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
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/03/2026
How Chris Bolte Builds the Sound of PlayStation Games Chris Bolte '16 is a technical sound designer at Sucker Punch Productions, where he helps create the...
19/03/2026
It's a double feature on GFN Thursday. This week, GeForce NOW offers smoother sights in virtual reality (VR) and a sprawling new land to conquer.
Streaming...
18/03/2026
Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4.
Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...
18/03/2026
SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...
18/03/2026
The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...
18/03/2026
(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...
18/03/2026
SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...
18/03/2026
Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K
Brie Clayton March 18, 2026
0 Comments
LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...
18/03/2026
Brainstorm transforms productivity and sustainability with Suite 7 at NAB Show 2...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/03/2026
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, today unveiled its educational presentations for the 2026 NAB Show. This year SMPTE will ...
18/03/2026
Maxon, maker of powerful, approachable software solutions for creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects, gaming, and more, today ann...
18/03/2026
Digital Alert Systems
Preview
2026 NAB Show
April 19 - 22
Booth C3452
At the 2026 NAB Show, Digital Alert Systems will showcase Version 6.0 of its DASDEC ...
18/03/2026
Setplex today announced that it will showcase its complete, fully integrated Zapflex platform for the first time at the 2026 NAB Show, introducing powerful new ...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking DP for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Director of Photography for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Gaffer for Low Budget Dramedy Feature Film- I...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Location, Sound for Low Budget Dramedy - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Location/Sound for Low Budget Dramed...
18/03/2026
COW Jobs: Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Film - Chicago
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
Seeking Child Wrangler for Low Budget Dramedy Fe...
18/03/2026
Calrec Redefines Broadcast Workflows at NAB 2026 with its Most Powerful Hardware...
18/03/2026
Oscar Nominated Two People Exchanging Saliva Posted with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton March 17, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio handle...
18/03/2026
Boston Conservatory Presents Celebrated Musical Satire Urinetown Performances for this Center Stage production will take place at Boston Conservatory Theater ...
18/03/2026
Charlie Puth Joins Switched on Pop at Berklee NYC The Berklee alum spoke with host and Berklee NYC professor Charlie Harding for a live taping, answering audi...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Preparatevi Alla Terza E Ultima Stagione De La Legge di Lidia ...
18/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Drops Teaser and First Look Images for The Chestnut M...
17/03/2026
NASA+'s Rebecca Sirmons and Brittany Brown offer unique look at live streami...
17/03/2026
The transition to IP has fundamentally reshaped professional media infrastructures. Video, audio, and increasingly metadata now circulate as independent, precis...
17/03/2026
Live sports streaming can push every element in your video delivery chain to its limit, exposing every potential weakness in seconds. When the Super Bowl, the O...
17/03/2026
Texas Athletics sought to modernize its media production, enhance fan experience...
17/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast...
17/03/2026
TNA Wrestling and iHeartMedia announces a new multi-platform collaboration that will integrate iHeartMedia across TNA's premium live events, weekly televisi...
17/03/2026
The goal was to transform Hard Rock Stadium into a global leader in sports and e...
17/03/2026
Spectrum has announced the launch of its new Multiview feature in the Spectrum TV App, giving customers the ability to watch up to four NCAA men's or women&...
17/03/2026
Genius Sports deal also covers data technology, AI, fan engagement, and performance analysis....
17/03/2026
Net Insight is supporting the rollout of a new state-wide centralized operation with Rede Massa, which is an SBT affiliate, the Brazilian regional television ne...
17/03/2026
Featuring audio from practice sessions, qualifying races, and Grand Prix races, the film represents Apple's sports-media ambitions
At Sunday night's Ac...
17/03/2026
Live broadcast has always been one of the most demanding environments in media a...
17/03/2026
DirecTV is introducing several new viewing features, including a multi-screen March Madness Mix channel and an updated Sports Central mobile app hub, ahead of...
17/03/2026
Deltatre has announced a multi-year partnership with ATP Media, the media arm of the ATP Tour, covering broadcast graphics, data, and production across the 2026...
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 
