Issue Preliminary 1, October 2022
Model 214A User Guide
Page 8
Studio Technologies, Inc.
Model 214A
ANNOUNCER’S CONSOLE
producer or director use. No special assignment or “multing”
using cables or patch points is required to send a Dante
transmitter (output) channel to Dante receiver (input) chan-
nels of multiple destinations — only a single mouse-click is
required to reroute or assign a Dante audio signal.
On its input side, the Model 214A allows up to four head-
phone cue sources to be received from an audio console,
matrix intercom system, or a variety of other Dante-enabled
devices (the sources don’t need to originate from the same
device although there is a limit of two). In this way, pro-
gram audio could be supplied by an audio console while
program-with-interrupt audio could be supplied by a matrix
intercom system.
Ethernet Data, PoE, and DC Power
Source
The Model 214A connects to a data network using a stan-
dard 100 Mb/s twisted-pair Ethernet interface. The physical
interconnection is made by way of a Neutrik
®
etherCON
RJ45 connector. While compatible with standard RJ45
plugs, etherCON allows a ruggedized and locking inter-
connection to meet the needs of harsh or high-reliability
environments. The Model 214A’s operating power can
be provided by way of the Ethernet interface using the
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) standard. This allows fast and
efficient interconnection with the associated data network.
To support PoE power management, the Model 214A’s PoE
interface reports to the power sourcing equipment (PSE)
that it’s a class 2 (low power) device. (In PoE parlance,
the Model 214A is a standard PD (powered device).) The
unit can also be powered using an external source of 12
volts DC. For redundancy, both power sources can be
connected simultaneously. If both sources are connected,
PoE will power the unit. Four LEDs, located on the back
panel, display the status of the network connection, PoE
power source, and Dante interface.
Configuration Flexibility
The Model 214A can be configured to meet the needs
of specific applications and user preferences. All configu
-
ration tasks are performed using the STcontroller personal
computer software application, available free of charge on
the Studio Technologies’ website. (Versions of STcontroller
that are compatible with the Windows
®
and macOS
®
op-
erating systems can be downloaded.) In the Model 214A
there are no mechanical switch settings or button-press
sequences required to configure how the unit functions.
Selectable parameters include microphone preamplifier
gain, P48 phantom power on/off, input channel routing
and headphone output performance, sidetone operation,
pushbutton switch operation, and overall operating mode.
Changes made to any of the configuration parameters
become active immediately.
The gain of the microphone preamplifier can be selected in
3-dB steps over a 19 to 64 dB range. This allows the Model
214A to match the output sensitivity of a variety of handheld
and headset-associated microphones. A low-noise source
of P48 phantom power can be enabled if required to support
condenser microphones. The four Dante receiver (input)
audio channels and the way in which they are assigned to
the headphone output channels can be configured. This
configuration includes how the three rotary controls (pots)
function. These five unique choices allow almost any re
-
quired headphone monitoring situation to be implemented.
Whether for use in on-air sports, in stadium announcement
applications, or as a production support tool, the Model
214A should be able to achieve the desired configuration.
The integrated sidetone function can be configured to oper
-
ate from among three choices. This allows audio associated
with the output of the microphone preamplifier to be sent
to the headphone output channels as required. Sidetone
can be important as some applications may provide a “mix-
minus” talent cue signal that doesn’t include the user’s own
voice content. A configuration selection allows the operation
of the pushbutton switch and its associated function to be
selected from among five choices. The talkback button can
be configured from among three choices.
Customization
In the world of broadcast and production audio it’s fair to
say that applications vary widely. To this end, one or two
additional XLR connectors can easily be mounted into the
Model 214A’s back panel. Multiple 3-position headers,
located on the Model 214A’s circuit board, provide tech-
nician access to microphone, headphone, pushbutton
switch, and relay connections. Using a variety of optional
factory-supplied connector and interface cable kits allows
a Model 214A to be optimized to meet the needs of spe-
cific applications. For example, some applications may
prefer to use a multi-pin XLR connector to interface with a
headset. This can easily be accomplished by installing the
appropriate 6- or 7-pin XLR connector kit and making a few
simple connections. Other applications may benefit from
having “mult” or “loop-through” connections, something
easily incorporated into a Model 214A. External contact
closures to activate the main and/or talkback functions can
be interfaced using a 4-pin XLR connector kit.
Two general-purpose relay contacts are provided on the
Model 214A’s circuit board. Accessible using 3-pin header
connectors, they allow specialized configurations to be
created. Under software control, the form-A (normally open)
solid-state relay contacts can be configured to follow the
state of the main and talkback functions. Taking advantage
of the two locations provided for additional XLR connectors,
a technician may easily implement a variety of functions
such as a tally indication or audio muting during talkback.
