RME AVB Tool

The RME AVB Tool combines MADI and deterministic AVB networked audio with four high-precision microphone, instrument and line level inputs, plus headphone and separate line level outputs. Following RME’s concept of maximum versatility and connectivity, 128 channels of MADI I/O have been also added to this half rack 19” device.

The AVB Tool is a pristine analog converter featuring the most commonly-found analog signals in a control room, recording studio or on stage: four XLR-TRS combo inputs, with remote controllable 75 dB gain in 1 dB steps; an input line level sensitivity of +18 dBu, with switchable high impedance on every channel; a stereo headphone output; and two analog line level outputs, with switchable +4/+19 dBu reference levels. Power is provided by an external power supply (with locking connector), and a K-slot lock port adds an additional level of security against theft. Seamless redundancy is available for all MADI signals, whenever the secondary MADI port is mirrored with the same signal as the coaxial MADI input. If redundancy is not required, the (optional) optical single- or multimode MADI module is treated as an individual MADI I/O with full bandwidth.

On the AVB side, the number of streams available in the RME AVB core have been doubled to eight streams in AM824 (legacy AVB) or high-performance AAF (MILAN compatible) format - with configurable size and format per stream. Up to 128 audio channels can be sent and received over AVB in total across all streams. The AVB Tool has the same input stages as the first four channels of the 12Mic – successfully combining the components found in the Fireface UFX II and UFX+ into a new AD converter, extended with switchable High Impedance, balanced line level on the TRS, and two balanced line level outputs at the rear for monitoring.

Control all device states directly from the front panel with an encoder and buttons for convenient, direct Access to all features. RME AVB devices can also be fully remote controlled via a web-interface on any network link (including wirelessly over Wi-Fi), allowing for the rapid creation of gain groups, phantom power switching, and routing of signals to headphones for monitoring. The integrated routing matrix allows for quick routing of any analog inputs straight to the headphone output, as well as all digital signals and AVB streams. As such, problem-solving of signals, clocking, connectivity or other issues is both simple and straight-forward!

• 4x XLR-TRS combo inputs (+18 dBu, 75 dB gain)
• 2 x TRS balanced Line Out (+4/+19 dBu, DC coupled)
• Stereo headphone output for monitoring of all signals
• Word Clock I/O (BNC)
• 1 x RJ45 1 GigE AVB, 8 streams (each up to 16 ch.) per direction
• 1 x MADI I/O coaxial
• MADI optical via optional SFP module
• MADI input redundancy (requires optional SFP module)
• Internal routing of up to 260x260 channels
• MADI-AVB conversion
• 1,54” full color display with control knob and four buttons for convenient, direct Access to all features
• SteadyClock FS - ultra-low jitter digital clock technology
• Remote control via HTTP, JSON, IEEE 1722.1 AVDECC, MIDI over MADI
• USB 2.0 (for remote control and firmware updates)
• K-slot lock port