There are lots of ways that the audio broadcast industry has converged over the last decade.

IP has played a big part. Network technologies like ST2110-30, AES67 and Dante have made things much more convenient. IP infrastructures are cost-effective to install and can adapt to changing requirements, but more crucially they have enabled broadcasters to connect technologies from different manufacturers on the same network fabric in a most cohesive way.

Wider infrastructures have also developed, with easy and available connectivity that helps keep people who are geographically remote to stay connected, encouraging a rise in edge and cloud processing that helps reduce those pesky latencies. There’s even been more convergence at a basic level, with more tech manufacturer acquisitions and broadcast groups joining forces to deliver better-sounding content across more channels.

But here’s the paradox, because all these things that promote convergence also encourage traditional audio manufacturers to widen their nets, both in terms of the markets they supply as well as the technologies they deliver.

This is the case once again as we look to IBC2024, with audio companies not only building on their core competencies, but also developing sympathetic products to expand their reach and attract new business. It’s there with companies catering to parallel markets outside of broadcast, like live and residential AV, and it’s there with expansion to cover more aspects of the production chain. It’s in the move to associated technologies, like the wider adoption of cloud infrastructures, and the adoption of more processing points in the production and delivery chain.

In fact, this is where the needle has moved the most, with a number of companies moving out of their traditional comfort zones to deliver processing in multiple locations to not only promote greater flexibility for the client, but to remain relevant to them.

Vendor Focus

Riedel (Stand 10.A31) has been expanding its range of live production tools and services for many years, and it still is. The IBC launch of SAME - the Smart Audio & Mixing Engine is a significant expansion of their capability in pro audio.

SAME is a suite of over 30 audio processing tools and mixers — spanning from automatic leveling and dynamic equalization to 5.1 upmixing, loudness meters, or signal analyzers — the solution caters to a wide range of applications such as voice-over, automated mixing, audio monitoring, or in-line process insertion. SAME is based on COTS server cluster technology to deliver processing capabilities that scale easily.

SAME’s Audio Pilot provides a “big picture” of all running productions, offering a comprehensive view of multi-location productions for centralized monitoring and management. The Audio Pilot also introduces a process- and mixer-independent audio monitoring system with fully automated monitoring path switching, allowing users to select and listen to any running process instantly across the entire system without the need for manual signal routing.

A new management platform Riedel STAGE™ simplifies the mixing and matching of devices, roles, and personnel without the need for protocol or IP knowledge. This management backend features strong remote assistance capabilities for remote production scenarios and is compliant with the highest IT security standards. The browser-based tool also features extensive user-rights management with integration to corporate directories and third-party identity providers (LDAP/AD, SAML, etc.). Because processing and I/O routing are not tied to a physical location, SAME enables rapid switching between different workspaces and production areas and avoids processing resource bottlenecks and access rights problems associated with traditional monolithic processing solutions.

“SAME will open up a whole world of new workflows for the audio production industry,” said Roger Heiniger, Senior Product Manager at Riedel Communications. “With its powerful automation mechanisms and smart processing tools like fingerprint-based dynamic equalization and automatic loudness-based leveling, it allows professionals to focus on creativity and content rather than getting bogged down by technicalities. We’re excited to see how SAME will enhance productions of all sizes.”

Lawo (Stand 8.B90) has been expanding its influence way beyond its traditional audio niche for years, and the company’s unified platform of flexible and scalable audio, video, control, and monitoring products has developed on all fronts at IBC. 

Commercially available in Q4 2024, Lawo’s HOME mc² DSP app makes its IBC debut. New to the company’s HOME Apps family, the HOME mc² DSP app is a server-based, agile audio engine that is built on cloud-native technology and combines the flexibility of the HOME Apps platform with Lawo’s audio processing quality and ultra-low latency. The HOME mc2 DSP app is built on cloud-native technology using microservices and containers, so it is readily scalable with processing capacity limited primarily only by available compute resource. It can be used together with mc² mixing consoles or as a headless mixing system providing server-based audio processing in situations where no A__UHD Core is available, or where remaining within the HOME Apps realm is more practical.

This week Lawo announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the integration of Dante audio and video technologies into Lawo’s HOME Apps. This will include the provision of native discovery and management mechanisms for Dante devices and software as well as access to Dante audio and video within Lawo’s HOME management platform. For seamless interoperability, Lawo intends to integrate Dante APIs and SDKs for access to control, management and media signals for Dante networks directly into HOME. To this end, Lawo will also introduce new Dante Importer (southbound) and Dante Exporter (northbound) services into, and out of, HOME, which will be similar to the approach Lawo developed for the interaction between HOME-native and NMOS-compatible devices.

