Sonifex AVN-CU2-DANTE

Configurable Dante Commentary Unit for 2 Commentators

The Sonifex AVN-CU2-DANTE takes a new approach to provide a multipurpose configurable tool for commentary teams. Its power lies in the impressive mix engine which overlays the usual Dante® Controller settings.

Once Dante® flows have been established, you have the flexibility to mix inputs and outputs as needed. These can be routed to either AoIP (Audio over Internet Protocol) or physical inputs and outputs.

To manage this, the system provides intuitive control options through programmable buttons and rotary encoders. These controls enable you to adjust the gain and pan settings for inputs, outputs, or cross-points.

This level of control allows you to adapt to different situations, making it a versatile solution for various audio routing needs. Whether you need to switch between different sources, control audio levels, or fine-tune pan positions, the system offers the adaptability required for your specific requirements.

It can be used in any number of different commentary situations, controlled manually or remotely and controls can be ‘locked down’ so that they can’t be tampered with or altered, to guarantee reliable operation. Housed in a rugged and intuitive, user-friendly package, it’s a truly different way of looking at how commentary units should operate.

Traditional commentary units have fixed analogue and digital I/O and fixed controls in fixed positions on the unit. Their inputs and outputs are defined at hardware design and are thus limited by that initial design, including limited routing, mixing and DSP of the audio pathways.

We’ve taken a different approach with the AVN-CU2-DANTE. It was designed from the ground up to be totally flexible in operation, and the use of Dante AoIP means that inputs and outputs can be added as required (up to a max of 16 per unit). Because any physical analogue or digital input can be mixed and routed with any Dante AoIP input to any physical output or Dante output, you can define your own audio pathways. Additionally, you can choose which of those pathways need to be controlled (volume and pan) by the use of rotary encoders. Using a built-in web GUI, up to 4 nameable pages of 6 rotary encoders (24 in total) can be placed on the mix matrix at inputs, outputs or cross-points. Each rotary encoder has a separate colour-coded meter section showing the channel name, detailed level metering and left/right panning on a bright daylight reading display. Colours can be programmed per encoder to quickly identify particular source groups, so headphone source selection becomes intuitive.

The AVN-CU2-DANTE provides two mic/line inputs with a wide, adjustable gain range and has two stereo headphone outputs with lockable jack sockets, suitable for operation by two commentators.

It’s powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE), using Neutrik EtherCON connectors, with primary and secondary ports for power and data redundancy. There’s an additional 4 pin XLR 12V DC input. The unit supports up to 16 input and output AoIP channels and up to 16 simultaneous input and output AoIP streams.

The 6 push-button rotary encoders control input and output levels and panning. The 12 key-cap buttons are fully configurable for any button function.

Metering is available per input/output, with output metering configurable as pre or post level adjustment. The top of the display shows output metering, a limiter indication and the name of the output. An adjustable limiter is available on every output and is applied automatically to prevent signal clipping.

The unit has 2 x locking mic/line inputs with +48V phantom power indication and 2 x headphone outputs on locking 6.35 mm jack sockets.

Four wire I/O on rear panel RJ45 connectors provide an AES3 or analogue input and output that can be assigned as mic outputs (line level), talkback outputs, programme inputs or talkback inputs as desired.

In addition, the AES/analogue connections can be used as an insert or exit point into/out from the AoIP network.

The unit has dual redundant network ports on both RJ45 (PoE using 2 x Neutrik EtherCON® connectors) and SFP cages for long fibre runs.

There are 10 x configurable GPIO on a 15 way D-type connector with 1 x switched changeover output.

All the buttons have key-cap text and can be configured.