TouchControl 5
Metering meets Monitor Control
Meet TouchControl 5, our Dante® based immersive monitor controller with metering.
Built on our long and proud legacy of making broadcast-ready monitor controllers, it features a 5” intuitive touchscreen and a small footprint that preserves valuable space at your desktop.
It even features RTW standard precision metering, including SPL, measured using the built-in microphone.
Up Front
On the front of TouchControl 5, the integrated microphone feeds the SPL measurement, and it can also be used for talkback. The 5” touchscreen is user configurable, as is the pushable rotary knob.
Stereo, Surround, Immersive
With support for up to 32 Dante® channels in and out, TouchControl 5 can handle channel configurations from stereo to 22.2.
Among the many supported formats you will find 5.1 and 7.1 surround as well as 7.1.4 and 9.1.6 immersive.
Monitor Control. Tried. Tested. Approved.
Tried, tested, and approved by many broadcast engineers around the world, you find the very same monitor control engine that you might know from our legacy surround monitor controllers.
The list is long, but let’s emphasize downmix, DSP-powered speaker calibration (using the internal microphone OR manual set), SPL readout, 4 input sources, speaker set selection (up to 4), solo, cut, swap, phase, mono, dim, mute and test tone generator.
The source compare feature lets you toggle between sources for easy comparison and lets you set individual delays for each of the sources.
On the output side, you can set up four speaker sets and easily switch between them or you can listen to your work with your favorite headphones using the headphones output.
The Creating a 7.1.4 Monitoring Preset video on our YouTube channel shows how to set up the Monitoring functions.
Controls and meters on your monitor page
The SPL meter shows the measured sound pressure level in your room, and you can show SPL either as a bar graph or as a number – or both.
The downmix instrument outputs your surround or immersive mix in stereo and mono.
The downmixed signal can be monitored on speakers or phones or sent to any destination in your audio network.
Each speaker can be muted or soloed, and you can invert polarity.
The talkback feature lets you talk to speakers or any destination in your Dante network.
LF Boost lets you boost your LFE channels with 10 dB and Surr. Att. attenuates the surround channels with 3 dB.
The Creating a 7.1.4 Monitoring Preset video on our YouTube channel shows how to set up the Monitoring functions.
Speaker Level Calibration
The speakers in your setup can be calibrated with regards to level, delay and EQ. The support for measurement microphones, the built-in test tone generator and the live-input SPL meter is the optimal tool combination for calibrating your speaker levels to ensure they are perfectly aligned.
Loudspeaker DSP Section
Each speaker has a DSP section for ultimate control. You can set individual delay, gain and phase, and a 4-band EQ is available for each speaker in your setup.
Calibrated speaker levels can easily be recalled by the press of a knob.
Bass Management
Up to two LFE channels with adjustable crossover frequencies can be adapted to your requirements using the bass management. Full-range speakers and smaller speakers can be finely tuned to each other and operated in the same system, while HP filters for bass-controlled speakers, all-pass filters for other speakers and an additional SUB output channel for formats without LFE are also available.
RTW Metering inside
As you know, metering plays a significant role in any RTW device, and so it does in the TouchControl 5.
The PPM metering engine is taken from our high-end TouchMonitor meters, and you get a wealth of ways to tailor your own metering experience, including scales, color settings and more.
True Peak metering is of course part of the metering story, as well as VU and ‘British PPM’.
PPM
So beside the level control fader instrument, TouchControl 5 also comes with a comprehensive equipped PPM meter for reliable measurement of any Dante® channel.
TouchControl 5 supports all the different scale types need for a professional production environment.
TP20: +3..-30 dB
Dig60: 0..-60 dB
Dig40: +20..-40 dB
Dig20: 0..-20 dB
Dig0: 18..0 dB
Dig18: +18..-18 dB
ARD9: +9..-60 dB
DIN5, +5..-50 dB
DIN10: +10..-50 dB
Nordic: +12..-42 dB
BRIIa: 7..1
BRIIb: -12..+12
BRIIa ext: 7..1
BRIIb ext: -12..+12 dB
ZOOM1: +1..-1 dB
ZOOM10: +10..-10 dB
The switchable peak hold indicator, peak memory and over indicator complete the functionality.
Between the bargraphs of a Stereo-PPM, there is a correlation indicator that helps identifying stereo correlation problems.
The Adding Metering to the 7.1.4 Monitoring Preset video on our YouTube channel shows how to add Metering functions to a Monitoring preset for example.
Moving Coil
The Moving Coil instrument is available in 2-channel stereo mode.
It provides several scales and setting options. The PPM (British) or VU displays can be shown as single or combined, vertical or horizontal instruments.
Loudness scales or a combined PPM and Loudness display (BBC mode) are also available.
The The Moving Coil Instrument video on our YouTube channel describes the variety of needle instruments and shows some examples.
Built-in Microphone for SPL or Talkback
TouchControl 5 features a built-in microphone that can be used for calibrated monitoring.
Alternatively, it can be used for intercom talkback and can address any node in the audio network .
Loudness, SPL and LRA
For many years, RTW has taken part of forming the international loudness standards in ITU and EBU. Loudness is key to us, so in TouchControl 5 we have implemented the full loudness engine known from our high end broadcast meters.
TouchControl 5 supports all international loudness standards such as EBU R128, ITU-R BS.1770-4/1771-1, ATSC A/85, ARIB, OP-59, AGCOM, CALM, LEQ(M), TASA and SAWA.
