In Broadcast - March 2013 - 58

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 17 - MARCH 2013

N E W S

InFOCUS

Grass Valley Camera Control - MediorNet
R

iedel Communications and
Grass Valley will reveal the
MediorNet interface card for
integrating Grass Valley cameras
into MediorNet ﬁbre networks at
NAB.
Furthermore Riedel will show the
new possibilities for integration
Soundcraft Si Compact and SSL
consoles into the RockNet Digital
Audio Network.
The new MediorNet MN-GV-2
card allows the user to network
Grass Valley 3G camera systems
and base station including the LDK
and the brand new LDX series via
MediorNet. This provides a solution
for routing bi-directional camera
signals including all embedded
audio and telemetry control data
through the MediorNet ﬁbre
The MN-GV-2 card
connects Grass Valley 3G
cameras via MediorNet

58

infrastructure. MediorNet’s
network approach allows the free
assignment of cameras to any Base
Station / CCU within the network,
providing unparalleled ﬂexibility in
set-ups and eliminating the need
for re-wiring when production
conﬁgurations change.
In addition, the network’s pointto-multipoint capability allows a
camera video signal to be routed
to several outputs. Ultimately,
the Grass Valley camera system
becomes an integrated part of
the MediorNet backbone solution
for signal distribution streamlining
production scenarios, sports
broadcasting
applications
and fixed
installations.
T
h
e
MediorNet
MN-GV-2 card
provides two Grass
Valley 3G ﬁbre ports
that either connect to
Grass Valley cameras
or base stations. The card
ﬁts into MediorNet Modular
Mainframes occupying a
single card slot with at least
two high-speed ports.

Solid
State
Logic and Riedel
Communications
developed the next
generation RockNet ﬁrmware
for the RockNet RN.334.MD MADI
interface that allows intelligent
interfacing between RockNet Digital
Audio Networks and SSL mixing
consoles. This makes the SSL
console an integrated part of the
RockNet system including remote
control of all gains.
The new RN.344.SI card provides
RockNet integration for any
Soundcraft SI Compact console
via the console’s expansion slot. In
its ﬁrst ﬁrmware release the card
supports 32 inputs and 32 outputs
to the RockNet system. A wordclock
output is available at the front panel.
A rotary switch is provided for device
identiﬁcation and selection of up
to 16 programmable routing tables.
The RN.344.SI and the new MADI
ﬁrmware enables the respective
Soundcraft and SSL products to
become a part of the RockNet digital
audio network and offers remote
control of any RockNet microphone
pre-ampliﬁer. The RN.344.SI also
supports RockNet’s Independent
Gain Feature. Independent Gain

Reidel’s RockNet
RN.334. MD MADI interface

allows several mixing consoles to
operate with the same mic pre-amps
without affecting each other. While
the master-console is controlling
the analogue gain of the preamps remotely, all other consoles
operate with emulated pre-amps
just as if they were also controlling
the actual mic input. This makes
multi-console and recording setups
very convenient.
The portfolio of RockNet interfaces
for console integration includes
dedicated solutions for Yamaha,
Studer, Soundcraft and SSL
consoles as well as a MADI unit for
integrating consoles from additional
brands. RockNet allows consoles
from various manufacturers to
operate simultaneously within the
same audio network.

InSOUND

Calrec Adds Automixer To Apollo And Artemis Series
I

n response to customer demand,
Calrec has added Automixer, an
automatic mixing function, to its
Blueﬁn2 signal-processing engine,
the driving force behind its Apollo
and Artemis mixing consoles.
Automixer attenuates the output
levels of all channels under its
control to maintain consistent
programme levels in environments
with multiple open microphones
and unpredictable audio content.
The feature is especially useful on
panel-style discussion shows where
guests might speak over each other
and dramatically raise their voices.
Users can have eight separate

Automixer GUI from Calrec’s Blueﬁn2
range of consoles

Automixers, each of which can be
assigned to control any number of
mono input channels and group
paths on the control surface.
Unlike compression of a mix
bus, or use of individual or linked
compressors on paths, the use
of an Automixer applies differing
amounts of attenuation to each path,
depending on its own level, as well
as the overall mix level.
Paths can be assigned different
levels of emphasis to allow, for
example, the host of a show to stand
out from the guests.
Artemis user Ryan Davidson, a
broadcast audio engineer at the
Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN) who works on the live
programme ‘The 700 Club’, said
that Automixer allows him to focus
less on the faders and more on ﬁnetuning other parts of the broadcast.
“When you’re mixing for live TV,
there are many variables to control,
and if you have a segment with a
good number of guests on set, you
have to ride the faders to control
the voices in the midst of everything
else you’re doing.

“The more
guests
on
set, the more
faders there
are to adjust,”
Davidson said.
“Automixer is
so intuitive that
you can pretty
much leave the
faders at zero,
and they will
mix themselves.
No
m o r e Calrec console with Automixer upgrade installed at Televisa
missed mics. If
without the annoying reﬂections
someone starts to talk, Automixer
is right on top of it, probably faster
from the ﬂoor or the holes between
the guest and the main anchor.
than a human could do it.”
José Alfredo Alanís, Audio
Calrec makes everything easier.”
Engineer at Mexico’s Grupo Televisa,
Automixers can be selected on
echoes that sentiment.
a channel-by-channel basis to be
“The Automixer feature is an
placed in the signal path pre-EQ,
amazing new tool because it’s easy
prefader, or postfader.
to use and very smart,” Alanís said.
Upstand metering can be
“It’s like having many hands
configured to show Automixer
operating the fader levels.
attenuation alongside signal level
“All you have to pay attention
on each path.
to are the gain structure and the
Automixer is an upgrade to the
output levels.
Blueﬁn2 software.
“The microphones are clean,

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In Broadcast - March 2013

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