AUDIO Stage Tec Launches Two-User

AUDIO Digital soundwaves AUDIO

www.content-technology.com/audio

Stage Tec Launches Two-User Operation for AVATUS

STAGE TEC HAS INTRODUCED new features with the latest software release 1.12 for the AVATUS IP console. One of the most innovative new features is simultaneous operation of AVATUS with two sound engineers. The virtual division of a console, which can also consist of several physical buckets, is currently offered by no other console on the market. The division takes place in blocks of 12 control strips each, which make up one cassette. Both sound engineers have unlimited and independent access to various functions: They have their own SOLO and PFL functionalities at their disposal, each in its own control room. The global layer switching, function selection and synchronous scrolling of lists (Aux, N-1, groups, EQ bands, …) only affect the respective user area. Even functions such as spill, the temporary link function or Aux-/N-1 to faders (including auto DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED in Denmark, TC Electronic’s MASTER X HD and BRICKWALL HD plug-ins are the ultimate dynamics duo combining unparalleled transparent performance with an easy-to-use interface. MASTER X HD NATIVE With expansion, compression and limiting separate for each of the three bands, the MASTER X HD is a multi-band dynamics processing plug-in. Designed for use on single sources, buses and master mixes, its combination of software and optional hardware control gives users powerful algorithms combined with the latest in dynamics technology. MASTER X HD delivers studio-grade expansion, compression and limiting separate for each band. The studio-grade algorithms provide ultimate transparency while staying true to the TC Electronic legacy sound and include a built-in soft clipping feature. The MASTER X HD combines technologies from the MASTER X for Pro Tools and the legendary POWERCORE platform with TC Electronic’s latest IRCAMLAB HAS RELEASED a new version of its flagship TS (Time-Stretch) application, now renamed ‘TS2’. The ircamLAB TS2 application is an audio toolbox application for professionals to edit or transform, time-stretch and manipulate audio files. The new TS2 is now a full mono/stereo audio editor. It can edit any audio regions (copy, cut, paste), transpose, ‘Transient Design’, and offer remix, extensive mastering capabilities and much more with unprecedented accuracy. TS2 now supports the hosting of third party external VST/AU effects from plug-in manufacturers. The new TS2 application is a comprehensive lists) can be altered independently by both sound engineers. Furthermore, both users can access all audio channels simultaneously and work with the same channels (e.g ambience). With the new software release, AVATUS performance and response times are enhanced significantly. And the talk functionality of the two command paths can now be assigned to any user button. Designed especially for collaboration, AVATUS now offers the possibility of temporarily linking one of the two control rooms to the other at the push of a button. Both control rooms always carry the same monitoring signal, but can be operated independently, and volume, mute functions, DIM, side and polarity swaps are independent.

TC electronic Introduces Master X and Brickwall

The alternative monitoring function for both dynamics technologies found in the Finalizer application ecosystem. The overall processing characteristics of MASTER X HD are controlled via target curves, i.e. either flat, bass-emphasising, air-adding or the classic smiley curve. These specialised starting points gives users total and easy control via global processing styles for all bands in all algorithm blocks while reducing the number of complex parameters in a similar three-band processor by approximately 2/3. BRICKWALL HD NATIVE BRICKWALL HD is a true-peak brick wall limiter plug-in. It sports both classic transparent limiting and modern loudness-oriented workflow. Designed to be an ultra-transparent master limiter, BRICKWALL HD protects audio without ever sacrificing sonic impact. Its studio-grade algorithm is built on the foundation of the original Brickwall Limiter from System 6000, BRICKWALL HD lets users increase the apparent loudness of a mix without losing audio quality.

