Description
The Blackmagic Design Audio Monitor 6G-SDI is a professional rack-mount audio and video monitoring solution. It’s designed for broadcast, post-production, and live event environments where accurate audio and video confidence monitoring is crucial.
Key Features and Highlights:
- Rack-Mount Design (1RU): Designed to fit into a standard 19-inch equipment rack, occupying only one rack unit (1RU) of space. This makes it ideal for integrating into broadcast trucks, control rooms, machine rooms, or flyaway kits where space is at a premium.
- High-Quality Audio Monitoring:
- Dual Subwoofer Design: Despite its compact size, it features a dual subwoofer design along with extra wide-range speakers. This setup aims to deliver a wide and smooth frequency response with crisp highs and surprisingly powerful deep bass for its form factor.
- Powerful Class A/B Amplifier: Ensures robust and clear audio output, even in noisy environments.
- Precision Metering: Features two large, bright, multi-colored RGB LED audio level meters (typically 27 segments per channel). These meters can be switched between various professional metering scales like VU or PPM (Peak Programme Meter), allowing for accurate level assessment.
- Headphone Output: A front-panel headphone jack for private and critical listening.
- Comprehensive Video Monitoring (via SDI):
- 6G-SDI Input: This is a crucial feature, allowing it to receive professional video signals up to Ultra HD 4K (3840×2160) at up to 30 frames per second. It auto-switches between SD, HD, 3G-SDI, and 6G-SDI formats.
- Embedded Audio Monitoring: It can de-embed and monitor up to 16 channels of embedded audio from the incoming 6G-SDI signal. Users can easily select which stereo pair to listen to using front-panel controls.
- Built-in LCD Display: A small, integrated LCD screen on the front panel allows for basic video monitoring of the incoming SDI signal. It also displays essential information like input type, video format, selected audio channels, and volume level.
- HDMI 4K Output: This is a very useful feature. The monitor can output the incoming SDI video (including the de-embedded audio) via an HDMI 4K output. This allows you to connect a larger consumer TV or monitor for bigger-screen video confidence monitoring.
- Versatile Audio Inputs: Beyond SDI embedded audio, it offers a range of professional and consumer analog and digital audio inputs:
- Balanced Analog XLR Stereo Inputs: For connecting to professional analog audio sources.
- Balanced AES/EBU Digital Audio Input (XLR): For connecting to professional digital audio sources.
- Consumer HiFi Analog Input (RCA): For connecting to consumer audio devices like media players.
- Machined Metal Design: Built from solid machined aluminum, contributing to its durability, professional aesthetic, and helping to eliminate acoustic vibrations.
- Intuitive Controls: Front-panel buttons allow for quick selection of input sources, audio channel pairs, left/right soloing, mute, and a contact-less volume knob for smooth, wear-free adjustment.
- Dolby Decoder Slot (Optional): Some versions of this monitor (or its successor, the 12G G3) may have a slot for an optional Dolby decoder module, allowing for monitoring of Dolby Digital or AC-3 5.1 surround sound from SDI or AES/EBU inputs.
Who is it for?
The Blackmagic Design Audio Monitor 6G-SDI is designed for:
- Broadcast Engineers: For monitoring live feeds, studio outputs, or playout servers.
- Post-Production Facilities: For quality control of audio and video during editing, color grading, and mastering.
- Live Event Production: For ensuring audio and video integrity in concert venues, sports broadcasts, and other live productions.
- System Integrators: For rack-mounted solutions in professional AV installations.
- Video Professionals who need a reliable, compact solution for checking audio levels and video presence in UHD 4K workflows.
Evolution to 12G-SDI:
It’s important to note that Blackmagic Design has since released the Blackmagic Audio Monitor 12G G3. This newer model updates the SDI capabilities to 12G-SDI, allowing for Ultra HD 4K at up to 60 frames per second, and often includes SMPTE 2110 IP video input for modern IP-based broadcast workflows. The 6G-SDI version is an older generation but still highly capable for many applications.
