
Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 2 - Growth in REMI Production Spurs Product Growth Flexibility, multifunctionality mark offerings in a highly competitive market By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
By pro-audio standards, intercoms make up a small but essential market sector - and, in the age of supercharged REMI production, an increasingly competitive one. Here's a look at the latest offerings from the market leaders.
Clear-Com The Eclipse HX digital matrix, LQ Series of IP interfaces, Agent-IC mobile app, and Station-IC virtual desktop client have been critical in enabling seamless communications for remote production during the transition to remote and hybrid production workflows. Additionally, Clear-Com's Dynam-EC software for Eclipse systems has allowed users to switch between different role assignments and configurations, saving time and avoiding mistakes.
Clear-Com LQ IP interfaces
Agent-IC and Station-IC enable virtual intercom clients on mobile devices or desktops and have been used extensively to provide easy-to-implement communication between facility-based staff and onsite production teams for field reporting, live event production, remote coordination, and other critical tasks. Remote production personnel who have downloaded the app onto desktop, smartphone, or tablet can connect to a host Eclipse HX digital matrix or LQ IP interface over 3G, 4G, LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. App and desktop users have a fully functional virtual intercom panel that can monitor the intercom system and receive IFB feeds. LQ can extend the capabilities and intercom channels of an Eclipse HX system to one or more remote locations if an LQ device is positioned at the destination location and interfaced with Clear-Com wired beltpacks, SIP clients, or any Agent-IC mobile-app user or Station-IC desktop user.
A single local or remote LQ device can host 16 Agent-IC and/or Station-IC users, and a link group can host a total of 48 Agent-IC and/or Station-IC users, with LQ acting as the server. With a host Eclipse HX matrix, many more Agent-IC users can access the production intercom remotely; the number of users able to access the main intercom can vary, depending on the quantity of IP ports on the E-IPA cards. LQ devices can link different industry-standard 2-wire intercom and 4-wire audio systems, irrespective of brand and platform. They also work with SIP telephony systems, allowing Clear-Com's portfolio of intercom systems to seamlessly connect with VoIP phones. www.clearcom.com/
Pliant Technologies The CrewCom wireless intercom system features full-duplex wireless radio packs, excellent range, and multiple RF access points that connect via copper (100 m) or fiber (10 km). CrewCom wireless products are available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz models (where this band is legal), and any combination of the frequency bands may be used on the same CrewCom system.
Pliant Technologies CrewCom CB2 wireless intercom system
CrewCom CB2 is also available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz, offering the same CrewCom wireless technology while also providing ease of use and high-level performance at an affordable price point for a full-featured intercom system.
Both CrewCom and CB2 offer a new High Density mode, a selectable mode of operation that greatly increases user densities. For CrewCom, the new software-selectable mode supports 32 Radio Packs (RPs) on a single Radio Transceiver (RT) while dynamically allowing any four of the RPs to communicate in full-duplex across four conferences. This allows the system to scale up to hundreds of users.
For CB2, the High Density mode supports up to 16 RPs on a single BaseStation. In addition, users of both systems will have the flexibility to simultaneously deploy Normal-mode-enabled RPs and RTs (synced BaseStations for CB2) along with High Density-mode-enabled devices, providing adaptability for most any application. Pliant also recently introduced the CCU-08 CrewCom Control Unit, which enables use of up to eight 4-wire ports while retaining all the features of the current CCU-22 and CCU-44 products. The new CCU-08 supports up to 82 RPs, 18 in Normal mode and 64 in High Density mode, per Control Unit regardless of RF bands.
Pliant's MicroCom XR digital wireless intercom system provides portable, full-duplex, multi-user intercom. The robust two-channel intercom system is available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz and allows up to 10 full-duplex users and unlimited listeners, providing flexibility for a range of applications. The range of accessories for the MicroCom line include 4-wire interface and antenna and headset options. plianttechnologies.com/
Riedel Artist digital matrix audio and intercom ecosystem handles AES3, AES67 (including SMPTE ST 2110-30/31), Dante, VoIP, and analog audio formats. A fiber-based backbone provides a decentralized infrastructure for live audio and intercoms with matrix sizes up to 1024 1024 ports in just 2RU. Multiple frames can be interconnected via dual optical fiber rings to form a single large, full-summing, non-blocking distributed matrix that looks like one system to the user. The Director configuration software is easy to use and boasts the industry's fastest upload times.
Riedel Bolero beltpack
Bolero is a full-roaming, DECT-based wireless intercom system in the license-free 1.9 GHz range and also within the 2.4 GHz range and in hybrid deployments. It can be fully integrated into the Artist digital matrix intercom or used as a standalone, and its features can be applied as a wireless beltpack, a wireless keypanel, or a two-way radio. Several new technologies power Bolero's capabilities, including an advanced DECT receiver (ADR) for multipath-tolerance improvement and near-field communication (NFC) for easy, Touch&Go beltpack registration and RF frequency m
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
02/09/2026
Next-Generation Freeform Control Surfaces Lay the Foundation for AI-Enabled Media Operations
At IBC2026 (Sept. 11 14, RAI Amsterdam, Stand #1.B73), Imagine Com...
