New Studio Routing Control Panels from Axia
13 April 2009, Cleveland Ohio, USA
Axia Audio debuts four new additions to its extensive lineup of rack- and turret-mounted routing control panels at NAB 2009: a user-programmable SoftSwitch studio control panel with OLED displays, and a threesome of X1, X2 and XY Router Control panels.
Axia’s X1 Router Control panel lets operators instantly route any source on their Axia Livewire™ network to a specified destination. Users can quickly scroll through available channels on the bright, high-visibility display, then press the “Take” key to make an immediate route change.
The X2 Router Control panel provides the routing functionality of two X1 Panels in a single chassis; each separate control routes any available network source to an individually specified destination. All Axia Router Control panels connect to the network via a single Ethernet connection and occupy 1 rack space.
The XY Router Control panel lets operators route any source to any destination within the Livewire network. Select source, then destination, press “Take” and the change is made at once. Perfect for placement in control room, TOC, NOC or anywhere else hands-on access to audio routing is required.
The new OLED SoftSwitch panel is a 1RU device with eight preset positions that provide hosts, guests and producers with one-touch activation of router salvos, studio switching operations, audio equipment control, custom intercom functions and more. The panels feature OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays noted for their sharpness and legibility; it’s ideal for location next to host or guest mic positions where fast access to switching operations is needed.
These new router control panels are the latest additions to Axia’s wide variety of Router Control Panels, which include dynamic 9- and 17-button SmartSwitch control panels with backlit, interactive LCD displays, economical 5-, 10- and 15-button FilmCap control panels, Studio Accessory for producer/host access to routing functions, and a Router Selector node with independent digital and analog I/O.
Axia router panels make use of custom button functions programmed using Axia’s popular PathfinderPC™ and PathfinderPRO™ router control software. Sophisticated yet intuitive, with an easy-to-use graphical interface, Pathfinder lets users construct custom routing applications to control nearly any function within the Axia network and map them to hardware button panels. Possibilities range from simple contact closures, to complex scene changes such as transferring program chains between studios, to salvos that reconfigure multiple routes with one button press. A unique visual Stacking Events editor eliminates tedious script writing.
The Axia IP-Audio system allows broadcasters to build audio networks of any size 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 (or nearly a hundred surround) channels over a single CAT-6 cable, eliminating much of the cost normally associated with wiring labor and infrastructure. Products include the popular Element modular broadcast console, a family of “audio nodes” that allow easy mixing and matching of digital, analog and microphone audio, and a comprehensive suite of network administration and routing control software.
Visitors to NAB2009 can see the complete line of Axia products in the Radio Hall at the Telos / Omnia / Axia display in Booth #N7620. For more information, contact Clark Novak at Axia Audio, via email atcnovak@AxiaAudio.com or by phone at +1-216-241-7225.
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