Axia Quasar AoIP Mixing Console Overview
With cosmic precision, otherworldly sound, and real star power, Axia’s new Quasar sixth-generation mixing console draws upon the Telos Alliance’s rich history as the inventor of AoIP for broadcast with more than 9,700 AoIP consoles and 100,000+ connected devices on-air worldwide. Axia has channeled all that experience into this new flagship console, consolidating its native AoIP architecture and refining it for the ultimate user experience with limitless production possibilities for radio and specialized TV applications.
Sleek, Ergonomic Design
Quasar features a sleek new look and extremely high-quality components, rugged enough for a lifetime of uninterrupted use. Designed based on extensive global customer feedback and ergonomic studies, Quasar has an easy-to-operate touchscreen user interface (no external display required) that operators can also access remotely via any HTML5 device. The absence of an overbridge makes for easy desk installation, and the console is fanless and modular, with redundant load-sharing power supply units.
Customizable and Easy to Use
Quasar makes the operator’s job dramatically easier, including new Source profiles (for source associated logic automation), automatic mix-minus, and automixing an all channels. Extensive metering is built into the surface right where it needs to be—on every channel display and next to each fader, as well as on the monitor module. Users can customize their Quasar surface thanks to user-assignable buttons in the Master touchscreen module and in every channel strip.
For TV, production, or high-end radio applications, the powerful new Quasar Engine delivers 64 stereo input channels—all with robust DSP processing—and loudness metering on all outputs. Four programmable Layers allow the user to control all channels, including DSP, even on smaller surfaces.
Mature, Reliable AoIP Technology
Quasar gives operators confidence with world-renowned Axia audio quality and reliability. The Engine’s native AoIP processing, based on a server-class hardware platform, ensures high-performance audio. The console’s sixth-generation technology is mature and sophisticated, offering extreme reliability, with system modularity minimizing single points of failure
Axia Quasar AoIP Mixing Console Features
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Super-reliable 6th-generation surface from Axia
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Compact and sleek design, based on extensive ergonomic studies
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Designed for any size radio studios and specialized TV installations
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Built-in, modular fanless PSUs with redundant option
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Reduced fader pitch for higher fader density
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No overbridge for easier installation on work surfaces. No OLEDs
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Single or split-frame configurations available, table-top or flush-mount
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Table-top frames are convertible to flush-mount
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Color and finishes fit with lighting used in modern TV-camera-equipped studios
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Modules can be installed as standalone outside of frame for modern, nontraditional creative work spaces
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Easy-to-operate touchscreen-based UI. No external display required
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New, intuitive Web UI with integrated HTML5 remote control
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Ethernet-connected and self-contained surface modules
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All channel strip pushbuttons are user-assignable
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Up to 4 user-programmable Surface Layers
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8 user-programmable Master buttons with capacitive touch-sense
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All encoders and faders are touch-sensitive
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Extensive metering built right into the surface, including fader bargraphs
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New Quasar Engine with 64 stereo input channels
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Fully redesigned DSP processing, available on all channels
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Automixer available on all channels
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Additional V-Mixer with 80 stereo inputs (independent from console)
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Highly flexible and automated audio workflows including auto mixing and auto mix minus
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Source and show profiles for ultimate customization without user intervention
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Customizable color strip on modules for easy identification of source groups
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100mm high quality spill-proof Motorized faders
Axia Quasar AoIP Mixing Console In Depth
Sixth-Generation AoIP Console from Axia
Quasar is Axia’s new, state-of-the-art broadcast mixing system. And it is built like a tank.
Beautiful and rugged, with durable and scratch-resistant work surfaces, high-resolution color TFT displays and RGB pushbuttons throughout, plus an industrial-grade 12.1-inch TFT IPS touchscreen. With its easy-to-use User Interface, advanced ergonomics, top-quality components, and massive feature set, Axia raises the bar with Quasar, once again setting new quality standards for native AoIP broadcast consoles.
Configurations
Available in sizes from 4 to 28 faders per frame, with support for up to 64 faders in multiple linked frames, the console offers a reduced footprint and directly connects to an Axia network with a single or dual redundant Ethernet cable. Frames are available in both tabletop or flush-mount versions and can be converted from one type to the other with a special kit.
Modules
Fader modules offer touch-sensitive controls and motorized faders as standard features, along with high-resolution bargraph metering for each fader, source-drive color-coding, and customizable hardware buttons on the entire surface. A variety of source profile types provide control of mic/line inputs, telephones, codecs and other devices. Enhanced, integrated features for phones and codecs include auto-assigned mix-minus on each channel, easy talkback for remote talent cueing, one-button off-air phone record mode, and integrated, touchscreen-based Telco line switching that can interface with Telos phone hybrids and VoIP/SIP talk-show systems.
Touchscreen UI
Quasar sports a Master Touchscreen module that presents a simple and intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface) that is so familiar, you’ll be acquainted with the operation of the console within minutes. Thanks to its touchscreen, Quasar does not require an external display to function, although an external monitor could be connected via the rear HDMI port to show a duplicate of the touchscreen interface.
Web UI
New Expert Source Profile controls allow power users a granular definition of custom logic associated with each source. The end user can program GPIO control, mix-minus routing, talkback, and other functions based upon console channel state. Flexible Record Mode gives complete control of monitors, meters, headphone feeds, program bus assignments and more. New Show Profiles allow up to 4,000 console “snapshots” with different settings, layouts, and defaults loaded instantly, customizing the board to each show requirement or talent preference, if desired. An HTML5 remote GUI is built into the Web UI to allow remote control and operation of the console from any browser-enabled device.
Cooling & Power Supply
The Quasar control surface is completely fanless, with built-in industrial-grade Power Supply Units available in either single or redundant configuration. Up to four PSUs can be included in a single console frame, depending on frame size and configuration desired.
Control Surface Dimensions
Width: from 428mm / 16.85” (4 faders+Master) to 1360mm / 53.54” (28 faders+Master)
Depth: 580mm / 22.83”
Height: 110 95mm / 4.33 3.74” (table-top frame with rubber feet)
Axia Quasar Engine
Quasar is powered by the Quasar Engine, a native AoIP powerhouse with 64 Stereo channels, 4-band fully parametric EQ, powerful dynamics processing and automixer on every channel, four program buses and eight auxiliary buses. Four Surface Layers and a Virtual Mixer (VMix) with 16 independent 5-channel V-Mixers extend the mixing capacity of your Quasar console far beyond physical fader count. Support for AES67 is included, as well as Talent headphone processing and many other advanced features that make operation simpler and more intuitive. Redundant power is standard with this mix-engine platform. The Quasar Engine has forced fan cooling, while the Quasar console is completely fanless.
Build Quality
The Quasar system is designed and built to last a lifetime. All its components were carefully selected with very strict lifetime requirements. All parts subject to wear are industrial, automotive, or even avionics grade.
Leveraging the Power of Axia’s AoIP Infrastructure
The Quasar connects to Axia’s Livewire+™ AES67 AoIP network, and takes advantage of its powerful distributed I/O architecture. The Livewire+ network allows detection, sharing and control of audio resources across multiple studios connected to the network, and its technology complies with the latest AES67 standards.
