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Crystal has been replaced by the new crystal Lawo Versatile Broadcast Console. Click Here for details.

crystal

Radio Mixing Console

COMPACT – INTUITIVE – AUTOMAGIC

 

With thousands of installations in radio facilities, small broadcast applications, SNG and ENG vans, and even TV production suites around the world, crystal has become one of radio’s favorite broadcast broadcast mixing consoles. A cost-effective entry into the Lawo world of mixing, crystal gives users all of the flexibility and customizability Lawo is known for, and with RAVENNA / AES67 connectivity, provides a future-proof investment for both commercial and public broadcasters.

Designed for today’s radio workflows, crystal comes with Lawo VisTool, a powerful touchscreen-optimized PC software that provides visual control of essential crystal functions. In its basic version, VisTool is designed for clear visualization, while the unlimited version of VisTool can be completely customized to meet any workflow requirements, displaying controls for all parameters producers or presenters might need.

A FUTURE-PROOF INVESTMENT

SMART TECHNOLOGY: READY TO USE

crystal consoles come ready to use, with a pre-loaded preset that meets the general demands of a wide range of radio applications. It also allows an unparalleled degree of customization, offering users a pool of features second to none. crystal ensures maximum efficiency for on-air operation and production in all aspects of everyday work — the perfect choice for both stand-alone operation and networked broadcast environments.

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Lawo crystal radio console brochure

crystal: a powerful, yet affordable, entry into the Lawo world of radio mixing. Sleek, sophisticated, and ready to make great radio.

OVERVIEW

4, 8, 12, & 16-faders frames

32 mini-mixers

288 x 292 crosspoints

Mixes in mono, stereo, or
5.1 Surround

16 units each of EQ, DYN, LIM, de-essing / AutoMix

2 independent N-1 systems

32 mono summing buses

Networked operation with RAVENNA / AES67

FEATURES

DESIGNED BY RADIO, FOR RADIO

Based on feedback from more than 1,000 Lawo console users, crystal offers unparalleled features and design, with a clean, uncluttered workspace in a slim low-profile chassis. VisTool onscreen controls, coupled with a customizable mix engine, power supply redundancy and RAVENNA / AES67 capability make it a perfect choice in any facility.

OPTIMIZED FOR WORKFLOW

Radio demands accuracy under pressure, so crystal is designed with outstanding ergonomics. Multi-color LED lighting indicates function by color. Two OLED displays per channel provide instant information about sources and options. Functions like PFL, on/off, start/stop, mute, conference and talkback can be assigned to multipurpose keys. Four context-sensitive user buttons on each fader strip can be custom-programmed.

STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY

Slim and low-profile, crystal is a genuine eye-catcher in any studio. But that’s not all that’s impressive. Legendary Lawo build quality premium components meet your highest demands, from its superb all-metal case, multi-color lighting, and 100 mm faders with integral dust shield, to the excellent signal processing capabilities of its powerful Compact Engine.

CUSTOMIZABLE

crystal consoles come preconfigured to facilitate quick and easy use, with fader sources, a general bus configuration, and control room and guest monitoring already defined. But this “standard” configuration is also the perfect basis for further customization, using an unparalleled pool of workflow optimizing functions and features.

The control surface is available in sizes from 4 to 16 faders. Buttons are illuminated with RGB LEDs, enabling recognizable color schemes to be applied to different actions. For example, every signal processing function can be given its own color (blue for EQ, magenta for dynamics, etc.). User keys on the fader strips give access to context-sensitive commands. In fact, nearly every button on the user interface can be configured to meet individual requirements; even the buttons in the master control section can be easily be given custom functions and labeled using film inlays.

The possibilities for system administrators are countless. They range from small N-1 set-ups to a full-blown conference matrix, and from a single control room monitoring to multiple monitoring buses. Program a few internal console snapshots — or build unlimited console and channel snapshots in a database. And a comprehensive user rights management system lets you define what controls your operators see.

COMPACT ENGINE – BIG POWER

The crystal Compact Engine may be small (1 RU), but it has big features like power supply redundancy and optimized expansion slots for convenient addition of I/O cards. An integrated matrix of up to 288 I/Os can be utilized by choosing from a broad range of modules including RAVENNA / AES67, MADI, AES and Mic/Line. New functions like the integrated AutoMix and AutoGain provide outstanding ease-of-use, especially to journalists and presenters in self-op situations.

