The AVN-CU2 was designed from the ground up to be totally flexible in operation. The use of Dante AoIP means that inputs and outputs can be added as required (up to a max of 16 per unit). Any physical input can be combined, mixed, and routed to any output, giving you complete flexibility to create fully customisable cross-points. Additionally you can choose which of those cross-points need to be controlled by the use of rotary encoders.

Using a built-in web GUI, up to 24 encoders (4 nameable pages of 6 rotary encoders) can be assigned to inputs, outputs or cross-points. Encoders can control the volume and pan of headphones and volume of the assigned inputs, outputs or cross-points. Each rotary encoder has a separate colour-coded meter section showing the channel name, detailed level metering and left/right panning on a bright daylight reading display. The colours are configurable to quickly identify particular source groups, so headphone source selection becomes intuitive.

The unit can be fully remotely controlled from the web interface, which mimics the front panel of the unit and includes live metering. All the controls can be operated as if at the unit and there are front-panel lock-out options for every button and encoder, with ‘quick lock-out’ for the rows of buttons and pages of encoders.

The AVN-CU2 has 2 x locking mic/line inputs with +48V phantom power indication and 2 x headphone outputs on locking 6.35mm jack sockets, suitable for operation by two commentators.

It’s powered using Power over Ethernet (PoE), using Neutrik EtherCON® connectors, with an additional 4 pin XLR 12V DC input.

Metering is available per input/output, with output metering configurable as, pre, or post level adjustment. An adjustable limiter is available on every output and is applied automatically to prevent signal clipping.

Four wire I/O is accessed from the rear on RJ45 connectors, providing an AES3 or analogue input and output. These can be assigned as, mic outputs (line level), talkback outputs, programme inputs or talkback inputs as desired. In addition, the AES/analogue connections can be used as an insert or exit point into/out from the AoIP network.

The unit has dual redundant network ports on both RJ45 (Neutrik EtherCON® connectors) and SFP cages for long fibre runs. The AVN-CU2 support three network modes: Switched, Redundant, and Remote mode. In Switched mode, all ports carry both audio and control traffic on a single VLAN. Redundant mode separates audio across primary and secondary VLANs for resilience, but keeps control traffic only on the primary network. Remote mode builds on this by fully separating audio and control, introducing a dedicated “Control VLAN” while maintaining redundant Dante audio on the primary and secondary Ethernet ports. In this configuration, audio remains on the Ethernet ports, while the SFP ports are used exclusively for control, improving traffic isolation and making network design more flexible.

There are 10 x configurable GPIO on a 15 way D-type connector with 1 x switched changeover output. GPIO & VGPIO can be configured on a matrix to visually show actions, with button presses and event triggers, such as input/output muting, which enables some automation. Button presses can control functions on other network connected AVN-CU units using VGPIO.

The complete configuration of the unit, including all encoder settings, button setups and Dante mix matrix audio routes, can be saved off to a text editable .json file. Up to 8 of these files can be stored on the unit and loaded from the main Menu, meaning that the unit can be pre-configured for any venue, or event and with these setups instantly recalled onsite. All of the buttons have key-cap text and can be configured for any button in any position.

The front panel consists of:

2 x On-Air buttons can be used to connect mic audio to the main output, either over AoIP or via the AES digital audio connection.

1 x Menu button can be used to access limited setup options on the TFT display.

2 x Page buttons change the display and encoders to monitor an additional set of sources, cross-points or outputs. Up to 4 pages can be pre-programmed, e.g. one for talkback inputs, one for outputs, one to monitor other sources.

2 x Cough buttons take the commentator off-air while pressed.

1 x User button can be programmed to perform any function.

4 x T/B (talkback) buttons can be configured to initiate talkback over AoIP or AES digital audio connection, using 4 x talkback buses. The talkback buttons operate with lazy talkback, taking the commentator off-air when invoked.

6 x rotary encoders.

The illuminated ‘Sonifex’ logo acts as a power indication and there are illuminated LEDs to indicate network clock, AoIP primary and secondary link, PoE primary and secondary status and when DC power active.