AudioTools Server and Dolby VM600 Comparative Analysis

ATS

VM600

API integration

Integration with MAM and workflow automation systems through SOAP and REST API; AudioTools Connector integration with Telestream Vantage

Integration with MAM and workflow automation
systems through SOAP API

Watchfolder integration

Yes

Yes

Manual operation

Manual workflow submission through AudioTools OPERATOR or WorkflowEditor application

Manual work order submission through VM600 client application.

Load balancing

Yes, multiple options

No

Deployment options

Deployment as physical server, virtual machine (not exclusive to VMware), or cloud instance (AWS) in any combination

Deployment in VMware vCenter or VMware Workstation only

Licensing options

Physical USB dongle (including support for USB-to Ethernet device server), License Server (both dongle or software license based) including floating licenses across multiple machines

License server only

Storage and file system access

FTP, UNC, drive letter. Use combinations of network and
local storage for efficient processing

FTP, SFTP, SMB only

ATS

VM600

Container format support

MXF, QuickTime ProRes, MPEG-2 TS, MPEG-2 PS, GXF

MXF, MPEG-2 TS, MPEG-2 PS, GXF

Linear audio types support

WAV, multiple mono or interleaved, RF64, BWF

AIFF, multiple mono or interleaved

16, 20, 24, and 32 bit PCM

WAV, multiple mono or interleaved, RF64, BWF

AIFF, multiple mono or interleaved

16, 20, and 24 bit PCM

Coded audio types support

Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby E, MPEG-1 L2, MP-3, AAC, HE-AAC

Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby E, MPEG-1 L2

NOTE: AudioTools Server has been designed to work with a large variety of file format variations. Customers regularly use AudioTools Server to process files that have been rejected by VM600.

ATS

VM600

AudioTools Server is completely modular and offers the ability to license only the modules needed for specific project requirements. In addition, the number of servers (processing nodes), concurrent workflows processing, and licensed processing instances per node are  completely scalable and can be customized

Available with 8 or 16 concurrent work orders

A variety of ready-to-use, affordable, essential packages are available (FOCUS Server, etc.)

No

Processing profiles support linear and conditional processing; AudioTools Server provides sophisticated XML scripting language for projects requiring a higher level of complexity

Processing profiles are mostly linear, but with some basic logic

Profiles are available for editing in plain XML or in a graphical WorkflowEditor 
that provides tested preset templates, reducing the risk of editing errors; a new profile can be edited and submitted to the system successfully within minutes without assistance from technical support

Profiles must be created or edited in Profile Editor application, with limited access to the profile XML

 VM600 is specifically designed for encoding to, decoding from, and transcoding audio between Dolby’s codec technologies, with or without loudness control. 
AudioTools Server is a comprehensive workflow platform which provides these same capabilities but with the addition of a wide variety of available processing functions and modules as outlined below, which can be combined in any way required for a particular project. 

ATS

VM600

Loudness measurement

ITU-R BS.1770-1…4

EBU R 128

Dolby® Dialog Intelligence

ITU-R BS.1770-1…4

EBU R 128

Dolby® Dialog Intelligence

Standard loudness adjustment

Loudness correction to target for all parameters (loudness integrated, dialog level, loudness range, short-term and momentary loudness, sample and true peak), with extensive parameter control and support for all international loudness standards and recommendations

Dolby® proprietary and patented coded audio loudness correction algorithm

Advanced loudness adjustment

Advanced Loudness Adaptation allows specific loudness goals beyond basic compliance, such as establishing a specified delta between dialog and other program elements, adapting film mixes for broadcast, and increasing dialog intelligibility

No

Dolby® Digital/Dolby Digital Plus encoding and decoding

Yes

Yes

Dolby® E encoding and decoding

Yes

Yes

Upmixing

Linear Acoustic UPMAX, supporting mono to 7.1.4 and beyond

Proprietary stereo to 5.1 or 5.1 to 7.1 upmixing

Downmix

7.1 to 5.1 or 2.0 (LoRo, LtRt, and Pro Logic II encoded)

7.1 to 5.1 during E-AC-3 to AC-3 transcoding

Channel Assignment Detection and Channel Management

Fully automated audio track layout detection and optional correction. Altering of track and program order and channel count within WAV, MXF, or QuickTime containers

Pro Tools profiles remap of 5.1- and 7.1-channel audio between Pro Tools and SMTPE order

Correlation Checks

Program Correlation Check indicates if two audio
programs represent the same content. Phase Correlation check can be used to differentiate stereo from dual mono, or indicate “out-of-phase” stereo

No

Frame Rate Conversion Tools

Frame Rate Conversion including PitchShift and TimeStretch

No

Quality Control options

Audio properties (bit depth, channel count,
channels per track, sample rate, bit rate, duration, codec)

Audio QC (silence, phase reversal, drop-outs)

Dolby E properties (metadata, alignment, quantization)

No

Automated production tasks

Auto-mix can perform auto-mixing and auto-ducking
of audio tracks based on different criteria.

SilenceTrim Automation can identify start and
end of audio programs and remove (trim) silence.

No

Watermarking

Kantar Media / Civolution watermarking and verification

No

Radio-specific processing

Omnia.9 audio processing module

No

3^rd party processing

Isostem Loudness Ranger, Isostem Upmixing,
Jünger Audio Level Magic, Nugen Audio DynApt

VST (2.4) host

Yes, allowing audio processing tasks to be moved from the workstation to a full automated file process

No

ATS

VM600

Software updates

Included in AudioCare SLA, frequent minor updates, and all major upgrades

No updates after January 15, 2019

Availability of support staff

Included in AudioCare SLA, ultra-fast response time
up to senior level

Support through January 15, 2022

Product training

Available for purchase

Unknown

Professional services

Available for purchase

Unknown