NEXUS XCPU09 Board with Loudness Metering, Spectral Analysis and True-Peak Meter

Master Monitor software offers three independent instances of each measuring instrument simultaneously

At this year’s IBC SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP, German manufacturer of professional audio technology, presented an updated version of its new XCPU09 controller board for NEXUS. Compared to the version introduced at Prolight + Sound, the update brings significant improvements to the optional “Master Monitor” software package: Each meter can now include three instances with up to eight channels which operate simultaneously and independently.

The XCPU09 is equipped with an extremely powerful processor, which opens up extensive monitoring possibilities with the optional Master Monitor software. “Master Monitor” features loudness metering in accordance with ITU-R BS.1770-2, ITU-R BS.1771, and EBU R128 standards, real-time Spectral Analysis and true-peak metering as integrated NEXUS functions, allowing external peripherals to be eliminated. For loudness metering, the software provides three integration options: Momentary metering with an integration time of 400 ms, a Short-term metering with an integration time of 3 s and Integrated metering with custom integration time; a standardised metering method using a gating function. The results of the latter measurement can be adopted directly as metadata in a Dolby E stream. Loudness is measured using the new unit LUFS, Loudness Units Full Scale.

The high power processor also allows for spectral analysis directly in NEXUS. It displays the frequency distribution of selected audio channels that can be arbitrarily selected from any of the NEXUS individual channels or sums. It can display either 31 frequency bands according to ISO standard or 61 bands.

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True-peak metering, the third function of the "master-monitor" package, makes exact metering a reality. True peak metering calculates the actual peak levels between two samples, which conventional peak meters cannot measure, thus ensuring a precise display of peak level.

On the hardware side a further improvement equips the XCPU09 with an Ethernet port. This enables direct Ethernet connection to  a control computer running the Nexus Matrix 5 software or to an external remote controller without the need for an XCI board. XCPU09 can easily be used in mixed networks with NEXUS base devices equipped with the previous XCPU08 processor board.

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About NEXUS
The fully digital NEXUS is one of most versatile audio network and routing systems on the market today and is a core product of STAGETEC, the R&D branch of SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP. With a completely modular structure and connected via fibre-optics, NEXUS forms decentralized audio-networks of any desired size. A wide choice of boards configured individually and mounted in compact 19’’ racks make NEXUS a true multi-purpose device, providing not only audio routing but also A/D and D/A conversion, signal processing, audio format conversion, signal transmission (SDI), power amplifier control, plus intercom matrix and talkback functionality.