Audio Editor/Time Stretch App

As a supplement to the classic, transparent limiter, suite of tools focused on the SuperVP Engine to process complex audio editing tasks that includes full automation of parameters such as: pitch, transposition, time stretching, remix noise, sinus and transient. Post-production professionals, audio engineers, sound designers, musicians and video editors alike can use TS2 to transform recordings into production-ready audio files. New features in the TS2 Audio Editor include: • Full audio editing capabilities. • Copy, cut, paste, loop functions on audio regions. • Full Automation over the SuperVP engine. • Individual volume control with fade in and out. AVATUS control rooms is another new feature. It is possible to switch between two monitoring systems in both control rooms. The cross-points for the outputs of the monitoring systems are stored system-wide and no longer depend on the project. Software release 1.12 for AVATUS is available now. Visit www.stagetec.com

BRICKWALL HD sports a modern take on limiting. The loudness limiter safeguards sonics for easy delivery to streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and Tidal. Unlike most limiters that stop at 0 DBFS, BRICKWALL HD identifies the inter-sample peaks and eliminates the risk of down-stream audio clipping. The premium ISP limiting algorithm ensures clean and predictable results every time. The adaptive content-optimised limiter profiles guarantee maximum sonic transparency. For hands-on usability and improved workflow, optional USB-powered hardware controller addon’s for MASTER X HD and BRICKWALL HD are available. BRICKWALL HD and MASTER X HD are compatible with all major DAW’s (Standard VST, Audio Units and AAX-Native plug-in processing on Mac and Windows PC) and deliver full support for standard DAW automation and project recall. Visit www.tcelectronic.com

• Multi regions editing with cross-fades. • Unlimited undo. • Multiple audio files management. • Multiple documents. • Multi ruler control (time, second). • Loop and tempo calculator. • Multi windows and multi-screen visualization. • Real-time sonogram view. • Export of audio and command lines. • Multi-format VST2, VST3 and AU Visit www.ircamlab.com

AMS Neve Unveils New 8424 Console

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of the Genesys Black console, British manufacturer AMS Neve has unveiled another classic in the shape of the Neve 8424 – a small format console with a large format sound based on the iconic 80-series console range. The 8424 console is designed to fit the needs of the modern hybrid studio where the speed of in-the-box workflow is enhanced with the ultimate sound quality of analogue outboard gear. Designed to be straightforward and accessible to all, this versatile and powerful desk provides a centralised platform with unparalleled connectivity, facilitating an ergonomic link between the linear analogue processing world of outboard gear, analogue synths and instruments, to the digital world of DAW workflow, software plugins and session recall. Capitalising on Neve’s sixty years of technical heritage and highly revered analogue circuit design, the British-designed 8424 fits perfectly into many different applications. Whether you’re a music producer or an artist with your own project studio, the owner of a small professional recording studio or the person in charge of an educational facility, this compact, budgetconscious desk delivers everything you need to record, mix, monitor and master music quickly, marrying Neve’s revered sonic excellence with the speed and flexibility required for today’s connected workflows. Recording: The 8424’s dual-input channel strip allows for seamless switching between recording and mixing inputs without additional patching. Simple input connectivity via 24 line-level inputs, DOLBY LABORATORIES HAS ANNOUNCED Dolby.io, an API platform that further broadens the opportunities to create in Dolby for the enterprise and application development space. Dolby.io will enable businesses, developers, and content creators to enhance every interaction and every piece of content in order to deliver spectacular communications, collaboration, and audiovisual experiences in their apps and services. Traditionally, businesses and developers outside of the music and entertainment industries often lacked the resources and experience to integrate Dolby’s technologies. Dolby.io changes that through a collection of scalable, easy-to-use interactivity and media processing APIs. According to Aaron Liao, Vice President, Developer Relations, Dolby. “With Dolby.io, developers can now take the magic Dolby has instilled into billions of devices, thousands of films, billions of conference call minutes, and use it to fuel nearly any real-time interaction or piece of content – all at an accessible and transparent cost, designed to inspire iteration and creativity. The future of experiential media never looked or sounded better.” The initially available APIs can analyse and enhance the quality of media content or enable multi-party audio and video communications to dual 1073 preamps, and dual Instrument DI channels makes the 8424 the perfect console for artists to effortlessly connect and record their instruments, and performers can record directly from the control room, taking advantage of the 8424’s dual cue mix system with talkback/return talkback capability and dual headphone amplifiers. Mixing: The 8424 offers the ultimate analogue mixing platform with 24 DAW returns across 24 channel faders or, for larger DAW sessions, a 48- Mix mode that allows a total of 48 mono inputs with individual level and pan controls to be mixed through the 8424’s Marinair transformer-coupled stereo mix bus. Engineers can take advantage of the 8424’s mono and stereo aux busses to connect to their favourite outboard FX units and route them back into the console’s two dedicated stereo reverb returns. Four mono groups with 2-band shelving EQ, Inserts, and Direct Outs make this console ideal for stem mixing. The 8424 stereo mix bus gives true voltage mixing into Marinair transformers, as found in the legendary Neve 80-series consoles, while additional features such as Stereo Insert, 2-band

