The company said Type R for TV addresses the increasing demand for automated audio consoles in smaller news operations, providing fully automated programming with real-time adjustment of unpredictable external factors via a standard web browser.

Henry Goodman, Calrec’s Director of Product Management, said that they are seeing the console surface on most remote production projects not used at all, which is driving the demand for broadcast-level virtual consoles.

Type R’s small, adaptable and highly portable hardware elements can be easily added if desired.  Powered by standard POE switches, Type R has three different panel options.  If broadcasters prefer a physical surface, banks of 6 x faders can be added, or adaptable soft panels like Calrec’s Large Soft Panel (LSP) and Small SoftPanel (SSP) can be used.

Calrec’s Assist web UI makes it easy to access the virtual desk on almost any device, wherever in the world. Assist works over TCP/IP and has minimal control lag, which makes minor adjustments easy and quick to do.

“The move towards virtual mixing is gaining momentum, particularly in the US market,” Goodman said. “Calrec’s Serial Control Protocol (CSCP) has already provided a very successful transition to this model.  It allows the audio console to be configured and driven entirely from the production control room’s vision switcher and remote fader panel, and Type R for TV builds on that legacy while maintaining our reputation for resilience and redundancy.”