NAB 2012: Calrec Audio To Demo Hydra2, Artemis Light Console

Calrec Audio will provide a new demo of its Hydra2 audio routing system, and the system’s ability to interact with third-party control and production automation equipment.

To give broadcasters a sense of Hydra2’s potential as a networking solution, Calrec will exhibit its equipment in a scenario akin to how it would be used in an actual production environment.

Demonstrating the Calrec Serial Protocol will be a Ross switcher emulator in conjunction with Ross Overdrive technology, which will allow for visibility into and third-party control over a number of Calrec audio console settings such as fader position, PFL and cut control for paths on faders, routing to auxes from faders, output level control for auxes, routing to mains from faders, main output level/fader control, and LB/RB input switching for paths on faders.

The SW-P-08 protocol will be put into practice incorporating a variety of third-party router panels — including Evertz, Nvision, Snell, and LSB’s Virtual Studio Manager (VSM) — to demonstrate remote control over input-to-output crosspoint patching. In addition to direct routing of physical inputs to outputs, it can also route to and from a console DSP via Calrec’s Hydra Patchbays.

Finally the EMBER protocol will be demonstrated via VSM, enabling memory loads, loading and removal of alias files, viewing and editing of Hydra2 I/O box and ports labels, SMPTE 2020 metadata insertion, and selective muting of SDI outputs.

“Broadcasters are increasingly demanding more versatility and integration from their audio equipment,” said Henry Goodman, head of sales and marketing of Calrec. “For audio systems to be able to meet those demands, broadcasters must give greater consideration to their networks as a whole, and how efficiently those networks can be controlled. Our Hydra2 demo at NAB 2012 will show this point in a very clear way.”

Artemis Light Audio Console
Calrec Audio will also show Artemis Light, the newest member of its Artemis family of Bluefin2/Hydra2 audio consoles, at Booth C1746. The Artemis Light introduces a new compact processing rack dedicated to delivering digital signal processing (DSP) and routing capabilities in a 4U enclosure. Calrec will also highlight its Hydra2 Operator, or H2O, a remotely accessible management system that enhances the flexibility of the company’s Hydra2 network router.

“Our new Artemis is a powerful, full-featured broadcast-production audio console with full redundancy, designed to be an integral part of the Bluefin2/Hydra2 family,” said Henry Goodman, head of sales and marketing at Calrec. “We look forward to showing NAB visitors how Artemis provides a cost-effective platform that is easily expanded.”

Like all Artemis consoles, Artemis Light incorporates Bluefin2 high-density signal processing and Hydra2 networking technologies in the same compact yet powerful and scalable control surface used by Artemis Shine and Beam. Employing the same hardware and software architecture, the Artemis Light can be fully integrated with any existing Hydra2 network.

Hydra2 Operator — H2O
H2O allows the user to control the Hydra2 network independently from any console control surface. Users will be able to set up routes and configure access rights to all desks on a given network, as well as enter network-wide I/O boxes and port labels. H2O offers users the ability to arrange ports into folders, and it also provides central management of network synchronization.

The software uses Web technologies to allow network access from any tablet, laptop, or PC with a browser, making it compatible with all major operating systems including Windows, Linux, and OS X.

Apollo Audio Console
Calrec’s Apollo audio console is also being showcased at the 2012 NAB Show. Apollo provides processing power and a control surface with displays, touch screens, and light-emitting knobs that detail function and status. Apollo’s ergonomic design makes two layers of channels available simultaneously.

The Calrec Apollo console relies on Bluefin2, the next generation of Calrec’s trademark Bluefin high-density signal processing system. Bluefin2 gives Apollo up to 1020 channel processing paths, 128 program busses, 96 IFB/track outputs, and 48 auxiliaries.