In Broadcast - August 2018 - 44
44 www.inbroadcast.com | Vol: 8 - Issue 7 | August 2018 InStudio What's New in Broadcast Audio Production Mixers Contributing Editor David Kirk examines some of the latest developments in audio mixers and consoles... A year is a long time in the audio mixers business, with a lot of new or substantially enhanced products since we last reviewed this equipment category, including many introduced at the April 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas. An increasing number of mixers now have integral multichannel audio recorders. It is perhaps surprising that signal storage is not yet a feature of every audio mixer, or at least an option. The use of tablet computers as remote control devices continues to grow in popularity, for audio mixers as indeed for many other broadcastrelated products. Aaton Digital's CantarX3 and the new CantarMini audio recorders include a sound mixer linked to the assignable dustproof and waterproof faders. Gain, equalisation, routing and monitoring facilities are provided and all settings can be viewed on a builtin tiltable display. New features of both models are Sennheiser Ambeo immersive VR sound technology plus the full integration of the Wisycom and Lectrosonics wireless receivers. Allen & Heath's SQ-7 is a new 33-fader 48-channel console in the company's 96kHz SQ series. Following on from the SQ-5 and SQ-6, the SQ-7 has the same XCVI 96kHz FPGA processor and adds extended control and I/O in a larger format, 33 faders, 32 onboard preamps, 16 custom soft keys and eight user-definable soft rotary controls. Inputs and mixes can be individually assigned to 192 fader strips across six layers. 16 soft keys and eight user-assignable soft rotary controls allow the mixer to be customised. Forthcoming Dante, Waves and SLink audio networking cards further extend the scope for expansion, system integration, FoH/monitor splits and recording. Optional processing plugins give SQ-7 users access to compressor and preamp emulations which can be embedded directly into all input and mix channels. The console's SQ-Drive feature captures high resolution 96 kHz stereo and multitrack recordings direct to a USB drive. The SQ can also be hooked up to a PC or Mac via USB to become a 32 x 32 channel audio interface with impending MIDI and DAW control capabilities. Two independent assignable automatic microphone mixers can be combined to handle 48 channels. AMS Neve's 1073SPX has a Neve 1073 Class A design microphone preamplifier plus a three-band EQ and high pass filter. Building on the 1073 module, the 1073SPX introduces phantom power, selectable insert, level meters, output level control and front input connectors for easy and direct connection of microphones and instruments. The 1U housing includes an external multi-voltage PSU. An optional digital I/O module can be fitted into the 1073SPX to provide AES and FireWire digital connectivity at a range of sample rates. Calrec Audio's Type R is a modular expandable IP-based radio system mixer using standard networking hardware and soft panels. A single 2U core with integrated I/O resources can handle up to three independent mixing environments with 33-fader: Allen & Heath's SQ-7 the flexibility of the AES67 compatible network, DiGiCo has introduced a V2.2 software upgrade for its S-series consoles plus two new DMI modules: the DMI-AMM and DMI ME. The V2.2 upgrade will give S-series users access to a rack-receive-only mode, snapshot crossfades, group spill control and snapshot control based on OSC messages. Lawo has adopted the SMPTE 20227 standard for seamless protection switching (SPS) in its family of radio mixing consoles, as it has already done for its 'mc²' production consoles. SMPTE 2022 defines ways for IP networks to cope with unexpected issues. SPS enables simultaneous transmission of dual, identical audio IP streams via independent network paths, providing instant undetectable switching to backup if the primary link is interrupted. Lawo's Ruby and Power Core are claimed to be the world's first radio consoles to incorporate SMPTE 2022-7 as a standard feature, beginning with Radio Software v6.0. App: Mackie's DL32R delivers 32-channels Mackie's DL32R delivers 32-channels of digital mixing controlled wirelessly from a master fader app running on an Apple iPad. Features include directto-disk multi-track recording and playback. The DL32R has 14 assignable XLR outputs, stereo AES, phones out, and 1/4 inch monitor output. An optional DL Dante Expansion Card Modular: Calrec Audio Type R offers 32 x 32 channels of networked audio compatible with hundreds of Dante equipped devices. QSC TouchMix-30 Pro gains automatic mic mixing QSC has added automatic microphone mixing to its TouchMix-30 Pro digital mixer. This provides two independent processors which are available to all of the mixer's 24 microphone/line inputs. Solid State Logic has introduced a 32-fader version of its System T - S300 broadcast console. This has a fixed layout control surface that can be combined with remote tiles, touchscreen interfaces, processors, remote PC software and network I/O. It can be specified as part of a larger System T installation or in standalone configurations for smaller broadcast facilities or OB vehicles. The S300 comes in two versions: 16+1 faders and 32+1 faders. AoIP connections for Tempest processors and all SSL Network I/O devices are capable of Dante, AES67 and SMPTE 2110-30 using the same hardware. Sonifex' AVN Portal range of mix engines comprises three main units with options for front and rear panels. The AVN-PA8 has eight stereo analogue line inputs and outputs on D-type sockets with AES59 analogue pinout, paralleled with eight RJ45 connectors using StudioHub pinout. It can also receive AoIP streams from