Manual

Table Of Contents
26
Reference Monitors User Handbook
REFERENCE MONITORS RM-4C8
REFERENCE MONITORS RM-4C8
2
RM-4C8 Reference Monitor, 4 LED meters, 8 channel inputs &
dual selectors
Introduction
Fig 2-1: RM-4C8 Reference Monitor Front Panel
The RM-4C8 is a 1U rack-mount unit oering quality loudspeaker monitoring and accurate,
high-resolution metering of up to eight mono audio sources and more with the addition
of an optional expansion card. Sources may be in any mixture of analogue and AES/EBU
digital formats, with sample rates up to 192kHz accepted.
The Sources for both left- and right-hand loudspeakers (and additional Banks of Sources,
if available) are individually selected via a pair of front panel rotary encoders, with clear
LED indication of the current selections. A pair of line-level audio outputs, congurable
as analogue or AES/EBU digital, follow the selected sources at either a xed level or one
mirroring the loudspeaker volume.
The levels of the selected bank of four sources are simultaneously displayed on a quartet
of bright, multicoloured 26-segment bargraph meters, with a choice of seven accurately
modelled scales/responses to suit dierent applications and local preferences. A separate
phase meter indicates channel correlation or phase error conditions between the two
selected sources. On the rear panel, open-collector alarm outputs provide hardware
indication of sustained underlevel, overlevel, phase errors and digital source lock.
Six illuminated pushbuttons provide access to a range of audio ‘modiers’ – instant
dimming of the volume, muting of each audio channel, stereo-to-mono conversion, phase
inversion and Middle+Side transcoding. On the rear panel, logic-level inputs allow direct
remote access to the DIM and MUTE functions.
The three-way loudspeaker system is fed via a DSP-based active crossover and a trio of
highly ecient Class-D ampliers. Careful attention to driver selection, materials and
case design, plus active DSP equalisation, has ensured a at response and outstanding
reproduction from such a shallow unit. A protective limiter prevents damage to the
loudspeakers under overload conditions and the front-panel headphone socket
automatically mutes the internal loudspeakers when a plug is inserted. A Balance control
allows you to alter the stereo image, or Pan, of the two selected sources.
A further ve-band parametric equaliser can be accessed for room-equalisation purposes
via Sonifex SCi Windows-based remote control software. Source selection, status
monitoring and unit ID functions, plus rmware updates to add extra functionality, are
all accessible remotely via both USB and RS232 connections in conjunction with Sonifex
SCi software. The open control protocol also allows operation with terminal programs or
customised applications.