Manual
Model 43D User Guide Issue 1, September 2015
Studio Technologies, Inc. Page 15
meters represent the strength of the audio
signals going to the four channels associ-
ated with the two, 2-channel IFB outputs.
The meters are organized into two groups
with each group representing the two audio
channels being sent to the powered and,
in the case of output 2, the line-level IFB
outputs. The meters are calibrated to reflect
the level relative to the –10 dBu reference
(nominal) level of the powered and line-
level IFB outputs. As an example of how
the meters function let’s review the situation
where the output 1 channel 1 meter has
its bottom three LEDs (–18, –12, and –6)
lit solid and its 0 LED just barely lighting.
This would indicate that a signal with an
approximate level of –10 dBu is being
sent to channel 1 of output 1’s powered
IFB output.
Of interest one may want to note that a –10
dBu signal on the powered and, if applica-
ble, line-level IFB output (and represented
by “0” on the meter) equates to a –20 dBFS
digital audio signal being present on its
associated Dante receiver (input) channel.
This is due to Studio Technologies’ select-
ing –20 dBFS as the reference (nominal)
level for Dante digital audio signals.
Each level meter contains four green LEDs
and one yellow LED. The four green LEDs
indicate IFB audio signal levels at or below
–10 dBu. The top LED is yellow and indi-
cates a signal that is 6 dB or greater than
the –10 dBu nominal level. An audio signal
that causes the yellow LED to light doesn’t
necessarily indicate an excessive level con-
dition, but it does provide a warning that at
some stage reducing the signal level of the
source may be prudent. Typical operation
with normal signal levels should find the
meters lighting near their 0 point. Signal
peaks may cause the yellow LEDs to flash.
But a yellow LED that lights fully during
normal operation will typically indicate ex-
cessive signal level and/or a configuration
problem with associated Dante-enabled
equipment.
Non-Optimal Signal Levels
If the meters consistently display levels
that are lower or higher than the meter’s
0 (reference) point it’s possible that a
configuration issue exists. This would typi-
cally be related to incorrect settings on the
equipment providing the associated Dante
transmitter channels. With a digital matrix
intercom system providing the Dante sig-
nal this problem could be due to an incor-
rect configuration having been made to
a specific channel or port. For example,
the RTS ADAM system has a published
nominal level of +8 dBu, but it’s not clear
how this translates into a digital audio
level on an associated OMNEO (Dante-
compatible) port. Using its configuration
software it’s most likely possible to set the
nominal level of intercom key panels or
ports to something different than +8 dBu.
The best solution in this case would be
to adjust the associated OMNEO (Dante-
compatible) port such that it results in
a nominal level of –20 dBFS on the as-
sociated Dante transmitter channel. This
should lead to the optimal performance
of the Model 43D and associated IFB user
devices.
Powered IFB Outputs
The Model 43D’s microcontroller inte-
grated circuit, under firmware control,
monitors to ensure that the DC voltage
present on pin 2 of each of the powered
IFB outputs is at an acceptable level. (As
previously discussed the nominal level
is 28 volts DC.) If this condition is met