The music sector is projected to grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6 percent over 2011-2015, reaching Rs. 21.4 billion in 2015 from Rs. 9.5 billion in 2010. Newer ways to monetize music content will be important for sustaining growth

The improved economic conditions in 2010 played a major role in rebounding consumer spend, advertising spend, and most importantly the entertainment and media (E&M) industry spend. The E&M industry in India this year saw a shift in favor of digital technologies as DTH touched 45.5 million subscriptions in November, 2011, and digital music sales surpassed physical formats. The music sector is projected to grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.6 percent over 2011-2015, reaching `21.4 billion in 2015 from Rs. 9.5 billion in 2010. Newer ways to monetize music content will be important for sustaining growth. Moreover, India also emerged as the seventh largest global market for social media consumption and as a consequence saw greater focus from companies to identify more relevant and personal ways of reaching out and engaging with their target audience.

Digital Dominance

Year 2010 set the pace for a transition of the Indian music industry to digital platforms. The Indian audio market witnessed migration from analog-to-digital consoles. The year saw music companies entering into partnerships with social networking platforms to promote music content and exploit the power of the Internet to communicate with their listeners. All these factors have provided the audio mixers and consoles industry the required momentum, and sales are expected to grow over the next couple of years.

The gradual transition to digital audio production workflows has resulted in greater creative flexibility, higher productivity, and enhanced quality. The consumer's experience has also expanded tremendously, particularly in relation to digital broadcasting - HD images and multi-channel audio provide compelling experiences and have played a major part in paving the technology path.

The professional audio market is shifting to the digital mixer mode as a complete solution. Indian broadcasters, appreciating the flexibility they offer, are showing a distinct preference for digital consoles. Analog-to-digital conversion plays an important role in deciding the quality of the audio. Intense competition is driving Indian broadcasters toward high-end digital consoles with good sampling rate and analog-to-digital conversion.

India is slowly emerging as a global hub for audio post-production. World-class production facilities and studios are catering to international requirements and the Indian studios find a definite need to invest in the right equipment, including audio mixers and consoles. Users are also seeking digital consoles with a design that is similar to analog consoles for operational convenience. Quality, reliability, and value-for-money are also high on the agenda.

2010 was a good year for the audio mixers and consoles. The reality TV was one of the key growth drivers. The need for a clear sound, when several people and multiple cameras are involved in an unscripted camera shoot, has created a distinct demand for portable and multiple-input/output audio mixers. The year witnessed launch of many portable, light-weight, and multi-channel audio mixers to capture clear sound even when on the move. It also saw an increased acceptability of various digital distribution models of music genres other than the Indian film industry. Sports events, broadcast, and public performance licensing revenues have not only compensated for the decline in initial sales of audio mixers and consoles, but are also expected to drive growth going forward. The Commonwealth Games in Delhi opened its 12-day athletic competition with a large, multi-array of amplifiers.

With increasing penetration of traditional and new media, evolving content and delivery platforms for vendors are optimistic. The mixing console is the heart of a recording studio. It can be the most important piece of audio recording equipments. No matter what the engineering style is, the console has everything to do with the sound of the recording. New consoles designed for serious sound are equipped with an integral matrix. It is essentially a small mixer built into the console, and usually has the group and stereo mix outputs as its input feeds and has a number of independent outputs with their own level control.

Software-based mixers are price competitive, as they are integrated in DAW software and allow for a lot of channels, having great sound quality. However, software-based mixer cannot operate without a computer while a hardware-based model can.

The focus of studio mixers is into high quality sound, which many channels and features find useful for production. Their size is as big as a car; they are not meant for being mobile, usually a studio mixer rests in the installed place for its lifetime.

Major Players

Allen & Heath is represented by Sun Infonet Pvt. Ltd. in India. The company offers various mixers including GL Series, GR Series, GS Series, ML Series, and ZED Series. These mixers cater to every environment including theatres, houses of worship, TV and radio stations, recording studios, and countless other places where great sound matters.

MixWizard range builds on its market by adding a new mic preamp design and advanced grounding scheme, which further enhances sonic quality. Other improvements include individual phantom power switches, channel signal indicators, lamp socket, and backup supply capability. Internal configuration options for channel aux sends and direct output are now on pluggable jumpers for user convenience, and the mixer is presented in a stylish new package.

