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
http://www.inbroadcast.com https://calrec.com/shop/broadcast-audio-consoles/type-r/ https://www.qsc.com/live-sound/products/touchmix-mixers/touchmix-30-pro/ https://www.qsc.com/live-sound/products/touchmix-mixers/touchmix-30-pro/ https://youtu.be/EYqJSEiyaOc https://youtu.be/uChhmLOZeyU
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of In Broadcast - August 2018
