Rane EXP5x 1U Input Expander & DSP Expander for HAL1x Multiprocessor, 12 Balanced Inputs, 20Hz to 20kHz, 5.766kOhms/2.9kOhms, 2 DR Ports

EXP5x Input Expander
The EXP5x is a 12 Mic/Line/Line-Plus input & DSP expander for the HAL1x. It also supplies four DR ports, useful for adding source selection and/or volume control remotes such as the DR3. Each of the 12 inputs independently supports either dynamic mic, 48V phantom mic, +4 dBu line-level or Rane's Line-Plus input. Line-Plus accepts -10 dBV unbalanced Left/Right Monoed together on the "+" and "-" ports, respectively. For stereo unbalanced sources, Line-Plus allows connecting the stereo RCA left tip conductor to the "+" terminal, the RCA right tip to the "-" terminal and both RCA shields to the EXP5x Euroblock ground. Select Line-Plus in Halogen and you get a properly monoed audio channel.

EXP5x Application Example
The EXP5x is perfectly suited to expand a HAL1x's analog audio inputs. Control is also expanded given its 4 DR ports. Each of the 12 inputs can independently accept mic, line or Line-Plus audio - the ultimate in flexible input topologies. Also worth noting is the performance enhancement achieved since the mic input topologies automatically compensate for the sensitivity difference between condenser and dynamic mics. In a meeting room with ten microphones (see graphic), one audio source (e.g., blu-ray) and a laptop on the podium, all these channels can connect directly to one EXP5x. A single DR3 in the room can select the audio source (blu-ray or laptop) and adjust the room volume. Or, the DR3 can be programmed as a mixer allowing independent level adjustment of all 12 sources in the room: 10 mics, blu-ray and laptop. If the podium location moves from the north to the east wall, duplicate remotes can provide multiple control locations. Use a preset recalled from a switch closure, DR2 remote or 3rd-party Ethernet control system to "spin" the room or disable any DR remote in a room.

There are equipment placement options. If the HAL1x lives in the equipment room, the EXP5x can live in the podium along with the blu-ray and a single shielded CAT 5 returns to the HAL1x. However, if you are upgrading an existing facility, the EXP5x connects at the end of the existing analog conduit feeds in one or more equipment rooms. If you had 12 such meeting rooms, use 12 daisy-chained EXP5x Expanders and a single HAL1x. The accompanying illustration shows only four such rooms. There would be plenty of spare DR ports available for adding control locations. The four RAD ports on the HAL1x support the addition of page sources (e.g., PAGER1) or portable 8-channel AM2 Automixers. AM mixers can be added to larger rooms - even during a meeting - to add 8 more gain-shared mixed mics to the 10 in any given room. Review the Cascade In feature of the Gain-sharing Auto Mixer or the Room Combine Processing blocks within Halogen for details.