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 Each year, a panel of judges made up of broadcast engineering professionals selected by the editorial staff of Radio Magazine goes to NAB to select a handful of new products that "offer substantial improvement over previous technology." The products selected receive the Radio "Pick Hit" Award to note their significance; this year, the judges selected the new RAQ compact stereo console (AxiaAudio.com/raq/) from Axia Audio as a "Pick Hit" winner.
"RAQ opens up a whole new level of usability and practicality for IP-Audio consoles," notes Axia Marketing Manager Clark Novak. "Up 'til now, broadcasters considered AoIP boards suitable only for master control rooms and studios. RAQ makes the power and flexibility of networked consoles feasible everywhere, and at a very attractive price."
"We knew that RAQ would be a great fit for news bullpens and small production stations," notes Novak, "but at NAB clients told us they'd also use it in road kits, remote vans, at locations where recurring remote broadcasts originate, and even as an emergency console at transmitter sites. I guess that a full six-channel, two-bus AoIP mixer in just 4RU really sparked some folks' imaginations!"
RAQ, and its sibling, the compact desktop DESQ console (AxiaAudio.com/desq/), share features that make them very appealing to broadcasters searching for a way to put a lot of console into a little bit of space. Both have two stereo Program buses, plus Preview (cue) bus, six faders, automatic per-channel mix-minus, high-resolution OLED audio meters that can be switched between VU and PPM ballistics, and an OLED information display on every channel. Each fader's Options knob and Channel Information display make quick work of selecting new sources, adjusting pan/balance, EQ, gain trim and other options; a rugged machined-aluminum work surface rounds out the package.
Paired with the self-contained, fanless Axia QOR.16 console engine, RAQ and DESQ are perfect for standalone operation but can also connect to Axia AoIP networks via Gigabit Ethernet to share audio with other studios. QOR.16 is an "integrated console engine" that contains analog, AES/EBU and Livewire I/O, GPIO logic ports, console power supply and CPU, and a zero-configuration network switch with Gigabit. Two Axia RAQ or DESQ consoles can be used with a single QOR.16 engine, making them highly cost-effective for multiple-console deployment.
Axia radio consoles are a hit, with installations in over 3,000 studios worldwide. A comprehensive family of consoles includes the Element, available in sizes up to 40 faders; the iQ, 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 30 partner companies now make broadcast equipment that connects directly via Ethernet to Axia networks. Axia RAQ and DESQ consoles will be available during Q2, 2012, and carry a US MSRP of under $5,000. For more information, visit www.AxiaAudio.com . For media information, contact Clark Novak at cnovak@AxiaAudio.com, or call +1 216-241-7225. |
