Manual

Issue 2, March 2020 Model 381 User Guide
Page 6 Studio Technologies, Inc.
MODEL 381
ON-AIR BELTPACK
Setup and Operation
Set up and operation of the Model 381 is
simple. An etherCON® RJ45 jack is used
to interconnect with a standard twisted-pair
Ethernet port associated with a PoE-enabled
network switch. This connection provides
both power and bidirectional digital audio.
A broadcast headset or handheld (“stick”)
microphone can be directly connected to the
unit’s 3-pin XLR microphone input connec-
tor. This input is compatible with dynamic or
condenser microphones. An integrated P48
phantom power source can be enabled if
desired. Stereo headphones, the headphone
connections from a stereo or monaural
headset, or even a monaural earpiece are
connected to the headphone output jack.
Two “push-in/push-out” rotary controls (po-
tentiometers or “pots”) make it easy to set
the level of the talent cue signals level being
sent to the 2-channel headphone output.
The STcontroller software application is
used to configure the wide range of Model
381 operating parameters. This allows the
unit’s performance to be optimized to meet
the needs of specific applications. The
Model 381’s ultra-compact enclosure is
made from an aluminum alloy which offers
both light weight and ruggedness. A stain-
less steel “belt clip,” located on the back
of the unit, allows direct attachment to a
user’s clothing. The top surface is curved
to minimize the chance of the unit interfering
with clothing or being readily observable
“on camera.”
Ethernet Data and PoE
The Model 381 connects to a local area net-
work (LAN) by way of a standard 100 Mb/s
twisted-pair Ethernet interface. The physical
100BASE-TX interconnection is made by
way of a Neutrik® etherCON RJ45 connec-
tor. While compatible with standard RJ45
plugs, etherCON allows a ruggedized and
locking interconnection for harsh or high-
reliability environments. The Model 381’s
operating power is provided by way of the
Ethernet interface using the 802.3af Power-
over-Ethernet (PoE) standard. This allows
fast and efficient interconnection with the
associated data network. To support PoE
power management, the Model 381’s PoE
interface enumerates (reports) to the power
sourcing equipment (PSE) that it’s a class 2
(low power) device.
Dante Audio-over-Ethernet
Audio data is sent to and received from
the Model 381 using the Dante audio-over-
Ethernet media networking technology.
The Model 381’s two Dante output (trans-
mitter) and two Dante input (receiver) audio
channels can be assigned to other devices
(routed) using the Dante Controller soft-
ware application. The Dante transmitter and
receiver channels are limited to supporting
four Dante flows, two in each direction. The
digital audio’s bit depth is up to 24 with a
sampling rate of 44.1, 48, 88.2, or 96 kHz.
Two bi-color LEDs provide an indication of
the Dante connection status.
The Model 381 is compatible with the AES67
interoperability standard. In this mode the
two transmitter (output) channels will func-
tion in multicast; unicast is not supported.
In addition, the unit is compatible with the
Dante Domain Manager (DDM) software
application.
Audio Quality
The Model 381’s performance is completely
“pro,” making it appropriate for use in a
wide-range of applications. A low-noise, wide
dynamic-range microphone preamplifier
and associated voltage-controlled-amplifier
(VCA) dynamics controller (“compressor”)
circuit ensures that mic input audio quality