POW-R is a wordlength reduction (dithering / noiseshaping) method, to reduce e.g. a 24 bit digital audio signal to e.g. a 16 bit wordlength without introducing any quantization distortions. The Weiss pow-r unit includes the standard set of three algorithms which make up the pow-r scheme, plus in addition offers flat TPDF dithering.

Features are:

• 24bit single wire high-speed AES/EBU interfaces
• input wordlength indication
• PLL locked indication
• bypass switch
• dither type selection (pow-r#1, pow-r#2, pow-r#3, flat TPDF)
• 20 / 16 / 8 (for testing) bit output wordlength selectable
• auto-blacking for dither noise
• 40bit floating point / 32bit fixed point processing
• 44.1 / 48 / 88.2 / 96kHz sampling frequencies supported
• standalone 1hu 19" rackmount chassis

An innovative new technique for digital audio Word Length Reduction (WLR) is now available from the Pow-r Consortium, LLC. Some of the world's finest digital audio designers have come together as a team to create what is being hailed as the audio industry's most transparent and musically accurate method of reducing digital word lengths.

Pow-r, an acronym for Psychoacoustically Optimized Wordlength Reduction, is a unique, patent-applied-for algorithm, which reduces longer word lengths (20, 24, even up to 32 bits), to CD standard 16-bit format while retaining a high degree of perceived dynamic efficiency and very low noise. Pow-r is ready for all sample rates from 44.1kHz to 192 kHz, and beyond.

Pow-r is compact and designed for portability. The algorithm will operate optimally in both DSP and native software in digital audio workstation applications. Pow-r consists of three different algorithms, two being noiseshaping and one based on narrow-band Nyquist dither. Pow-r is free from artifacts present in other popular Nyquist-band or noiseshaping WLR techniques, such as "birdies" and "motorboating." With Pow-r, archaic look up tables are avoided and all audio program is decorrelated from Nyquist-band dither.

Several leading pro audio companies (e.g. Sadie and Sonic Solutions) have entered into licensing agreements with the Consortium while many others are now in licensing discussions. Sonic Solutions has selected Pow-r as their exclusive HDSP plug-in partner for high density Word Length Reduction. The Consortium development team is comprised of:

• John La Grou, President, Millennia Media, USA
• David Mc Grath, Principal, Lake DSP, Australia
• Daniel Weiss, President, Weiss Engineering, Switzerland
• Dr. Glenn Zelniker, President, Z-Systems, USA

User Comments

"I've also just finished reviewing the POW-R. In My Opinion, all other WLR schemes now are mostly obsolete. The POW-R consortium has provided the music industry with tools and methods to preserve the quality of high resolution audio in 16bit renditions."
Glenn Meadows, Masterfonics, USA

"Absolute rave! Terrific. I just got an unsolicited letter of praise from a highly-critical client, whose CD I did this year using the identical equipment as last year (both live concert CDs) and the only difference was the POW-R dither."
Bob Katz, Digital Domain, USA

"We just listened to the Mahler 3 as it was remastered using the POW-R box and it sounds GREAT!!! Erica and I wanted to pass on to you our enthusiam over this processor. The sound is remarkably clear and presice. Things now sound as we remembered them at the session with full impact. What a difference."
Michael Bishop, Telarc Records, USA

I have tried your POW-R system for a week and I must say I am impressed. This must be the new standard for wordlenght reduction. [...] It is amazing how little it does and at the same time how essential it is. As one of my clients said " With this you add the Disney twinkling star to the sound ". Well put I should think.
Maarten de Boer, The Masters, Netherlands