Description

The Sonifex RB-PD2 is a stereo audio profanity delay used for live broadcast programs to prevent unwanted or obscene material from being transmitted. It features an automatic audio stretch algorithm that allows between 2 and 55 (*) seconds of delay to be built up live whilst “on air”, whilst maintaining the correct pitch. The delay can also be acquired whilst playing a pre-selected audio file on a Compact FlashT memory card. When the program is complete, the audio stretch algorithm seamlessly reduces the delay to zero.

The Sonifex RB-PD2 has both balanced analogue and AES/EBU digital audio inputs and outputs on 3 pin XLR connectors and provides sample rates up to 48kHz at 24 bit. It can act as a combined A/D and D/A unit meaning that analogue inputs can be output as AES/EBU or vice-versa.

The delay can be initiated by pressing the BUILD DELAY button on the front panel. A front panel display shows the amount of delay being built-up, up to the amount initially selected.

There are several ways to make sure that any unwanted material is removed from the audio at the outputs. A COUGH function, activated from a dedicated front panel button, allows locally generated sounds being presented at the inputs, such as the presenter coughing or equipment switching noises, to be discarded.

The DUMP function, which is also activated from a front panel button, has 2 different modes. The first DUMP mode removes a section of audio that has already been buffered, by a pre-selected amount. The second DUMP mode plays a pre-selected audio file on the Compact FlashT memory card. When the file has finished playing, the delay is then equal to the duration of the file. The DUMP button can be used multiple times to use up the built-up delay and once used, the unit automatically starts to rebuild the original delay time.

As a last resort, all the buffered audio can be discarded by pressing and holding the DUMP button which activates the DROP function.

At the end of a radio show when you want to broadcast live, the delay can be ramped down by pressing the front panel EXIT DELAY button.

A dedicated record mode allows audio presented at either the analogue or digital inputs to be recorded to a linear WAV file on a Compact FlashT memory card. Additionally, the card format used is PC readable, allowing pre-recorded linear WAV files to be transferred easily from a PC or other such device.