Lawo will also expand the feature set for its existing HOME Apps across live production, playout across multiple media, and broadcast platforms. Its advanced .edge gateway platform receives two new built-in parameters – Audio Gain and Phase Inversion – as well as the optional possibility to leverage an 8192-input x 4096-output audio matrix per .edge processing blade. Video color correction is also available as an optional license that can be activated and stopped via the Lawo Flex commercial scheme. Meanwhile, both free and standard versions of the Lawo VSC app will appear at a major European tradeshow for the first time, as will the new IP-native crystal broadcast console.

Lawo VSC is a virtual audio device that sends local computer audio sources as RAVENNA/AES67 streams for network sharing, and receives audio streams from the network. The full version facilitates up to 128 audio devices per instance and up to 128 uncompressed, bi-directional audio channels per virtual audio device in multicast or unicast mode. The free version supports one virtual audio device with up to 2-channel senders and receivers on a single network interface.

Audinate (Stand 8.A95). Following last year’s launch of Dante Connect which enables the transmission of Dante audio signals between on-premise Dante hardware and cloud-based production software, the company has released a Connect Edition of its Dante Software Development Kit (SDK). The Connect SDK enables software developers of cloud-based software access to Dante audio streams from Dante-enabled products, as well as other Dante-enabled cloud tools. Applications can accept up to 256x256 channels of bidirectional audio at 48kHz with support for PTP-based precision clocking. Enabled-applications are compatible with all Dante-enabled devices, software implementations, and with Dante Controller, Dante Domain Manager and Dante Director.

The Sennheiser Group (Stand 8.D50) already exerts its influence across a range of production technologies, from ingest with its well-known range of microphones, right through to its more recent AMBEO development work with streaming platforms like Netflix.

At IBC the company is unveiling ‘Spectera’, which it says is the world’s first wideband, bidirectional wireless ecosystem based on Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems (WMAS) technology and uses “combined mic/IEM bodypacks and a revolutionary base station.”

Using the ground-breaking WMAS (Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems) technology, Spectera greatly reduces wireless system complexity, while at the same time considerably increasing capability, streamlining workflows and offering full remote control and monitoring, including permanent spectrum sensing. Spectera features bidirectional bodypacks that manage both digital IEM/IFB and mic/line signals at the same time. The solution is remarkably resistant to RF fading and allows for flexible use of the wideband RF channel, for example for digital IEMs with a latency down to a spectacular 0.7 milliseconds. The Spectera Base Station is a single rack unit with 32 inputs and 32 outputs, which replaces a rack-full of wireless mic receivers and IEM transmitters. An entire production could be accommodated in a single wideband RF channel (6 or 8 MHz).

Its Neumann brand will showcase DSP-powered KH monitors and NDH studio headphones as well as the MT 48 with the new Monitor Mission, which transforms the unit into an immersive audio interface and monitor controller, while Merging will present its Pyramix DAW software and Anubis interface. Sennheiser also shows its camera-mount EW-DP mic systems for on-site interviews and news coverage, rack-mount Digital 6000 and EW-DX wireless audio solutions for shows and other live or broadcast studio formats, as well as the MKH 8000 RF condenser microphone series.

At the opposite end of the chain, the company is also inviting visitors to its AMBEO Immersive Zone where visitors will be able to compare immersive audio material recorded using an AMBEO Cube with MKH 800 TWIN microphones, with the MKH 8030 in M/S stereo and double M/S stereo, and with the AMBEO VR mic, as well as experience AMBEO two-channel spatial audio for live broadcast.

Genelec (Stand 8.A61) Genelec has chosen IBC to unveil the UNIO Personal Reference Monitoring Solution. This unique system solution comprises the 9320A SAM Reference Controller, Reference Measurement Microphone, and the new 8550A Professional Reference Headphones – to help create an even more seamless bridge between professional in-room loudspeaker and personal headphone monitoring. With additional headphone calibration features available within Genelec GLM software – and the optional Aural ID V2.0 binaural headphone monitoring technology – users can enjoy a personal and truthful headphone monitoring experience.

The 8550A Professional Reference Headphones feature an innovative active design that allows the headphone output of the 9320A controller to adjust to an individual 8550A headphone factory calibration. This active principle of using the 8550A headphones to accurately calibrate the headphone stage of the 9320A enables exceptional linearity, acoustic precision, and neutral sound character – and mirrors the kind of tailored precision that Genelec Smart Active Monitors provide for in-room loudspeaker monitoring environments.

