The TM9 is part of a new RTW range of audio metering and analysis displays based on touchscreens. It is intended for monitoring stereo and surround sound programme material in a professional broadcast or production environment, and can (optionally) directly interface with existing or planned 3G SDI infrastructures. It provides the user with all the information necessary to achieve accurate sound level management when working in stereo, any surround format, or with other multichannel sources.
The 9” 16:9 touchscreen is available as either a free-standing desktop display, or a bare chassis version for mounting in custom equipment or furniture. The unit’s functionality – i.e., the set of measurement “instruments” it provides - is defined by the customer to match his/her needs. Apart from the basic stereo capability, all instruments are in the form of optional individual software modules, and those required may either be specified at the time of order, or added at a later date to address new operational requirements.
The standard unit provides a stereo PPM with both analogue scaling (DIN +5, Nordic, or British IIa/IIb) and digital scaling (-60 dB to 0 dB/-60 dB to + 3 dB TruePeak, quasi-DIN, quasi-Nordic or quasi-British IIa/IIb) with Peak Hold, phase correlation metering, and a vectorscope display for stereo programme material. These functions can be expanded in a variety of ways with software modules: PPM metering of up to 16 channels; SurroundSound Analysis for 5.1, 6.1 and DD+ 7.1 (the renowned RTW “House”); ITU/EBU Loudness measurement of up to 16 channels (LU or LUFS units); Loudness/SPL measurement - including a Loudness Range (LRA) display compliant with EBU R128, Real Time spectrum analysis; a BLITS ident analyser; AES Status monitoring, emulation of RTW classic gas plasma displays and of moving coil meters such as single- and dual-coil PPMs, and VU meters.
A unique feature of the TM range is the availability of the TC Electronics LMD5 Loudness Radar Meter as a further software module. The LM5D is a multi-function audio analysis instrument which shows both instantaneous loudness and loudness history in a user-friendly circular sweep display (akin to a radar screen). True-peak level measurement is compliant with the ITU-R BS1770 standard and the recommendations of EBU R128 and ATSC A/85.
The TM9’s full colour screen layout is entirely definable by the user; each instrument’s display is a window which may be made active, sized and positioned at will. All instrument controls are accessed by touching the screen; or if preferred, a mouse may be used. A VGA output is provided to allow the screen image to be displayed on a larger external monitor. A GPIO port is included to permit external selection of unit configurations, and an Ethernet/LAN port to allow additional software modules to be installed.
The TM9 is designed to interface directly with 3G SDI video streams (when the SDI option is specified) as well as AES3 digital and analogue audio. It may be ordered with eight AES 3 inputs, 16 balanced analogue inputs, or four AES3 and eight analogue. The digital inputs each have loopthrough outputs for the connection of downstream equipment. The AES3 digital I/O may be specified with either multiple BNC sockets or 25-pin Dsub connectors. The 3G SDI option may be fitted in addition to any of these combinations.