Clear-Com launches Avalon IP intercom to streamline all-digital production workflows
Clear-Com has launched Avalon, a 1RU IP intercom communication platform designed for modern networked production environments. This platform supports FreeSpeak, HelixNet, AES67, and Dante, and aims to simplify and scale intercom workflows across broadcast, live events, and production. Avalon offers scalable licensed port capacity and flexible IP interfacing, allowing users to expand systems without hardware replacement.
Key Takeaways
- Avalon features a 1RU form factor designed specifically for space-constrained and IP-only production environments.
- The platform natively supports FreeSpeak wireless beltpacks, HelixNet digital partyline, and V-Series keypanels via scalable licensed ports.
- Networking flexibility includes support for AES67, Dante, and Clear-Com’s I.V. Direct technologies for local and remote connectivity.
- Avalon serves as an IP-focused alternative to the Arcadia Central Station, which remains in the portfolio for hybrid and legacy analog applications.
Why It Matters
Avalon represents a strategic shift toward software-defined scalability in production hardware, addressing the industry's rapid move away from analog-heavy signal paths. By decoupling port capacity from physical hardware via licensing, Clear-Com provides a lower-cost entry point for IP-first plants while ensuring long-term flexibility. This launch directly targets the growing demand for converged network infrastructures in broadcast and remote production, where reducing rack space and cabling complexity is critical. The removal of analog I/O signals a maturing of IP-first design in mission-critical communication. Watch for Clear-Com's release of the EHX v15 software update, which is expected to further unify these hardware platforms under a singular configuration architecture.
Additional Context
The launch of Avalon coincides with a broader technical inflection point in the intercom market. Per TV Technology (May 2026), Clear-Com recently announced the end-of-life for its HelixNet Mainstation, positioning new platforms like Avalon and Arcadia as the mandatory migration path for digital partyline users. This transition is supported by the release of ARC (Access, Resource, Configuration), a software-defined architecture that separates user devices from fixed hardware infrastructure to enhance operational agility. These moves reflect a prioritized industry focus on interoperability and vendor neutrality, as reported by NewscastStudio in December 2025. Competitive pressure in the IP-native space is intensifying as production complexity grows. Per MarketIntelo (June 2026), the global production intercom market is projected to reach $3.4 billion by 2034, with IP-based systems outstripping traditional wired hardware with an 8.1% CAGR. Rival manufacturers like RTS and Riedel have similarly expanded support for SMPTE ST 2110-30 and Dante to capture the shift toward high-density, low-latency AoIP (Audio-over-IP) workflows. Recent testing at MCI’s XMedia.Lab confirmed that achieving "everything over one network" remains the primary goal for major broadcasters standardizing on the ST 2110 roadmap, as noted by Clear-Com in previous research updates. Furthermore, Clear-Com is expanding into distributed communication models through its FreeSpeak Cell technology. Per industry reports from InfoComm 2026, this system uses LTE and 5G infrastructure to support large-scale wireless communications across wide geographic areas, reducing dependence on traditional RF coordination. By offering a portfolio that spans from localized 1RU IP stations like Avalon to wide-area cellular beltpacks, Clear-Com is attempting to secure a unified ecosystem that addresses the needs of both compact studio builds and massive multi-site event productions.
Read full article at tmbroadcast.com
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