Description
The mc²56 is Lawo's broadcast workhorse: a flexible production format (up to 112 faders), a beefy DSP core and, above all, an IP-native approach that made it ubiquitous in OB trucks and live productions. Its third generation (2018) pushed all-IP (SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA). To me it is a category reference for reliability and network integration.
Technical
Specifications
Inputs / Outputs
| Inputs / outputs | Local I/O: 16 mic/line, 16 line outputs, 8 AES3 in/out, 8 GPIO, local MADI port (SFP) |
|---|
Processing
| DCA/VCA groups | 128 |
|---|---|
| Max sample rate | 96 kHz |
| Bit depth | 24 bits |
| Processing resolution | 40 bits |
| Processing engine | 888 DSP channels, 8192 x 8192 crosspoint matrix, 144 summing buses and 128 aux buses, 44.1-96 kHz |
Surface
| Motorized faders | No |
|---|---|
| Touchscreen | No |
| Faders | Frames from 16 to 112 faders (64-fader surface suited to OB vehicles, optional 16-fader stand-alone extender) |
| Metering | Built-in loudness metering to ITU 1770 (EBU R128 / ATSC A85) |
Recording
| Onboard recording | No |
|---|
Networking
| Networking & protocols | MADI / Dante / Ravenna / AES/EBU / Network |
|---|---|
| Redundant PSU | No |
| Redundant networking | No |
| Audio networking | IP-native: SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA, DANTE and MADI streams; third generation (2018) |
Strip & details
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Diagrams
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Software
mxGUI (contrôle à distance) v10.8
mxGUI (préparation hors ligne) v10.8
Other screenshots
Editorial & artists
Our take
History & design
The mc²56 is a Lawo digital production console, first seen in the early 2010s and offered across several generations. It configures from 16 to 112 faders — the 64-fader surface tailored to OB-vehicle dimensions, with a stand-alone 16-fader extender addable at any time. Processing offers 888 DSP channels, an 8192 x 8192 crosspoint matrix, 144 summing buses and 128 aux buses, at 44.1 to 96 kHz. The third generation, unveiled in 2018, is IP-native and supports all relevant AoIP standards: SMPTE 2110, AES67, RAVENNA, DANTE, plus MADI streams. Local I/O includes 16 Lawo-grade mic/line inputs, 16 line outputs, 8 AES3 in/out, 8 GPIO and a local MADI port (SFP). Built-in loudness metering (ITU 1770, EBU R128 / ATSC A85) rounds out the package for broadcast, live, theatre and house of worship.
Links
Related consoles
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