Christian Broadcasting Network Installs Calrec Artemis Console

Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), one of the oldest cable broadcasters in the United States, has installed a 48-fader Calrec Artemis audio mixing console with Bluefin(TM)2 high-density signal processing (HDSP) in its Virginia Beach studios. The console, deployed in May, is used daily for about 2.5 hours of live and taped information and music programming. The Artemis replaces a 10-year-old digital console from another provider. In addition, CBN has ordered a second Calrec Artemis for delivery later this year.

“We wanted to partner with an audio console manufacturer that specializes in broadcast,” said Philip Peters, director of audio services for CBN. “And as for the console itself, we wanted it to sound good and be durable. In the end, there were three contenders, and — based on the superior flexibility afforded by the integrated Hydra2 routing system, and outstanding, regionally based support — Calrec came out on top. No matter how you look at the Artemis, it’s a well-thought-out desk.”

Peters acknowledged the Calrec Artemis for supporting quick turnaround between shows by enabling on-the-fly reconfiguration of the output routing structure, and for an operator interface that is intuitive even for operators more comfortable with an analog desk. Built on the same platform as the Apollo, the Artemis console features a combination of OLED displays, touch screens, and light-emitting knobs that afford the operator instant visual feedback and maximum control.

CBN also appreciates the Artemis’s integrated Hydra2 because it can route outside sources like servers, microphones, and frame syncs independent of the console. Meanwhile, the track outputs’ split-send feature enables CBN to use 16 tracks for post-fader mix-minus and IFB feeds, while the other 48 tracks send pre-fader feeds to the multitrack.

Artemis consoles rely on Bluefin2, the next generation of Calrec’s trademark HDSP, to provide substantial resources at any sample rate. Artemis also features a second compressor/limiter in each channel, more than 70 minutes of assignable delay, and three independent APFL systems for multiple operator use. Like all Calrec consoles, the Artemis is designed so that facilities do not share resources.

“CBN’s three-studio facility in Virginia is a busy place, and turnarounds on shows can be tight,” said Henry Goodman, Calrec vice president of sales and marketing. “Reliable, state-of-the-art digital consoles are not only crucial for good-quality sound, but also to help CBN accommodate its guest artists, who don’t want to sit around and wait, while adhering to its own schedule. In the Artemis, CBN has found the ideal console to meet its needs.”