NAB Show: Calrec Previews New, Returning Offerings

U.K.-based Calrec Audio Ltd. helps broadcasters adapt to changing viewing habits and commercial environments. This support comes in many forms including achieving efficiency with remote broadcasting, saving money with virtualized production, and assistance with proprietary systems like Hydra2, and IP connectivity with ImPulse and ImPulse1.

Calrec’s networking options include proprietary, full IP or hybrid. It has expanded its range of consoles and IP connectivity so all productions from the smallest to the largest scaled networks can be supported with Calrec products. It will be at NAB Show (April 16-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center) at Booth C6107.

New This Year

Calrec’s award-winning Argo audio mixing control platform is making its NAB debut with both the Argo Q and Argo S on show. Designed to adapt to changing production needs, Calrec’s Argo is a new approach to audio mixing, with a flexible control philosophy that breaks the traditional geographic tie lines between processing and control.

Argo is fully modular with interchangeable hardware panels and uses Calrec’s time-served Assist UI at its core. This means that whether you are working on physical hardware panels or on a remote GUI, the user interface is both familiar and easy to drive. Its modular panel system encourages broadcasters to adapt surface hardware to meet their unique requirements, with two mid-level rows of interchangeable panels on the larger Argo Q model, and one mid-level row on the compact Argo S model.

Calrec has also introduced a comprehensive system of user templates to instantly change the hardware user interface to meet changing requirements or user preferences. Argo’s physical control surface is also more streamlined, using optically bonded touchscreens to provide unrivalled visual feedback and speed of access. Soft panels provide a richer user experience and hardware panels allow users to build definable functions and apply these as templates — this helps operators move around the surface faster and makes it more intuitive.

Argo’s panels are also interchangeable and can be placed wherever they are needed. This makes it easy to grow and adapt the console to individual requirements and it means the desk can easily be split for sub mixing or mixing in other locations.

Also debuting in the US at NAB is Calrec’s recently announced ImPulse1 IP audio processing and routing engine — a smaller, yet powerful, cost-effective ST2110 version of the industry-established ImPulse. ImPulse1 is a compact 1U solution with an optional second core for redundancy and a new 128 input channel DSP pack offering entry-level pricing.

With the introduction of ImPulse1, Calrec says it is making the move to IP much more attainable for all its customers, offering a range of options to suit all budget requirements. ImPulse1 works with Argo Q and Argo S control surfaces, and/or Calrec Assist, a browser-based GUI, ideally suited to remote working, multi operator and/or headless operation. Cores with smaller DSP licenses can be offered without hardware redundancy.

ImPulse1 is designed for small to medium single mixer applications and is offered with an all-new DSP license of 128 input channels without compromising its ST2110 capability. With a small overall form-factor, it’s immediately attractive for compact installation sites, such as outside broadcast and fly pack applications, where space is at a premium. Furthermore, it doesn’t compromise on features and DSP power; it has DSP options ranging from 128 to 384 input channels and benefits from the DSP features from the larger ImPulse core.

Also At The Show

ImPulse is “the most powerful DSP engine on the planet” and has native SMPTE 2110 connectivity. It’s compatible with the Calrec Assist web interface as well as Calrec’s Apollo and Artemis consoles to provide a simple upgrade path for existing Calrec customers moving to an IP domain. It provides 3D immersive path widths and panning for next-generation audio with height and 3D pan controls, flexible panning and downmixing built-in.

Calrec’s 2U RP1 remote production unit takes your favorite Calrec console anywhere in the world without ever leaving the studio. A remotely controlled processing engine like RP1 means dedicated control rooms can be used to mix feeds from multiple remote venues. Remote production models produce more live coverage with minimal resources.

Many networks around the world have been successfully using this REMI/at home production model producing the largest sporting events – in fact Calrec has more experience in REMI/at-home production models than any other audio console manufacturer.

From July 2023, an extended DSP pack will be offered as an optional upgrade path for existing RP1 customers and optional with new units. This will increase the number of virtual control faders to 72 and the DSP to:

• 96 mono equivalent channel paths
• 24 Aux send paths
• 96 Direct outputs

Brio is a plug-and-play broadcast console that slots into any broadcast workflow, is easy to operate and has comprehensive built-in I/O. It is loaded with dynamics and delay on every path, has a huge internal router, multiple monitor outputs and is expandable for future growth.

Calrec’s new Brio 36 Duet comes with internal Hydra2 connectivity, comprehensive built-in IO and 96 input channels as standard. The Brio 36 Medley package includes everything on a Brio Duet plus a Dante 64 card or MADI I/O module, and an external Br.IO box with 24 mic/line inputs, 16 analogue outputs & 8 AES I/O.

Calrec’s Type R is a modular, expandable IP mixing system designed to allow customers to take advantage of distributed production and flexible workflows. Its three hardware and soft panels can create a variety of system types. It ties in with Calrec’s Assist for mixing in the cloud and integrates with station automation systems like Ross Overdrive, Sony ELC and Grass Valley Ignite.

Calrec adds a compact Talent Panel to the mix. This slimline unit allows guests to switch between multiple sources via its integrated hi-res TFT and adjust headphone volume with a dedicated rotary control. Four switches allow for the panel to be customized to the individual user with common functions like talkback and cough switches; this ensures only essential controls are close to hand.

Calrec’s Artemis console will also be at the show. Artemis is designed for live and broadcast applications and it features a large number of inputs and outputs as well as advanced routing and processing capabilities. Artemis is compatible with Calrec’s ImPulse IP core to provide a simple upgrade path for existing Calrec customers moving to an IP domain.