02/09/2026
Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, the world's largest theater stage, has modernized its backstage production infrastructure with a comprehensive Riedel solut...
02/09/2026
Women in Media announces that it will host the two-day Reel/Forward in-person conference devoted to navigating today's production scene. Guests can enjoy pa...
02/09/2026
The expanded partnership brings Teradek's Live Production solutions to New Media AV's European dealer and integrator network, opening new opportunities ...
02/09/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, announces a major expansion to its award winning Studio...
02/09/2026
BCNEXXT, the developers of the advanced playout platform Vipe, today announced that premium entertainment brand Foxtel has selected Vipe to underpin playout for...
02/09/2026
SubtitleNEXT helps HOT Telecom's subtitling team keep a cool head with reliable QC capabilities
Profuz Digital, global developer of digital media and local...
02/09/2026
Case Study: Mission Digital Strengthens Battery Safety with Safe-ion
As productions become increasingly dependent on battery-powered equipment, the safe storag...
02/09/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Influenza viruses constantly shapeshift to evade recognition by the immune system. This shapeshifting occurs in critical proteins like hemagglutini...
02/09/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Clinicians often use a medical test called a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to diagnose heart problems, which uses electrodes placed on the chest ...
02/09/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Proteins may look like rigid molecular structures, but inside our c...
01/09/2026
Bridge Technologies will announce at IBC2026 (Booth 1.A71) that its VB440 produc...
01/09/2026
DAZN has announced an agreement to acquire EverPass Media, a commercial sports distribution platform serving bars, restaurants, hotels, and other venues in the ...
01/09/2026
The USTA and Kalshi have announced a multi-year partnership making Kalshi the Official Prediction Market Partner of the US Open, beginning with the 2026 US Open...
01/09/2026
MASV will exhibit at IBC2026 (Booth 5.B40, RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14). CTO Majed Alhajry will appear on a panel session, A Tale of Two Feeds: Automation o...
01/09/2026
FingerWorks Telestrators has announced a partnership with Broadcast Rental to ex...
01/09/2026
FOR-A has announced the expansion of viztrick AiDi into two dedicated products: Go Vertical! AiDi and AiDi Sports Hub. Developed by Nippon TV and delivered glob...
01/09/2026
Sony Pictures Television has launched Live TV on PS5, a free ad-supported streaming experience available to PS5 players in the United States. The service is acc...
01/09/2026
Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin has installed a Riedel production infrastructure spanning video, intercom, control, and I/O across the venue, implemented in col...
01/09/2026
Arkona technologies GmbH has announced an OEM partnership with BFE Studio und Medien Systeme GmbH to offer arkona-branded control panels for its SDI-IP routing ...
01/09/2026
Cricket Australia has launched Cricket TV, a direct-to-consumer streaming service built on Eluvio's Content Fabric platform. The service is currently in ear...
01/09/2026
Eluvio has announced it was selected to power Pasifika , a new direct-to-consume...
01/09/2026
Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, has appointed Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. The appointment marks ...
01/09/2026
Gravity Media has announced a multi-year renewal of its agreement with Stawell Gift Event Management to produce the complete broadcast of the Powercor Stawell G...
01/09/2026
Beam Dynamics will exhibit at IBC2026 for the first time (Stand 14.FT29, Hall 14), introducing License Intelligence, a new module for managing software licenses...
01/09/2026
Interra Systems has announced that ZOO Digital has selected BATON for file-based quality control across its media workflows. ZOO Digital delivers localized ente...
01/09/2026
Bridge Technologies has announced the deployment of its VB330 monitoring probe at Sunrise, supporting the Swiss telecommunications provider's IP-based telev...
01/09/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the continued expansion of its managed coach communications partnership with Scottish Rugby Union, now entering its third se...
01/09/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
01/09/2026
SMPTE today detailed the centerpiece of its IBC2026 program: the SMPTE Roadshow: Future of Media Infrastructure, a full-day workshop on Monday, 14 September, th...
01/09/2026
Inside the Music and Sound of Michael
Sound Particles have announced an upcoming webinar with John Warhurst, the Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning supervisin...
01/09/2026
Piano offers tutorials, lessons & feedback via app
Roland have just launched a new digital piano that integrates with a mobile app in an effort to encourage...
01/09/2026
Update introduces 7.1.4 support via Dante
Trinnov have just announced a software update that will allow Nova units with eight licensed Optimizer channels to...
01/09/2026
SBS secures exclusive rights to FIFA World Cup 2030
1 September, 2026
Media releases
Major sports rights deal ensures all Australians will be able to view...
01/09/2026
SBS announces the launch of outcomes-based measurement across its network
1 September, 2026
Media releases
New offer sees national broadcaster put outcomes...
01/09/2026
Revealed: The Booster Economy' how $140bn+ in everyday inheritances'...
01/09/2026
SBS census explorer to provide new insights into contemporary Australia
1 September, 2026
Media releases
The 2026 Census Explorer will give marketers new i...
01/09/2026
SBS and oOh!media launch exclusive SBS News content partnership across office, a...
01/09/2026
SBS offers marketers greater reach with extension into outdoor, creator economy ...