Audio Consoles Face the IP Future and the Pandemic Present At-home/at-home' remote operations are driven by economics and epidemics By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, July 2, 2020 - 10:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
There have been two distinct trends in audio-console development over the past couple of years: a migration to IP-based connectivity and a move to remote access of a console core via a separate device, either wirelessly nearby or over a network across distances. Both were well on their way to widespread and routine adoption; in fact, use of iPads and other wireless touchscreens as extensions of hardware mixers in the live-sound console market has been a reality for much of that time.
However, when the COVID-19 crisis hit sports broadcasters like a ton of bricks in March, with the cancellation of MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, and other televised events, it sparked an acceleration of both of those now-intertwined trends. Broadcasters had already realized the economic benefit of the shift to REMI/at-home production techniques, deploying fewer personnel and technical assets onsite at games and keeping such processes as audio mixing and video switching at the main plant studio, something that IP connectivity enhanced. And, suddenly, at-home mixing had become at-home/at-home mixing: the A1s found themselves literally mixing shows from spare bedrooms and basements as they sheltered from the COVID-19 virus.
Many of these new tools were already in place but were often still in early stages, and some were cobbled together nearly on the fly as broadcasters coped with the stuttering return of live sports.
Lawo mc2 consoles are optimized for IP production.
COVID-19 came on suddenly, and everyone went into panic mode at once, needing to do all of their broadcasts remotely, says Chris Fichera, VP, audio, Group One, which manages distribution and marketing of DiGiCo, Calrec, and Solid State Logic consoles in the U.S. for UK-based Audiotonix. [Not every console could] do that at the level that broadcast sports needed. The solutions being offered were uneven across the industry.
IP Connectivity Sets the Stage for Solutions
Fortunately, the ongoing migration to IP connectivity and the demand by broadcasters for more cost-effective remote production paved the way for some solutions .
For instance, Lawo's Power Core RP, introduced just a year earlier, offered 64 fully featured processing channels, via DSP, to provide low-latency onsite monitoring and IFB mixing within a WAN-capable IP node. It can serve as an extension of Lawo's mc series mainframe consoles at a broadcast network's plant studios, mirroring fader moves but also encompassing such processing as EQ and dynamics. Control is via a touchscreen GUI based on the Lawo VisTool screen design, which allows monitoring of the control connection to the host console, on-air status, and synchronization.
Lawo's Mix Kitchen was introduced in June and allows off-the-shelf components, such as small USB fader panels or DAW controllers, to be used in any environment - an A1's home, for example - to connect to a plant's mc2-series consoles; it also allows surface-less operations based on the mc2 micro-core. In addition to remote mixer operation, the solution enables in-place access to any Mac- or Windows-based computer in the plant.
You don't need to invest in a separate control surface, explains Lawo Sales Engineer Frank Mosch, noting that at least one major U.S. network is evaluating the concept.
Calrec first fielded its Assist solution, a browser-based interface application that creates a virtual-console environment, in April 2019. It had grown out of the company's VP2 headless virtualized-console work surface that mimics the operations and capabilities of its flagship Artemis and Apollo consoles. A version is now available also for the RP1 compact desk and Type R radio production console.
VP2 becomes Calrec Assist once it's integrated into an Artemis and Apollo console, says Calrec National Technical Sales Rep Rob Lewis, underscoring how the marketing terminology of these new solutions has been ruffled by the urgency of the pandemic. Under these conditions, these solutions had to be fast-tracked.
What both Calrec and Lawo emphasize is that their remote-access solutions are comprehensive when it comes to encompassing all the features on their main consoles, from fader operation to busses, EQ, dynamics, and other processing.
IP Is OK
At the same time, console makers are stressing the continued transition to an IP infrastructure. For instance, Calrec's IP-based ImPulse core offers a native IP AES67- and SMPTE 2110-compliant backbone, is fully NMOS-compliant, and is compatible with existing Apollo and Artemis control surfaces. The company has also developed a suite of products aimed at helping broadcasters make that transition: the H2-IP Gateway and an AoIP modular I/O controller card combine to provide an interface between Calrec Hydra2 networks and an AoIP network and provide control capability to allow control data and audio labels to be passed in both directions on a network.
Calrec's IP-based ImPulse core is compatible with existing Apollo and Artemis control surfaces.
All Lawo mc series mixing consoles are optimized for an IP production environment. The PowerCore RP remote-production solution for mc audio consoles integrates modular I/O, DSP, and IP streaming capabilities; the smaller PowerCore Gateway is an adaptable IP I/O node, a modular audio stagebox for meeting all I/O requirements. The A__UHD Core ultra-high-density IP DSP engine for mc consoles uses the IP network as an extension of the console core's backplane.
The remote-access solutions coming to market now represent a trend that began under less challenging conditions, but many a
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
06/12/2025
In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...
06/12/2025
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...
06/12/2025
HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...
06/12/2025
NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...
05/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...
05/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...
05/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...
05/12/2025
Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...
05/12/2025
FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...
05/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...
05/12/2025
Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...
05/12/2025
As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...
05/12/2025
ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...
05/12/2025
It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...
05/12/2025
Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...
05/12/2025
In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...
05/12/2025
In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...
05/12/2025
LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....
05/12/2025
NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...
05/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...
05/12/2025
The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start.
December ...
05/12/2025
Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premier...
05/12/2025
Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Co...
05/12/2025
Friday 5 December 2025
A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...
05/12/2025
Back to All News
Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...
05/12/2025
Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head.
In the autumn we were approach...
05/12/2025
Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...
05/12/2025
The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025
Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player
#LateLateToyShow...
05/12/2025
RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes
New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill
Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...
04/12/2025
ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux
More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...
04/12/2025
Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...
04/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...
04/12/2025
SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...
04/12/2025
Platinum White Paper: LiveU Lightweight Sports Production: A Step Change in Spor...
04/12/2025
London to Riyadh: DAZN brings the boxing glamour to new production levels for Be...
04/12/2025
Analysis: Paramount bets on the battering ram' with Champions League play By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - 10:12
Print ...
04/12/2025
Space City Home Network Launches SCHN DTC App for Astros and RocketsThe Rockets and Astros were previously the lone NBA and MLB teams without a DTC appBy Jason...
04/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Content Workflows Workshop Spotlights Evolution of Spor...
04/12/2025
New Sponsor Spotlight: Geotech's Patrick Wambold On the Unreal Engine Revolu...
04/12/2025
Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nationally and RegionallyBy Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 1:52 pm
Print This Sto...
04/12/2025
(L-R) Rebecca Lichtenfeld, Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki, and Judith Helfand att...
Audio Consoles Face the IP Future and the Pandemic Present At-home/at-home' remote operations are driven by economics and epidemics By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
