Steiger Media Reinvents Broadcast Infrastructure With Calrec Argo M

Steiger Media has overhauled its broadcast infrastructure with the launch of its new 7.5-tonne AV-Mobil hybrid remote unit, built around a Calrec Argo M console with integrated DSP.

The installation was delivered by Calrec's DACH distribution partner, Cerberus Media Solutions, and is already expanding the company's production capabilities across classical music, jazz festivals, corporate events, and live sports.

Serving German-speaking audiences across the DACH region for more than 25 years, Steiger Media specialises in live events and television productions for both linear broadcast and streaming platforms. The ST2110-native AV-Mobil truck, launched in summer 2025, functions as both a self-contained on-site production facility and a node that can be fully integrated with a remote studio.

Managing Director Tobias Steiger said the project was driven by a desire to rethink conventional production models.

"We wanted to move away from rigid structures and totally rethink broadcast with this project," he said. "AV-Mobil's remote capabilities give us the agility to accept more short-notice projects and deploy our best talent exactly where it's needed; it allows us to act much faster and more efficiently, and it gives us a decisive competitive edge."

Calrec will demonstrate the system this week at HAMBURG OPEN, January 14–15, where True Control 2.0 will link Steiger Media’s 36-fader Argo M inside the truck to a 24-fader Argo M with internal DSP and an Argo S with ImPulse1 core on the Calrec stand. The workflow highlights real-time remote surface control and follows a similar demonstration at Tonmeistertagung in November 2025.

Reflecting on that earlier event, Steiger said: "The reaction was pure amazement. Many visitors know remote production in theory, but seeing the desk in the truck, which was parked outside, controlled live from the exhibition stand with almost zero latency was a real eye-opener. It proves this technology isn't just futuristic sci-fi; it's ready for deployment."

Looking to the future, Steiger emphasises how the technology underpins the company’s hybrid production strategy.

"Calrec's True Control 2.0 technology will give us the freedom to control the desk from anywhere. We can dispatch the truck and handle fine-tuning or the entire mix from our remote studio if the project demands it. Argo M can also be rebuilt remotely for every job, and in a hybrid world where we might mix news gathering today and a symphony orchestra tomorrow, this is essential. Moving away from rigid structures towards an open-space concept means we're no longer an island outside the venue; we're part of a wider network."

The AV-Mobil truck has also been designed with immersive audio production in mind. With an upcoming slate of spatial music projects, Steiger Media equipped the vehicle with a fully calibrated Genelec 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos monitoring system.

"We refused to make any of the audio compromises that are found in many compact vehicles," said Steiger. "AV-Mobil features a fully calibrated Genelec 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos monitoring system, the first fully immersive control room in a 7.5-tonne truck in our region. Space is always the most expensive currency in an OB van, so we needed a console that was physically compact but could compete in terms of performance.

"The Calrec Argo M was the only viable option. It has native support for 7.1.4 without workarounds and it gives us the necessary fader density and DSP power to handle complex orchestral recordings or immersive sports mixes without needing a trailer.

"Meanwhile, the ability to adapt the console to our workflows on the fly was vital. Argo M's reliability and fast scene recall means we can operate on tighter schedules and produce more content in less time, and with no sacrifice on quality. On the contrary, Calrec’s sound quality elevates all our master outputs."

Steiger also praised Calrec's support during the project. "The support was exemplary," he said. "From initial planning of the AoIP network to commissioning, the Calrec team were by our side. It felt less like a vendor-client relationship and more like a technical partnership."

Argo M's native support for multiple protocols, including MADI, Dante, and AES67, allows Steiger Media to integrate seamlessly into a wide variety of production environments without external converters, reducing setup time and potential points of failure.

"The nature of content production is changing, and broadcasters are facing unprecedented demands," said Calrec International Sales Manager for Germany, Graham Murray. "Sticking with traditional production workflows can sometimes be a barrier to winning new business, but this creative combination of the compact Argo M gives Steiger Media an edge. The ability to create flexible, distributed and hybrid workflows on the fly makes it an ideal combination for a range of production environments where top-quality professional audio are essential, but on-site space may be limited."

Calrec is exhibiting at HAMBURG OPEN on January 14–15, 2026, in Hall B6, Stand 218, with representatives from both Calrec and Cerberus Media Solutions available throughout the show.

calrec.com