Radio World - November 19, 2008 - (Page 34)

34 Radio World | radioworld.com BUYER’S GUIDE November 19, 2008 TECH UPDATES Burk Adds to Plus Family Burk Technology aims to make remote control and monitoring easier and more cost-effective with the Plus-X 300 eight-channel I/O interface and PlusConnect direct interfaces for select transmitter models. These products join the Plus-X AC-8 remote outlet controller and PlusConnect interfaces for Harris Z and 3DX transmitters in a series of IP-based designed to capitalize on the ARC Plus platform. New 5.1 Software Helps Broadcasters New 5.1 surround sound software from DK-Technologies, for its MSD Series of high-end audio meters (MSD600M++, PT0600M, PT0660M and PT0660M-LS), has useful features to help broadcast and post production professionals improve audio quality for surround sound, stereo and mono. Among these features is the new StarFish display that allows users to see what they are hearing when listening in surround sound. When the same audio signal is applied to two loudspeakers, it can under certain conditions sound twice as loud as it does when one loudspeaker is switched off. This phenomenon cannot be read via a normal PPM meter, but StarFish shows an image of the acoustic audio levels, thus allowing the user to visualise the true level. This information is given alongside the images provided by DK’s JellyFish display, which shows audio levels supplied to the center, left/right and left/right rear speakers. The new software also includes ITU-recommended loudness measuring methods that provide new additions to the LEQ (m) and Flat Filtering methods available in earlier versions. Also new is the ability to show SMPTE timecode on the main display to define the start and stop of the loudness measurement. This feature supports the direct spooling of the audio to the desired position in the recording. By utilizing the dual ballistics of the PPM, the audio engineer simultaneously can monitor the correct level on a conventional audio scale and ensure that the level does not exceed the margins decided by the digital signal. DK-Technologies’ software allows an integral matrix in the audio meter to determine the mix down of the surround sound signal to a stereo and a mono signal. This feature allows the audio engineer to monitor and optimise the mixdown while working on the surround sound signal. For automatic logging of the audio signal, DK-Technologies has introduced DKLevelRead, a PC program that reads the levels from the audio meter and stores the measurements on the PC, together with the accompanying timecode. The measured values are used to determine and display the maximum levels. Alarms originated by too high levels or missing signal are detected and marked on the readings for easy identification. All new audio meters from DK-Technologies are delivered with the new software, while existing users can upgrade earlier audio meters with the new features. For more information, contact DK-Technologies America at (800) 421-0888 or visit www.dk-technologies.com. The Plus-X 300 connects via Ethernet to a new or existing ARC Plus remotecontrol system to add eight metering or status inputs and eight relay outputs for control. In addition to traditional transmitter site applications, the Plus-X 300 is well-suited for use in studios, control rooms, IT space and elsewhere because engineers no longer need to accommodate wiring paths back to the remote control rack. Instead, Plus-X units distribute I/O throughout the building while the ARC Plus manages alarms, notifications, automatic events and corrective actions. For existing ARC Plus installations, the Plus-X 300 can be used in conjunction the input and command relay units already in place. The new PlusConnect models allow direct integration of the ARC Plus with the Broadcast Electronics 4MX, Nautel V-series and Rohde & Schwarz 8000-series transmitters. The PlusConnect series of products eliminates external parallel wiring to the transmitter; Burk says this dramatically reduces installation time and effort. The PlusConnect exposes more remote control parameters than otherwise available, allowing the ARC Plus to offer detailed troubleshooting via Web, telephone, software or front panel. For more information, contact Burk Technology at (800) 255-8090 or visit www.burk.com. MAKE WAVES expect your am transmitter more from M2.2R Improves Remote and Alarms The DaySequerra Model M2.2R Modulation Monitor, based on the popular M2.0X, gives broadcasters additional tools to monitor and create alarm triggers for their HD Radio broadcast transmissions. In addition to the original M2.0X model’s basic capabilities, the M2.2R includes six programmable dry, floating alarm relays, RBDS display, full FM analog component monitoring including SCA and pilot injection levels and AM noise, a multiplex output for external SCA decoders, Ethernet interface for streaming PAD data or remote control, and DaySequerra’s Remote Dashboard software program, which lets broadcasters remotely tune the unit, provide alarms for key signal parameters and log their data. The new M2.2R also features full time digital audio output, even when tuned to an analog station. The DaySequerra proprietary PLM (Performance Loss Module) Option has also been included in the M2.2R. This technology employs heuristic algorithms which cannot be misled by pink noise or tones, and will generate alarms when real program silence is detected in HD Radio or analog broadcasts. Unlike external silence-sense units, the M2.2R can also trigger an alarm on loss of RF carrier, audio, OFDM lock, RBDS stream, PAD stream, multicast available and delay bit. In addition to its onboard programmable relay alarms, the M2.2R can be remotely controlled and monitored through the included Remote Dashboard software. Users can measure, log and alarm RF carrier strength, confirm the program status of the analog signal and HD-1 through HD-8, monitor and provide alarm for loss of audio and analog delay bit, even auto-scan through multiple station presets. The complete HD Radio PAD and SIS data package, including station descriptions and program song title, artist, album, genre and comments, can also be simultaneously displayed, each in its own window. Alarm capability is provided for all Remote Dashboard functions including analog and digital audio silence sensing. Active alarm notification is via relay contact closures as well as E-mail. For more information, contact DaySequerra at (856) 719-9900 or visit www. daysequerra.com. MADE IN USA Presenting the Armstrong Transmitter X-1000B Bring major market sound to your radio station with the dual, hot-swappable 600 Watt RF modules capable of 150% modulation in Armstrong Transmitter’s X-1000B, (1KW HD & DRM ready AM transmitter). Engineered with the latest technology advances, X-1000B offers high reliability and built-in redundancy. Get ready to save money while improving your sound and reliability. Call us today! Tel 315-673-1269 5 sales@armstrongtx.com 5 www.armstrongtx.com http://www.radioworld.com http://www.burk.com http://www.dk-technologies.com http://www.armstrongtx.com http://www.armstrongtx.com http://www.daysequerra.com http://www.daysequerra.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Radio World - November 19, 2008

Radio World - November 19, 2008 IBOC+Satellite? Subscribers Not Impressed The New World of AM DA MoM Contents Newswatch Buterbaugh Legendary in Upper Midwest From the Editor Buterbaugh: His Colleagues Look Back Workbench: What’s Wrong With This Picture? KFI Back at Full Power With New Tower 3G or Not 3G? That Is the Question Exploring HD Radio Availability in Philadelphia HD Radio Scoreboard Digital News GEP For That Bird Without a Wire A Chat With Bay Country Radiolicious Brings Radio to iPhones People News Belar FMHD-1 Clears the Skies Reader’s Forum Radio Thrives in Digital Age A Vote for Change

Radio World - November 19, 2008

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