AES Shows Its Broadcast-Audio Chops

With the music-recording business mired in a lengthy soft spot, the Audio Engineering Society is looking to broaden its annual show’s appeal. Kicking off tomorrow at New York’s Javits Center, the expo will feature broadcast audio as part of the lineup of panels, papers, and exhibits. SVG keeps you up-to-date on the broadcast-related goings-on there.

Calrec Audio Cuts Omega Price, Will Cease Zeta Production
Calrec will reduce the price of its Omega with Bluefin console to bring it in line with Zeta console pricing, with a view toward discontinuing production of the Zeta on March 31, the end of the company’s financial year. The decision to reduce Omega pricing is in response to what Calrec says is a customer shift toward the Bluefin platform. The company is offering an opportunity to make final purchases of Zeta consoles, modules, racks, and cards. In keeping with its support policy, Calrec will continue to provide Zeta component spares and repair services for a minimum of 10 years from shipment date. Should original components or parts become unavailable, Calrec will offer appropriate alternatives, including hardware/software solutions. Distributors will contact existing customers to advise them of the details of the final-purchase offer and to assess their need for consoles, modules, and cards. Questions can be addressed via Calrec’s distribution network at www.calrec.com or directly to Calrec at [email protected].

TC Electronic Software Update
Recently introduced software version 2.17 is intended to help its TouchMonitor TM7 and TM9 loudness meters comply with the new ITU-R BS.1770-2 and CALM Act standards. The ITU-R BS.1770 standard was recently updated to 1770-2, which adds a loudness gate to ensure usability across media genres. With version 2.17, TouchMonitor users can stay compliant with BS.1770-2 and the entire loudness toolbox of EBU R128, as well as prepare for CALM. Version 2.17 allows users access to traditional moving-coil-style metering and GPI remote control of such functions as meter start, stop, and reset; it also opens the unit up to new output-routing functions. The software upgrade is free to all users and can be downloaded from the TC Electronic Website. www.tcelectronic.com/touchmonitor-support

RTW Expands SurroundControl
The SurroundControl series now includes RTW’s new loudness-range (LRA) instrument. Combining control, analysis, and monitoring of eight-channel 5.1-7.1 surround sound into one single system, the SurroundControl 31900 3RU rack-mountable module fits into half the space of a standard 19-in. installation rack for waveform monitors. At the heart of the series is RTW’s Surround Sound Analyzer, the house-shaped display offering an easy-to-read visual report of overall sound-loudness and sound-pressure level, phase correlation, and level differences among channels.

The new LRA instrument monitors two parameters essential for today’s loudness instruments:

• Program loudness, the integrated loudness of the overall program. The integrated measurement specified in EBU R 128 was developed for this purpose.
• Loudness variances within short periods. These are measured against the LRA descriptor specified in EBU R 128, too.

Loudness variances within short periods. These are measured against the LRA descriptor specified in EBU R 128, too.

RTW has also announced TM3, the latest addition to the company’s TouchMonitor range. Offering the features of the larger, TM7 and TM9 versions, the TM3 is controlled using a touch-sensitive display. Featuring PPM and true-peak instruments, it offers comprehensive loudness metering in compliance with all globally relevant standards, including EBU R128, ITU BS.1770-2/1771, ATSC A/85, and ARIB. Instruments include single-channel and summing bar graphs, an LRA instrument, and numerical displays. The basic version handles analog and digital stereo audio; the 5.1 option adds support of six-channel digital input. The TM3 comes with a separate I/O unit connected with a single cable for audio transmission and power supply. RTW expects to begin shipment of the product in second quarter 2012. www.rtw.de