- RT Com USA announced last week the introduction of its first hybrid AV router.
The product called the Credenza CR-94M is the first in a series of products designed to solve many of the problems in analog/digital combination AV systems. The CR-94M is a compact(3RU) matrix router with a spectacular range of functionality. In systems with up to 9 analog and digital AV sources, the CR- 94M manages the signals to achieve an ideal image on up to 4 connected displays. The router successfully overcomes the challenges of EDID conflicts, format conversion, audio embedding and distant sources. Most common analog and digital AV source signals are supported and each can be fully matrixed, scaled and output to 4 digital displays.
In today's market nearly every system includes both analog and digital video sources. Some integrators create two discreet, parallel systems, while others attempt to convert sources to a single format for distribution. Either way is costly and uncertain, but RT Com has attacked the issue head-on. “The most common problems we see in the field seem to be related to hybrid systems,” said Andy Fliss, General Manager of RT Com USA. “The mixing and matching of scalers, format converters and signal extenders creates installation nightmares, so we decided to create a product line to simplify the process.”
The 3RU CR-94M provides 9 video inputs including: 4 digital HDMI/DVI with SPDiF audio, 2 analog video inputs supporting VGA, component, S-video or composite and 3 extender inputs which can be Cat-x or fiber optic. Analog video is converted to digital and all 9 video sources can be routed to any or all 4 scaled HDMI outputs. These 4 outputs can be set up to scale the video to match each connected display. The audio for each source, whether digital or analog, can be routed independent of the video and then embedded in the HDMI outputs. Analog audio outputs and balanced audio inputs are also provided.
Practical applications for this product range from standard conference rooms, where all of the equipment is housed in-room, to homes where legacy analog source components need to be included in new digital systems.
The Credenza CR-94M will be introduced with MSRP of $9,999 and will be exhibited at the 2010 CEDIA Expo in Atlanta Georgia, Booth 4045.