Dolby Introduces Dolby.io for Developers

shelving EQ and Neve’s proprietary Stereo Width be embedded within an app. Dolby.io will also enable developers to bring Dolby experiences to new industries such as healthcare, distance learning, digital collaboration, online training, podcasting, and social media. The core offerings of Dolby.io include: Interactivity APIs - Keeping people connected effectively, from bridging geographies to working remotely in distributed systems, has never been more critical. Businesses and developers building communications and collaboration into their apps want control over quality and engagement that third-party services often cannot provide. Dolby.io brings all of Dolby’s experience and specialisation in delivering immersive, engaging interactivity and communication to the world of developers without them having to be experts in the underlying technologies. With Dolby.io’s new interactivity APIs, developers can build everything people need to communicate, collaborate, and succeed with powerful tools that map to existing workflows and ensure users are seamlessly engaged, in-app, and in-flow throughout the experience. Powerful cross-platform capabilities such as Spatial Audio, advanced noise reduction, HD Video, broadcasting and screen-sharing can combine to make distance learning, telehealth visits, control give engineers, artists and producers all of the tools they need to create polished, professional recordings. Connecting: Each Channel, Group and Stereo Mix bus has its own switchable insert point, giving a level of connectivity to analogue outboard units only found on large-format consoles. Dual on-board 500 series slots allow engineers to customise their signal chain and build a modular hybrid recording system, all connected and centralised through the 8424 console. The 8424 has an on-board Recall system, which further integrates the console into the modern hybrid studio workflow. This unique feature enables this pure analogue console to save, load, and recall all settings, faders and pot positions for on a session by session basis. With this unrestricted workflow, engineers can take advantage of all analogue features without the added worry of losing console settings and wasting valuable studio time. Visit https://www.ams-neve.com

training sessions and other live events feel lifelike and familiar, no matter the physical distance separating participants. Media Processing APIs - Today, media is more crucial than ever to the success of businesses, and the proliferation of easily accessible, premium entertainment has dramatically increased consumer expectations for any type of audio or video content. Before today, high quality sound required dedicated resources and potentially entire teams to deliver professional, consistent results that keep pace with customer demand. With Dolby.io, developers and businesses can now analyse and enhance all their media costeffectively and at scale. These new and powerful media processing APIs can reduce background noise and improve dialog levels to increase intelligibility and engagement, in addition to providing quality metrics, audio analytics, and deeper content insights that help any developer, any industry, any size company effectively upgrade and manage media content, at scale. Dolby.io features a free trial for new users that includes 30,000 interactivity minutes and 200 media processing minutes. Beyond the free trial, interactivity APIs will cost USD$0.0045 per participant, per minute, and media processing APIs will cost $0.05 per minute. Visit https://dolby.io

