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Alpha with Bluefin

The Alpha with Bluefin is an all digital audio console for live production and on-air use.

As with every Calrec digital console, all elements of system design are focused on simplicity and reliability. The assignable control surface of the Alpha with Bluefin console minimises screen usage enabling direct access to the majority of console functions.

Bluefin High Density Signal Processing allows the Alpha to deal with large numbers of surround sources, and more than doubles the processing capacity of the largest Alpha console.

Bluefin provides 480 channel processing paths on just one DSP card, with full EQ and dynamics to all channels. This allows for up to 78 x full 5.1 channels.

This technology ensures the Alpha with Bluefin console meets the needs of HD production and live to air delivery far into the future.

For information on the Outside Broadcast version of the Alpha with Bluefin console, click here, or choose Alpha OB from the right-hand menu.

Typical console layout click here.

Channels / Groups

  • 480 channel processing paths packaged as 162 stereo and 156 mono channels, allowing up to 78 x full 5.1 surround channels
  • 8 x 5.1 surround, stereo or mono audio groups
  • All channels, groups and mains have 4-band EQ, 2-band filters, Compressor/Limiter and Expander/Gate
  • Separate 2-band EQ and 2-band filters for Dynamics side-chain
  • Up to 192 mono equivalent assignable inserts for outboard gear
  • All channels and groups can have a direct output or a mix-minus feed
  • Direct outputs can be pre EQ, pre fader or post fader
  • All surround channels and groups have surround direct outputs, with the option to downmix to stereo
  • Tracks can be fed from pre EQ, pre or post fader
  • Automatic cross fading facility, with user-definable fade out and in times
  • Additional VCA style grouping system
  • Every channel can route to every bus, at the same time, without restrictions

Busses

  • 4 x 5.1 surround or stereo main outputs with Compressor/Limiter
  • 20 auxiliary outputs, which can be 20 mono or 10 stereo
  • 48 outputs for multi-track or general purpose feeds
  • Simultaneous LCRS, stereo and mono outputs available from each 5.1 main output
  • Direct input available to groups, mains, aux and mix-minus busses

System

  • Up to 96 channel/group faders, with A & B layers of control, plus 4 dedicated main output faders
  • All faders are motorised and touch sensitive
  • A centrally assigned fader allows control of any fader from the optimum listening position
  • Comprehensive surround panning and monitoring
  • User-definable panels for monitor selection and control
  • Flexible TFT screen-based meters with total user-configurability
  • Input delay from control screen with additional hardware panel option
  • Optional I/O expansion via a wide area interface such as MADI or Hydra, Calrec's sophisticated audio networking system
  • On board Flash ROM memory system allows 99 full console snapshot or partial memories
  • PC backup allows an unlimited number of memories
  • Sophisticated GPIO facilities

Resilience

  • Console operates independently of PC
  • Independent DSP operation ensures audio continuity even during PC or control reset
  • Console and racks boot from power on in less than 20 seconds
  • Full control system reset in less than 15 seconds with no loss of audio
  • Last settings fully restored on power-up or reset
  • Automatic change over to hot spares for power supplies, control cards and DSP card
  • All cards and modules are designed to be hot plugged
  • All cards and modules are designed to initialise on insertion