Latest Tactus™ digital mixing system gets first showing at ISE

Crest Audio®, a division of Peavey Commercial Audio®, will be showcasing its latest Tactus™ digital mixing system at ISE 2017, along with a new dedicated Tactus microsite.

Industry leader Crest Audio has partnered with Waves® to create the Tactus™ Digital Mixing System. A modular touch-screen based mixing system kicking off a new revolution in live performance digital mixing.

The Tactus system consists of both hardware and software components incorporating the Waves eMotion LV1 software – fast becoming an industry standard for professional audio mixing processing and control. The Waves eMotion LV1 mixer application runs on a Windows® PC or Mac® with one, two or three multi-touch screens.

Utilising Waves Soundgrid audio network protocol, the Crest Audio Tactus systems comprises of three hardware units, the Tactus.FOH, Tactus.Stage and Tactus.Control, with each addressing the input and output, monitoring and control plus synchronisation requirements of audio signals at the stage and front of house points.

The system’s modular approach provides unprecedented scalability for any size event, meeting a wide variety of applications including touring, corporate events, houses of worship, performing arts venues and live music concerts.

James Kennedy, operations manager for Peavey Commecial Audio EMEA said: “We have spent time listening to our customers and have worked with them to develop what we believe to be the ultimate in modular digital mixing. The latest version that we’ll have on show at ISE boasts revised faders and slider control on the Tactus.Control as well as an improved dedicated master on/off switch.”

The Tactus Digital Mixing System redefines mixing by providing a simple, customisable touch-screen operating interface that puts all of the audio routing, processing and mixing tools within easy and immediate reach. Designed to work with the new Waves eMotion™ LV1 Mixer for SoundGrid®, the Tactus Digital Mixing System is one of the most innovative and feature-rich digital audio mixing platforms ever devised. In addition to providing a full complement of professional features, the Tactus system allows the use of Waves audio processing plug-ins for live events.

The Tactus hardware is comprised of the Tactus.FOH™, the audio processing core for the system, and the Tactus.Stage™, a 32-in/16-out remote stage box. The modular capability of the Tactus Digital Mixing System, which interconnects via standard Gigabit Ethernet cabling and an internal Gigabit switch, allows multiple configurations in a range of channel counts to best suit each application.

The Tactus.FOH is powered by the Waves SoundGrid audio processing/networking platform, ensuring extremely low latency with precision audio processing. When combined with the new Waves eMotion LV1 Mixer for SoundGrid, the products result in a mixing platform that is unsurpassed in the industry with regard to features, audio quality, and flexibility. The Tactus.FOH frame provides 8 local microphone/line inputs and 8 line outputs in addition to 2 AES outputs and serves as the audio signal processing engine.

The Tactus.Stage includes 32 microphone/line inputs and 16 line plus to 2 AES outputs. The digitally controlled high-quality mic preamps feature ultra-low input noise, high slew rate, very low THD, and 66 dB adjustment range in 1 dB steps to maximize dynamic range. An integrated gigabit Ethernet switch allows for easy networking. Users also benefit from the option of combining Tactus.Stage I/O interfaces for a total of 64 stereo inputs by 32 stereo outputs.

Tactus.Control is a tactile motorised fader board complimenting the eMotion LV1 touch screen by providing moving faders, lighted buttons and knobs for the most commonly used functions. It has 16 Channel & 2 Master motorized faders, with Mute, Cue and Select buttons along with a multi line scribble strip display. These can follow screen layer selections or be locked on a layer for expanded control.

The Waves eMotion LV1 mixer application runs on a Windows® PC or Mac® with one, two or three multi-touch screens. One or two Tactus hardware surfaces with moving faders can be added for tactile control if desired connected via USB to a PC running the eMotion LV1 software and connected to the Waves SoundGrid network the Tactus.Control allows tactile feedback to the sound engineer as typically required for live performances without having to look down at a touch screen. Multiple Tactus.Control panels can be used to create a high quality, flexible live sound mixing system.

James Kennedy adds: “Working closely with Waves, Tactus offers a professional sound mixing platform that is fitting for today’s digital demands, with features that will benefit all users, from the workplace to a live music venue. We’ve made connectivity and networking simple, with USB, Ethernet and MIDI all available. What’s more, Tactus is flexible to your application needs, with In/Out components, processing, touch screens and controllers all being catered for to allow easy set-up customization. Above all, of course, users benefit from the trusted Crest reputation and the sound quality that comes from being part of the Peavey Commercial Audio family.”

Discover more about Tactus on the new microsite www.tactusdigitalmixing.com – due to launch a few days prior to ISE’s opening on February 6th 2018.