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iZotope, Inc., a leading innovator in audio signal processing technology, had unveiled the ANR-B Adaptive Realtime Noise Reduction Unit at NAB, bringing the company's renowned audio algorithm for adaptive noise reduction to a dedicated hardware unit for use in real-time broadcast applications.

ANR-B uses iZotope's advanced noise reduction technology to intelligently identify and suppress environmental broadband noise, hum, phone line artifacts and more, dramatically increasing the quality of audio broadcasts involving radio call-in programs and on-location broadcasting. Unlike other noise reduction solutions, iZotope's ANR-B actually detects noise in real-time and adapts to changing noise over time, allowing for automatic operation with little to no input required from the user.

"Broadcasters face realtime noise challenges ranging from cell phone call-ins to noisy air conditioners and bad wiring," said Mark Ethier, CEO of iZotope, Inc. "ANR-B automates the process of high-quality noise reduction in realtime so noise issues no longer make or break a segment."

Designed to suit a wide range of broadcast applications, the two-channel ANR-B features broadcast connections including analog and digital I/O, LAN for advanced parameter control, and remote automation capability. Presets are available for common applications while simple controls and clear meters help to quickly customize settings for unique situations. While ANR-B is designed to automatically determine a noise print, a manual learn function enables the unit to reduce noise of a specific trained profile, adding to the unit's flexibility.

WGBH Boston, America's preeminent public broadcasting producer, has been employing a prototype of the ANR-B in its state of the art facility to produce the renowned radio program The World, a co-production of Public Radio International and the BBC.

"At WGBH Radio our reporters and guests are often interviewed in war zones and some of the most remote locations on Earth," said Ray Fallon, Engineer at WGBH. "These places are only accessible by phone line, ISDN and satellite phone, leading to audio quality that is far below the standard for our award winning news radio programs. iZotope's ANR-B reliably and quickly removes ambient and path noise automatically, allowing us to focus on getting the interview completed instead of fiddling with controls to get usable audio."

Key Features:

• Automatically removes noise from audio in real-time
• Two channels can work independently or as a stereo pair
• Includes presets for specific scenarios
• Residual Noise switch lets user quickly preview the noise being removed
• ingle knob controls noise suppression on each channel for fast operation
• earn button allows for manual operation by capturing a noise profile
• PC/Mac interface for managing presets and designing advanced programs
• emote control capability

Specifications:

• Power - 110/220 VAC, 50/60 Hz
• LAN - (PC/Mac host connection)
• Analog Audio - Balanced XLR, Conversion: up to 24-bit, 96KHz, Output +4 dBu
• Digital Audio - AES-EBU, Impedance: 110 ohms, Interface: Balanced, transformer coupled
• Sync – DARS, AES-EBU

ANR-B will be available in Summer of 2008 for $4,995 MSRP.

• Official website