MIDAS HUB4 | Monitor System Hub

HUB4

Monitor System Hub with 4 PoE Ports for Personal Mixers or Compatible Stage Boxes

Add personal mixers and compatible stage boxes to your professional audio setup with the Midas HUB4, a multi-tool in your stage rack that provides analog and digital outputs for various applications. HUB4 can supply up to four DP48 personal monitor mixers with PoE (Power over Ethernet) and 48 channels of 24-bit / 48 kHz audio.

HUB4 can also provide up to 48 channels of upstream audio and forwards it to the FOH console, either from stage boxes connected to the AES50-B (THRU) Port or 8 return channels from each of Ports 1-4. The HUB4 includes support for up to 8 stereo mixes to IEM transmitters. Additionally, the unit feature StageConnect technology, which provides 32 channels of uncompressed PCM audio in various I/O configurations, 24-bit at 48 kHz, below 0.5 ms of latency.

• Personal monitoring system hub with PoE remote powering for up to 4 DP48 personal mixers and compatible stage boxes
• AES50 IN and THRU ports for cascading hubs or stage boxes with 48 bidirectional channels at 48/44.1 kHz
• 16 balanced analog outputs for sending 4x2 personal stereo mixes to IEM transmitters in the side rack
• Channel naming and Group assignments can be distributed from compatible M32 consoles
• Midas DL8 Stage Boxes can be connected and powered from ports 1-4
• Personal mix outputs can be monitored via AES50 upstream to connected consoles
• Supports remote control forwarding of a DP48 personal mixer from another DP48
• Front-panel buttons for sending signals to analog output groups 1-4, for StageConnect and for AES50-A upstream
• StageConnect output with phantom power for connecting other StageConnect devices, sharing 32-channel audio, 24-bit uncompressed PCM, 44.1/48 kHz, at sub-millisecond latency over any standard XLR microphone or DMX cable
• Remote operation via shielded Cat 5e cable up to 330' length on all ports
• Features Neutrik etherCON AES50 network ports
• Rugged 1 RU chassis for durability in portable applications
• Auto-ranging universal switch-mode power supply

Cascading Hubs for Large Setups

To meet the challenges of large monitoring setups, HUB4 can easily be daisy-chained to make additional DP48 ports available, all the way up to symphonic orchestra applications.

On the other hand, HUB4 can also address situations where you want to connect additional I/O via the same AES50 link to the mixing console. To help build out this AES50 console link, digital stage boxes such as the Midas DL16 or DL32 can be connected to the HUB4’s AES50-B (THRU) Port. The console can pass downstream signals to their respective stage outputs, while also receiving 48 channels upstream from the stage inputs via HUB4.

Analog Outputs for IEM Transmitters

HUB4 features 16 balanced line-level outputs that can carry the 8 stereo mixes from the connected DP48 mixers for connections in the side rack. There is no need to run additional lines from personal mixers to the transmitters, reducing setup time and reliability considerably. Alternatively, these analog outputs can also be used as spare outputs on stage receiving signals directly from the FOH consoles, e.g., for providing talkback or side fill outputs.

Support for Midas M32 Series Consoles

HUB4 can convey control messages from M32 FOH consoles to DP48 personal mixers as well as remote control messages between DP48 units.

Midas DP48 Personal Monitor Mixers support remote control of other DP48 units and can also receive control information from M32 mixing consoles. This M32 control information includes assignments, names, and colors of channels, which are transmitted via AES50 for easy configuration of personal mixers. HUB4 can convey control messages from the FOH console to personal mixers as well as between personal mixers. This control message system works when DP48 units are connected to Ports 1-4 or to the ports on daisy-chained hubs.

Midas DL8 PoE (Power over Ethernet) Powered Stage Boxes

HUB4 easily interfaces with the new Midas DL8 stage box, which makes bulky analog sub-snakes a thing of the past. The DL8 stage box can be connected to one of HUB4 ports 1-4 using only a simple CAT5E STP cable. This cable connection from HUB4 can directly power up to 4 stage boxes via PoE support—IEEE802.3at per port—allowing for shorter analog lines on stage.

Remote Control Forwarding Through HUB4

HUB4 also facilitates one of the exceptional features of DP48 Personal Monitoring systems in which one DP48 unit can be designated as Master and used to control one or more DP48 units in Slave mode. HUB4 ensures that personal mixers are enumerated and that the Master, i.e., the DP48 connected to Port 1 of the first HUB4 in a daisy-chain, can control the respective Slaves. This way either a tech-savvy bandmate or the technician can help talents on stage with their personal monitor sound.

StageConnect - The Future of XLR

HUB4 also features a designated StageConnect port on the rear panel, anticipating the future of XLR connectivity. Professionals will be thrilled with the prospect of being able to connect more than a single channel of audio, bidirectionally. This new technology can even transmit data or MIDI all at the same time. A StageConnect device can also receive up to 18W of power through the same cable.

This new interface standard is to be released by Music Tribe after two years of development. The new standard comes with outstanding technical specs: 32 channels of uncompressed PCM audio in various I/O configurations, 24-bit at 48 kHz, below 0.5 ms of latency.

For optimum performance and long cable runs 110-ohm DMX-Cable is required.

etherCON Cat 5E-STP for AES50 Remote Connections

HUB4 uses rugged industry-standard etherCON connectors to ensure stable operation in live production environments. For best performance, a good quality Cat 5E STP cable, such as Klark Teknik NCAT5E-50, allows for remote operation.

Controls and Connectivity

HUB4's large backlit front-panel buttons show when a device is connected to the corresponding AES50 port and indicate whether the upstream signals are being sent to the desired outputs.

Specifications

• Connections
  • AES50 Sync Master / Thru: 2 x RJ45
  • AES50 Remote Outputs: 4 x RJ45
  • Remote Power: PoE (IEEE802.3at)
  • USB: Type-B
  • StageConnect: 1 x XLR, Male
  • Analog Outputs:
    • 4 x XLR, Balanced
    • 12 x 1/4" TRS, Balanced
• Controls and Indicators
  • Power:
  • 1 x Blue LED (Button)
  • AES50-A:
    • 1 x Green LED
    • 1 x Button LED, Green/White
  • StageConnect:
    • 1 x Green / White (Button)
    • 1 x Green LED (Port Active)
  • Ports 1 to 4: 4 x Button LED, Green/White
  • TO AES50-A: 2 x Green LED
  • AES50 A / B:
    • 2 x Green LED (Good Connection)
    • 2 x Red LED (Error)
• AES50 Ports
  • Audio Channels: 48
  • Sample Rate: 44.1 / 48 kHz
  • Sample Word Length: 24-Bit
  • Clock Synchronization: AES50 Sync Master
  • Latency: 70 µs per node (AES50), Minimum
  • Cable: Shielded CAT 5e
  • Cable Length: Up to 262.5' / 80 m (Recommended)
• StageConnect
  • Audio Channels In / Out: 16 / 16
  • Sample Rate: 44.1 / 48 kHz
  • Sample Word Length: 24-Bit
  • Phantom Power: +12 VDC / 18 W
  • Latency: < 0.1 ms
  • Cable: XLR Balanced, Mic or DMX Cable
  • Cable Length: 130' / 40 m with 110-Ohm DMX Cable
• Power Supply
  • Switch Mode Power Supply: Autorange, 100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz
  • Power Consumption: 180 W
  • Mains Connection Standard IEC Receptacle
• Dimensions
  • 18.98 x 11.46 x 1.97" / 482 x 291 x 50 mm
• Weight
  • 8.72 lb / 3.96 kg