In addition to being a powerful AoIP audio interface, the Compact Audio Engine has powerful DSP resources onboard. Use the DSP for EQ and dynamics, mixing and routing, precision delay and other functions. Using VisTool software and a networked computer, you can build custom control screens or touch-based mixing panels to control the Compact Engine. The applications are limited only by your imagination.

SPECIFICATIONS

Control Surface
  • Available in sizes from 4 to 16 faders
  • Compact design with case height only 35 mm (1.4”)
  • Long-life 100 mm faders with dust protection
  • High-visibility OLED displays (160° viewing angle)
  • Contnrol buttons with multi-color backlight (RGB)
  • Ambient light sensor for automatic brightness control
  • Standalone operation, or networked
System Core
  • Compact Engine 19” / 1 RU with control system, signal processing and audio interfaces
  • Integrated routing matrix (non-blocking) with up to 288 inputs and 292 outputs
  • Active cross ventilation, system-controlled
  • Integral wide-ranging power supply 100 – 240 V AC and 12 V DC connection with redundant switchover
Signal Processing
  • Up to 24 fader channels with input gain (max. +18 dB) and pan/ balance
  • Up to 100 definitions for sources and summing buses;mono or stereo, 5.1 surround
  • 16 Equalizers: 3 fully parametric bands and 2 filters (mono or stereo)
  • 16 Dynamics units: gate, expander, compressor (mono or stereo)
  • 16 Limiters (mono or stereo)
  • 16 De-esser / AutoMix (mono equivalent)
  • 16 Delays, up to 320 ms (mono equivalent)
  • 48 parallel mix inputs (mono equivalent)
  • 32 Summing buses (mono* including PFL)
  • 32 Minimixers (2 x 2 mixers for monitoring, stereo-to-mono, etc.)
  • Internal tone generator

(*crystal mode)

Control
  • Programmable logic core (red light, fader start, broadcast button, talkback integration etc.)
  • Integrated N-1 / conference logic (2 independent systems)
  • Interface for integration with radio automation systems (serial, TCP/IP)
  • Networking via TCP/IP (Ember+)
Synchronisation
  • Wordclock input and internal generator
  • Optional sync via MADI or slot 1 (AES3 or RAVENNA)
  • 48 kHz and 44.1 kHz 
Interfaces
  • 4 Analog mic inputs (incl. bass cut, stereo coupling possible, also usable as line inputs)
  • 4 Analog line inputs
  • 8 Analog line outputs
  • 2 Headphone outputs (stereo)
  • 4 AES3 inputs (stereo) with sample rate converter (SRC)
  • 4 AES3 outputs (stereo)
  • GPIO (8 optocouplers, 8 silent cmos relays)
  • Optional MADI extension with 4 ports (max. 256 mono channels)
  • 2 slots for I/O extension

    • 4 Analog mic in / 4 Analog line in
    • 8 Analog line in / 8 Analog line out
    • 4 AES3 in with SRC (stereo) / 4 AES3 out (stereo)
    • RAVENNA / AES67 Audio-over-IP
Configuration And Maintenance
  • Software for system configuration and logic programming
  • Integral web server for system diagnosis
  • Dedicated SW tool for software updates
  • Remote maintenance using dedicated remote access tool
VisTool
  • Software for the enhancement of the control surface, support of touchscreens
  • Visualisation of DSP parameters, loudness, signal levels / states
  • Additional functions and controls (e.g. timer, snapshots)
  • Min. PC requirements: Intel i5 or higher (CPUBenchmark min. 1350 Points @ www.cpubenchmark.net/), min. 2GB RAM, Windows 7 or higher 
Optional Control Panels
  • Several panel variants (19”/1 RU) with illuminated buttons, LCD-keys, potentiometers and GPIO
  • Control of logic functions and level adjustment for e.g. conferences, talkback and monitoring
  • Connection of up to 30 panels via CAN-Bus (opt. TCP/IP)

ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS

Compact Engine

Compact Engine 

AES67 Audio Node with onboard DSP

VisTool

VisTool

Virtual Radio Studio Environment

A__Line

A__Line

WAN-Capable Audio-over-IP Nodes

VisTool Solo

VisTool Solo

Touchscreen Talent Panel Software

crystalCLEAR

crystalCLEAR

Virtual Radio Mixing Console