RTW expands its focus on visualizing audio in broadcast, production, post production and quality control to now also comprise monitor control. In fact, RTW is no newcomer to monitor control, as it has a long history of providing advanced monitor controller devices that are still in use at many broadcast stations. However, the focus has been on metering in recent years, but the company now makes monitor control a focal area as well with the introduction of TouchControl 5.
TouchControl 5 can be experienced first-hand at the StageTec Asia booth (5H-106), which is part of the German Pavilion at Broadcast Asia 2022.
TouchControl 5 is a monitor controller and audio meter with an intuitive user interface and a small footprint that preserves valuable desktop real estate, featuring a 5” touchscreen, as well as a rotary knob that also functions as a push button for easy access to dim or mute functions. The screen layout can effortlessly be customized by the user via a browser-based application, and TouchControl 5 is able to control up to 32 AoIP audio channels, making it compatible with audio formats from mono to immersive within a Dante® audio network.
“We are very happy to once again take on monitor control with an updated and relevant product designed specifically to manage audio channels on an IP Audio network,” says Andreas Tweitmann, CEO of RTW.
“No doubt, there is a huge demand for monitor control solutions that are able to naturally and easily integrate with Dante® and AES67. On top of that, with the touchscreen it was an obvious bonus to also offer a selection of our world-class metering solutions as options that you can add either from the start, or as your needs grow along the way.”
TouchControl 5 Connectivity
The connectivity is kept smooth and simple, yet it provides a wealth of options. On the rear panel, a single ethernet port provides both AoIP connection, as well as PoE (Power over Ethernet). Further, a studio-grade microphone input with phantom power and a similarly high-quality headphones output is available. The mic input could be used for adding a dedicated talkback microphone, but if preferred, TouchControl 5 also features a built-in microphone. Finally, an analog line out connection makes it easy to add a pair of external speakers in case they are not already connected via AoIP.
Licensing Landscape
Right out of the box, TouchControl 5 comes with basic 4x4 Level Control, Simple Fader, 2x2 or 4x1 Control and on the metering side Basic PPM with True Peak and Phase. The optional license structure was chosen in order to make the solution as flexible and scalable as possible, without forcing users to have features they may not need.
For example, for dedicated monitor control features, the Monitoring license is available, featuring Downmix, Source Select with A/B Comparison, Speaker Select, Calibrated Monitoring (using the internal microphone or manual set), SPL Readout, Solo, Cut, Swap, Phase, Mono, Dim, Mute, Test Tone Generator, Talkback, Presets and Headphones and Line Out enabling.
Finally, the TouchControl 5 feature set can be expanded further by adding the Premium Metering license, which includes PPM and True Peak Metering, PPM Scales (TouchMonitor style), VU meters and British PPM.
More licenses will become available over time, keeping TouchControl 5 ahead of the curve and continuously increase flexibility and customizability.
More at https://www.rtw.com/en/home.html.