Aqua Zen 10 – Stereo AGC

Aqua Zen 10 Stereo AGC Overview

The Zen 10 level controller is a modern stereo AGC designed by David Reaves and built by Aqua Broadcast to keep programme levels consistent without the audible “pumping” of traditional gain riders. Ten independent controllers can be arranged into up to five frequency bands, working on stereo, L+R or L–R, so loudness variations are smoothed gently while preserving punch and stereo image. A BS.1770 loudness sidechain and Hans van Zutphen’s Perfect De‑Clipper technology help restore clipped material and align loudness before further processing or transmission stages.

Flexible connectivity includes analogue and AES3 digital I/O plus Dante AES67 for direct integration into AoIP plants, while ultra‑low latency in the ±1 ms range keeps the Zen 10 suitable for live work as well as on‑air chains.

Key Features

• Ten AGC controllers that can be configured as up to five frequency bands, operating on stereo, L+R or L–R for precise, musical level control.
• BS.1770 loudness‑based sidechain so gain changes follow industry loudness standards instead of simple peak or RMS levels.
• Perfect De‑Clipper by Hans van Zutphen to restore clipped peaks and reduce distortion before downstream processing.
• Analogue and AES3 digital audio plus Dante AES67 network I/O for use in both baseband and AoIP workflows.
• Low‑latency DSP architecture with front‑panel controls, dual displays and web UI for detailed setup and monitoring.
• Presets and user profiles so engineers can recall tailored behaviours for FM, AM, TV loudness, streaming or production buses.

Applications

Use the Aqua Zen 10 Stereo AGC ahead of your main on‑air processor, as a transparent leveller in production and podcast chains, or as a loudness controller in TV and streaming workflows where consistent levels are essential. Pair it with processors and codecs from our
audio processing
range to build complete, controlled signal paths from studio to transmitter.