Calrec reports that placements of its Bluefin2 high-density signal-processing (HDSP) technology have topped 100 installations, with a recent sale to BBC Wales.
BBC Wales installed a 40-fader Artemis Beam console with Hydra2 audio routing in a newly renovated studio at its Cardiff facility. This is BBC Wales’ second Artemis console, joining nine other Artemis and one Apollo desk – all equipped with Bluefin2 – in BBC operations throughout the UK.
‘Calrec manufactures high-spec products in low numbers, and we only launched Bluefin2 technology at NAB in 2009, so to sell 100 consoles in three years is a significant achievement,’ says Henry Goodman, Head of Sales & Marketing at Calrec. ‘This milestone is an indication of the popularity and success of the current product range, and it’s especially fitting that the BBC plays a role in that success because it is our longest standing customer.’
Bluefin2 used in Apollo and Artemis consoles is Calrec’s second-generation FPGA technology, the technology that makes HDSP possible. Calrec has pioneered HDSP in broadcast-audio consoles by incorporating FPGA into its digital signal processing, which gives Calrec consoles immense power in a small footprint. Bluefin2 offers more processing power than its predecessor, Bluefin, and provides a future-proof solution for multichannel discrete audio mixing.
The processing power of Bluefin2, combined with Calrec products’ reputation for reliability and intuitive control, has helped the company to secure major market share in the UK and US, where its products are regularly quoted as the standard and are installed in 70 per cent of OB trucks. The consoles are popular for sporting events and have proved successful for prime time live-to-air or live-to-tape programming.
Calrec is also seeing growth in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The 100-installation milestone is particularly significant in those growing markets because it instills confidence in Calrec as a viable option for potential customers.
More: www.calrec.com