AMS Neve is represented by Cineom in India. AMS Neve has a wide range of products catering to the television, film, broadcast, and music industry. The Neve Desktop Summing Package pairs the 88162 - a hand-wired 16-channel summing mixer, including custom Carnhill transformers on the stereo mix bus with the 8804 Fader Pack for long-throw fader control. The standards included in the package are Neve's Total Recall software, table top legs for 8804, and a 8816ADC digital output card. Available at a special bundle price, the Neve Desktop Summing Package provides DAW users with the complete 16-channel mixing solution.

Avid is represented in India by Real Image and Setron India Pvt. Ltd.

Music studios and post houses around the world have embraced the S5 Fusion as the powerful, flexible, and affordable, high-quality sound audio mixing solution. Derived from the best-selling System 5 series of high-performance consoles, it gives the best of both worlds - a dedicated, expandable DSP engine and complete Eucon hybrid control in one package, enabling gain deep tactile control over multiple external DAW channels, as well as the console's own DSP channels, simultaneously, with more mixing power - all at a great price point.

Axia is represented by Horizon Broadcast Electronics Pvt. Ltd. in India. Its strength is in IP-audio segment for broadcast, with over 1500 Axia consoles installed globally. Axia has launched iQ-networked radio console, a new console engineered for either standalone studios or networked applications. The iQ system is a family of console frames with different capabilities. Users start with the 8-fader iQ mainframe, and then add frames with phone controls, programmable routing controls or more faders, as needed. Frames plug into the iQ Core, a fanless, convection-cooled console engine with audio I/O, console CPU, logic, mix engine, power supply, and Ethernet switch. Backup power with auto-switching is also available.

Harman markets Soundcraft Studer in India. The Vista 5 console got an upgrade to the M2 with the optional addition of the precision TFT metering system introduced in the flagship Vista 9 console. The new metering is capable of displaying signal levels from mono through to 5.1 channels on each input, with a configurable lower area, which can be used to display bus assignments, surround images, or the unique history mode where a scrolling audio waveform displays signal anomalies and highlights them for up to 50 seconds to allow the engineer to identify where the event occurred. Metering for layer 2 signals can also be viewed, while the control bay screen can be used to provide configurable user pages with up to 40 M. When the TFT meter bridge is fitted, the external GC screen becomes an integral part of the chassis. The existing Vista 5 may be easily upgraded to the M2 version to be ready for the optional meter bridge, which is a simple add-on to the console chassis. Available in two frame sizes, 32 and 42 fader, the Vista 5 M2 brings precision signal monitoring to an already versatile, highly regarded console.

Mackie is represented by Aditya Infotech Pvt. Ltd. in India. Its Onyx 24.4 and 32.4 consoles upgrade the performance and functionality of the legendary Mackie SR244 and 324, while retaining their convenient 24-channel and 32-channel footprint. The greatly enhanced Onyx feature set includes 100 mm Panasonic faders, all-new mic preamps, completely redesigned analog circuitry, new Perkins EQ, and a built in assignable stereo compressor/limiter section at an affordable price.

Roland is marketed by Rivera Digitec (I) Pvt. Ltd. in India. Roland's VR-5's all-in-one solution greatly simplifies production, recording, and streaming of any live event. The VR-5's innovative design incorporates a video switcher, audio mixer, video playback, recorder, preview monitors, and output for web streaming all in a single unit. As a USB video/audio class device, web streaming is effortless by simply connecting to a computer running a live streaming service such as Livestream, UStream, ClickStreamTV, Justintv, Stickam, and others as well as any video call service such as Skype and iChat. The reduction in hardware equipment, setup time, and connection complexity ensure a worry-free, easy-to-use solution for any event.

Richardson Electronics Pvt. Ltd. markets Solidyne products in India. The series 2300 are the overall console solution for an AM or FM radio station, since they incorporate all the facilities for broadcasting. This includes three telephone hybrids (two for lines and one for cellphone), CUE amplifier with loudspeaker, two 15 W stereo monitors for control and studio speakers with solid state muting, and guest headphones output with distribution amp up to eight headphones. The ceramic faders use ETM-VCA technology guaranteed 2 million cycle life. All models have 48 V phantom power for microphones. It is totally modular, including power supply and allows replacing modules Hot Swap (without the need for turning-off the console). It also offers the possibility of microphones with individual audio processors.