Loudness Sum
With the Loudness Sum instrument you get a bargraph display of the summed Loudness values M, S, and/or I of a Loudness measurement acc. to EBU R128, ITU BS.1770-4/1771-1, ARIB, ATSC A/85, OP-59, AGCOM, CALM Act, LEQ(M), TASA, SAWA, or specified by customer.
An SPL meter is also included.
Loudness Num
With the Loudness Num instrument you can monitor some or all relevant values of a loudness measurement on a numerical display: M, S, I, LRA, TPmax, Mmax, Smax, Itime.
LRA (Loudness Range)
The LRA (Loudness Range) instrument displays a graphical representation of the loudness variances within short time periods.
These are measured against the Loudness Range (LRA) descriptor specified in EBU R 128.
It is used to show whether a program has a continuously constant loudness or a high variation between low and high level components.
It allows for making assumptions on whether the program has seen or requires dynamic processing with regard to the intended distribution path.
Network Level Control with Fader Instrument
The Fader instrument allows level control of any Dante® channel in your network, and you can freely configure each fader to control the number of channels you wish.
More faders can be combined, so you can control multiple groups of channels, and if you do so, levels are controlled relatively, using TouchControl 5's knob.
TouchControl 5's touch screen can of course also be used to control each fader, and you can create up to 4 faders each controlling single channels, stereo-, surround- or immersive formats.
Toolbox instruments also include a Talkback feature that lets you talk to any audio channel in you network. Talkback sources include the built-in mic, the external XLR input or any audio network channels.
Faders can be based on any of the support channel formats. Here you see a 7.1.4 and a stereo.
Examples of different fader groups: mono, stereo or 4-channel. These can be expanded to 32 channels.
Design Your Own View Pages
TouchControl 5 lets you design your own view pages.
For each instrument you can decide on size, ratio and placement, and several instruments can be rotated to fit your needs.
Buttons can be placed anywhere on the screen, those that are placed in the side bar are available across view pages.
Say you want your input selector to be available also on the metering page - just place it in the side bar.
The Make it Your Own video on our YouTube channel describes how to design your own screen views with the Edit View menu page of the WebApp.
Extensive Routing
The Routing page lets you route your audio channels to and from TouchControl 5.
With support for 32 Dante® channels plus the physical I/Os, there is a lot of possibilities. For instance you could use the same channels for monitor control and metering, or split them so metering is independent from monitor control.
Built for Dante® Audio over IP networks
TouchControl 5 is built for Dante® Audio over IP networks.
It supports 32 channels in and out, up to 96 kHz.
Plugged In
TouchControl 5 is born and raised as a network device. Therefore, it does not need many connections to the outside world, which is how we have been able to build a device with a very small footprint.
The network port not only provides the audio channels, 32 in and 32 out, but also includes power. On top of that, you’ll also find a pristine 24 bit/96 kHz IO section.
Easy Setup with Web-based Interface
Being a true network device, the setup of TouchControl 5 is done through the network, using a standard web browser.
This is where you make the overall settings, manage presets and more.
You can also control the access to the device, including limiting operation to only certain features, avoiding un-intentional use during showtime.
The Creating a 7.1.4 Monitoring Preset video on our YouTube channel shows how to set up the Monitoring functions for example.
The Preventing Unwanted Use video on our YouTube channel describes the settings for the protection against unauthorized access.
Monitoring Controller in a New Shape
Watch our TouchControl 5 video
Built on the Power of RTW Legacy
TouchControl 5 is built on our long and proud history of making high-end monitoring controllers. Many SurroundControl 31900 and 31960’s are still in use at large broadcast stations around the world.
On the outside, you can clearly see the similarities when comparing with the 30050 Remote Control.
On the inside, you will find even more similarities, as the monitoring engine of TouchControl 5 is built on the monitoring engine from 31900.
TouchControl 5 (2024) and Remote Control 30050 (2004)
SurroundControl 31900
Key Features
- Immersive table-top monitor controller and meter with 5” touch display and 32 Dante®-channels
- Support for stereo- surround and -immersive speaker formats including 5.1 and 7.1.4
- Comprehensive monitor control feature set with speaker calibration, SPL measurement, bass management and up to 4 sources/destinations
- RTW precision metering with customizable bargraphs and support for international loudness standards
- Toolbox with independently routable leveling and talkback
- Customizable view pages
- Built-in microphone preamp with +48 V phantom power
- Built-in calibrated microphone for talkback and SPL measurement
- Powerful Headphone Output: 1/4 inch Headphone output with the option of monitoring a user-defined downmix
- Analog Speaker Output: 3.5mm speaker output with the option of monitoring a user defined downmix
- Easy Setup with Web-based Interface
- Power over Ethernet (PoE – IEEE 802.3af compliant)
- Sample rate up to 96 kHz
- Lockable Operation Mode: Fool-proof setup with access only to relevant controls. Prevents unintentional operation during showtime
Accessories
Ethernet Power Injector
Many ethernet switches provide Power over Ethernet (PoE), so in many cases, an additional power supply (ethernet power injector) is not needed for TouchControl 5.
In cases where you do need it, we offer the Power Injector with mains cable for different regions.
Europe or similar: Order number 14554-EU
US or similar: Order number 14554-US
Australia or similar: Order number 14554-AU
UK or similar: Order number 14554-GB
International (all cables): Order number 14554-IN
1166 - Metal Mounting Plate
Using the mounting plate, TouchControl 5 can be mounted on a mic stand or similar (3/8").
Downloads
- Visit the TouchControl 5 Downloads page to download the current firmware, manuals, data sheets, product catalogues and images.
- Visit the Presets for TouchControl 5 page, download presets for testing or use and customize them for your purposes.