Issue 1, August 2020 Model 236 User Guide
Page 6 Studio Technologies, Inc.
MODEL 236
ANNOUNCER’S CONSOLE
The amount of flexibility provided in the Model
236 allows it to meet the needs of virtually all
on-air announcer applications. And using the
Studio Technologies’ STcontroller software
application makes “customizing” the operation
of a Model 236 fast and simple. The unit’s abil-
ity to handle both day-to-day and specialized
situations makes it a unique product in the
market. For example, each pushbutton switch
and rotary encoder can be independently con-
figured with multiple choices that range from
simple to quite advanced. If a Model 236 can’t
seem to be configured to meet an application’s
goals please contact Studio Technologies’
technical support for an application review.
The Model 236 is part of a three-product fam-
ily that differ only in the number of talkback
channels provided. The Model 236 provides
six talkback channels, while the Model 232
provides two and the Model 234 provides four
The Model 236, as with the other two models,
has a compact enclosure with overall dimen-
sions of 8.5 inches wide (16.5 cm), 2.9 inches
high (7.4 cm), and 4.9 inches deep (12.5 cm).
Weighing 2.1 pounds (0.95 kg), the enclo-
sure is made of steel to provide some “heft”
to minimize the chance of inadvertent move-
ment. The Model 236’s main, secondary, and
programmable logic (FPGA) firmware can be
updated using the USB port on the back of the
unit; the Dante firmware can be updated via
an Ethernet connection.
Setup, Configuration, and
Operation
Set up, configuration, and operation of the
Model 236 is simple. The unit includes two
Neutrik etherCON RJ45 connectors which
allow interfacing with single or redundant
Gigabit Ethernet networks. The primary net-
work connection can provide power to the unit
using a port on a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)
network switch. Model 236’s power can also
be supplied from a 12 volt DC source that is
connected using a 4-pin XLR connector. A
broadcast headset or handheld (“stick”) micro-
phone can be directly connected to the unit’s
3-pin female XLR microphone input connector.
The input is compatible with dynamic or con-
denser microphones. A P48 phantom power
source allows support for a wide range of con-
denser microphones. A 3-pin male XLR con-
nector provides an analog microphone output
for integration with inputs on related devices.
A configuration choice allows this output to be
active all the time (hot mic operation) or muted
or unmuted following the main output pushbut-
ton function. A pair of stereo headphones, the
headphone connection from a stereo or mon-
aural headset, or even earbuds can be con-
nected to the Model 236’s headphone output
jack.
Audio signals are routed to and from the Model
236 using the Dante Controller software ap-
plication. This is available, free of charge, from
Audinate®, the creators of Dante. All Model
236 operating features are configured using
the Studio Technologies’ STcontroller software
application. The extensive set of parameters
allows the unit’s functions to be tailored to
meet the needs of many, many applications.
STcontroller, compatible with version 7 and
later of the Windows® operating system, is
available, free of charge, from the Studio Tech-
nologies’ website. It’s a fast and simple means
of configuring, revising, saving, and loading a
unit’s operating parameters. A future release
of STcontroller will support MacOS® operating
systems.
The Model 236’s front panel includes eight ro-
tary controls (encoders) which are used to ad-
just the level of the Dante input signal sources
as they create an audio mix that is fed to both
the analog and Dante digital headphone out-
puts. Using RGB (red-green-blue) LEDs, each
rotary encoder is illuminated and can display
whether or not signal is present on its associ-
ated audio input channel. Two additional rotary
