The new Rane AM 2, introduced at 2010 Winter NAMM, is both an 8-channel, gain-sharing automatic mic mixer and simultaneously a Rane RAD.
It can be used as a stand-alone mic-only mixer, add more gain-shared mics using up to seven additional AM 2 Automixers, and/or use the RAD Port to transport the mic mix via a Rane Mongoose to a CobraNet network.
If you need manually mixed line audio sources, including USB Audio I/O, see the Rane AM 1 Automixer.
Each of the eight XLR Mic Inputs offers front panel input Level controls feeding a gain-sharing automatic mixer.
Rear panel, 3-position selectors support dynamic mics (no phantom power), condenser mics (48 V), or line input optimized for wireless receiver outputs (+10 dBu max).
All Level controls come with front panel signal and overload indicators.
The AM 2 is optimized for automixing speech. The mic inputs have a fixed 100 Hz to 7 kHz bandpass filter to provide the best voice-only automatic mixing using the gain-sharing algorithm.
The XLR Main Output can be set to mic- or line-level to feed a mic snake or a +20 dBu max balanced input.
When an AM 2 is used standalone, both the XLR Output and the RAD Port output audio are affected by the front panel Output Level control. When the AM 2’s Cascade Output feeds a downstream Rane AM 1 or AM 2, the front panel Output Level control only affects the XLR Output.
The USB port is solely used as a firmware update port if future updates are needed.
The RAD Port sends the AM 2 Output mix to a Rane Mongoose for routing to output RADs and/or a CobraNet network.
Cascade IN accepts audio and data from an upstream AM 2’s Cascade OUT. This adds eight more mic channels to the initial AM 2 creating a 16-channel gain-sharing automix. A maximum of eight AM 2s can be cascaded, offering up to 64 gain-shared mics.
If an AM 1 is included, it must be the final device in the chain of no more than eight. Simply connect Cascade OUT ports to Cascade IN ports and the AM 1 RAD Port to the Mongoose. Both the Cascade IN port and the Cascade OUT/RAD Port have status indicators to aid setup and troubleshooting.
Rear panel Fault, Locate, USB and Power indicators inform head-scratchers of device errors, the AM 2’s physical location, positive USB audio device OS registration and AC power status.
Duplicate Locate and Power indicators on the front help installers physically locate and verify AC power to the AM 2.
Universal IEC power on the rear supports 100 to 240 VAC and 50/60 Hz. The AM 2 is UL Listed and CE Certified, and will be available April 2010.
