Calrec Audio is set to debut its new VP2 virtualised mixing system in the European market at this year's IBC Show. Alongside the VP2, the company will also show its audio processing and routing engine, ImPulse core, and its IP Gateway products.
   

VP2 has no physical control surface and utilises Calrec's Assist software for setup and control. VP2's 4U core comes in three DSP sizes; 128, 180 and 240 input channels and incorporates Calrec's powerful Hydra2 networking solution. Calrec Serial Control Protocol (CSCP) can allow the audio console to be completely controlled by an automation system.

VP2 enables the station to reap many of the benefits of using a Calrec console, but without a physical control surface. Control and setup is via Calrec's Assist software, which can be accessed from multiple locations via a web-browser. The technical director/operator can be given basic control functions whereas an engineer can delve deeper to fine tune the setup or recall different setups as needed.

Calrec's ImPulse core is a powerful audio processing and routing engine with AES67 and SMPTE 2110 connectivity. The ImPulse core is compatible with current Apollo and Artemis control surfaces, providing a simple upgrade path for existing Calrec customers. In addition, future scalable expansion will allow up to four DSP mix engines and control systems to run independently on a single core at the same time, providing the ability to use multiple large-format mixers simultaneously in an extremely cost-effective and compact footprint.

Calrec will also have on hand its H2-IP Gateway and the AoIP Modular I/O controller card. Both products are SMPTE 2110/AES67-compatible and expand the range of AoIP solutions Calrec now offers.

The H2-IP Gateway provides an interface between a Hydra2 network and an AoIP network. It also awards an extra control level that allows audio labels to be passed in both directions between the two networks along with control data. This gives Hydra2 users the ability to control gain of Calrec AoIP mic inputs, and AoIP users can control gain of Hydra2 mic inputs.

The 1U gateway can pass either 256 or 512 channels of audio in each direction and multiple gateways can be used to increase capacity or to connect with multiple networks. For full hardware redundancy additional units can be deployed as backups.