RTW Enhances DigitalMonitor 10500X-PLUS

01.09.2008

RTW's DigitalMonitor 10500X-PLUS, a high-performance, cost-effective display system for monitoring digital stereo audio signals, has been enhanced with several new features, including a new hardware platform providing an integrated loudness display in compliance with ITU guideline BS.1771.

Further enhancements include a new full-screen mode that enables an expanded display showing the individual instruments being used, as well as the Stereo Sound Analyzer, a stereo version of the Surround Sound Analyzer found in the SurroundMonitor and SurroundControl product lines from RTW. The RTW DigitalMonitor 10500X-PLUS is part of RTW's new Loudness Family product line featuring easy-to-use solutions for monitoring the loudness of stereo, multi-channel, and surround signals in a wide range of applications.

A reliable and standardized method for evaluating program loudness is essential to prevent abrupt changes in volume between different program segments in radio and television broadcasts. The RTW DigitalMonitor 10500X-PLUS features integrated ITU BS.1771-compliant loudness measurement, which can be selected as an alternative to the usual peakmeter bar graphs. Pre-sets enable the user to switch between the two modes at any time. Selection of the new mode activates an ITU-compliant scale for the loudness display in the program meter area (formerly the peakmeter) calibrated in dB LU (loudness units) or LKFS from -21 up to +9.

The display provides two bar graphs for the individual channels and two additional bar graphs showing the summed-up total loudness of the individual signals, the integrated value with a dynamical time window, and the result of a long-time integration over the last seven days or more. Any two of these three options can be displayed at the same time.

Another new feature is the full-screen mode for the Multi-Instrument 1 display. In normal operation, the display is split into three sections that might show, for example, the peakmeter, the vectorscope, and AES status data. Alternatively, the vectorscope can be displayed full-screen. The new full-screen display is a welcome addition for users who already have high-quality bar graph displays on the audio console or elsewhere.