This variant, making its debut, features a design that integrates the meter-bridge and touch interface into a single display row. It allows instant switching between the comprehensive web-based Calrec Assist UI and a full meter view for any section. This design aims to provide a solution that fits well in limited spaces or serves as a straightforward replacement for smaller mixing consoles. Its design priorities include low-profile requirements and improved visibility over the console’s surface.

Key Features and Flexibility

The new Argo-S variant retains the core principles of flexibility, customization, ergonomics, resilience, and support for collaborative workflows, similar to its larger counterparts in the Argo line. Each section of the console, spanning 12 faders, operates independently with its own processing power, access to controls, power supplies, and connectivity options. This independence ensures that the system’s performance is not compromised by any single section’s failure.

Adapting to Production Demands

Calrec’s Argo series, including the Argo Q and the compact Argo S model, introduces a novel approach to audio mixing by removing traditional constraints between control surfaces and processing resources. The Argo series is characterized by its modularity, with interchangeable hardware panels and the integration of Calrec’s Assist UI, which is designed for ease of use whether on physical panels or via a remote graphical user interface.

Resilience and Modular Design

The architecture of the Argo series is built to offer unmatched resilience and flexibility. Each 12-fader section is equipped with a redundant power supply and a dedicated processor to guard against system failures. These sections can be interconnected over local or wide-area networks, supporting distributed production setups across different geographical locations.

User Interface and Customization

Calrec has introduced a system of user templates for the Argo series that allows quick alterations to the hardware interface to accommodate various production needs or operator preferences. The use of optically bonded touchscreens enhances visual feedback and operational speed. The physical control surface is optimized for intuitive use, with soft panels for enhanced interaction and hardware panels that can be customized with definable functions.

Introducing ImPulse1

Alongside the new Argo-S variant, Calrec will also present the ImPulse1 IP audio processing and routing engine at the NAB Show. ImPulse1 is a compact, 1U solution that adheres to the ST2110 standard, offering a cost-effective alternative with optional redundancy and a 128 input channel DSP pack for entry-level access.

News source: https://calrec.com/