Lawo’s Seamless Orchestration & Unification Layer (vsmSOUL) gets its European debut at IBC. It’s an overarching service for IP-based production environments that manages the generation and routing of audio and video streams in any multi-vendor IP setup. vsmSOUL is aware of, and handles, information from all system components, and is compatible across individual interfaces and technical solutions. It provides a single point of control for any network size and topology, and provides central stream routing and resource management across single-switch, spine-leaf, or mesh network infrastructures.

Through both standardized and vendor-specific APIs, vsmSOUL accesses switches and network components, including encoding/decoding devices, cameras, multiviewers, processors, switchers and consoles to directly control the generation, registration and routing of streams.

Also new, the Lawo V__matrix vm_mv24-4 and vm_mv16-4 virtual modules (VMs) bring high-quality multiviewer functionality to Lawo’s V__matrix ecosystem. V__matrix is a software-defined IP core routing and processing platform using data center principles and COTS economics to provide a virtualized real-time production infrastructure. Supporting both IP and SDI sources, these VMs monitor uncompressed 4K/UHD, 3G, HD and SD video, as well as embedded and discrete audio, and can generate pixel-perfect mosaics with ultra-low latency.

Both VMs can generate up to four output heads (mosaics), and scale and display any source on any output head without limitation. The same source can be displayed on multiple output heads at different resolutions. The output heads can be configured as either HD, 3G or 4K, and output over IP interfaces or as SDI. Both optionally support SMPTE2042 VC-2 compressed video for monitoring further 3G and 4K/UHD signals without exceeding processing capacity.

The mc²96, Lawo’s new flagship audio mixing console has been designed to provide optimal performance in IP video production environments through native support for all relevant standards – SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA and DANTE. The console features as a world’s first LiveView video thumbnails. Designed for networking in complex IP production infrastructures, the Lawo mc²96 employs Lawo’s unique IP-Share Network Gain Compensation.

Reflecting today’s requirements for 3D/immersive audio productions, the mc²96 provides not only tools for surround sound mixing, but also a dedicated elevation controller as standard. In addition, the mc²96 offers Lawo-grade integrated Loudness Metering with full loudness control in accordance with ITU 1770 (EBU/R128 or ATSC/A85).

Addressing live broadcast and performing arts applications, the mc²96 offers many mix-assist systems enabling the sound engineer to concentrate on the overall balance and sound quality of the production. In addition to Lawo’s Audio-follow-Video functionality, the desk’s automated mixing capabilities include an Automix function that automatically adjusts the Ievels of active and inactive microphones, while maintaining a constant, natural-sounding ambient Ievel. The console also features Lawo’s AMBIT Upmix function, which guarantees perfect conversion of stereo signals for amazingly authentic surround sound and supports KICK 2.0, Lawo’s automated close-ball mixing solution for sports such as football, hockey and basketball.

The Lawo mc²96 console is available in frame sizes with 24 to 200 faders and supports 44.1-96kHz operation, routing of up to 8,192 x 8,192 crosspoints and processing of up to 888 DSP channels, plus 144 summing buses and up to 128 aux buses.