New System T Broadcast Platform from SSL

THE LATEST SYSTEM T BROADCAST platform release from Solid State Logic addresses many of the ongoing IP and security challenges within modern audio production. With expanded AoIP integration providing direct console routing control for ST2110-30 and AES67 streams, and a major embedded operating system upgrade, broadcasters can embrace remote production and increased IP expansion and connectivity with confidence. This latest release provides new functionality across the whole System T console range including the S500, S500m, S300 and TCR, and builds on previous enhancements including NGA and immersive audio, and DAW and dynamic automation aimed at entertainment programming and events. Tom Knowles, SSL Broadcast product manager, comments “System T provides the most advanced AoIP integration of any audio console, supporting Dante, AES67 and ST 2110 on the same hardware interfaces, with full discovery and dynamic routing of any Dante enabled devices directly from the console GUI. Our latest V3.0 release further enhances true IP integration with visibility and routing of ST 2110-30 or AES67 RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) streams from the console GUI. With this new level of management and control, the System T console becomes your routing control system for AoIP of any variety”. SSL has updated the embedded operating system on System T, future proofing ongoing investment and keeping production facilities secure. With the migration to Windows 10 Embedded, broadcasters get significant advantages of reduced development cycles and advanced feature deployment. With additional support for TeamViewer, consoles can also now be remotely accessed, enabling remote support, configuration, and ‘at home’ control with a standard internet connection. Further client requested feature updates include enhancements to System T’s onboard Effects Rack with a new reverb with degenerative noise controls, a 10-band parametric EQ with FFT overlay, plus a complete overhaul of channel and bus path presets. Visit www.solidstatelogic.com

Neumann Ships V 402 Preamplifier

GERMAN STUDIO SPECIALIST Neumann.Berlin is shipping the V 402, its new microphone preamplifier with integrated headphone monitoring. The V 402 is Neumann’s first-ever stand-alone microphone preamp – although the company has created several generations of top-quality preamp modules for its mixing consoles, such as the now legendary V 476 B of the 1980s. Like its predecessors, the V 402 preamplifier is conceived as the perfect complement to all Neumann and other high-class studio microphones. The V 402 is a dual channel microphone preamplifier carefully designed to maintain the sonic integrity of the original signal. Its unique transformerless circuitry amplifies the microphone signal without unwanted coloration or sonic artifacts, such as noise and distortion. While this is also often claimed for simple preamps such as those in audio interfaces, the V 402 is built to much higher standards. The V 402 is equipped with a studio grade headphone amplifier ensuring uncompromised monitoring quality at the recording stage. Independent volume controls for each channel allow to dial in a latency-free monitoring mix without affecting the recorded signal. The V 402 is characterised by exacting attention to every detail. For example, the DI input is also designed for sonic purity. Its novel highimpedance input stage captures the sound of electric guitars and basses as well as other instruments with no loss of detail and free from audible noise. Its switchable high pass removes rumble and pops very effectively without signal degradation. A 20-dB pad allows the V 402 to be used with high-level sources up to 28 dBu without distortion. The V 402 comes in a 2U 19” rack enclosure measuring 89 mm x 483 mm x 242 mm. Visit https://en-de.neumann.com/

RADIO The original broadcast media RADIO

www.content-technology.com/radio

Instantly Change Your Studio Setting IMAGINE YOUR MORNING talent broadcasting The system comes with easily customizable from the beach, while your afternoon crew templates to get you started. You can also airs live from a ski resort ⎯ or from anywhere order specific graphics depending on your else. This is now possible thanks to multiCAM needs. Powered by DreamCorp, BACKDROP BACKDROP! synchronizes with your MULTICAM system. Through Augmented Reality, BACKDROP lets you transport your presenters anywhere without them ever leaving the studio. It lets you create When used in combination with multiCAM RADIO, the system’s playout drives visuals and scenery details in real time, providing information such as music details, social network messages, lively animation that’ll engage your audience and weather, etc. differentiate you from your competition. You can remotely control BACKDROP via BACKDROP projects 3D images onto your StreamDeck, an iPad or a web page, for example, screens, creating an immersive experience and to change your virtual background with one transporting your guests at the snap of a finger. simple button. Easily brand your studio, station

and shows, bringing visual radio to a whole new level. Check out the video here: https://bit.ly/2YVMByU Visit http://www.multicam-systems.com/

