Studio Technologies has announced two new party-line (PL) intercom kits that utilize Dante Audio-over-IP (AoIP) networking to allow customers to purchase a bundle of the company’s intercom products at a reduced price point.
The new Party-Line Intercom Kit 1 (DPL-KIT-01) includes a Model 5421 Dante Intercom Audio Engine and four Model 372A Intercom Beltpacks. Similarly, the new Party-Line Intercom Kit 2 (DPL-KIT-02) again includes a Model 5421 Dante Intercom Audio Engine but with four Model 373A Intercom Beltpacks. These new offerings enable the implementing of a Dante-enabled PL intercom system in fixed and mobile broadcast facilities, post-production studios, commercial and educational theater environments, industrial, houses of worship, and general entertainment applications.
“We’re pleased to offer our customers a cost-effective means of implementing a small, Ethernet-based party-line intercom system,” says Gordon Kapes, President of Studio Technologies. “Arriving in a single carton, users can easily deploy a flexible, high-performance system that leverages their existing network infrastructure. These kits can also be an excellent learning ‘tool,’ providing a great way to begin the transition to an IP-based communications environment.”
The Model 5421 Dante Intercom Audio Engine is a 1/2-rack unit that supports 16 Dante receiver (input) and transmitter (output) channels. A Gigabit Ethernet network connection with power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability is required for Model 5421 operation. Users can configure the 16-channel audio engine to provide from one to four “virtual” intercom circuits.
The Model 5421 is optimized for intercom applications, providing multiple mix-minus buses for more optimal coms audio performance. The unit’s integral auto mix capability is designed to help ensure that audio quality is maintained. It is compatible with the company’s range of Dante-enabled beltpacks, intercom, and interface-related products.
The Model 372A Intercom Beltpack offers a 5-pin female XLR connector to support single- and dual-channel headsets commonly used in professional broadcast environments. The Model 373A Intercom Beltpack provides a 4-pin male XLR connector for use with single-channel headsets that are often used in theater or live-event applications. In addition, the units also offer a 3.5 mm 4-conductor TRRS jack that allows use of computer gaming headsets.
Both beltpacks are compact, lightweight, user-worn devices that are directly compatible with standard Ethernet networks. PoE-powered, they take advantage of the sonic performance and configuration flexibility provided by Dante. Users can directly create party-line intercom applications in conjunction with the Model 5421 Dante engine. Up to 16 Model 372A or Model 373A Intercom Beltpacks can be interfaced with one Model 5421. However, typical applications would utilize a combination of ‘372A or ‘373A units along with other Dante-compliant devices to achieve the needs of a specific application.