Rane AM1 User manual

AM1
AUTOMIXER
Data Sheet - 1
General Description
e Rane AM1 is part gain-sharing automatic mic mixer, part
manual line mixer, part USB audio I/O device, and simultane-
ously a Rane RAD. Use it as a standalone mic/line mixer, or add
more gain-shared mics using up to seven Rane AM2 Automixers
(sold separately). Use the RAD Port to transport the main mix
digitally via CAT 5 to either a Rane HAL’s RAD Port, or to a
Rane Mongoose to a CobraNet network.
Each of the four XLR Mic Inputs oers front panel input
Level controls feeding a gain-sharing automatic mixer. Rear panel,
3-position switches for each Mic Input support dynamic mics (no
phantom power), condenser mics (48 V), or wireless receiver out-
puts (+12 dBV max). A front panel Mic Mix Level control adjusts
the volume of all automixed mics.
e AM1 is optimized for automixing speech. e mic inputs
have a xed 80 Hz to 7 kHz bandpass lter to provide the best
voice-only automatic mixing using a gain-sharing algorithm.
ree manually-mixed audio inputs provide a simple user
interface and installation. e Aux 1 Input dual RCA and Aux 2
3.5 mm jacks are independently monoed, each with a front panel
Level control. A dedicated USB Charge port adjacent to Aux 2
provides power to USB devices such as iPods or other USB-pow-
ered devices. e separate orange USB Audio Input also oers a
front panel Level control for the 16-bit, 48 kHz digital audio that
is monoed immediately upon entry.
Signal and Overload indicators monitor the Mic and Aux
Inputs, the Mic Mix and the Main Mix. Indicators ank the cor-
responding Level controls.
e AM1 appears in Windows and Apple OS X computers
as a standard USB Audio Device, immediately compatible with
dozens of audio recording and playback audio applications. e
AM1 registers with the OS as a 16-bit 48 kHz device for both
incoming and outgoing audio. e USB Audio port doubles as a
rmware update port if future updates become available.
e XLR Main Output can be set to Mic- or Line-level to feed
a mic snake or a +20 dBu max balanced input. e front panel
Output Level control aects the XLR Output and the RAD Port
output. e analog RECORD RCA Outputs and the digital USB
Audio output are both mono, pre-Output Level, containing the
same mix as the Main Output.
e RAD Port sends the AM1 output mix to either a Rane
HAL’s RAD Port for further signal processing and control, or to
a Mongoose for routing to a CobraNet network. e Cascade
IN accepts audio and data from a Rane AM2’s Cascade OUT.
is adds the AM2’s eight mic channels to the AM1, creating a
12-channel gain-sharing automix. Up to seven AM2s can be cas-
caded to a single AM1, oering up to 60 gain-shared mics. Both
the RAD and the Cascade IN port have status indicators to aid
setup and troubleshooting.
Rear panel Fault, Locate, USB and Power indicators inform
head-scratchers of device errors, the AM1’s physical location,
positive USB audio device OS registration and AC power status.
A front panel pre-Output Selector permits headphone cueing
so users can verify input and output operation before bringing
new sources into the live Output mix. Both ¼" & 3.5 mm head-
phone jacks with a Level control are provided. Duplicate Locate
and Power indicators are on the front and rear.
Universal IEC power on the rear supports 100 to 240 VAC
and 50/60 Hz.
DATA SHEET
Features
INPUTS:
• Gain-Sharing Automatic Mic Mixing:
• 4 XLR Inputs with Level controls & Sig/OL indicators.
• Select Mic, Mic with 48V phantom, or Line level.
• Manually Mix:
• Overall Mic Mix.
• Two Aux Inputs: dual RCA & 3.5 mm, independently monoed.
• USB Audio Input (16-bit, 48 kHz).
• USB Charge Port for iPod or other USB-powered devices.
• Power, Locate, USB, Fault, and RAD status indicators.
OUTPUTS (all mono):
• XLR Main with Mic/Line switch, Level control & Sig/OL.
•Dual RCA Record.
• Pre-Output Headphone ¼” and 3.5 mm with Level control:
• Source select cues Mics, Aux 1, Aux 2, USB Input or Output.
• USB Audio Output (16-bit, 48 kHz).
• Rane RAD and Cascade In RJ-45 Ports:
• Cascade In Port connects up to seven Rane AM2 Automixers.
