CX4 - Fire Alarm Priority & Sound Level Limiter

Overview

The CX4 interfaces with your fire alarm system. It cuts the music sound level and provides a priority override.

Cut the Music Level

The CX4 connects between the mixer (or preamp) and the amplifiers of the audio system. It is a four channel device, usually connected as two stereo pairs.

In normal mode (not triggered by the fire alarm) the signals pass through the four channels without attenuation. When the unit is triggered - usually by a fire alarm - the music level is attenuated. In order to avoid panic, it has been found that the music should be attenuated rather than cut altogether, so this is exactly what the CX4 does. The level of attenuation can be adjusted using the controls hidden under the front panel.

When the unit is reset, the programme will fade back to the original volume. Reset can be either manual or automatic.

Priority Override

The priority input may be a microphone or a line level source. In normal operation, the priority input signal is available at the priority output socket for normal use.

When the CX4 is triggered, the priority signal is mixed into the four channels of attenuated music.

Noise Limiter

This is a secondary function that is included with the CX4. It allows you to set a maximum permitted sound level in an entertainment venue. The unit monitors the level in channels 1 and 2 (the main programme channels) and if it goes above the threshold then the LIMIT indicator lights up and the level is attenuated back to the threshold.

Two limiters are fitted, one acting on the average level and one based on the peak level. This allows the average and peak limits to be set without undue music compression.