The closed, circumaural 8550A provides exceptional sound isolation with a durable, adjustable design and replaceable component parts. The 8550A’s feature 40 mm transducers and deliver a 15 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response, exceptional level matching, and an impressive 119 dB of short-term SPL via the 9320A controller. Shipping with both leather and velvet ear cushions, and straight and coiled cables, the 8550A offers every user a distinctly premium experience.

With the calibration file for the 8550A headphones stored within the matching 9320A controller, further personal optimization is available via Genelec’s GLM 5 calibration software, including slope adjustment, parametric EQ, and L/R level balancing. Then, for the ultimate personal headphone monitoring experience, the optional Aural ID V2.0 models the user’s own head and upper torso features to calculate their unique personal HRTF – delivering headphone mixes with externalized presentation, including precise azimuth and elevation, and producing a sense of space and direction that closely resembles in-room loudspeaker monitoring.

The new Aural ID V2.0 heightens that experience further via early reflection room modelling and integrated webcam head tracking support – which tracks the user and maintains a stationary acoustic presentation even when the head moves, for a more natural listening experience. Additionally, support for the Open Sound Control (OSC) standard interface for hardware head trackers provides maximum system compatibility.

Solid State Logic (Stand 8.B73) will debut its new S400 console and enhancements to its System T broadcast production platform, including tools for automated cloud deployment for the company’s System T Cloud, which features cloud instances of the Virtual Tempest DSP Engine and Tempest Control App. 

Audiotonix stablemate Calrec (Stand 8.C47) is also unveiling ImPulse V, a cloud DSP processing console that the company teased with a development preview at NAB. Delivering the same audio quality and feature set as Calrec’s hardware-based ImPulse processing cores, ImPulseV can be hosted entirely in a public cloud environment like AWS and can be accessed through a software UI or via one of Calrec’s Argo consoles.

RTS Intercom Systems (Stand 11.D09) is also about making large-scale events and productions easier at IBC, with its NEO Intercom Management Suite taking the stage at IBC for the first time. NEO is a software ecosystem that provides multi-window and multi-screen support for faster and more flexible configuration of OMNEO-based RTS intercom systems. It can be natively installed and operated using either Windows or macOS and supports ADAM, ADAM-M, and ODIN matrices, as well as OMS from the RTS Digital Partyline family.

It works in tandem with the existing AZedit software platform for RTS matrix systems, expanding the capabilities of RTS AZedit configuration software and boasting a range of new tools to optimize communications workflows no matter how complex the system.

NEO’s intercom manager allows users to see all available intercom resources locally as well as globally, as well as drag and drop resources, while its properties manager consolidates multiple screens previously in Azedit into a single work surface. It enables users to find any available resources by simply typing into the active type-ahead search field which looks at all data fields for a match, including alphas, resource type, descriptions one and two, and matrix names.

RTS also introduces two new PH+ headsets with the PHD and PHS. Compatible with all RTS Intercom systems and beltpacks, the lightweight single and double-sided headsets deliver battery-free operation, a noise-cancelling microphone, and feature larger ear cushions to reduce passive noise.

At IBC 2024 Arkona (Stand 9.D01) team up with Manifold to present a hybrid hardware/software ecosystem under the platform name ‘EASY-IP’. The system spans a number of key technology areas including SDI-IP gateways, multiviewers, keying & colour correction, SDR/HDR conversion, and audio routing & processing, Arkona provide the hardware element with their BLADE//runner rack units which are designed to provide a distributed, networked and software defined architecture. They offer modular slot based (1U, 2U or 3U) frames housing high density AT300 FPGA PAC processing blades with various connectivity options. Manifold provide a software suite that brings additional processing & control functionality alongside Arkona’s own control & configuration software suite.

From an audio perspective EASY-IP includes audio sample-rate-conversion for all I/Os, up to 42 seconds of delay for a 16-channel audio stream, test signal generation and BLADE//runner’s IP Audio Engine (IPA) application. IPA provides a dedicated 16,000 x 12,000 mono audio router allowing any-to-any mono routing in addition to dedicated mono, stereo and mix-minus mixing instances. An optional DSP feature enables the IPA APP to provide dynamic compressors and equalizers as well as true peak and loudness metering

Other articles in this IBC 2024 'Show Focus' series:

The Broadcast Bridge will be at the IBC Show – on stand 8.A52. Please come and see us and share your thoughts on what we do and what you would like to see from us in the coming year.