Audessence Dual Podblaster with Ears for Rackmounting

Audessence Dual Podblaster with Ears for Rackmounting

Unleash the prowess of the Podblaster – a masterful solution offering "powerful yet unobtrusive level control" to tackle the intricate challenges of erratic perceived loudness, dynamic range, and peak levels within stereo or dual-mono audio signals. This audio powerhouse, equipped with both digital and analog inputs and outputs, showcases its prowess in digital processing for diverse applications like podcasting, streaming, feeds from contribution studios, and live sports reporting. Enjoy a plethora of benefits, including mitigating listener annoyance, alleviating the burden on presenters by automating level control, freeing them to focus on content delivery, and enhancing program audibility and clarity through distortion reduction. The Podblaster's versatility extends to microphone processing, featuring high-pass filtering and sibilance-reduction functions when integrated into a mixer with an available insert point. Harness the dual-channel capabilities for dual-mono applications, ideal for managing presenter and guest microphone feeds seamlessly. Explore beyond the realm of audio processing – the Podblaster stands as a guardian for studio-to-transmitter links, digital codecs, and PA and monitoring systems, ensuring a comprehensive and dynamic solution for all your audio needs. Step into a new era of audio control and clarity with the Podblaster – where sophistication meets versatility.

The Podblaster is controlled using a PC connected to the USB port, using the software supplied. The graphical user interface provides a means of selecting one of nine factory presets, modifying it for less or more processing, adjusting levels, and then saving the result to flash memory; after this, a computer need not be connected. This simplified operation of the GUI does not require expert knowledge. However, every processing parameter, including all thresholds and time constants, can also be accessed and modified under PC control, if desired, for an 'expert' setup. The processing blocks include low-pass and adjustable high-pass filters on the inputs. The remaining blocks may be switched in and out. Gated automatic gain control with a capture range of +/-20dB (maximum positive gain can be set) offers programme-dependent operation. A compressor may be activated, with a nominal 1.5:1 slope and 4dB maximum boost of low levels. The wide-band limiter may be selected; it has zero overshoot, due to the 1.3ms look-ahead and zero clipping. The high-frequency limiter protects the 50us or 75us emphasis curve for FM broadcasting and de-pressing applications. The front panel has two pairs of LED bar-graph meters to show input and output levels. The rear has a coaxial DC connector for the supply, a USB connection to a PC for setup, two RCA (phono) connectors for S/P Dif input and output, and two pairs of 6.35mm three-pole jack sockets, providing balanced inputs and outputs at line level for left and right analog signals. The half-width case is 1U high and may be mounted in a full-width rack using optional accessory rack ears 93-2023.

Analogue inputs: +22dBu maximum, -6dBu to +14dBu operating level, 10k ohms.
Digital S-PDIF inputs: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96kHz sample rate; 16, 20 or 24 bits.

Analog to Analog -
Response: 30Hz-20kHz +/-0.5dB. Noise: Less than -83dB RMS, 20Hz-20kHz, referred to +8dBu limit point. Distortion: Better than -74dB (0.02%) THD, 6dB limiting. Stereo separation: Better than -80dB at 3kHz.
Digital to digital -
Response, : 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.1dB. Noise: Less than -117dBFS RMS, 20Hz-20kHz. Distortion: -94dB (0.002%) THD, 6dB limiting. Stereo separation: -117dB at 3kHz. Audio latency: 2.2 to 4ms.

Analogue outputs: -6dBu to +18dBu ceiling for 10k ohms load. Low impedance.
Digital S-PDIF outputs: Full input-rate or half input-rate and 88.2 or 96kHz base-rate selectable. 24 bits.

Power source: 5V DC, 6W, from 90-264V AC power supply included, supplied without AC power cable. Dimensions: 44 x 217 x 228 (h x w x d)mm. Weight: 1kg.