Clear-Com is adding a new kind of panel to its intercom range. The Mentrix Flex pairs physical controls with a touchscreen in a compact chassis, and it launches a whole line — Mentrix — built for control rooms where the configuration changes as often as the crew.
Shown at the 2026 NAB Show New York, the Mentrix Flex targets broadcast, radio, sports, theatre, OB trucks and live events — the kind of settings where intercom is never the headline, but a comms failure stops everything.
Physical keys and touchscreen: the hybrid bet
The panel offers 16 keysets, split between eight physical lever keys and, depending on the configuration, eight or sixteen rotary keys. Alongside those tactile controls, a touchscreen shows dynamic information and widgets, and crucially it lets you rearrange assignments on the fly.
That is the whole point of the approach. Lever keys keep the speed and certainty of a physical gesture — essential when you work in the dark of a control room — while the touchscreen absorbs complexity and allows different layouts per operator role or production phase. You switch shows without rewiring.
Everything runs over the network
The Mentrix Flex is firmly an audio-over-IP device. It connects via AoIP to slot into networked intercom infrastructures, carries USB connectivity, and runs on Power over Ethernet: a single network cable brings audio, data and power, with no separate supply.
Mounting is VESA-compatible, so it fits on a monitor arm, a wall or a workstation, and its small footprint frees up space on an already crowded desk. Clear-Com positions the Mentrix Flex as a complement to its installed V-Series range, and says it is the first panel in a line set to grow.
What it actually changes
The move to IP intercom is not new, but the hybrid format answers a specific field request: operators who refuse to run everything from a touchscreen, and facilities that want to reconfigure a panel without a technician. By combining both in a compact box powered over one network cable, Clear-Com simplifies both deployment and day-to-day operation.
The launch leaves open questions: Clear-Com has announced neither a price nor an availability date, and the exact screen resolution is not stated. For buyers, the decision will also hinge on the ecosystem — a panel is rarely chosen on its own, it plugs into an existing matrix and network.
On the network logic and codecs feeding these rooms, we broke down the shift of radio and TV to audio-over-IP with the compact Calrec Type RT console and the arrival of ST 2110-30 on Sennheiser’s Spectera ZMAN base station. The Mentrix Flex is part of the same groundswell.
Full details are on Clear-Com’s website.
My take
A well-designed intercom panel is judged on one thing: do you understand it without a manual, the first time a cue goes wrong? The lever-plus-touchscreen mix passes that test, because it keeps the reflex gesture where it matters and hands the rest to the screen.
PoE power and the compact format are the real operational wins: fewer cables, less desk space, a deployment that fits on one network port. The thing to watch is the network itself, since it is now the critical link in the room. Price and availability will tell whether the bet lands beyond the big OB trucks.
Frequently asked questions
How many keys does the Mentrix Flex offer?
The panel provides 16 keysets: eight physical lever keys, plus eight or sixteen rotary keys depending on the configuration. The touchscreen complements these with dynamic displays and reconfigurable assignments.
How is it powered and connected?
It runs on Power over Ethernet, so a single network cable carries audio, data and power with no separate supply. It connects over audio-over-IP (AoIP) and includes integrated USB connectivity.
Can it be mounted on a monitor arm?
Yes. The Mentrix Flex is VESA-compatible, so it can go on a monitor arm, a wall or a workstation. Its small footprint is designed to free up control-room space.
What is the price and availability?
Clear-Com had not announced a price or availability date at the time of its 2026 NAB Show New York debut. The Mentrix Flex is the first panel in a line set to expand.
