Lawo has revealed phase II of its A__UHD Core audio engine and the next generation of its all-in-one mixer, the mc²36 audio production console.
Both products are designed to deliver maximum output using minimal space, weight and power requirements. The native-IP A__UHD Core just became Lawo’s new console core for mc² consoles, delivering 1024 channels of mc²-quality audio processing in just 1RU, while also cutting power consumption.
The new mc²36 mixer more than doubles the DSP channel count of the original, as well as introducing an ultra-compact 16-fader version in the smallest mc² footprint ever. In addition, a major new feature, IP Easy, makes managing IP network devices simpler and more intuitive than ever before, according to Lawo.
“UHD stands for ultra-high density,” explained Christian Struck, Lawo senior product manager, audio production. “And it lives up to its name. A__UHD Core combines minimum size with maximum performance. It has everything a live production console needs, including 1024 channels of mc²-grade processing algorithms, multiple sets of monitoring matrices, downmixing and upmixing, and is ready for next-generation audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and MPEG-H. It packs the power of systems formerly requiring 7 to 10 RU into just one rack space; weighs only 7kg versus the 20 to 25 kg of a traditional console core. Even more astounding: it consumes only 220 watts of power.”
Lawo’s new A__UHD Core is a native IP device, designed from the start to work within IP networks and manage networked devices. As such, it is based fully on open standards such as ST2110-30/-31, AES67, Ravenna, Ember+ and NMOS. And it’s designed for both 48kHz and 96kHz operation.
A__UHD Core’s feature set is defined purely by software, meaning it is future-proof and can accommodate new features and capabilities without the expense and inconvenience of ‘forklift’ hardware changes. Users can tailor the capabilities of their A__UHD Core to fit their needs and budget, changing features and functionality based on permanent or temporary software licences.
A ‘pooling’ licence allows one A__UHD Core to divide its immense DSP power between multiple mixing surfaces. Using this pooling licence, a A__UHD Core can power several smaller consoles instead of one very large console, eg four consoles with 256 DSP channels each.
In addition, any mc² surface may be allocated on-the-fly to any networked A__UHD Core and a second A__UHD Core with a redundancy licence can be deployed locally, across campus, or across the country, as a 1+1 hot spare device mirroring the active device and taking over seamlessly if needed.
When it comes to the new mc²36, DSP has been more than doubled with 256 processing channels, available at both 48 and 96kHz. It also has a new I/O capacity of 864 channels, with local connections which include three redundant IP network interfaces, 16 mic/line inputs, 16 line outputs, 8 AES3 inputs and outputs, eight GPIO connections and an SFP MADI port.
Despite its compact size, it also has all the usual mc2 features, including Button-Glow and touch-sensitive rotary controls, colour TFT fader-strip displays, LiveView video thumbnails, and 21.5in full HD touchscreen controls. It is also possible to seamlessly add third-party solutions like recording systems, effects engines, etc, running on external PCs into the mc²36 user interface. Applications display in the console’s screen while the console’s keyboard, touchpad and touchscreen provide control.
The mc²36 also offers integration of Waves SuperRack SoundGrid, providing operators with access to Waves’ extensive plug-in selection of real-time signal processing in addition to the console’s internal processing engine. No additional screens or control devices are needed.
Lucas Zwicker, senior technical product manager, audio production, said: “New capabilities in the mc²36 provide customers who need a small console something they’ve never had before — an IP-native mixer with outstanding DSP power and comprehensive I/O connectivity. Furthermore, the new console does not only provide best-in-class IP connectivity, but also Lawo-grade microphone inputs and line outs, and AES3 and a built-in MADI port for legacy equipment.”
“And,” added Zwicker, “moving the mc²36 to the A__UHD Core means that all developments in the future will happen on a single platform and that Lawo continues to provide production file compatibility between all mc² consoles. Imagine the possibilities… a production file from an mc²36 could be used on an mc²96 for post-production! The A__UHD Core platform opens the door to a lot of very cool developments. It’s a whole new level of performance.”
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