Glensound, a provider of high-quality audio systems, will introduce several new products at IBC2024, from 13-16 September, at the RAI Amsterdam. The most notable is the European Parliamentary Broadcast System, a fully integrated solution, incorporating up to 20 specialist hardware products. Known for supplying solutions for critical large chamber meeting and committee rooms, Glensound has been a partner to national parliaments since 1995.
There are often challenging acoustics in historic parliamentary buildings that affect the intelligibility of the debates. Glensound says this solution addresses these challenges by synchronising audio and video, integrating security and log-in functionalities.
It also includes a custom panel at each desk, enabling audio management, voting capabilities, and streamlined parliamentary procedures. The software control is provided by Squared Paper, with the two companies having previously worked together on systems for parliamentary chambers.
Members’ panels can be customised for bespoke furniture, with pods timed and level-adjusted to remove delay and intelligibility artefacts. The central rack handles audio feeds and redundant network switching. The central DSP also lowers audio pitch and provides equalisation to reduce feedback and optimise speech clarity.
Also new to IBC2024 is the Greater Divine Intelligent Network Audio Monitor. Glensound launched the Divine in 2019 and it has proven popular, so the Greater Divine is a larger two-way speaker unit incorporating several innovations. This self-powered monitor delivers 30 watts and is designed to be powered by PoE+ with the audio connected to a Dante network.
Additionally, a local DC input and an analogue audio input supplement the 8 customisable Dante input channels. A headphone socket is also provided. The set-up and multiple features of the Greater Divine are accessed remotely by the GlenController app.
The third new introduction is the NSA16 Network Signal Adjuster. It has 16 Dante inputs and 16 Dante outputs with a level control on each channel pair for stereo, or single channels for 8 mono. The final channel can optionally be set as a group mix control of the other 7 channels.
Also debuting at IBC is the latest in the eSports line of audio interfaces, the GTM Mobile. Specifically designed for live tournament eSports on mobile devices, the GTM Mobile adds a direct hardwired connection to the phone enabling seamless two-way data transmission without relying solely on Wi-Fi. This feature is crucial for mobile-based games.
It also provides high-speed charging for the connected device. All the features of the standard GTM are present including direct connection for the gamers’ headsets with twin multi-assignable headphone amplifiers, generation and sharing of the team talk mix, and multiple sources for the game audio.
Although not making debuts at IBC, there are other products not seen here before. The DARK DAWN 1616M is the first of a new generation of the industry standard, DARK Dante/AES67 interfaces. This update incorporates several key features that have been requested by users. The DARK DAWN range of interfaces are multichannel analogue and AES input/output devices intended to be installed in a studio setting where cosmetic appearance is important.
The 16 analogue inputs are mic/line/ 48v switchable. Channel gain, in and out, can be adjusted from the front panel, or the soon to be added remote control via GlenController or UDP on a separate network connection. Network connections can be either Dante or RAVENNA/AES67.
The AoIP22M is a small format portable unit similar to the very popular AoIP22, with two analogue inputs and two analogue outputs to interface to a Dante/AES67 network. The main difference with the AoIP22M is that the inputs are switchable from line to microphone. The DC power input is using USB C to allow connection to generic plug-top power supplies or USB power banks.
Main features include mic/line switchable inputs on XLR or Phoenix connectors, independent 48v phantom power, variable input gain controls and network connections via a single EtherCON Halo connector.
Marc Wilson, managing director, Glensound, commented: “Many people think that Glensound manufactures a plethora of handy hardware boxes. We do, but it is important to recognise that we also provide very complex systems, and we are very proud to deliver something that can solve a myriad of problems but remain easy to operate. A perfect example of that is the European Parliamentary Broadcast System.”