S500 is a low cost professional console for small radio stations. It can manage six channels: five stereo audios plus one internal phone hybrid and conductive ceramic faders ETC-VCA for 20 years use.

Studer is distributed by AVF in India. The Studer OnAir 2500 ensures a new standard in ease-of-use for TV and radio broadcast, and is available in both fixed frame model for portability, and the Modulo version for recessed installation in studio furniture. Designed as an integrated system it addresses the medium segment of the live broadcast market including both private and public network stations. Its self-contained architecture without an external core reduces wiring complexity and setup time to a minimum. The OnAir 2500 even runs the same mature software platform as the OnAir 3000. Full compatibility with other systems of the OnAir family and a short learning curve for operators with OnAir 3000 experience are only two of many advantages.

The OnAir 3000 design is based on a completely modular desk and a new DSP engine. The fader module includes six fader strips giving a maximum console size of 48 channel faders. Layout options range from a highly comprehensive engineer-operated continuity console to single fader panel for DJ and newsroom use or even a PC-operated system with no physical desk controls.

Tascam is represented by Setron India Pvt. Ltd. in India. The Tascam DM-4800 is the ultimate digital console for professional users who demand a flexible, 64-channel mix platform that configures to fit their needs. A fat channel strip in the center of the board provides instant access to 4-band parametric EQ, dynamics, and aux controls available for the first 48 channels.

Tascam's M-164 series is a lineup of affordable mixers for live bands, home recording, or installation. Each of the mixers has six Tascam mic inputs with XLR ins and phantom power for great-sounding tracks. Mic inputs additionally have 3-band EQ with hipass filters for sculpting the mix.

Wohler is new to audio mixing as it is a recent extension of the audio monitors. Even though most customers require unique types of audio formats for mixing and monitoring as well as unique ways to mix and monitor in their specific workflows in a vast array of environments, the AMP2-16 series is able to successfully and reliably accommodate each specific application as the product is modular, firmware-based, and has a well-designed user/configuration interface in addition to being an all-in-one 2RU mixing/monitoring unit.

The AMP2-16 series platform can currently address Dolby decoding and remix the decoded audio with any other formats being received in the unit, with two types of loudness cards slated for release in mid Q3. Wohler serves the market with small incremental costs as the system is modular and a new card can be developed as opposed to customers needing to purchase a completely new system.

The AMP2-16 is a rack mount 2RU 16 channel modular card based combination audio mixer/monitor supporting up to 80 channels of audio I/O including 3G/HD/SD embedded, AES, analog and Dolby formats. It is specifically designed for total mixing/monitoring flexibility in space-constrained environments. Several major projects were undertaken in 2010 with the AMP2-16 series deployed in various configurations predominantly in TV stations and mobile environments. The basic steps to undertake each is fundamentally the same due to the inherent modular design. Each customer selects the signal formats and number of inputs/outputs required for each mixer/monitor and orders the basic unit with the I/O cards. An optional Dolby may also be ordered. The product is assembled according to the customer's requirement of hardware configuration at the factory.

Yamaha mixers have earned the acclaim of top engineers around the world for their reliability, superb sound, and intuitive operation. Mixers are available for live sound, broadcast, surround production, installations, and a variety of applications. The recently launched product range includes PM1D digital mixing system and PM5D-EX.

The PM1D digital mixing system was the first to take the acclaimed Yamaha PM-series live sound consoles into the fully digital domain. It features separate control surface, processing units and input/output units that are modular and networkable. It offers digital flexibility and controllability along with enormous input/output capacity and data storage recall capability.

The PM5D has become a standard for digital live mixing and offers extraordinary sound and versatility in a relatively small, lightweight system that is intuitive to use, and delivers unmatched sound control without any additional outboard processing gear.

Production companies and broadcasters are upbeat and expect an increased emphasis on keeping pace with the users expectations for higher quality multi-channel audio formats they enjoy.

This article is based on research conducted by Broadcast & Cablesat in May, 2011