A 56-fader Alpha console with Bluefin networking has been chosen by NBC for use at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. It will be used for swimming and diving events, bringing the total number of Calrec audio boards to be used form the games to eight.
The network will use two Sigma consoles with Bluefin at the International Broadcast Center, and five Omega consoles in fly-packs at various locations in the city. Calrec consoles with Bluefin will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies, track and field, gymnastics, and beach volleyball.
The Alpha console provides 480 channel processing paths packaged as 162 stereo and 156 mono channels. This allows up to 78 x full 5.1 surround channels. This capacity is provided on a single DSP card with full EQ and dynamics on all channel groups and main outputs.
The console is being provided by Bexel Corporation, based in Burbank, CA. Bexel also owns the Audio Specialites Group, which is the Calrec distributor in the Central and Western regions of the USA.