Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 1 - Design Evolves To Meet New Exigencies Mix desks respond to at-home production, cost reduction, IP, other demands By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 9:48 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
The large-format audio console remains a staple of remote broadcast production, but substantial changes are taking place under the hood and around its ecosystem. The shift to an IP-based signal path has become increasingly entrenched over the past two years, as has implementation of at-home production (aka REMI), driven by the never-ending need to cut overhead costs (a need likely to be accelerated in coming months in the wake of two massive media consolidations). The two trends came about independently, but they're now creating synergies.
Tom Knowles, broadcast production manager, Solid State Logic (SSL), cites the ability of IP-based control to streamline the use of at-home productions and to better accommodate (as bandwidth permits) audio embedded in streaming video. He expects that [IP signal path] will become increasingly important as we move further into immersive formats.
This comes as consoles are becoming more accommodating of immersive audio formats. Knowles notes that his company's System T is now adapted for 7.1.4 formats, such as Dolby's Atmos, and that SSL has partnered with Sennheiser to accommodate the microphone manufacturer's Ambeo VR transducer. We're seeing more immersive-sound demand, he says, particularly in the studio and packaged show.
Smaller, Lighter, Modular
A trend that further supports cost reduction is putting more console functionality into smaller, lighter packages. SSL's new S500m work surface, introduced at April's NAB Show as part of the System T line, provides all the flagship features of the System T S500 console in a form factor that is more than 25% lighter and is specifically designed for production-truck and flypack applications.
Calrec's ImPulse Core is designed to allow customization of existing hardware, as well as multiple uses of single consoles.
Another example of console modularization is Calrec's 2RU RP1 remote-production system, which enables a remotely located audio-mixing console surface to control all mixing functionality at another location, with the RP1 core managing all the processing for IFB routing and remote monitor mixes. The company's ImPulse Core, scheduled to ship this fall, will precipitate another inflection point in remote-console capabilities. It will ultimately allow customization of existing hardware, as well as multiple uses of single consoles.
Calrec's Apollo and Artemis consoles will be upgradable with ImPulse Core, and it can add flexibility to the way these consoles are used, says Henry Goodman, director, product development, Calrec. For instance, you'll be able to have multiple mix environments from a single ImPulse core. It brings an element of future-proofing with it.
A software-based approach to console configuration via virtualization and control GUIs also will allow broadcasters to edge into more-modular broadcast environments without the need for completely new hardware.
Goodman says the business case for immersive audio is still evolving, focused for now on event broadcasts, such as the Olympics. But, while broadcasters will need economic justification for investments into additional speakers, software can ease how consoles are adapted for the new formats. For instance, he explains, the ImPulse Core will provide the processing power to add immersive monitoring and metering, as well as the ability to configure both input channels and mix outputs in immersive.
As for IP-based signal transport, he says that, although the transport side has been largely developed, thanks to standards like SMPTE ST 2110-30 and AES67, control device discovery and stream management are still a work in progress for many manufacturers.
You can have a stage box on a golf course, and IP will get the audio back to you, but you need to be able to control the mic gain, too. And you need a way for the network to manage all these new sources effectively, says Goodman, noting that discovery and connectivity management will require development of the NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 standards from the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA). Getting to that point will take a little more time.
Chris Fichera, VP, audio, Group One Ltd, the North American distributor for DiGiCo and Calrec (which also share a parent company with the Allen & Heath and SSL brands), says that, while platforms like the RP1 are contributing to reduced overhead costs for sports broadcasters, including Univision and NBC Sports, they also have the potential to become primary platforms for a range of mid-size collegiate networks. Specifically, he cites PAC-12 Networks as an example.
Football and basketball bring in the bulk of the revenue, but colleges have so many other sports that have to be covered as part of the school's athletics. From water polo to field hockey, [they] need to get their airtime, he says. At-home tools like the RP1 are well-suited for that role: an A2 plugs the mics in onsite, and the audio gets mixed back at the control room.
Once the hub of any audio production, the console has evolved into a network node, but still a critical one.
Click here for Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 2 - A Look at Mixing Units for Remote Production
North America Stories
26/03/2026
Extron and Audio-Technica have announced that their Design Solutions devices, Ce...
26/03/2026
SPORTEL Asia took place March 24-25 at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drawing 370 participants representing more than 220 companies from 35 countries. Approximate...
26/03/2026
LTN will demonstrate satellite-to-IP migration solutions for broadcasters, cable networks, MVPDs, and station groups at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2100).
The C-Ban...
26/03/2026
The Seattle Mariners have partnered with Daktronics to install an upgraded outfi...
