Sonifex RB-DSD1 Digital Silence Detection Unit

Product Overview

The Sonifex RB-DSD1 is a 1U digital silence detection unit that protects critical programme paths by switching automatically to a secondary source if the main feed fails. It monitors the selected digital input against a user-defined silence threshold over a programmable time window, providing predictable failover whenever programme audio is lost. This makes the Sonifex RB-DSD1 a practical safeguard for radio, TV and streaming operations that cannot tolerate dead air.

At a Glance

• Digital silence detection and automatic changeover between main and backup feeds.
• Supports AES/EBU, S/PDIF and TOSlink optical inputs and outputs.
• Adjustable silence threshold from -39dBFS to -84dBFS, with variable detect time.
• Automatic or manual restore modes with relay bypass for failsafe operation.
• Front-panel LEDs for main/auxiliary status and alarms.
• Remote GPIO and RS232 ports for alarms and control.

System Details

The Sonifex RB-DSD1 accepts two stereo digital inputs in parallel, each available as AES/EBU on XLR, S/PDIF on RCA and TOSlink optical, so you can wire main and auxiliary feeds in the format that best suits your plant. Silence level and delay are set using front-panel DIP switches, allowing you to balance responsiveness against immunity to brief gaps.

When silence is detected on the main input, internal relays switch the outputs to the auxiliary source and then restore automatically or manually, depending on configuration. A 15-way D-type remote port exposes alarms and changeover control, while the RS232 port allows configuration and monitoring using Sonifex software. Universal 85–264VAC power and robust 1U construction make the Sonifex RB-DSD1 suitable for permanent installation at transmitter sites, STL receive points and master control outputs.