PIRA PIRA32 RDS BROADCAST ENCODER

The PIRA32 RDS encoder is a result of more than 10 years experience collecting and meets requirements of most regional, local, RSL, LPFM and other medium- and small-coverage radio stations. Itʼs also highly suitable for service and development purposes. Fully digital concept and uniquely effective design ensures high reliability, excellent signal characteristics and gives the user many advanced features while maintaining low acquisition costs. The PIRA32 was worldwide first compact dynamic RDS encoder. It is also implemented in products of several 3rd party manufacturers, resulting in more than 7000 units overall.

PIRA32 system features

• Fully dynamic stand-alone RDS encoder
• Direct digital RDS signal synthesis
• RS-232 control interface based on set of simple ASCII commands or UECP protocol; OS independent, no driver required
• Control software includes powerful MagicRDS_Setup.exe (Version 3.7d, 900 kB)
• Firmware updates are free
  Rdsup.zip (275 kB) - version 1.6 rev. 2, released on 31.10.2013
• Text features include dynamic PS, parsing, scrolling, fixed messages and scheduling
• Two switchable program sets (with optional DSN and PSN setting)
• Bypass relay, high reliability
• External TA and Program switch
• Switchable MPX loopthrough
• Internal real-time clock incl. backup battery, showing real-time also as PS
• No special 19 kHz input needed - pilot tone internally recovered from MPX signal
• Digital 57 kHz phase locked loop - rock stable RDS subcarrier in all cases, the PLL will never lock to a pilot frequency outside the functional range
• Easy and fast set-up

RDS services directly supported by the unit

Total text capacity:

• 25 kB - Equivalent to more than 3200 PS strings. Send text messages without any space limitations!
• 100 text messages for off-line operation - up to 255 characters each sent as RT, dynamic/scrolling PS or both. Manual or automatic switching.
• Four modes for dynamic/scrolling PS transmission at selectable speed, incl. word alignment and one-by-one character scrolling.

 Technical specifications

How to connect the PIRA32 to a computer?

The RDS encoder can be connected to a computer via USB adapter cable or standard serial cable terminated by CANON D-SUB plugs.
Use this description if you wish to make the cable yourself.

As a next step, download the Magic RDS 3 control software (MagicRDS_Setup.exe (Version 3.7d, 900 kB) ) and you can start to use the RDS encoder at once.

The RDS encoder can be also controlled from non-Windows operating systems (Linux, MS-DOS, ...) using any RS-232 ASCII terminal. The command set is easy to learn and gives full control over the RDS stream. It's a strong tool also for developers. You can find detailed description of this advanced use in the manual.

Bidirectional interface provides all info about the RDS encoder services status even if it's installed in neighbour room, abutting building or on a transmitter site in mountains. Ethernet connection is supported by the control software as well.

For more information and set-up details download the manual.

Shure DP11EQE Dynamics Processor Specification:

