Type R and Impulse part of extensive NAB 2022 offering from Calrec

From its radio-focused and flexible Type R, which can adapt to a variety of requirements including virtualised workflows, and Brio consoles, to the IP-enabled Impulse core, Calrec will be showcasing a wide range of products at NAB 2022 next month.

On its stand, Calrec will run three independent consoles from a fully redundant pair of Impulse cores; a 48 dual fader Apollo console, a 40 fader Artemis console and a headless console running Calrec Assist on a PC.

Impulse is a powerful DSP engine and has native SMPTE 2110 connectivity. It’s compatible with the Calrec Assist web interface as well as Apollo and Artemis consoles to provide a simple upgrade path for existing 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.

Impulse allows up to four independent mixing environments to run from a single core, wherever in the world it’s located, and each independent mixer can access up to 1,458 paths.

Calrec Assist is a browser-based interface that creates a virtual console environment allowing operators to mix directly from a computer or laptop. It’s compatible with a range of Calrec products to help broadcasters streamline workflows, improve cost efficiency and expand the variety of coverage.

Calrec’s flexible Type R will sit on the same IP network, as will the Brio console, connected via an AoIP box. These AoIP and gateway boxes give users on a Hydra2 network the ability to merge onto an IP network. This means they continue to get value from their original investment while tapping into the benefits of IP workflows. Gateway technology also lessens the learning curve for operators and allows broadcasters to transition at their own pace.

The Type R mixing console is designed to allow customers to take advantage of distributed production and flexible workflows. Its integrated native IP core provides virtual working practices and integration with station automation systems like Ross Overdrive, Sony ELC and Grass Valley Ignite.

Type R can provide fully automated programming with real-time adjustment of external factors via a standard web browser, and its small and portable hardware elements can be quickly added if required.

Powered by standard PoE switches, Type R has just three panel options; banks of six faders can be added, as well as user-definable soft panels such as Calrec’s Large Soft Panel (LSP) and Small Soft Panel (SSP).

Also at NAB 2022, 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 customised to the individual user with common functions such as talkback and cough switches; this ensures only essential controls are close to hand.

Easily mounted into furniture and with connections over standard Cat5, the Talent Panel acts as an AoIP endpoint and can be quickly configured; multiple devices can be added wherever they are required.

Calrec’s new GPIO unit for Type R is a 1U box which delivers an additional 32 GPOs and 32 GPIs for interfacing with external systems such as playout, phone systems, codecs etc. Functionality can be added onto physical buttons on Type R fader panels, soft panels or web UIs, and configured via the Connect application.

Also on show is the 2U RP1 remote production unit. A remotely controlled processing engine like RP1 means dedicated control rooms can be used to mix feeds from multiple remote venues. Many large international sporting events have been mixed with RP1 in the past 12 months.

Finally, Brio is a plug-and-play broadcast console which is said to slot 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. The 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 and eight AES I/O.