Lawo announces a new software license package for its versatile Power Core AoIP mixing engine and I/O node: Power Core MAX. “MAX”, short for Multiple Access, makes it possible for a single Power Core device to be the mixing engine for multiple on-air mixing consoles.
“Many of Lawo’s customers are large public broadcasters whose workflows dictate big mixing surfaces, so Power Core was designed with a huge amount of DSP and modular I/O in just 1RU — maybe even too much for an average console,” says Lawo Radio Marketing Specialist Clark Novak. “Power Core MAX lets you unlock all those resources to power two, three or even four small mixing surfaces. That’s a capability that anyone who wants to maximise their equipment budget will immediately appreciate.”
Power Core is a true AoIP workhorse. Dual-redundant front-panel AES67 ports can accommodate up to 128 streams with a total of 256 audio channels. Four front-panel MADI ports can handle 64 MADI channels each, for a total of 256 channels, or 128 MADI channels in dual-redundant mode. Meanwhile, 8 rear-panel expansion slots allow mixing-and-matching analog line, AES3, Mic, MADI with sample-rate conversion, and Dante interface cards to allow tailoring a custom I/O load to nearly any operational requirement. A unique Studio I/O card supplies mic inputs plus headphone and monitor outputs in a single space.
Power Core is a processing powerhouse too. 96 DSP channels allow sweetening and processing of large groups of audio signals; nearly 2,000 routing cross-points make Power Core a self-contained AoIP router that many radio and TV stations consider an ideal gateway for bridging legacy audio formats with standards-based IP media networks. ST2022-7 Seamless Protection Switching provides dual-redundant AoIP network connections to ensure against network link interruption.
Four upgradeable license packages are available:
- The new Power Core MAX package, with support for up to 254 physical and virtual faders, 96 channels of DSP (EQ, dynamics, compression and limiting), 32 channels of bus DSP processing, VisTool Standard touchscreen GUI control, 1920 x 1920 routing matrix, a 78-station Intercom matrix, and support for up to 4 independent connected mixing surfaces — perfect for outfitting multiple studios with small or medium-sized consoles.
- Power Core XL, with all the features of MAX enabled for a single powerful console. This package is ideal for network operations, master control rooms, or large, busy main studios with multiple input sources.
- Power Core L, matched to the requirements of single medium- and small-console studios, can accommodate up to 64 AES67 streams and 128 MADI streams, 128 physical and virtual faders (including utility software mini-mixer), 48 channels of DSP audio shaping, 16 channels of bus processing, and a 1728 x 1728 routing matrix.
- Power Core SAN for configuring Power Core as a high-capacity networked audio I/O gateway with limited DSP processing capabilities.
Power Core is extremely popular among broadcasters around the world thanks to its flexibility, I/O capacity, and standards-based architecture. In addition to being 100% AES67 compliant, it also features ST2022-7 network redundancy via dual active front-panel SFP ports. Power Core is also the first radio console engine with ST2110-30 compliance — ensuring seamless interoperability in combined TV / radio broadcast plants. 5.1 mixing is supported, and consoles as large as 60 faders are possible.
Power Core is amazingly expandable and configurable. Along with the choice of multiple tiered license packages and a huge amount of standard AES67 and MADI I/O, clients can use the eight rear-panel card slots for a la carte addition of analog, AES3, MADI and Dante interfaces. A unique Studio I/O card completes the package with mic inputs plus headphone and monitor channel outputs.
To find out more about Power Core, ruby mixing consoles, and the entire suite of Lawo AES67-compliant physical and virtual radio mixing solutions, visit www.lawo.com .
