Sonifex RB-PD2 Stereo Profanity Delay (1U)

Sonifex RB-PD2 Stereo Profanity Delay (1U)

To stop offensive or undesired content from airing during live broadcast shows, the RB-PD2 stereo audio profanity delay is employed. It has an automated audio stretch algorithm that lets you add delay live while "on air" in increments of 2 to 55 (*) seconds while keeping the right pitch. It is also possible to record the delay while using a Compact FlashTM memory card to play a pre-selected audio file. The audio stretch algorithm smoothly reduces the delay to zero after the program is finished. The RB-PD2 offers sample rates up to 48kHz at 24-bit and features balanced analog and AES/EBU digital audio inputs and outputs on 3-pin XLR connections. It can function as a combined A/D and D/A device, which allows analog inputs to be output as AES/EBU or the opposite. The BUILD DELAY button on the front panel can be pressed to start the delay. Up to the starting amount chosen, the amount of delay is displayed on a front panel display. To ensure that any undesirable information is eliminated from the audio at the outputs, there are multiple approaches. A COUGH function, activated from a dedicated front panel button, allows locally generated sounds being presented at the inputs, such as the presenter coughing or equipment switching noises, to be discarded.

The DUMP function, which is also activated from a front panel button, has 2 different modes. The first DUMP mode removes a section of audio that has already been buffered, by a pre-selected amount. The second DUMP mode plays a pre-selected audio file on the Compact Flash™ memory card. When the file has finished playing, the delay is then equal to the duration of the file. The DUMP button can be used multiple times to use up the built-up delay and once used, the unit automatically starts to rebuild the original delay time.

As a last resort, all the buffered audio can be discarded by pressing and holding the DUMP button which activates the DROP function. At the end of a radio show when you want to broadcast live, the delay can be ramped down by pressing the front panel EXIT DELAY button. A dedicated record mode allows audio presented at either the analog or digital inputs to be recorded to a linear WAV file on a Compact Flash™ memory card. Additionally, the card format used is PC readable, allowing pre-recorded linear WAV files to be transferred easily from a PC or other such device.

A front panel blue vacuum fluorescent display with a rotary controller is used for selecting the various settings of the profanity delay, which include the start delay and dump modes, safe period, source (analog or digital), sample rate, and sample bit width as well as the required delay time. The current delay value, in seconds, is permanently displayed as is the current status of the unit. Additionally, input peak digits can be selected from +12dBu, +18dBu, and +24dBu for FSD and two left and right pre-set potentiometers on the rear panel allow the input gain range to be altered by ±3dB around the selected peak digits. The analog output gain range can be altered in software from -6dBu to +24dBu output level, ref FSD. Both analog and digital outputs can be separately muted and a front panel Bypass button disengages electro-mechanical relays to divert both analogue and digital inputs to their outputs. This is also disengaged automatically when a power failure occurs.

The RB-PD2 features a remote port supplying 8 inputs and 6 outputs, all of which are freely assignable. The inputs can be used to trigger any of the unit’s functions such as build delay, activate cough, or enter record mode and start a new recording. The outputs can provide external signaling to indicate when certain events have occurred such as the delay reaching the required value or the outputs being muted. Also, the 6 remote outputs can optionally be made to follow 6 of the inputs with the current program delay inserted between actuation on the input and actuation on the output. This can be useful for timed events that need to account for the delay built up by the RB-PD2.

The RB-PD2 can also be utilized at transmitter locations to play an emergency audio file via GPI in the case of silence detection because playback from a Compact FlashTM card can be triggered remotely. When using a remote control to operate the device or when physical security is needed, the front panel controls can be locked out. When the power to the RB-PD2 is on, a red LED illuminates. * At 32kHz/16bit