Looking for a no-hassle solution that will let you get callers on the air fast?
The Telos ONE x Six is the perfect multi-line talkshow system for use with up to six analog phone lines.
ONE x Six - Multi-Line Talk Show System
The ONE x Six has all of the telephone interface and control equipment needed for talk show programming. A single rack mounting unit houses both a Telos ONE digital hybrid and a six-line, broadcast phone system. For system control, the ONE x Six uses either our desktop Switch Console or Assistant Producer software (both sold separately).
To meet the needs of smaller facilities, we have made the ONE x Six very easy to install. Phone lines are connected using standard RJ-11C modular plugs. All Switch Console features found in our larger systems are fully implemented. A standard telephone set may be used for call screening.
The ONE x Six provides clean, quiet, and reliable switching of multiple telephone lines. Phone lines may be directly connected without intervening phone equipment. With the ONE x Six, successful talk shows sound great, are easy to produce, and won't cost a fortune in hardware. The basic ONE x Six may be expanded with the addition of a second Switch Console or a second hybrid for improved conferencing.
Features
Digital Hybrid Section:
- Identical to the all-digital performance and features of the Telos ONE.
Phone System Section with Switch Console:
- Six-line call selector with enhanced functionality makes talk show management easy and intuitive
- Program-on-hold input routes your selected audio to listeners waiting for air.
- Caller screening and conferencing features make ONE x Six perfect for either on-air or recording environments.
- Full implementation of Switch Console special functions.
Six special function buttons appear on the Switch Console:
- Next selects the line that has been ringing-in the longest. If no lines are ringing in, it selects the line on hold the longest.
- Busy All With the first press of this button, all lines that are neither in use nor on hold are made busy. On the second press, busy lines are dropped. One or more lines may be programmed as "hot lines" and will not be affected by this feature.
- Flash / New is primarily for use with PBXs or Centrex telephone lines that require flashing to access features. The FLASH/NEW button can also be used for dropping a line; that is, to hang up a line and get dial tone back on the selected line without going through the usual OFF and LINE button press sequence.
- Record Mode enables the operator to conveniently start a tape recorder. To ready the RECORD MODE, push the button once. The next time any LINE button is pressed, an output on the back of the Interface Module, or ONE x Six will activate a recording device.
- Record Stop When this button is pushed, a closure output on the back of the Direct Interface, 1A2 Interface Module or ONE x Six stops the recording device. You may choose to assign another function to this button and closure.
- Delay / Dump User Button activates an external profanity delay via a closure output on the back of the Direct Interface or 1A2 Interface Module or ONE x Six. You may choose to assign another function to this button and closure.
In Depth
Specifications
| Hybrid Section | |
|---|---|
| Processor | True digital. Second generation Texas Instruments TMS320C25 processor. 8kHz sampling rate. Internal digital input and output gain processing, filtering. |
| Trans-Hybrid Loss | >40dB with pink noise or voice as test input, all dynamic enhancement processing switched off. With the override and output expander functions switched in, trans-hybrid loss is enhanced to >50dB. |
| Send Level to Phone Line | -10dBm average level. Maintained by internal digital AGC. |
| Send Audio Input | XLR female connector. Active balanced. Accommodates -24dBm to +12dBm levels in LINE mode; -68dBm to -35dBm in MIC mode. Front panel screwdriver level adjustment. |
| Caller Audio Output | XLR male connector. Active differential. Output levels to +14dBm depending on caller telephone line level and adjustment of front panel screwdriver level adjustment. Drives 600Ω. |
| Aux/Mix Output | XLR male connector. Active differential. In AUX mode, this output is an isolated second output. In MIX mode, this is a combined send and caller output. Input to Mix output: Unity gain. <0.04 % THD; +12dBm clip point. |
| Phone System Section | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 80188 processor running software written in the “C” language. |
| Music On Hold Input | XLR female connector. |
| Active balanced. | |
| 10kΩ input impedance. | |
| -20 to +4dBu level. An AGC circuit maintains consistent levels to held callers for any input level within this range. | |
| Switch Console and Rack Mount Unit Communication | 9600 Baud RS-232 using six-conductor modular cable. |
| Switch Console can be located up to 100' from the rack mount unit; 250' with the Local Power Supply installed. | |
| RS-232 Port | 1200 Baud using “AT” style DB-9 connector. Simple ASCII commands are used for communication in both directions. |
| System | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response (caller to output) | 200 – 3400Hz, ±1dB. |
| Noise and Distortion (caller to output) | Distortion: Typical 0.4% THD+N, measured @ 1kHz at any level from -48dBm to -8dBm. |
| Signal-to-Noise: >72dB referenced to 0dBm phone level. | |
| Included Accessories | Manual with pull-out user instructions. |
| 25' six-conductor modular cable for connection of Switch Console. | |
| Power Cord. | |
| Rack Mount Unit Power Supply | Universal, input switching operable from 85VAC to 250VAC, 50Hz or 60Hz. |
| Power consumption 30 watts. | |
| Incorporates surge suppression and line voltage “dip” protection. | |
| Rack Mount Unit Physical Dimensions | Standard rack mount, one rack unit high. |
| 9 3⁄8" deep (23.8cm) | |
| Weight | 6 pounds (15 pounds shipping weight) |
| 2.7 kilograms (6.8 kilograms shipping weight) | |
FAQs
What is the advantage digital signal processing (DSP) brings to telephone interface equipment?
