The Sonifex RB-SD1IP Silence Detection Unit monitors an unattended stereo studio feed and, in the event of the signal going ‘quiet’ after a given period, switches to an alternative stereo audio signal.

An upgraded version of the RB-SD1, the unit is a 1U-high rack mount device, and can route a recorded message, a feed from a flashcard player, audio from a connected USB flash drive or an alternative recorded programme to the feed. Controls are provided to start external equipment and to provide remote status indication.

The RB-SD1IP extends the functionality of the RB-SD1, and provides Ethernet connectivity to set up and control the unit via a browser based GUI. The network capabilities allow the user to more finely control silence level (-60dBu to 0dBu in 3dBu steps) and silence duration (1s–10 min). The front panel controls on the unit can also be remotely locked/unlocked to use either the hardware configured settings or web based settings. In addition to the front panel LEDs the GUI home page offers a real-time view of signal levels and alarm statuses.

Using the new browser GUI, left and right channels can be treated independently and remote relay triggers can be configured as one of many events including new GPIO pins.

SNMP V1 is implemented so that the unit can be controlled by existing network management systems. The addition of six extra GPIO pins to the rear panel allows customisable functionality, including the use of the RB-SD1IP network interface to generate SNMP Traps on behalf of other, non-networked, hardware.

The RB-SD1IP has been fitted with a USB interface on the front panel and can act as a host in two ways. First, the USB port can be used to upgrade the firmware on the unit from a USB flash drive. Second, such a drive can hold a pre-recorded message, which the unit can play out in the event that both main and auxiliary signals fall silent.

More: www.sonifex.co.uk