
Reference Monitors User Handbook
53
REFERENCE MONITORS RM-4C8
2
Reference Monitors User Handbook
53
4
RM-4C8
WITH RM-HDE1, RM-E1X OR RM-E1B
REFERENCE MONITOR RM-4C8 WITH
RM-HDE1, RM-E1X OR RM-E1B
Operation of The RM-4C8 With The RM-HDE1 Fitted
When the RM-4C8 is fitted with an RM-HDE1 expansion card, it can be used to decode and
monitor Dolby E or Dolby Digital encoded data streams embedded within an 3G/HD/SD-
SDI video source. These streams are decoded and monitored as either a stereo downmix of
the selected program or the full channel compliment, so that each individual channel can
be separately monitored and metered. It can also be used to de-embed normal linear PCM
as per the RM-HD1.
The four audio groups, EX A, EX B, EX C and EX D are selected via the front panel Bank
selection control. These determine which of the four audio groups is to be de-embedded
from the SDI video stream. If the selected group contains one or more Dolby encoded
audio streams then the unit will enter Dolby mode. This mode works by selecting the active
channel pair being monitored within the group. This is performed with the left rotary
source selector. If the current selection is one of the channels in channel pair one (1 or 2)
then the first channel pair is active. If the current selection is one of the channels within
pair two (3 or 4) then the second channel pair is active. The right rotary source selector is
ignored for the purposes of channel pair selection.
For example, if the audio group consisted of a Dolby stream in channel pair 1 (inputs 1
& 2) and a normal PCM stream in channel pair 2 (inputs 3 & 4), then selection of either
source 1 or 2 with the left rotary source selector will put the unit into Dolby mode and the
functionality of the PROGS and CHANS buttons will change accordingly.
When two Dolby streams are contained within a single group, only the downmix from
the active channel pair is available for monitoring due to there being only one decoder
available within the unit. The other Dolby stream is muted.
Group Audio Configuration
Meter Outputs
Channel pair 1
Channel pair 2
Meters 1&2
Meters 3&4
PCM
PCM
Channel pair 1
Channel pair 2
Dolby stream
PCM
Downmix
Channel pair 2
PCM
Dolby stream
Channel pair 1
Downmix
Dolby stream
Dolby stream
Downmix or muted
Downmix or muted
Downmix Mode
Downmix mode is indicated by the flashing of the CHANS button and is the default mode
when selecting the expansion card input, EX A. The two-channel downmix is provided to
allow simple stereo monitoring of multichannel audio. This stereo representation is called
Left only/Right only or Lo/Ro and adds the Left and Right surround channels to the Left
and Right speaker channels, respectively.
When a Dolby E encoded stream is presented to the input of the expansion card then this
will be a downmix of the currently selected program.
In this mode, only the first two meters will be active and the channels can be selectively
routed to each of the loudspeakers as normal.