The primary advantage is vastly improved “trans-hybrid loss.” Trans-hybrid loss is the announcer’s voice signal (or send audio) that leaks through the hybrid to the output. Ideally, the output should consist of the caller audio only. In a broadcast studio, the announcer audio is mixed at the console with the hybrid (caller) output to create the “on-air” mix. When you use a poor hybrid, its output includes a distorted, phase-shifted version of the announcer signal. When this “leakage” is combined with the clean announcer audio, a “hollow” or “tinny” sound is produced as some frequencies are more affected by phase cancellation than others. One good measure of hybrid performance is that the announcer’s voice sounds the same when the hybrid is on-air or inactive.
Are there any other problems caused by poor trans-hybrid loss?
Yes. Poor trans-hybrid loss can cause feedback when the caller must be heard on an open speaker in the studio. Also, in systems using multiple hybrids to conference several callers, poor trans-hybrid loss will cause a serious “singing” feedback, especially on low-level callers.
These problems result from the nature of phone lines, right?
You’ve got it. Hybrids must deal with complex and erratic phone line impedance characteristics across the phone line’s frequency range. Impedance variations are caused by nearly every piece of equipment and run of cable between your studio and the caller’s telephone. To cancel the send audio, primitive analog hybrids use simple resistor-capacitor “balancing networks” to attempt to match the impedance of the phone line. It is a rare phone line that has a smooth, unvarying characteristic, so analog hybrids are often hopelessly ineffective.
How does Telos’ digital processing hybrid work?
Telos digital hybrids use a very advanced convolutional adaptive filter concept to synthesize a transfer function for the balancing network. A feedback loop continuously adjusts the filter to conform to changing line impedances. In the hybrid built into the ONE-x-Six, an error signal is used to adjust the amplitude and phase cancellation signal at a large number of frequency points. The result is a very close match to the phone line impedance curve for optimum rejection.
Must I manually adjust the hybrid so that each call begins with optimum trans-hybrid loss?
The Telos ONE-x-Six performs all adjustment automatically and requires no “tweaking” once installed. When a LINE button is pushed on the Switch Console, a brief mute/adapt period (about 250ms) causes the system to adjust to the phone line before that call goes on the air. The caller hears a “noisy tone,” but the tone is not heard on the air because the output is muted during this time. This has the incidental benefit of removing the line-switching “clunk.” As the conversation proceeds, adaption continues, using the send audio as the driving signal.
Is there other processing that improves performance?
Our full digital approach also provides very smart gain control on both the announcer send signal and the caller signal. The input gain section uses an advanced adaptive gate scheme to compensate for widely varying levels without bringing up room noise. The output gain section is cross-coupled to the input section so that it will not compress up hybrid leakage. And the downward expander subtly reduces phone line noise while distinguishing and passing low level callers. Overall, the caller audio is clear and undistorted.
You mention an acoustic duck function. What is this?
Acoustic ducking, a function unique to Telos hybrids, significantly improves gain-before-feedback when the hybrid is used with an open speaker used to amplify the caller’s voice. It is a linear ducker in the send path that reduces gain dynamically when the caller talks. Because it is linear rather than on-off switching, it allows natural conversation without the negative effects of speakerphone-style hard switching. It is also much shallower in its gain reduction than the usual switching and very fast. A pitch-shifter also helps by preventing feedback from building up.
Why is Telos the preferred choice among the available digital telephone interface equipment?
The Telos ONE-x-Six is the result of years of development effort, field experience, and extensive testing. Telos’ unsurpassed experience, combined with a passionate and exclusive dedication to telephone interface technology, has paid off. We’ve found ways to “tweak” the adaptive process to achieve very fast nulling, stability of adjustment, and, of course, maximum trans-hybrid loss. No other equipment comes close.
By combining our advanced digital hybrid technology with a complete broadcast telephone system, the ONE-x-Six presents a flexible and complete talk show system at a very modest price.
The ONE-x-Six is impressive, but my requirements are for a larger system. Does Telos have any products that permit connection of more phone lines and placing more callers on the air?
We certainly do. Telos has designed and manufactures the widest range of complete systems for talk show and call-in programming. These “modular” systems allow you to choose from numerous hybrid and controller options. Telos Systems and its dealers and representatives would be pleased to provide you with more information on a system configured just for you.