Calrec Brings Leading Audio Solutions And Long-Term Business Value To IBC 2026

For years, broadcast facilities were built around one assumption: provision for the biggest project they might produce. That assumption no longer holds. As audiences fragment across streaming, social and FAST platforms and rights costs keep climbing, the advantage sits with the broadcaster who can flex the right production model for any given project.

Calrec will show how its IP-native ecosystem, with the award-winning Argo console range at its centre, puts that choice in broadcasters' hands. Built to run on-prem, remote, virtualised, or connected through orchestration platforms such as Grass Valley's AMPP and NEP's Platform, Argo enables productions to be configured project by project. The commercial logic follows directly: the cost of the production should track the scale of the job, not the other way round.

The next big thing
New for IBC 2026, look out for two new exciting product announcements at 11:30am on Friday 11th September, on Stand 8.C47. Together, these enhancements further extend Calrec's connected audio ecosystem, enabling broadcasters to share resources, streamline workflows and reduce operational costs.

One ecosystem, every production model
Built around Argo, Calrec's connected ecosystem supports a broad range of production workflows, giving broadcasters the flexibility to deploy resources where they're needed most, while driving greater operational efficiency and cost savings.

At IBC 2026, Calrec will present its IP ecosystem powered by its remote production capability True Control 2.0 and built around its Argo S and Argo M consoles – networked with an ImPulse IP processing core and ImPulseV virtualised audio mixing engine.

Three Argo consoles on the stand will be linked via True Control 2.0 to a fourth at Calrec’s head office in Hebden Bridge, UK – each configured differently to show the range of the ecosystem and give visitors a genuine view of a virtualised remote production workflow. A 24-fader Argo M will connect to ImPulseV; an Argo S will connect to an ImPulse IP processing core; and a 36-fader Argo M will run on internal DSP.

Remote production powering connection
Connecting all of this together is True Control 2.0, the control layer that lets every console, processing core and virtualised resource operate as one system. True Control 2.0 delivers full feature-set parameters over EQ, dynamics, routing, direct outputs and delay. Broadcasters can scale production ecosystems quickly, supporting distributed workflows with a deep level of remote control. A single controller can manage up to five other Calrec consoles or processing cores simultaneously, expanding functionality without extra hardware investment.

IBC Debut: Expanded virtualised audio offering boosts DSP and flexible licensing
Calrec is removing the barriers to virtualised audio, giving broadcasters the freedom to scale production on their own terms.

The ImPulseV adds two new smaller DSP package options – 96 and 140 path configurations – alongside the existing 256-path option, tailored for smaller systems that still demand uncompromising, broadcast-grade audio performance. All three packages share the same comprehensive feature set: full processing on every path, support for 5.1 and immersive audio formats up to 7.1.4, and dynamic real-time allocation of DSP resources across channel and bus paths for maximum efficiency for any production setup.

Calrec has also introduced shorter, more flexible licensing terms – one year, 12 weeks and four weeks – lowering the barrier to entry and letting broadcasters scale exactly when needed, without long-term commitments or high upfront costs. It’s an ideal fit for temporary, variable, or one-off productions.

The demonstration reflects Calrec’s wider approach to virtualisation. ImPulseV also runs on COTS hardware, private cloud, existing processing hardware, and distributed resources, giving broadcasters the freedom to define their own production environment for each project.

IBC Debut: Software updates & feature preview
Calrec will showcase key software updates and a feature preview at IBC 2026.
• Argo v1.4.24 provides all the acclaimed functionality of 1.4 plus operator enhancements and is available now.
• Type R v3.2 delivers improved Mix Minus outputs, Assist Upstand meter tiles, Off Air record contribution dialogue, and Syslog support and is available now.
• Calrec will also be showing a new preview of Argo Offline Assist allowing offline configuration which will be available in Q4.

Every announcement at IBC 2026, from the ImPulseV expansion to the software updates to the new product unveilings, sits within the same ecosystem. From consoles to control layer to virtualised DSP, it all connects back to Argo and is proof that one platform can flex to fit any production, at any scale, and deliver long term business value for broadcasters globally.

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