Axia brings new compact consoles to Europe for IBC
Award-winning new DESQ and RAQ mixing desks on display in Amsterdam
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28 August 2012, Cleveland Ohio, USA
Axia Audio, the originators of IP-Audio technologies for broadcast, will introduce two new mixing consoles to European broadcasters at IBC in Amsterdam.
Axia is radio broadcasting’s most popular brand of AoIP console, with more than 3,000 in use around the world. Axia Element, iQ and Radius consoles have sold more than all other IP consoles combined. The two new compact networked consoles, called DESQ and RAQ, are designed for use in either standalone studios or networked facilities.
Meet RAQ
RAQ is a rackmount six-channel IP mixer designed to meet the rigorous demands of newscasts or news assembly. RAQ is well-suited to any application for which a rack- or turret-mounted mixer is needed.
Paired with the fanless Axia QOR.16 console engine, RAQ is perfect for standalone operation, but can also connect to Axia Livewire™ networks to share audio with other studios. Setup is easy: RAQ connects to the QOR.16 with a single cable. QOR.16 is an "integrated console engine" which contains analog, AES/EBU and Livewire I/O, GPIO logic ports, console power supply and CPU, and a zero-configuration network switch with Gigabit.
Not only that, a single QOR.16 engine can be used with two Axia RAQ or DESQ consoles, making a very cost-effective solution for multi-console installations. A RAQ with OR.16 carries a suggested list price of just $4,690 USD; adding a second RAQ costs only $1,695 more.
RAQ features include:
- 2 stereo Program buses, plus Preview (cue) bus
- Six silky-smooth, premium-quality rotary faders
- Automatic mix-minus for every channel
- Rugged machined-aluminum work surface
- Sharp, high-resolution OLED audio meter can be switched between VU and PPM ballistics
- OLED Channel Information display on every channel - no more handwritten labels!
- Options knob and Channel Information display make quick work of selecting new sources,
- adjusting pan/balance, EQ, gain trim and other options.
- Avionics-quality switches with LED lighting
- 4 instant-recall Show Profile snapshots for one-touch recall of frequently-used configurations
- 4-position Monitor selector with two External selections, assignable on-the-fly
- Single-cable connection to QOR.16 console engine
Introducing DESQ
DESQ, like its rack-mountable cousin RAQ, is powered by the fanless Axia QOR.16 integrated console engine, which provides analog, AES/EBU and Livewire I/O, along with GPIO ports, console power supply and CPU, and an exclusive zero-configuration network switch with Gigabit. DESQ connects to the QOR.16 with a single cable. As a standalone console, DESQ is great for personal studios, but can be quickly connected to an Axia Livewire™ network.
As with RAQ, a single QOR.16 engine can be used with two DESQ consoles. A DESQ with QOR.16 carries a suggested list price of just $4,990 USD; adding a second DESQ costs only $1,995 more.
DESQ packs a lot of big-console features into its small frame:
- 2 stereo Program buses, plus Preview (cue) bus
- Six smooth, 100 mm. dirt-resistant, side-loading faders
- Automatic mix-minus provided for every fader
- Rugged machined-aluminum work surface and EM-tight chassis
- High-resolution OLED audio meter, switchable between VU and PPM ballistics
- OLED Channel Information display for every fader
- Options knob and Channel Information display for quick selection of sources, pan/balance
- adjustment, EQ adjustment, gain trim and other options
- Event timer with choice of manual or automatic restart
- Onboard NTP-capable time-of-day clock
- Avionics-quality switches with LED lighting
- 4 Show Profile snapshot locations for recall of frequently-used configurations
- 4-position Monitor selector with two External selections, assignable on-the-fly
- Desktop-mounted – no countertop cutout needed
- Single-cable connection to QOR.16 console engine
About the QOR.16 integrated console engine
Each Axia QOR.16 integrated console engine (which can support two DESQ or RAQ mixers) is self- contained, with a zero-configuration Ethernet switch — an Axia exclusive. It has six Livewire 100Base-T ports with PoE, along with two Gigabit ports for studio interconnection, 4 GPIO logic ports, two microphone inputs with switchable Phantom power, 8 analog inputs and 4 analog outputs, 1 AES/EBU input and 1 AES/EBU output. It’s perfect for deploying consoles in standalone studios, but easily networks with other studios via copper or optical Gigabit connections.
About Axia Audio
Axia radio consoles are a hit, with installations in over 3,000 studios worldwide. Models include Element 2.0 consoles available in sizes up to 40 faders, the iQ console that's expandable up to 24 faders, and the 8-fader Radius. Axia allows broadcasters to quickly and easily build audio networks using switched Ethernet to connect a few rooms, or an entire facility. Axia networks have a total system capacity of more than 10,000 audio streams, and can carry hundreds of digital stereo channels (plus machine logic and PAD) over a single CAT-6 cable, eliminating much of the cost normally associated with wiring labor and infrastructure.
Over 40 Axia partners, including companies such as Nautel, AudioScience, International Datacasting, BSI, 25-Seven Systems, and Studer, now make broadcast equipment that connects using the Livewire standard.
Axia also supports the high-performance RAVENNA IP-Audio standard, which is backed by companies like Genelec, Neumann, Sonifex, Merging Technologies and Lawo. For further information please visit ravenna.alcnetworx.com .
DESQ and RAQ consoles are shipping now. Visitors to BIRTV in Beijing can see them, along with other Axia products, at the Digital Media Technology booth, #2012. For more in-depth information about Axia Audio, visit AxiaAudio.com. For media information, contact Clark Novak at Telos Systems via email at cnovak@AxiaAudio.com, or call +1 216-241-7225.
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Axia, a Telos Alliance company, builds Ethernet-based professional IP-Audio products for broadcast, sound-reinforcement and commercial audio applications. Along with the Element 2.0, iQ, Radius, DESQ and RAQ AoIP consoles for on-air, commercial production, audio workstations and personal studios, Axia products include intercom systems, digital audio routers, DSP mixers and processors, and software for configuring, managing and interfacing networked audio systems.