NAB 2012: Audio Preview 2

The 2012 NAB Show is upon us. Here’s a preview of some of the new audio products that will be of interest to sports-broadcast-audio professionals.

Calrec
The Hydra2 audio-routing system is able to interact with third-party control- and production-automation equipment. Demonstrating the Calrec Serial Protocol will be a Ross switcher emulator in conjunction with Ross Overdrive technology, which will allow visibility into 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 incorporate 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.

The EMBER protocol will also be demonstrated via VSM, enabling memory loads, loading and removal of alias files, viewing and editing of Hydra2 I/O box and port labels, SMPTE 2020 metadata insertion, and selective muting of SDI outputs. www.calrec.com

Clear-Com
A new line of V-Series rotary panels and the Eclipse MADI (E-MADI) card join the company’s Eclipse digital-matrix intercom family. The addition of the V-Series rotary panels to the V-Series pushbutton and lever key panels presents broadcasters with a wider range of user-control key-panel options. Users can quickly and independently adjust system audio levels from one or more sources, including external lines, party lines, and intercom from other local and remote control panels. Available in 1RU, 2RU, desktop, and extension-panel variants, the V-Series rotary panels feature push-listen with mix-control knob and a separate push-talk button. Colored LEDs indicate active keys, who is calling, and what the talk key is programmed to do. V-Series rotary panels have a dual use as intercom and/or assignment panels for IFBs, party lines, and groups, even when expansion panels are used.

The E-MADI card provides connection with standard MADI devices. It offers full user setup and can be configured through the Eclipse Configuration Software (ECS) to supply up to 64 channels of digital four-wire connectivity per card. E-MADI cards are used to route talent and other incoming feeds across the intercom system for monitoring and the insertion of IFB. Other key features include sample frequency choices of 44.1, 48, and 96 kHz, a selectable channel/port quantity of 32, 48, 56, and 64, VOX on all 64 inputs, a fiber (MM) SFP duplex LC removable transceiver module, and BNC MADI in and BNC out. Users can derive channel labels from a third-party device and use the MADI channels for high-capacity trunking or audio distribution. The E-MADI card can use AES word clock, SD NTSC/PAL video, or Tri-level HD. www.clearcom.com

Studer
The Vista 1 Compact, new for the NAB Show, comes complete as a single chassis — with integrated control surface, I/O connections, and DSP — considerably reducing weight and footprint. Priced under $80,000, the new desk is suited to both fixed and portable systems, and its compact size makes it a natural choice for OB and ENG vans. The Vista 1 is based largely on the Vista 5, so existing Vista users will be immediately familiar with all the functionality of the Vistonics user interface and Studer Vista control surface, plus such features as true broadcast monitoring, talkback, red-light control, GPIO, N-x (mix minus) buses, snapshot automation, and DAW control.

With an integral 96-channel DSP engine, the Vista 1 can handle mono, stereo and 5.1-surround inputs and is provided with 32 mic/line inputs, 16 line outputs, and eight stereo AES inputs and outputs on rear-panel connections. Both 32-fader and 22-fader models are available. I/O can be expanded using the standard Studer D21m card slot on the rear to allow MADI, AES, AoIP, ADAT, TDIF, CobraNet, Dolby E/Digital and SDI connections. A MADI link can connect to any of the Studer Stagebox range for XLR connectivity as well as other formats.

The Studer Vista 1 also features a redundant PSU, and RELINK integration with other Studer Vista and OnAir consoles means the Vista 1 can share signals across an entire console network. Other new products from Studer at the show include an RTW MT7 metering option for Vista consoles. www.harman.com