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First Dante Enabled Product Announced by Sonifex

Sonifex just debuted its new Dante units, the AVN-CU2 for two commentators and the AVN-CU4 for up to four commentators. Using Dante AoIP together with four wire connections, they bridge the gap between old and new technology, allowing the ease of connectivity and functionality of AoIP together with the legacy connections needed to operate with the existing infrastructure in some stadia and sports grounds.

The AVN-CU2 provides two mic/line inputs with a wide, adjustable gain range and +48V phantom power and has two stereo headphone outputs with lockable jack sockets, suitable for operation by two commentators.

It’s powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE), using Neutrik EtherCON connectors, with primary and secondary ports for power and network data redundancy. SFP cages are also available for networking and there’s an additional four-pin XLR 12V DC input. The unit supports up to 16 input and output AoIP channels and up to 16 simultaneous input and output AoIP streams. Stream setup to and from the unit is initially via Dante Controller with more detailed configuration performed by using the built-in web GUI. A visual mix-matrix makes setup simple and intuitive and the CU2 can be remotely controlled from the web interface with front-panel lock-out options for unit operation.

The six push-button rotary encoders and twelve key-cap buttons are fully configurable to control input and output levels and panning. Each rotary encoder has a separate color-coded meter section showing the channel name, detailed level metering, left/right panning and a limiter indication, on a bright daylight reading display. Colors can be programmed per encoder to quickly identify particular source groups, so headphone source selection becomes intuitive.

Metering is available per input/output, with output metering configurable as pre or post level adjustment. The top of the display shows output metering, a limiter indication and the name of the output, a pre-defined logo or nothing. A limiter is available on every output.

Four wire I/O on rear panel RJ45 connectors provide an AES3 or analogue input and output that can be assigned as mic outputs (line level), talkback outputs, program inputs or talkback inputs as desired. In addition, the AES/analog connections can be used as an insert or exit point into/out from the AoIP network.

All of the buttons have key-cap text and can be configured. There are some standard operations available: on-air buttons can be used to connect mic audio to the main output, either over AoIP or via the AES digital audio connection. The on-air buttons can be locked if required. Four talkback buttons can be configured to initiate talkback over AoIP or AES digital audio connection, using four talkback busses. The talkback buttons operate with lazy talkback, taking the commentator off-air when invoked.

There are ten configurable GPIO on a 15 way D-type connector with one switched changeover output. The AVN-CU4 is a dual version of the AVN-CU2 providing four mic/line inputs with a wide, adjustable gain range and four stereo headphone outputs with lockable jack sockets, suitable for operation by three or four commentators. The feature set is as per the AVN-CU2, with the following differences — it has a universal AC input, there are four on-air buttons, four page buttons, four cough buttons, eight talkback buttons and three user buttons.

The units will be available Q1 2019 and here are the details on each product.

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