Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 1 - An IP Future and a Pandemic Present At-home/at-home' remote operations are driven by economics and epidemics By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, July 16, 2020 - 7:00 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 conditio
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 1 - An IP Future and a Pandemic Present At-home/at-home' remote operations are driven by economics and epidemics By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
