TECPRO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Master stations

MS741 Master Station

Combined power supply and 2 circuit station. Optional Extender unit increases system capability to four circuit operation.

Designed to be the hub of a wired intercom system, the MS741 is based on the successful MS731 Master Station and is compatible with current and legacy Tecpro products. The new 1U format combines a re-designed front control panel offering both loudspeaker and headphone operation with two independent, full duplex intercom circuits.

Features

• Compact 1U format
• Built-in electret microphone on front panel
• Front panel XLR4 input for gooseneck mic or headset
• 6.35mm Jack on rear offers additional external mic input
• Feedback cancellation presets on front panel (circuits A and B)
• Side-tone presets on front panel (circuits A and B) for headset use
• Mic amp limiting circuit protects against distortion and overloads
• High efficiency elliptical speaker, 2W. External speaker jack on rear panel
• Improved power supply offers up to a maximum of 1.1 amps per circuit (A and B)
• Supports up to 22 Tecpro BP511 beltpacks per circuit
• Circuits A and B linkable
• Two rear panel XLR3 outputs per circuit (A and B)
• Rear XLR3 socket 'Aux' Mic/Line input. Switchable 48V Phantom power is available when 'Mic' is selected
• 'Aux' programme material mixes to either or both circuits A and B. Front panel 'Aux' level control
• 'Aux' signal ducks when microphone is active. Duck level and threshold may be adjusted internally
• Dual action electronic 'Call' buttons offer latching and non-latching modes
• DC and 20KHz 'Call' signal send and receive. Visual and audible 'Call' indication
• DC 'Call' send may be disabled via internal link
• 24KHz Remote Mic Kill generation and recognition
• 28KHz Override signal (for remote volume restoration on Tecpro LS Loudspeaker stations) selectable on any/all circuits
• 'Announce' mode for paging to external sound system directly from the Master Station's microphone
• 15-Pin D-SUB for connecting a Master Station Extender unit (supplies 2 additional independent circuits)

Both intercom circuits (A and B) can power up to 22 Tecpro BP511 beltpacks, or a mix of various headset and loudspeaker stations. Circuits A and B may be linked to form a single 'super-circuit' with double the drive capacity. The operator may speak to circuit A, circuit B, or both by pressing the associated circuit select buttons. Both circuits remain independent and cannot communicate with each other (unless linked). To attract the attention of operators who have removed their headsets, all beltpacks and most loudspeaker stations are fitted with call-lights. Depressing the Call A or Call B switch triggers all call-lights on that circuit to illuminate.

A microphone or line level auxiliary signal can be added to Circuit A or B, both or none by pressing the Aux button and toggling through the four options. This allows external sources such as programme feeds, show relay or paging announcements to be mixed on to the communications circuits. The amount of auxiliary signal added is set using the 'Aux Level' control.
Each intercom circuit has its own power supply with short-circuit protection. All protection is electronic and automatic and no resetting is necessary following removal of a fault condition. As the supplies are independent, in the event of a cable fault temporarily disabling one circuit, the other circuit will continue to operate uninterrupted. The Master Station can be operated world-wide without the need to change power supply settings.

The built-in 2 watt elliptical speaker provides intelligible monitoring of the intercom circuits while the electret microphone recessed into the front panel supplies high quality talk-back audio. Feedback cancellation presets for circuits A and B help control howl-round when the loudspeaker and microphone are operating simultaneously.

A front panel mounted 4-pin XLR connector allows a gooseneck microphone or headset to be plugged in. Inserting a gooseneck microphone automatically mutes the Master Station’s internal microphone. Plugging in a headset mutes both the internal microphone and the loudspeaker.

The 'Announce' facility re-routes the signal from the Master Station’s talkback microphone away from the intercom circuits to a 6-pin DIN socket on the rear of the unit. In simple systems this signal can be fed directly to a separate audio system supplying, for example, the front of house PA. In more complex installations the output may be fed directly to a stage management desk for routing around the venue (closing contacts on the SM desk can be used to trigger the 'Announce' mode remotely via the input pin on the 6-pin DIN connector). Contact closure via 2 dedicated earth-free pins on the 6-pin DIN connector also occurs during 'Announce' mode and may be used to trigger other devices.

All series two Tecpro beltpack and user stations on circuit A or B can have their microphones switched off remotely from the MS741 Master Station by use of the 'Remote Mic Kill' or 'RMK' facility. This avoids the build up of unwanted background noise caused by microphone circuits being left open unnecessarily. This feature is not compatible with Series 1 Tecpro designs which use mechanical switches. Series 2 Beltpacks are fitted with electronic switches and will respond to 'RMK'.

In 'Override' mode, a 28KHz tone is generated which will trigger any Tecpro LS Loudspeakers on a selected circuit to operate at a pre-set level, irrespective of where the volume control is currently set. This avoids important back-stage announcements being missed because the loudspeaker volume control has been turned to zero. It can also cause the speaker to mute if the pre-set level is set at zero.

If additional communication circuits are required, linking a 27-742 Master Station Extender unit to the 27-741 Master adds a further two independent circuits, C and D.

Technical Specifications

ME742 Master Station Extender

Combined power supply and 2 circuit extender unit.
Linked to the Master Station the ME742 expands the system to four circuit operation.

As events become more complex, it is increasingly common for more than two communications circuits to be required. Using a MS742 Master Station Extender unit with a MS741 Master Station will add a further two circuits C and D. The Master Station and Extender are linked together by a 15-way D-SUB cable (supplied). Circuits C and D are identical to A and B and may be used independently or linked as required. Between 1 and 4 intercom circuits can be configured.

