Sonifex RB-OA3 3 Studio On-Air Switcher

RB-OA3 3 Studio On-Air Switcher

The RB-OA3 is a 1U rack-mount, unity gain on-air switcher, capable of switching three stereo pairs between three studios. Each studio can control the transmission path together with two peripheral paths for equipment such as a codec or hybrid and there is also a Last studio to offer bus, allowing for seamless and continuous broadcast from any multi-studio radio network. A sustain mode allows for a sustaining system, such as a PC automation system, to control the broadcast. Multiple RB-OA3 units can be connected together to switch more studios or more stereo pairs.

The switching is achieved using relays, except the last studio to offer which is switched by an analogue switch. The transmission path is switched using latching relays. This means that if there is a power failure to the unit, the transmission path will remain selected.

All studios are connected using 25 way D-types for electronically balanced audio signals and control is achieved using 15 way D-types, connecting to an external control unit such as the Sonifex S2-MTBS mixer control panel. A transmission mix connection is included to mix audio which is generic to all studios into the transmission path. This could be used for jingles or adverts for example. The RB-OA3 also allows for the control of a profanity delay to be shared by all connected studios.

Each studio has the ability to offer the transmission. Once offered, the transmission is fed to the other studios via the last studio to offer bus. The next scheduled station can then fade in the transmission and accept at the appropriate time meaning the transmission can be continuous.

The sustain mode can be used to control an automated studio, such as an overnight music system. In this case, station control will switch to the automated system by holding the Offer button down for a number of seconds, pre-determined by a calibration routine. This will select the sustaining studio, set as studio three, which will immediately offer control back to all remaining studios. Any studio can then accept to resume orthodox broadcasting.

The RB-OA3 can be expanded to switch between up to 5 studios or up to 6 stereo pairs by connecting a multiple of units together via RJ45 serial connections. With the addition of a single unit, expansion in studio mode allows for 2 additional studios to take control of the transmission path and additional equipment. If the expansion is made in bus mode, then three additional stereo channels can be added. 4 x RB-OA3 units can be connected together to switch 6 stereo pairs between up to 5 studios.

The modes are configured by dip switch configurations, on the rear of each unit. Two dip switches control the unit ID and there are two switches which decide between studio and bus modes. A master unit, defined by a preset ID, conducts all communication between all units.

For more information on the Sonifex RB-OA3 3 Studio On-Air Switcher, click here!

The Company agrees to repair or (at its discretion) replace Goods which are found to be defective (fair wear and tear excepted) and which are returned to the Company within the Warranty Term provided that each of the following are satisfied:

1. (i) notification of any defect is given to the Company immediately upon its becoming apparent to the Purchaser;
2. (ii) the Goods have only been operated under normal operating conditions and have only been subject to normal use (and in particular the Goods must have been correctly connected and must not have been subject to high voltage or to ionising radiation and must not have been used contrary to the Company's technical recommendations);
3. (iii) the Goods are returned to the Company's premises at the Purchaser's expense;
4. (iv) any Goods or parts of Goods replaced shall become the property of the Company;
5. (v) no work whatsoever (other than normal and proper maintenance) has been carried out to the Goods or any part of the Goods without the Company's prior written consent;
6. (vi) the defect has not arisen from a design made, furnished or specified by the Purchaser;
7. (vii) the Goods have been assembled or incorporated into other goods only in accordance with any instructions issued by the Company;
8. (viii) the defect has not arisen from a design modified by the Purchaser;
9. (ix) the defect has not arisen from an item manufactured by a person other than the Company. In respect of any item manufactured by a person other than the Company, the Purchaser shall only be entitled to the benefit of any warranty or guarantee provided by such manufacturer to the Company.