• RAD Port sends Output to either HAL (DSP/control) or
Mongoose (CobraNet).

AM1
AUTOMIXER
Data Sheet - 2
Features and Specifications
XLR Inputs Mono, Balanced, Mic/Line Selectable
Phantom Power +48V per IEC 60268-15, Selectable in Mic mode
Maximum Input -18 dBV / -6 dBV / +12 dBV (Dynamic / Condenser / Wireless)
Input Impedance 2.01k, 1%
Input Gain Range (Mic/Wireless) -80 to +34 dB / -80 to +26 dB
Frequency Response 80 Hz to 7 kHz, +0/-3 dB, -20 dBFS, Extended vocal range
Aux Inputs 1 / 2 Dual Mono, Unbalanced, RCA / 3.5 mm TRS
Maximum Input +8 dBu
Input Impedance 18.8 k, 1%
Gain Range -80 to +12 dB
Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0/-0.25 dB
Main Output Mono, Balanced, XLR
Maximum Output (Mic/Line) -20 / +20 dBu, 10 k load
Output Impedance (Mic/Line) 51 / 300 , 1%
Output Gain Range -80 to 0 dB
Frequency Response 23 Hz to 20.5 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Dynamic Range (Line) 101 dB re +20 dBu, 20 kHz BW, A-weighted, 0 dB gain, 10 k load
THD+N < 0.01%, 22 Hz to 20 kHz, A-weighted, +4 dBu, 0 dB gain, 10 k load
Record Output Dual Mono, Unbalanced, RCA
Maximum Output +12 dBu, 10 k load
Output Impedance 602 , 1%
Frequency Response 23 Hz to 20.5 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Dynamic Range 101 dB re +12 dBu, 20 kHz BW, A-weighted, 0 dB gain, 10 k load
THD+N < 0.01%, 22 Hz to 20 kHz, A-weighted, +4 dBu, 0 dB gain, 10 k load
Headphone Output Dual Mono, Unbalanced, ¼" and 3.5mm TRS
Maximum Output +9 dBu, 150  load
Maximum Output Power 30 mW into 150 
Output Gain Range -63 to +16 dB
Frequency Response 23 Hz to 20.5 kHz, +0/-3 dB
Dynamic Range 101 dB re +9 dBu, 20Hz to 20 kHz BW, A-weighted, 0 dB Gain, 150  load
THD+N < 0.06%, 22 Hz to 20 kHz, A-weighted, +4 dBu, 0 dB gain, 150  load
LED Meters Mono, peak detecting
Signal -50 dBFS, Green LED, Peak-Reading
Overload -0.5 dBFS, Red LED, Peak-Reading
RAD / Cascade In 8P8C (RJ-45) Connector
Sample Rate and Resolution 48 kHz @ 24 bits
USB Digital Audio Dual Mono In/Out, USB-B connector
Sample Rate and Resolution 48 kHz @ 16 bits
USB Charge Only Port USB-A Connector
Output Voltage and Current +5 V max @ +500 mA max
Latency From analog input to analog output on a single AM1 (or AM2), latency is 1.45 ms.
Additional Cascaded AM2s Each additional AM2 adds another 0.75 ms to the initial 1.45 stated above.
Unit All Steel Construction
Universal Line Voltage 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 13 W
Conformity CE, FCC, CSA
U.S. Patent No. 8,542,849
Size 1U 1.75"H x 19"W x 8.5"D (4.4 cm x 48.3 cm x 21.6 cm)
Weight 5 lb 4 oz (2.4 kg)
Shipping Size 4.5" x 20.3" x 13.75" (11.5 cm x 52 cm x 35 cm)
Shipping Weight 9 lb (4.1 kg)
Note: 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms

AM1
AUTOMIXER
Data Sheet - 3
A
UX 1 INPUT
A
UX 2 INPUT
USB INPUT
PHONES
SOURCE
USB OUTPUT
USB OUTPUT (MONO, 48 kHz, 16-BIT)USB INPUT (MONO, 48 kHz, 16-BIT)
LEVEL
4.5 dB
RCA RECORD OUTPUT
RAD PORT CHANNEL 1 OUTPUT
MAIN OUTPUT
1/4
”
3.5m
m
HEADPHONES
TIP
RING
3.5m
mTIP
RING
TIP
RING
1
2
3
INPUT 3
LEVEL
MIC
MIX
LEVEL
1
2
3
INPUT 4
CASCADE INPUT
LEVEL
MONO
MONO
1
2
3
LEVEL
OUTPUT
LEVEL
4.5 dB
PHONES
LEVEL
MIC/LINE
1
2
3
INPUT 2
LEVEL
1
2
3
INPUT 1
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
AUTO
GAIN-
SHARING
MIX
MANUAL
MIX
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
SIG/OL SIG/OL
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
SIG/OL
SIG/OL LEVEL
MICS
AUX 1
AUX 2
USB
OUTPUT
STATUS
STATUS
Block Diagram

AM1
AUTOMIXER
Data Sheet - 4
Applications
• AV Rental Systems • Hotels
•Auditoriums • School AV Nerds
•Conference Centers •Panel Discussions
•Houses of Worship •Podcasting
Facilities and rental agencies are called upon to provide either
equipment, or equipment and operators, for meetings or con-
ferences needing A/V support. e equipment providers must
ensure audio quality throughout the event to get repeat business.
