neutron server receives audio data from engines and routes it
to other engines or endpoints based on the routing configuration.
-
Provides a centralized web interface for system management,
monitoring, and control.
Minimum Requirements:
- Processor: Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processor (or equivalent)
- Memory: 32 GB ECC RAM
- Storage: 1 TB HDD in RAID configuration
-
Network: Two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports (for Neutron-Server-Max)
- Operating System: Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS, Debian 11
Recommended Requirements (especially for Virtual Machines):
-
Processor: Dual Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processors (or equivalent)
- Memory: 64 GB ECC RAM
- Storage: 2 TB NVMe SSD in RAID configuration
-
Network: Multiple 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports (for
Neutron-Server-Max)
-
Operating System: Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS or later, Debian 11 or
later
Neutron Server Models:
| Model |
Audio Channels (Stereo) |
GPIO Channels |
Network |
| Neutron-GPIO |
- |
512 |
- |
| Neutron-GPIO-Plus |
- |
4096 |
- |
| Neutron-GPIO-10G |
- |
32768 |
10GB |
| Neutron-Server 100MB |
256 |
256 |
100MB |
| Neutron-Server-Plus 1G |
2048 |
2048 |
1GB |
| Neutron-Server-Max 10GB |
16384 |
16384 |
10GB |
Key Features
-
Flexible Routing: Audio can be routed from any
source (PC, engine) to any destination (engine, PC, other device).
-
Mixing and Processing: Engines can mix and process
audio from multiple inputs.
-
Centralized Management: The server provides a web
interface for monitoring and managing engines and routing.
-
Scalability: The system can be scaled by adding
more servers and using load balancing.
-
Security: All audio and control data is encrypted
using TLS 1.3 (or later) to ensure secure communication.
Critical Aspects
-
Time Clock Sync: Accurate clock synchronization is
essential to maintain audio timing across the network. The Neutron
server acts as the PTPv2 Grandmaster Clock.
-
Throughput: Sufficient network bandwidth is
critical to handle the audio traffic.
-
Web Interface: A user-friendly web interface is
crucial for managing the system and configuring routing.
Interoperability
The system is interoperable with Axia, Dante, and AES67 formats
utilizing UDP with a required license from the respective vendor.
Network Requirements
Switches:
Minimum Requirements:
- Gigabit Ethernet ports for all endpoints and engines.
-
10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports for server connection (for
Neutron-Server-Max).
- Support for VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q) to segregate audio traffic.
-
Quality of Service (QoS) features to prioritize audio traffic.
- Latency less than 1ms (ideally 500µs).
- Managed switches are strongly recommended.
Recommended Switches:
- Cisco Catalyst series (e.g., 9300, 9500)
- MikroTik CRS3xx series
- Ubiquiti UniFi Switch Pro series
- Aruba CX series
- Juniper EX series
Important Considerations:
- Sufficient switch fabric capacity.
- Jumbo frame support can improve performance.
-
Redundant switch connections are recommended for critical
applications.
Network Cabling: Category 6A (or higher)
