Calrec Apollo, Operator'S Manual

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Introduction 12 APOLLO
Digital Broadcast Production Console
INTRODUCTION
Apollo is a hugely flexible and
scalable large format digital audio
console designed to withstand the
most critical broadcast production
and live environments.
Apollo expands on the success of the
Alpha / Sigma / Omega / Zeta product
range, employing the same operational
methodology and expanding upon it to
encompass the powerful feature set
required for modern broadcasting.
Control panels can switch mode on the
fly, allowing for all controls to be quick
and close to hand, irrespective of the
operator’s position and allowing each user
their own preference of control layout.
User splits and independent monitoring
allow for multiple operators to work on
the same surface without impacting upon
each other. Comprehensive, flexible
monitoring and metering ensure operator
awareness and quick reaction over all
aspects of the most complex productions.
Bluefin2
At the heart of the design is a powerful
Bluefin2 digital signal processing engine.
Calrec’s award winning Bluefin DSP was
first launched in 2006 allowing the design
of consoles with very high channel counts
contained on a single card, providing
very efficient, reliable and powerful
systems that can meet the ever increasing
demands of modern broadcasting.
The second generation of Bluefin is even
more powerful and future proof. As well
as high channel counts, amongst other
benefits it provides comprehensive EQ,
filters and dynamics on all paths, sample
delay processing, multiple simultaneous
track/IFB sends per path, LT/RT
encoding as well as very comprehensive
monitoring and metering.
Hydra2
Apollo consoles utilise I/O options from
the comprehensive Hydra2 range. Fixed
format units and modular I/O card-frames
are offered in a wide selection of formats
to suit all needs. The Hydra2 system can
pass up to 512 channels of 48kHz audio
along with control data and error detection
on each copper or fibre connection to the
router within the console’s processing
rack.
The physical location of I/O units can be
selected to minimise external cable runs
and setup time. Multiple Apollo/Artemis
routers can be networked together,
allowing all consoles on a network the
ability to use all of the I/O connected.
Standalone router racks without control
surfaces can also be connected either to
expand the number of I/O ports available
or to centralise I/O connectivity.
Commitment
Calrec has a world-wide customer base
which includes many of the world’s most
prestigious broadcasters and covers the
highest profile events. By consistently
focusing upon purely broadcast
products, Calrec offers consoles with
the most comprehensive combination of
performance and features. The high level
of reliability of all Calrec products, many
of which are still in daily use after 20
year’s service, reflects a clear awareness
of the critical nature of the operating
environment.
This understanding of the real issues of
broadcast operations is one of the many
reasons why operators and management
alike prefer Calrec. Apollo is designed
to ensure this level of confidence will
continue into the future.
Concord Processors
The 3.0 software release for Apollo and
Artemis was huge. So huge, in fact,
that it required newer and more capable
Concord processors to support all the
new functionality. Concord Processors
also provide incredible performance
improvements to the surface making
Apollo and Artemis the most responsive
audio mixers available.
To upgrade to software version 3.0 or
later, and get access to all the powerful
features presented here, surface
hardware must be upgraded with Concord
Processors.
Control Surface
• Up to 160 standard or dual physical
motorised path faders.
• 12 dual layers of faders for flexibility in
organizing path layout.
• Optional dual in-line fader panels
providing simultaneous physical access
to A and B sub-layers.
• Flexible control layout to suit each
user’s preference.
• Very comprehensive and configurable
monitoring and metering.
• User splits allowing for multiple
operators to work independently.
Signal Processing
• 6 full bands of parametric EQ / filters
on each channel, group and main path.
• 2 x compressor / limiters, 1 x expander
/ gate, and sidechain EQ / filters on
each channel, group and main path.
• 4 independent simultaneous post fader,
pre fader or pre EQ track / IFB sends
per channel / group path.
• Up to 4 direct output / mix-minus
sends per path.
• Up to 2.73 seconds of path delay per
path.
I/O
• Integral 8192x8192 router with up
to 512 audio channels per Hydra2
port. Fully integrable with any Hydra2
network.
• Extensive range of Hydra2 audio I/O &
GPIO available.
• Copper or fibre connectivity.
Resilience
• Independent DSP, routing and control
processing.
• Comprehensive hardware and data
path redundancy.
• Fully hot-pluggable and self initializing
components.
• Independent of system PC interface.
Power
• Distributed PSU system – no heavy
duty power cables.
• Power Over Ethernet technologies for
simple internal distribution.
• Low power consumption and heat
generation.