Console Porn!

What has a blog devoted to the budget conscious studio got to do with a $1M console? Honestly not much, however, it's always interesting to look at what's out there and with all the tweaky-geeky toys available it's also informative to see what's actually being used in real world situations.

The snapshot above is my favorite live broadcast production console, the all digital Calrec Alpha. Designed & built to be fast, rugged, flexible and sonically excellent, it's a joy to mix on & surprisingly intuitive given it's complexity.

Of course much of the price ticket goes to qualities not really needed by the budget studio. Extreme ruggedness, the ability to be operational 24/7 and the required manufacturer support all add to the cost. These consoles tend to be like great sports cars, nice to have but the upkeep is steep!