    GENERAL:
        Frequency Response: 20 to 20k Hz +/- 1.0 dB re 1 kHz
        Dynamic Range: 104 dB minimum, A-weighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
        Sampling Rate: 48 kHz
        Digital-to-Analog, Analog-to-Digital Conversion: 20 bit resolution
    Voltage Gain:
        1 dB +/- 1dB (power off)
        12 dB +/- 2 dB (input 10 dBV, output +4 dBu)
        12 dB +/- 2 dB (input +4 dBu, output 10 dBv)
        0 dB +/- 2 dB (equal input and output sensitivities)
    Impedance:
        Input: 47 kilohms +/- 20% actual
        Output: 120 ohms +/- 20% actual
    Input Clipping Level
        +18 dBu minimum (at +4 dBu setting)
        +6 dBV minimum (at 10 dBV setting)
    Output Clipping Level
        +18 dBu minimum (at +4 dBu setting)
        +6 dBV minimum (at 10 dBV setting)
    Total Harmonic Distortion
            LED Signal Indicators
        Signal: 40 dB
        Clip: 6 dB down from input clipping
    Propagation Delay from Input to Ouput
        0.8 ms (all filters flat, no dynamics processing, 0 ms delay), up to 2.1 ms (all processing enabled)
    Polarity
        Input to output: inverting optional (default: non-inverting)
        XLR: pin 2 positive with respect to pin 3
        1/4-inch TRS: tip positive with respect to ring
    Operating Voltage
        DP11EQ: 120 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 50 mA max
        DP11EQE: 230 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 25 mA max
        DP11EQJ: 100 Vac, 50/60 Hz, 50 mA max
    Temperature Range
        Operating: 0 degrees to 60 degrees C (32 degrees to 140 degrees F)
    Fuse
        DP11EQ: 120 Vac. Fuse: 100 mA, 250V time delay
        DP11EQE: 230 Vac. Fuse: 50 mA, 250 V time delay
        DP11EQJ: 100 Vac. Fuse: 100 mA, 250 V time delay
    Dimensions
        219 mm x 137 mm x 44 mm (8-5/8 in x 5-3/8 in x 1-3/4 in)
        Weight: 930 g (2.05 lbs)
    DYNAMICS PROCESSOR
        Gate and Expander:
        Threshold: 72 to 1 dB, 0.5 dB resolution
        Attack: 1.0 to 200 ms
        Decay: 0.05 to 1 second
        Gate Hold Time: 0 to 0.5 seconds
    AGC Leveler
        Threshold: 72 to 1 dB, 0.5 dB resolution
        Attack: 0.2 to 3 seconds
        Decay: 0.5 to 5 seconds
        Hinge: Threshold to 1 dB, 0.5 dB resolution
    Compressor and Limiter
        Threshold: 72 to 1 dB, 0.5 dB resolution
        Attack: 1.0 to 200 ms
        Decay: 0.05 to 1 second
        Knee: Hard or Soft selectable
    No Overshoot Peak Limiter
        Propagation delay: 1 ms
        Threshold: 72 to 1 dB, 0.5 dB resolution
        Attack: 0 msDecay: 100 ms
    PARAMETRIC EQUALIZER
        Parametric Filter Frequency Bands
        Up to 9 bands, variable frequency, variable Q
    Boost/Cut Range
        +6 dB to 18 dB per band
        Q Range
        1/40-octave to 2 octave
    High and Low Shelf/Cut Filters
        Shelf, +6 to 18 dB per filter
        Cut, 12 dB per octave nominal
    DELAY
        Up to 1.3 seconds, 21 microsecond resolution

OPTIMOD-FM 5500 puts coveted five-band and two-band OPTIMOD processing into a single rack unit package and brings it to you at the most affordable price ever.

Quality sound is what 5500 is all about-sound that attracts audiences by providing a polished, professional presentation regardless of format and source material. Exceptional versatility allows you to adjust the processor's audio texture to brand your audio, knowing that the resulting signature sound will remain consistent, cut-to-cut and source-to-source. Branding builds businesses and no other processors have the consistency to brand your sound like OPTIMOD.

With the 5500, your signature sound is just a preset away. An easy, one-knob Less/More adjustment allows you to customize any factory preset, trading cleanliness against processing artifacts according to the requirements of your market and competitive environment. Full Control gives you the versatility to customize your audio further. And, if you're a hard-core processing expert, you can explore Advanced Control to tweak presets at the same level as Orban's factory programmers. This versatility makes the 5500 a superb choice for any format. Its five-band processing is ideal for any pop music format (even the most competitive and aggressive CHR), while phase-linear two-band processing yields ultratransparent sound for classical, classic jazz, and fine arts formats. Regardless of your choice, 5500's optimized technology ensures unusually high average modulation and coverage for a given level of subjective quality. Unlike many lesser processors, the 5500 handles speech particularly well. It's always clean, even when you process for loudness.

If you're concerned about latency because you need to feed live talent headphones off air, be assured that the 5500's ultra-low-latency (5 ms delay) processing will keep the most finicky talent happy. Or use optimum latency (15 ms delay) processing for the most competitive sound with delay that's still low enough to satisfy most any talent.

The 5500 can also be used as a superb stand-alone stereo encoder with latency as low as 2 ms and full overshoot limiting in both the left/right and composite baseband domains.

When used in this mode, the 5500 must be driven (usually via an STL) by a full-featured FM audio processor (like Orban's 8600) that incorporates pre-emphasis aware HF limiting and peak control. In both modes, the 5500's stereo encoder helps deliver a transmitted signal that's always immaculately clean and perfectly peak limited, with full spectral protection of subcarriers and RDS/RBDS regardless of the amount of composite limiting.