Ad Agencies to Pilot RadioMATRIX World-First Virtual Workspace AUSTRALIAN RADIO BROADCASTERS are working with major media agencies on the development of a world-leading virtual workspace that will be a key component of the industry-wide ad buying platform, RadioMATRIX. Nineteen agencies will participate in the pilot program, which provides them with a single interface to connect with 370 radio stations and collaborate on media campaigns in real-time, from any location. “We are excited to start work with agencies on the next phase of RadioMATRIX, which will transform the audio buying process and make it much easier for advertisers to invest in radio and podcast advertising,” Commercial Radio Australia chief executive officer Joan Warner said. “We are replacing the traditional manual and email-based approach with a virtual workspace that meets media buyers’ evolving needs. Online collaboration will become an increasingly important feature of the future workplace, and this has only been accelerated by the emergence of COVID-19 and the need to leverage technology to work securely, remotely and effectively across borders.” The agencies participating in the initiative are Carat, Dentsu, Havas Media, Ikon Communications, Initiative, MagnaGlobal, Mediacom, Mindshare, OMD, Orion, PHD, Rufus, Spark Foundry, Starcom, The Media Store, UM, Wavemaker and Zenith. Media buyers will have access to purpose-built tools to create and send out briefs, receive proposals from networks and undertake modelling. The cloudbased solution will be powered by GfK radio surveys data so agencies can check audience reach, frequency and cost against real-time availability. Jo Dick, Head of Partnerships, Outdoor and Audio at Omnicon, said: “As a major user of radio, Omnicon agencies are delighted to contribute to the pilot program because the real-time tools and insights that RadioMATRIX will bring will be enormously beneficial to facilitating a more streamlined briefing process.” Jenny Rowsell, Business Systems Director at Publicis Media, said: “Publicis are very pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the pilot. The introduction of holdings was a major first step and now the development of the platform will be hugely beneficial to our buyers. Exciting times ahead!” The first phase of RadioMATRIX was launched in October 2017 and digitised and streamlined the management of ad bookings. The platform is currently being used by 200 media agencies and has processed more than 1.5 billion items of radio inventory. RadioMATRIX is being developed by AudioNET, with the virtual workspace, briefings and proposals module scheduled for completion in October. Dave Cox, chief executive officer of AudioNET, said: “We believe RadioMATRIX will be the first whole-of-media sector briefing and buying platform in the world and we are delighted to work with agencies and the radio broadcasting industry to build a solution that is attractive, easy to use and meets the needs of the market into the future.” Visit www.commercialradio.com.au SCA Launches Research & Insights Division SCA HAS ANNOUNCED that its Research & Insights and Strategy & Insights divisions have come together to form SCA iQ, one of Australia’s largest media research and insights offerings. SCA iQ fuses the research, insights and strategy functions together, to better power insightful solutions for SCA’s Sales and Content teams and advertising partners and is underpinned by a suite of unique tools. SCA iQ houses the Asia Pacific’s largest entertainment insight community with more than 300,000 members in metro and regional areas providing first party data that is a clear point of difference in market and gives SCA’s audience a voice at the table for both content and sales decisions. The community also offers behavioural insights to help shape insight-led content strategies and partner solutions by The Studio at SCA, along with demonstrating ROI and brand perception measures for advertisers. SCA is the only media owner to invest in all three Nielsen tools at SCA iQ, including Commspoint Journey, Commspoint Influence and Consumer & Media View (CMV). Combined with SCA’s first party data, these tools enable SCA iQ to plan and pressure test solutions across the most effective channels to influence consumers at different stages of the path to purchase. Abi Wallis is National Head of Strategy & Insights for SCA iQ, leading the Strategy & Insights team to deliver effective solutions for advertising partners, utilising SCA’s suite of local and national platforms. Working alongside Wallis and reporting to SCA iQ Head of Research and Insights John Musgrove, is Jasmine Beech as Head of Sales Research and Insights. Beech ensures the SCA iQ team has a comprehensive understanding of the latest consumer behaviour and attitude insights to develop solutions that engage brands and their target audiences. SCA National Head of Radio Sales, Nikki Rooke, said: “We engage with 95% of Australians every day and we want to continue to deliver value to our audience and our advertising partners. Bringing our research and strategy insights teams together to form SCA iQ propels our content and sales insights to a new level, especially as the way audio is consumed changes and areas such as live streaming, podcasting and on demand grow exponentially. Our insight communities sit within the centre of the business and it’s those insights that drive the business and our client solutions forward.” Visit www.sca.com.au/