26/03/2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esp...
26/03/2026
Telestream has announced expanded integration between its Vantage workflow platf...
26/03/2026
FOR-A Corporation has announced a partnership with Nippon TV and NVIDIA to distr...
26/03/2026
CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their partnership through a new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement. CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular-season...
26/03/2026
Zac Brown Band will star in the Sunday Night Baseball show open on NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports announced. The open was filmed at American Family Field, home of ...
26/03/2026
Major League Baseball opens the 2026 season with nationally televised games across multiple media partners. Fans can visit MLB.com/Watch for a complete schedule...
26/03/2026
DIRECTV has announced an agreement to carry nine new MLB-operated team channels, covering the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers (Detroit SportsNet), Kansas City R...
26/03/2026
Nationals.TV, the Washington Nationals' local broadcast channel, is now avai...
26/03/2026
Starting Thursday, March 26, MLB.TV will be available on the ESPN App, giving fans access to more than 2,000 out-of-market regular season games. Fans can also r...
26/03/2026
By Matt Klein
Hello to everyone reading this - whether you're a current YEP, HPA member, or just YEP-curious. I'm Matt Klein, one of the co-chairs of t...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
28 participating companies, from start-ups to blue-chips, lead the UK Group as part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland presence across all the Halls at N...
26/03/2026
Arkona Unveils BLADE//planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
New graphical configuration tool and...
26/03/2026
Bitfocus showcases complete control at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
Continuing development drives advances in security, availa...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Nevion introduces powerful new Panel Builder to enhance VideoIPath broadcast con...
26/03/2026
2026 Oscar Nominated Films Powered by Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 25, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio used on 27 of this year's no...
26/03/2026
Leader to present full suite of advanced Test & Measurement solutions at NAB Sho...
26/03/2026
Boston Conservatory to Present New England and Collegiate Premiere of Groundbrea...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
Have a Wish Worth Dying For? Netflix's First Korean YA Hor...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
The Truthers, Starring Jose Coronado and St phanie Magnin, Pre...
26/03/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
26/03/2026
That gaming backlog won't clear itself - GeForce NOW is here to help. Stream the latest titles straight from the cloud across a variety of devices.
This we...
25/03/2026
Live match directors Sarah Cheadle (Sky Sports), Rob Levi (TNT Sports), and Andrew Swift (BBC Sport) sit down with the Premier League's Rachel Nightingale t...
25/03/2026
The senior from Upstate New York is manning the mic while also interning for the athletic department's sports-information team
In the live-sports-video ind...
25/03/2026
Synamedia has announced ContentArmor Edge Watermarking, a server-side solution t...
25/03/2026
SES has announced meoSphere, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite network targeted for operation by 2030. The first phase will pair SES-developed software-defin...
25/03/2026
TVU Networks is working with Reuters on a phased migration from satellite to a c...
25/03/2026
Nielsen has announced three senior appointments. Seth Ladetsky has been named Head of Global Sports. Trevor Fellows will lead Nielsen's advertiser and agenc...
25/03/2026
Anoki and Amagi have launched In-Scene Ads powered by Anoki ContextIQ across Amagi's portfolio of in-content ad formats for Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (...
25/03/2026
Arkona Technologies will announce a series of enhancements to its BLADE//runner platform at NAB 2026 (Booth C.1808). The updates focus on usability and workflow...
25/03/2026
Daktronics has installed two tower displays and a video wall in the Lexus Club at Petco Park in San Diego ahead of the 2026 season.
Continuing to improve the ...
25/03/2026
MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems is celebrating its 50th anniversary as NAB Show 2026 approaches. The company was founded in 1976 by Vincent Jachetta, an N...
25/03/2026
IPC, a provider of integrated communication solutions, will make its NAB 2026 de...
25/03/2026
Live production categories were led by NBC, FOX, and ESPN's NFL coverage...
25/03/2026
The Atlanta Braves and Spectrum have announced a multiyear distribution agreemen...
25/03/2026
(L-R) Charlie Tyrell and Daniel Roher attend The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre ...
25/03/2026
L3Harris Technologies and RFTEQ Pty Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding to ...
25/03/2026
L3Harris delivers combat-ready Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery system, which deploys and retrieves Iver4 900 autonomous underwater vehicles through submarine t...
25/03/2026
The company expands leadership team under Chief Revenue Officer Amilcar Perez
S...
Tech Focus: Audio Consoles, Part 1 - Design Evolves To Meet New Exigencies Mix desks respond to at-home production, cost reduction, IP, other demands By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