It is the ideal choice for network broadcasters who process with Orban's flagship OPTIMOD-FM 8600 at the network origination point and who need a processor at every transmitter to eliminate STL overshoots (using the 5500's stand-alone stereo encoder mode) and/or to process local insertions while also eliminating network STL overshoots (using the 5500's audio processor / stereo encoder mode). Moreover, the 5500's two modes make it easy for large government and network broadcasters to manage its inventory of spares because any 5500 can be used as a stereo encoder with or without audio processing.

Available in both modes, the built-in, defeat-able ITU-BS412 multiplex power controller allows the 5500's output to meet even the most stringent European government regulations.

A 10 MHz frequency reference input allows the stereo pilot tone frequency to be locked to GPS or another high-accuracy frequency standard. This improves the performance of single-frequency networks in areas where coverage of the transmitters overlaps.

The 5500's built-in stereo encoder, AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs, and analog I/O permit hasslefree interfacing to any broadcast plant, whether the 5500 is located at the studio or the transmitter. Tight band limiting to 15 kHz means you can use any uncompressed digital STL to pass 5500- processed audio from studio to transmitter without compromising on-air loudness - there's no need to use STL's having 44.1 or 48 kHz sample-rate.

The stereo encoder's stereo sub-channel modulator can operate in normal double sideband mode and in an experimental compatible single sideband mode (SSB/VSB) that is offered to enable users to compare and assess the two modes.

Analog Fallback to Digital control that allows Silence Sense to switch the active input from Analog to Digital if silence is detected in the analog input signal but not on the digital input signal. This function works vice versa as well on both analog and digital AES input. The silence sense parameters apply to both simultaneously and both detectors are available to drive the 5500's tally outputs and sending SNMP Traps/Alerts.

If you want to locate the 5500 away from the studio, you'll be pleased by its three separate remote control ports - GPI contact closures, RS232 serial and built-in Ethernet for TCP/IP networks. The serial and Ethernet ports are supported by the supplied 5500 PC Remote Control application. This Windows® 2000/XP/Vista/7/8 application allows you to do even more with the 5500 than you can do through its front panel, making remote control a pleasure.

5500 PC Remote software allows you to access all 5500 features and allows you to archive and restore presets, automation lists, and system setups (containing I/O levels, digital word lengths, GPI functional assignments, etc.)

Built-in clock-based automation lets you automatically day-part the processing. You can control many other 5500 operating parameters too.

The 5500's feature set fully exploits the processor's DSP and computer-based control architecture. To ensure absolute accuracy, you can automatically synchronize the clock to an Internet timeserver. It has a cool-running, energy-efficient switching power supply and uses the latest dual-core DSP chip technology from Freescale Semiconductor.

In today's recording and sound reinforcement environments, the need for multiple channels of high quality, easy to use compression is growing rapidly. The new dbx® 1046 is designed to provide the audio professional with just that: 4 channels of great sounding dbx compression for a variety of applications. Incorporating the industry standard dbx designs and the latest available manufacturing techniques, the dbx 1046 provides pristine sonic quality with that classic dbx sound.

The 1046 provides 4 channels of smooth classic dbx OverEasy® or Hard Knee compression that are perfectly suited for use on individual tracks of your multitrack recorder, and in virtually all applications the separate channels can be individually interfaced and used for entirely independent purposes. Additionally the newly developed PeakStopPlus™ is ideal for protecting your system from the oppressive peaks that can take out valuable drivers in your sound reinforcement rig or studio monitors.

All four channels have the following controls:

Threshold - allows you to set the level at which the compressor starts affecting the gain

OverEasy - allows you to select between soft compression for overall gain control or Hard Knee compression based on the characteristics of the original dbx 160.

Ratio - allows you to set the slope of gain reduction affecting the signal over the threshold level.

Input/Output Meter - allows you to set the meter to check the input and output levels for maximum signal-to-noise ratio and best level matching.

Output Gain - allows you to add make-up gain or to adjust the output level for that channel to match the next device's input gain.

Bypass - hard wire bypass allows you to hear how the compressor is affecting your signal.

PeakStopPlus - allows you to set the maximum signal level you want to pass through this channel. While it's virtually impossible to eliminate distortion, the PeakStopPlus circuit does it gracefully and effectively with minimal distortion.

Stereo Link - allows you to link channels 1&2 and 3&4 for two channels of true stereo compression.

