Lawo tightens security

Lawo radio products have gained new security remote functionality via the German broadcast manufacturer’s latest software release. Radio Software v6.6 is a new licence package for the Power Core DSP miking/routing engine, Power Core Edge. It provides an entry-level configuration for deployment as a high-capacity audio gateway where a mixing surface control is not required.

The licence supports two MADI interfaces with 128 audio channels and up to 64 Ravenna/AES67 streams with a maximum channel count of 128. There’s a 1,280x1,280 routing matrix and the ability to expand with up to eight rear-panel I/O cards. Power Core Edge can be controlled with the Lawo VisTool user interface application, which supports as many as 128 patchable audio PPM and/or loudness meters onscreen. It can also be controlled with KSC control panels and the EMBER+ network protocol.

Additional features include an 8x8 GPIO add-on package for the Edge and SAN (Super Audio Node) licences, an add-on with 64 Mini-Mixers and selectable talkback inputs for the SAN, Console L, Console XL and MAX licences; an N-1 (Mix-Minus) add-on with 64 return feeds for the SAN, Console L, Console XL and MAX licences; and a loopback add-on for Edge, SAN, Console L, Console XL and MAX licences that provides 128 loopbacks per free eight-channel I/O slot.

Several new security features have also been introduced to mitigate the vulnerabilities of remote operation and control. They include an EMBER+ whitelist to allow connections only from authorised sources, an option to limit control data to specific interfaces, upgraded protection against denial of service data flows on the network, SSL support for remote access and enhanced network traffic logging for inspection and debugging operations.

Other notable features include “Make before break” functionality for Ravenna/AES67 stream switching to help eliminate audio interruptions during live switching of network audio streams, improved snapshot timing and load speed in Power Core, integration of de-essing and AutoMix functions within the main DSP structure, and Power Core support for the newly released AES-3id I/O card, with four unbalanced digital stereo inputs and outputs using HD-BNC connectors.