However, the provided equipment may be operated by present-
ers who have no audio experience. If an operator is sent with the
equipment to set up and manage the system during the presen-
tation, that operator may have little audio experience. Pitfalls
abound when interconnecting the system, and managing multi-
microphone gain before feedback, mixing and volume. Handling
iPod and laptop playback and/or recording adds even more
complexity. Enter the Rane AM1.
e AM1 makes it easy for an inexperienced operator to
quickly set up and manage audio for a multimedia presentation
involving up to four participants with microphones (wired or
wireless) and several program audio sources (e.g., DVD, Laptop,
MP3 player).
100-240V
PATENT NO. 8,542,849
13 WATTS
50/60 Hz
MADE IN
U.S.A.
RANE CORP.
USB
LOCATE
FAULT
POWER
ACN 001 345 482
AM1
MAIN OUTPUT
RAD PORT
AUX
INPUTS
MIC INPUTS
12341
2
RECORD
USB
AUDIO
POWER
COMM
AUDIO RX
AUDIO TX
MIC +48V MIC +0V WIRELESS MIC MIC +48V MIC +0V WIRELESS MIC MIC +48V MIC +0V WIRELESS MIC MIC +48V MIC +0V WIRELESS MIC
5 VDC @ 500 mA
USB
CHARGE
ONLY
MIC LINE
CLASS 2 WIRING
CASCADE
SHIELDED CAT 5e OR BETTER • 24 VDC @ 100 mA
Powered
Speaker
MENU
MP3
Player
USB cable
Ethernet (CAT 5e)
Audio cable
Wireless Mic Receiver
AM1 Automixer
DVD Player
To (optional)
Rane Mongoose
or HAL
To (optional)
Rane AM2 for
more gain-sharing mics
USB Audio In / Out
e AM1 oers a professional integrated solution that provides
superior automatic gain before feedback while eliminating opera-
tor error with simple controls. e microphone gain-sharing
algorithm automatically and appropriately attenuates mics not in
use while maintaining the 3 dB per doubling of mics for dier-
ent (noncoherent) talkers, and 6 dB per doubling for the same
(coherent) talker who is directly between two mics. Appropriately,
line audio sources are manually mixed since there is no acoustic
feedback potential. e AM1’s exible line input combination
of RCA, 3.5 mm and separate USB Charge and Audio I/O ports
makes integration and cabling easy. And since the USB Audio
port can simultaneously playback audio and record the AM1’s
output, the same laptop can be a source and a recording device
to document AV meetings, presentations, trainings, and family
karaoke nights for AV contractor employees.
AM1 use with HAL
e AM1 is a RAD allowing its manually created
mono mix to be sent digitally to a Rane HAL's
RAD port via a CAT 5 cable. Once the AM1 mix
is in the HAL DSP, additional signal processing
such as EQ and compression can be added. Control of the mix’s
level using Rane's DR1 or DR3 Digital Remotes is a breeze.
It is not possible to cascade the AM1 mix into Halogen's Gain-
Sharing Auto Mixer or Room Combine Processor. You must use
the AM2 mixer for cascading with these DSP blocks.
Example
AM1 System
©Rane Corporation 10802 47th Ave. W., Mukilteo WA 98275-5000 TEL [phone] FAX [phone] WEB rane.com
Specications subject to change without notice. 1-2014