All four channels feature balanced gold plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs, and switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operating level to interface each individual channel with any other device.

So whether you need to control the level, placement in the mix, or overall characteristics of 4 independent signals or control the gain leveling on a couple of stereo pairs, the dbx 1046 is for you.

• Four independent channels of operation, stereo linkable in two pairs
• PeakStopPlus™ limiting control for setting maximum allowable level regardless of compressor settings
• Independent Threshold and ratio controls
• Switchable OverEasy® or Hard Knee compression
• Classic dbx® compression
• Differentially balanced gold-plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs
• True RMS level detection
• Precision metering of input level, output level, and gain reduction
• Dual True stereo or quad mono operation
• Switchable +4dBu or -10dBV operation per channel

The DPR-504 is a 4-channel noise gate.

Each channel features:
A parametric key filter with key filter listening.
Simultaneous key level and threshold metering with average and
peak metering.
A gate status LED.
A RELEASE/HOLD control (hold tracks proportionally with release
times).
Attack switchable auto/fast (auto tracks signal dynamics for optimum
setting).
Link (links two channels together).
Key source allows external triggers.

The Range switch selects between 7OdB and 2OdB gating depth to
provide alternative release profiles.
The unit features electronically balanced inputs and outputs. 

The latest addition to the 10 Series product line, the dbx® 1074 QuadGate™, is the perfect companion to the 1066 and 1046. The 1074 offers 4 channels of gating with threshold, depth and release controls on each channel. The 1074, like the rest of the products in dbx 10 Series, is based on the legendary dbx V2 VCA and offers XLR inputs and outputs, and 1/4” side-chain input. In addition to an external key input per channel, the 1074 also has an internal filter that can be independently activated and controlled on a channel-per-channel basis. This filter allows the 1074 to not only clean up tracks, but gives you frequency selective control on each gate, to open exactly when you want it to. These features combined, make the 1074 an absolute must for those who require quad gating on applications including: Gating dry and percussive sounds such as snare drum and kick drum,gating sounds that have longer decay times such as cymbals and Pianos, gating hum or buzz from live instruments or recorded tracks or eliminating Headphone leakage into microphones. Gating instrument microphones to eliminate amplifier bleed. 

From the company that has been redefining the standard of signal processing for more than 30 years, dbx® Professional Products comes a bulletproof product that caters to the scrutinizing needs of those who require the precision noise gating capabilities. Once again, the engineering staff at dbx® Professional Products have taken technology that has been over three decades in the making and have created a product that is flexible, versatile and rock solid in construction design. The 1074ʼs independent channel design with key filtering capabilities make it the perfect tool for countless applications.

• Four independent channels of gating
• Independent key filtering
• Independent Threshold and Release controls
• Differentially balanced gold-plated XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs
• True RMS level detection
• Stereo Coupling mode
• Switchable +4dBu or -10dBv operation per channel
  
  

  Input Connectors	XLR (Pin 2 and tip hot)
  Input Type	Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
  Input Impedance	Balanced > 50 kOhm, unbalanced >25 kOhm
  Max Input	> +22 dBu balanced or unbalanced
  CMRR	40dB: Typically >55 dB at 1 kHz
  Key Input	Electronically balanced/unbalanced, RF fitered Balanced 50kOhm, unbalanced > 25 kOhm
  Output Connectors	XLR (Pin 2 hot)
  Output Type	Servo-balanced/unbalanced, RF filtered
  Output Impedance	Balanced 60 Ohm, unbalanced 30 Ohm
  Max Output	> +22 dBm balanced, > +20 dBm unbalanced
  Bandwidth	20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/-0.5 dB
  Frequency Response	0.35 Hz to 200 kHz, +0/-3 dB
  Noise
  Dynamic Range	> 115 dB, unweighted
  THD+Noise	0.008% typical at +4 dBu (1 kHz unity gain), 0.08% typical at +20 dBu (1 kHz unity gain),
  Interchannel Crosstalk
  Stereo Coupling	True RMS Power Summing
  Operating Voltage	100-120 VAC 50-60 Hz or 200-240 VAC 50/60 Hz
  Power Consumption	30 Watts
  Fuse	100-120 VAC:250 mA Slow Blow, 200-240 VAC:125 mA Type T
  Power Connector	IEC receptacle
  Unit Weight	6.9 lbs.
  Shipping Weight	9.3 lbs.