NAMM 2012: Avid unveils Venue SC48 Remote System

Avid has today (January 19th) announced the release of the Venue SC48 remote digital live sound system, Stage 48 remote I/O box and Venue 3 software.

The Venue SC48 Remote System works as a compact digital live sound system that is designed to offer optimum sound quality, deep Pro Tools integration, and the direct plug-in support of the award-winning Venue SC48, now with remote I/O functionality for increased flexibility.

Consisting of the SC48 console and new Venue Stage 48 remote box, Ethernet Snake Card, and Venue 3 software, the SC48 Remote System serves as an alternative to the all-in-one SC48, allowing engineers to place the I/O away from the console and closer to sources for optimal sound. And with fully redundant Ethernet AVB snake connectivity – a first in the live sound industry – over Cat6 cable, engineers are offered optimised efficiency.

With the new Venue SC48 Remote System, customers can:

• Gain extensive connection versatility, with 48 inputs and 16 outputs (expandable to 32), customisable between SC48 and up to two Stage 48 remote boxes

• Attain optimum audio quality, as mic preamps can be placed as close to sources as possible, eliminating analogue cable runs

• Gain transmission through low-latency, open standard Ethernet AVB, delivering fully redundant, all-digital connections through standard Cat6 cable – at distances up to 100 meters

• Record and play back up to 32 channels in Pro Tools (included) with a FireWire-equipped laptop

• Load show files created on any Venue system

The Stage 48 remote I/O box will also be available as an add-on option (along with its companion Ethernet Snake Card) to existing SC48 users.

The Venue 3 software upgrade offers Venue customers an array of new features, including faster workflows to speed up all aspects of mixing. SC48 customers will especially benefit, as the software upgrade provides more busses, input processing channels, plug-in slots, and Pro Tools channels than before. By upgrading, users can record and play back up to 32 Pro Tools channels (up from 18) over FireWire (SC48 and FWx Option Card users) and create bigger mixes with expanded input processing channels in SC48 (increased from 48 to 64) and Venue Mix Rack (increased from 64 to 80) Systems.

“Customers are realising the benefits of networked I/O solutions and are seeking ever more powerful features in compact mixers,” said Sheldon Radford, Avid senior product manager. “With the SC48 Remote System, they get the sound, performance, and reliability Venue systems are known for, plus the flexibility to split up the I/O and place each distribution where needed for optimal sound. They can customise the system to support up to 48 inputs on stage or distribute the I/O to handle a variety of sources on stage, at FOH, and even another location anywhere in the room.”

The Venue SC48 Remote System, Venue 3 software upgrade, Stage 48 remote box, and its companion Ethernet Snake Card are all expected to be available worldwide in February 2012.