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Calrec Audio in Education – Training the next generation of audio broadcast professionals

12th July 2019 4:30 pm

Calrec Brio audio console - University of Surrey - 01 - Synthax Audio UKCalrec Audio helps train the next generation of broadcast professionals

An increasing number of universities and colleges now offer education in broadcast audio, providing specialist training to the next generation of broadcast engineers.

The popularity of live streaming, plus new sectors such as gaming and eSports, has created additional opportunities in media production, alongside established sectors like TV and radio. Technical knowledge of audio networking also continues to be a growing demand, with a working knowledge of AoIP systems likely to be a necessity for future professionals building a career in audio.

To provide students with the best possible foundation, theory is combined with technical training and hands-on, practical experience. Many schools are therefore equipping their studios with the same professional-standard consoles used throughout the audio industry, ensuring students become familiar with the hardware they will encounter post-graduation from the outset.

Calrec Brio in education

Calrec Brio - Full Sail University - Synthax Audio UKCalrec Audio has seen many recent installations of its broadcast consoles and audio networking in education, with the Calrec Brio in particular becoming something of a go-to in this sector. Combining the power, flexibility and audio quality of Calrec’s larger consoles in a small form factor, the Brio is a cost-effective option for colleges with smaller budgets, or for where space is at a premium.

When the University of Surrey recently upgraded its television studio with a Calrec Brio36 as part of a major refurbishment, Professor Tony Myatt, head of the Department of Music and Media, described Calrec as being “the obvious choice as industry leaders in the field.” Students are taking advantage of the Brio’s networking capabilities by expanding its connectivity via an additional I/O box, including inputs for a MADI card that connects the Brio to the facility’s main audio studio, and a Dante card to teach students audio over IP.

Despite its compact size, the Brio36 doesn’t compromise on functionality or features. There are two options available, with a 36-fader dual layer surface (the Brio36), or an even smaller 12-fader dual-layer surface (the Brio12). Both models provide more faders in a given footprint than any other comparable audio console. Coupled with this is the Brio’s budget-friendly price-point, which was listed by California-based Chapman University as one of the top reasons they chose the console for their Dodge College of Film and Media Arts programmes.

Brio has the same DSP at its heart as any other console in Calrec’s highly successful Bluefin2 range, meaning its sound quality is identical to the company’s larger consoles, which are used on the world’s highest profile televised events. The console’s mic pre’s are clear and transparent, and feature excellent transient response. In addition to the quality of the EQs, compressors and dynamic range, Calrec’s product engineers are laser-focused on keeping the surface layout as clear as possible.

 


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Calrec Brio 36 - Synthax Audio UKCalrec Brio and Hydra2 audio networking

Among the many colleges utilizing Calrec in various capacities is Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, which has a vast array of the company’s consoles. This includes a Brio with Hydra2 in its film school and a Summa for its show production students, as well as an Artemis and a Brio36 at its world-class performance venue. “We had an existing relationship with Calrec and knew its consoles had the right tools, functionality and features,” says Scott Dansby, director, industry relations, Full Sail University. “Continuity was important to us as some of the students were already working with Calrec boards as part of their degree programs. Calrec provides us with a lot more room to grow in terms of the number of busses, channels and networks.”

For students at Husson University’s New England School of Communications (NESCom) in Bangor, Maine, the Brio and accompanying Calrec Summa console are giving students real-world audio mixing experience. “The Brio is in use for NESCom’s studio productions, including the NESCom Connection, a daily news and public affairs TV program produced by the school’s video production and journalism students,” says Edward Goguen, assistant professor, academic director and audio programs coordinator at NESCom.

Further illustrating Calrec’s commitment to education is the Brio’s role in producing live sports for the broadcast team at SoonerVision, the in-house video production arm of the University of Oklahoma (OU) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Producing thousands of hours of sports content annually, the school took its production one step further by adding a Brio to complement its existing Calrec Artemis.

 

Calrec Hydra 2 Audio Networking - Synthax Audio UKShareable resources and adaptable workflows

In-line with the larger broadcast industry, the educational market requires audio consoles as integral components on wider networks, with adaptable workflows and shareable resources using open standards and established networking technology. Calrec has a range of COTS-compatible products designed around an IP backbone, as well as a number of SMPTE 2110/AES67-compatible products to help customers transition to an IP environment, which include extra control levels to allow audio labels and control data to be passed. This gives users the ability to control gain of mic inputs under a variety of network conditions.

“We are pleased to see worldwide support for our consoles in the education sector,” says Dave Letson, vice president of sales, Calrec. “Our solutions are a leading brand for major broadcasters around the world, and making the consoles available to students means we are not only garnering the future of our user-base, but ensuring they are well-equipped to take on the industry head-on. We look forward to continuing to roll-out solutions that are ideally suited for everyone from professionals to those who are learning the trade.”

Find out more about the Calrec Brio

Find out more about Calrec Hydra2 Audio Networking

 


Calrec Audio Logo - Synthax Audio UKIf you’d like to know more about the Calrec Brio and Hydra 2 network, or would like to arrange a practical demonstration, give us a call on 01727 821 870 to speak to one of our team.
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