Features

• Compact 1U format
• Feedback cancellation presets on front panel (circuits C and D)
• Side-tone presets on front panel (circuits C and D)
• Improved power supply offers up to a maximum of 1.1 amps per circuit (C and D)
• Supports up to 22 Tecpro BP511 beltpacks per circuit
• Circuits C and D linkable. Circuit C may also be linked to circuit A
• Two rear panel XLR3 outputs per circuit (C and D)
• 'Aux' programme material mixes to either or both circuits C and D (front panel 'Aux' level control on MS741 Master Station controls programme volume)
• 'Aux' signal ducks when talkback microphone on Master Station is active.
• Duck level and threshold may be adjusted internally
• Dual action electronic 'Call' buttons offer latching and non-latching modes
• DC and 20KHz 'Call' signal send and receive. Visual and audible 'Call' indication
• DC 'Call' send may be disabled via internal link
• 24KHz Remote Mic Kill generation and recognition
• 28KHz Override signal (for remote volume restoration on Tecpro LS Loudspeaker stations) selectable on any/all circuits
• 'Announce' mode routes the MS741 microphone signal away from the intercom ring to the DIN output on the ME742 rear for connection to an external sound system. Operation is similar to, but independent of the MS741 Master Station.
• 15-Pin D-SUB for connection to Master Station

Operationally, audio monitoring and microphone talkback facilities remain located on the Master Station front panel, while circuit selection, calling and linking of circuits C and D are located on the Extender unit.

Each intercom circuit has its own power supply with short-circuit protection. All protection is electronic and automatic and no resetting is necessary following removal of a fault condition. As the supplies are independent, in the event of a cable fault temporarily disabling one circuit, the other circuit will continue to operate uninterrupted. The Master Station Extender unit can be operated world-wide without the need to change power supply settings.

Technical Specifications

MS745 Master Station

Combined power supply and 2 circuit station.

Designed to be the hub of a wired intercom system, the compact MS745 is 1U high and is compatible with current and legacy Tecpro products. It offers two independent intercom circuits which can be addressed separately or together by the operator and has the same universal power supply as the flagship MS741 Master Station. The feature set has been carefully chosen to suit the majority of touring and fixed installation applications.

The MS745 is ideal for applications where a simple two circuit intercom system is required without the need for future expansion. If more facilities and intercom circuits will be required, the MS741 Master Station and ME742 Master Station Extender unit should be considered.

Features

• Compact 1U format
• Universal power supply: 90 – 264V AC, 47 – 63 Hz
• Short circuit and overload protection with indication on each intercom circuit
• Power output 1.1 amps per circuit (A and B)
• Supports up to 22 Tecpro BP511 beltpacks per circuit
• Circuit B may be linked to A to form a single circuit
• Two rear panel XLR3 outputs per circuit (A and B)
• Front panel XLR4 input for headset
• Side-tone presets on front panel for circuits A and B
• Mic amp limiting circuit protects against distortion and overloads
• Rear XLR3 socket 'Aux' Mic/Line input. Switchable 24V Phantom power is available when 'Mic' is selected
• 'Aux' programme material mixes to either or both circuits A and B. Front panel 'Aux' level control
• Dual action 'Circuit Select' and 'Mic ON/OFF' switches offer latching and non-latching modes
• DC and 20kHz 'Call' alert signal send and receive. Visual and audible 'Call' indication
• DC 'Call' send may be disabled via internal link
• 24kHz Remote Mic Kill generation and recognition
• Compatible with previous generation Tecpro designs

Both intercom circuits have their own individual power supply with short-circuit protection. All protection is electronic and automatic and no resetting is necessary following removal of a fault condition. As the supplies are independent, in the event of a cable fault temporarily disabling one circuit, the other circuit will continue to operate uninterrupted. The Master Station can be operated world-wide without the need to change power supply settings.

Each intercom circuit (A and B) can power up to 22 Tecpro BP511 beltpacks, or a mix of various headset and loudspeaker stations. Circuit B may be linked to circuit A to form a single circuit.

The operator listens and talks to other users on the intercom system by plugging a headset into the 4-pin XLR connector on the front panel. Two sidetone presets, accessible through the front panel, allow the operator to set the level of his/her own voice in relation to the voices of other users on the system. A low level headphone alert in the form of a short 'beep' is heard when any function switch is depressed or if any outstation calls. This function can be turned off via an internal link if it is not required.

The operator may speak to circuit A, B, or both by pressing the associated circuit select buttons. Both circuits remain independent and cannot communicate with each other (unless linked).

To attract the attention of operators who have removed their headsets, all beltpacks and most loudspeaker stations are fitted with call-lights. Depressing the 'Call A' or 'Call B' switch triggers all call-lights on that circuit to illuminate.

A microphone or line level auxiliary signal can be added to Circuit A or B, both or none by pressing the Aux button and toggling through the four options. This allows external sources such as programme feeds, show relay or paging announcements to be mixed on to the intercom circuits. The amount of auxiliary signal added is set using the 'Aux Level' control.

Series 2 Tecpro beltpack and user stations operating on circuit A or B can have their microphones switched off remotely from the MS745 Master Station by use of the 'Remote Mic Kill' or 'RMK' facility. This avoids the build up of unwanted background noise caused by microphone circuits being open unnecessarily. It should be noted that original style Tecpro beltpacks and user stations have mechanical mic ON/OFF switches rather than the electronic type used on Series 2 devices and are unable to respond to 'Remote Mic Kill'.

Technical Specification

When powered down, master stations default to their factory settings. They can be factory modified to always power up as last configured. Call Tech Support for details.

'Tecpro' is a registered trademark of Canford Audio Limited.