Blackmagic Design has announced Fairlight Live, a virtual broadcast audio console designed to run on software infrastructure and connect through SMPTE ST 2110. The system targets dynamic and spatial production with channel counts beyond a conventional fixed surface.
Blackmagic says the architecture can address thousands of audio channels and can be controlled through adaptable operator interfaces. A free public beta is intended to put the system into real workflows before a final commercial release.
Why it matters
Audio is often the least flexible part of an otherwise software-defined production. A virtual console could let facilities allocate processing and surfaces per event while supporting immersive formats and remote operators.
What still needs checking
Public beta status means feature behaviour, compatibility and support may change. Published claims about scale require validation for latency, redundancy, plug-ins, monitoring and actual control-surface ergonomics.
