Planning for the 2024 NAB Show is ramping up, and Radio World is asking exhibitors about their plans and expectations.
Johan Boqvist is product evangelist of audio infrastructure at Lawo.
Radio World: From your perspective as a manufacturer of audio infrastructure products, what is the most important technology issue or trend for radio engineers and facility managers in 2024?
Boqvist: In 2024, the key trend for radio engineers and facility managers is the adoption of IP-based production for its flexibility in distributed and remote scenarios. Lawo, with nearly a decade of experience in this field, supports AES67 and SMPTE ST 2110-based IP infrastructures, offering software-defined hardware and processing apps on standard servers.
Our HOME Apps also accommodate various transport protocols and compression formats like NDI, SRT, JPEG XS and H.26x. By leveraging WAN connections, equipment travel is minimized, enhancing resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Lawo’s focus on user experience and agile tools align perfectly with broadcasters’ needs for instant scalability and centralized control.
RW: How significantly have the trends of virtualization and cloud-based platforms changed radio workflows and facility planning?
Boqvist: The trends of virtualization and cloud-based platforms have profoundly transformed radio workflows and facility planning. These technologies enable broadcasters to shift from traditional hardware-centric setups to more flexible, scalable and cost-effective solutions by software-defined hardware and purely software-based applications.
With virtualization, radio stations can consolidate their infrastructure, reducing physical space requirements and simplifying maintenance. Cloud-based platforms offer even greater agility, allowing broadcasters to access resources remotely, collaborate seamlessly and scale operations according to demand. Moreover, these trends facilitate distributed production, enabling teams to work together from anywhere, thereby revolutionizing traditional studio setups.
RW: What news will your company feature at the convention — any new products or services?
Boqvist: Lawo will be presenting the new crystal, a versatile and uncompromised mixing console for broadcast and pro-audio applications, available in both a light and a dark finish. Paired with Power Core, Lawo’s compact 1RU Software-Defined DSP Mixing Engine and Modular I/O Device, the crystal console ensures seamless integration of RAVENNA/AES67, MADI, Dante, AES3, and analog signals, making it an ideal solution for future-proofing radio and TV broadcast operations.
The crystal console allows two distinct modes of operation — “Power Core” and “Controller.” Switched to controller mode, the crystal integrates with Lawo’s mc² systems or third-party DAW applications supporting the OSC protocol.
For the diamond modular broadcast console, that shares workflow principles and design with the new crystal, we introduce new stand-alone and desktop frames for the 32 key combo, 64 key, rotary and virtual extension modules. Lawo’s virtual soundcard product family R3LAY will be updated.
Also highlighted are Lawo’s HOME Apps, a suite of software applications offering exceptional processing capabilities on standard servers. These apps, supporting various transport protocols and compression formats like RAVENNA/AES67, SMPTE ST 2110, SRT, JPEG XS, NDI and H.264/H.265, redefine media processing versatility, enabling seamless adaptation to evolving formats and requirements.
The .edge Hyper-Density SDI/IP Conversion and Routing Platform will be on show, a dense gateway facilitating SDI/IP interfacing and offering full support for SMPTE ST2110 standards. This platform, equipped with licensable options like JPEG XS compression and proxy generation, optimizes workflows and mitigates bandwidth constraints. Moreover, Lawo’s commitment to empowering live productions is evident in a new software release for the mc²/UHD Core/Power Core platform.
With features such as updated workflows and UI for Remote Productions, flexible bus routing, expanded AUX count, and NMOS support for the mc² Gateserver, Lawo sets a new benchmark for live performance capabilities.
RW: Are there any other important technology trends that you’d like to comment on?
Boqvist: Alongside developing new innovative technologies and applications, Lawo recently introduced a complete new commercial offering concept that we named Lawo Flex. A tailed-made mix of perpetual licenses and subscription-based options for our cloud-native platform HOME and HOME Apps where we let the users decide on when and where they will spin the Apps. At NAB we can demo the portal and workflow for Lawo Flex. Please stop by and we will explain more how your organization can benefit from this business model.
RW: What else will you be watching for at the convention?
Boqvist: Personally, I’m very much looking forward to meeting our customers again but also to check out what our Lawo HOME partners and the RAVENNA community have been up to since last year’s show.
Lawo NAB Show booth: C4110
