Lawo unveils console core and compact mc² Console

Lawo has unveiled two new additions to their mixing portfolio: the Phase II of its A__UHD Core audio engine, and the next generation of Lawo’s most compact mixer: the mc²36 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 1,024 channels of mc²-quality audio processing in 1RU, while dramatically cutting power consumption — performance that previously required 5x the power and 10x the rack space.

The new mc²36 mixer doubles the DSP channel count of the original, and introduces an ultra-compact 16-fader version, the smallest mc² footprint to date. And a new feature, IP Easy, reportdely makes managing IP network devices simpler and more intuitive than ever before.

“UHD stands for ultra-high density,” explains Christian Struck, Lawo’s 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 1,024 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 7 kg versus the 20 to 25 kg of a traditional console core. Even more astounding: it consumes only 220 watts of power.”


A__UHD Core Overview:

• Software-defined hardware. A__UHD Core’s feature set is reportedly defined purely by software, meaning it is future-proof and can accommodate new features and capabilities without the expense and inconvenience of hardware changes.

• Scalable performance. 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 licenses.

• Multi-console support. A “pooling” license allows one A__UHD Core to divide its DSP power between multiple mixing surfaces. Using this “pooling” license, a A__UHD Core can power several smaller consoles instead of one very large console, e.g., four consoles with 256 DSP channels each.

• In-console management of networked devices. The new “IP Easy” function in A__UHD Core based mc² consoles permits operation of network audio devices without the need to be an IP expert.

• Dynamic resource allocation. Any mc² surface may be allocated on-the-fly to any networked A__UHD Core.

• Complete network interface redundancy. 8 front-panel ports are split into 4 SFP network interfaces that provide dual, independent IP network connections; ST2022-7 Class C Seamless Protection Switching with extended buffer size ensures solid operation on WAN as well as LAN. Each SFP interface can receive a total of 128 Tx and Rx streams, providing 512 audio channels.

• “Hot Spare” hardware redundancy. A second A__UHD Core with a “redundancy license” 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.

• Redundant power. Hot-swappable, redundant power supply units.


 
mc²36 Overview:

• DSP more than doubled. 256 processing channels, available at both 48 and 96 kHz.

• I/O: A new I/O capacity of 864 channels, with local connections which include 3 redundant IP network interfaces, 16 Lawo-grade mic/line inputs, 16 line outputs, 8 AES3 inputs and outputs, 8 GPIO connections, and an SFP MADI port.

• Native IP. mc²36, powered by A__UHD Core, natively supports ST2110, AES67, RAVENNA, and Ember+.

• New compact frame size. The 16-fader frame is the smallest, most lightweight mc² ever built.

• Features and capabilities that include Button-Glow and touch-sensitive rotary controls, color TFT fader-strip displays, LiveView video thumbnails, and precise 21.5-inch full HD touchscreen controls.