*** PRESS INFORMATION *** PRESS INFORMATION ***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 6, 2002
For more information contact:
Glenn Zelniker                 Mel Lambert
Z-Systems Audio Engineering    Media&Marketing
+1/352.371-0990                +1/818.558-3924
glennz@z-sys.com               mediapr@earthlink.net
Website for media and graphics files: http://www.z-sys.com/media 

LEVELS AUDIO POST ADDS SOPHISTICATED Z-SYSTEMS
Z.128-BY-128R DETANGLER PRO(TM) DIGITAL AUDIO ROUTER
Expanded Hollywood mix-to-picture and video facility handles wide range of post sessions

Hollywood, CA: Having recently expanded its premises to approximately 7,000 square feet, Levels Audio Post now offers a state-of-the-art sound stage with surround-sound mixing capabilities, and a 16-foot video projection screen. To handle the complex input/output routing that this new, expanded facility must accommodate during a busy day, a comprehensive yet flexible digital audio router became essential. Levels Audio Post owner Brian Riordan selected a 128-input/128-output Detangler Pro System from Z-Systems. "It's the heart that pumps the veins," he says of this new acquisition. "The z.128-by-128r Detangler has made the expansion process much easier for us."

Levels Audio Post offers a variety of sound editorial and mixing services, as well as housing an on-line video editing and CGI facility. "Our new Dub Stage," Riodan continues, "features a Sony DMX-100R digital console, linked to a fully-equipped [Digidesign] Pro Tools 24 Mix-Plus rig, with 8-8-8 I/Os. We use a variety of digital audio replay sources and recorders, including a Sony PCM-3324 [DASH-format] multitrack, Tascam DA-98 and DA-78 [Modular Digital Multitracks] plus a Tascam MX2424 hard disk system for multichannel stems."

Recent sessions at Levels Audio Post include post production and mixing for a number of award shows, including "Kid's Choice," "Billboard Music Awards," "MTV Movie Awards" and "World Stunt Awards," as well as the new generation of Reality TV offerings, including "The Chair" for ABC and Fox Television's "Temptation Island." Also on the roster: MTV's "ICON: Aerosmith" and "ESPN: Action Sports & Music Awards," plus a number of commercials and feature films.

"Our new z-128.128r Digital Detangler Pro router accommodates up to 128 stereo inputs routing in any combination to a total of 128 outputs," adds Riordan. Asynchronous sources and destinations can be either 24-bit AES/ABU or S/P DIF format, at sampling rates to 192 kHz, and beyond. Cross point assignments can be selected via a dedicated serial port, using either Z-System's dedicated hardware remote or networked MacOS(r) and Windows(r) control software. "We use the system with our Kramer VS2516 Video Router, to provide audio-follows-video switching. "Up to 10 different crosspoint selections are available at any one time; a single click of the mouse changes from one setup to another instantly, with full recall."

"Z-Systems was the only manufacturer of digital routers that was willing to work with me to ensure seamless expansions of our facility," Riordan stresses. "And everything else we looked at was way expensive. The Detangler Pro is much more cost effective and is priced affordably for post and mix facilities like Levels Audio. The company also offers good product and end-user support."

"Like our z-8.8r, z-16.16r, z-32.32r and z-64.64r Digital Audio Routers," confirms Z-Systems president Glenn Zelniker, "the new z-128.128r eliminates the problem of interconnecting converters, effects processors, recorders, workstations, etc, that operate at different sampling rates and use different digital I/O formats. And all with the added convenience of a remote control or a Mac- or Windows-based control interface." The remote control and computer interfaces allow the creation of multiple I/O presets, or salvos, that can later be recalled for instant reconfiguration.



PHOTO CAPTION:
Levels Audio Post's new Z-Systems z-128.128r Detangler Pro digital audio router in central Machine Room (left) and Pro Tool-equipped Dub Stage.



Note to Editors: High-resolution mages in TIFF/JPEG formats of these and other images, plus the Digital Detangler Pro, are available upon request



Founded in 1993, Z-Systems specializes in the development of leading-edge digital audio interface and signal processing products for the recording, mastering, broadcast and post-production markets. www.z-sys.com


Z-Systems Audio Engineering, 4641-F N.W. 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA www.z-sys.com