DHD.audio SX2 mixers anchor new portable broadcast media training system

The deployment of these compact IP-based systems highlights a shift toward decentralized broadcast infrastructure that prioritizes portability without sacrificing professional-grade processing. By integrating Dante audio-over-IP and touchscreen control, the setup reduces the technical barrier for new operators while maintaining the flexibility required for live-to-air environments. This modular approach reflects a broader industry trend where hardware is increasingly defined by software licenses, allowing organizations to scale capabilities like AES67 or additional fader layers on demand. Watch for whether similar IP-core architectures become the standard for localized 'pop-up' streaming studios and remote educational hubs.

DHD.audio used IBC 2026 in Amsterdam to celebrate its 30th anniversary, unveiling a new third-generation audio mixing console alongside updated software and control tools aimed at broadcasters and audio engineers. The SX2 and XS3 systems featured in Andrew Kemp's training deployment represent the current generation of DHD's product line, which the company has been expanding with modular software licenses for features such as AES67 activation and extended display views. DHD marked its 30th anniversary at IBC 2026 with a new third-generation audio mixing console and a slate of updated software and control tools, signaling continued investment in compact, IP-native console architectures that serve both traditional broadcast and portable production scenarios.

The XS3 processing core that anchors Kemp's training system occupies a single rack unit and ships with built-in Dante 4x4, USB audio, and eight APC ports for surfaces and I/O. DHD's licensing model allows operators to add capabilities incrementally, including the Extended Feature Upgrade license that enables specialized display views, additional logic functions, peak meters, and channel delay through the Toolbox configuration software. The XS3 core provides simplified configuration via a built-in setup assistant, with more advanced settings accessible through DHD's optional Toolbox license, a structure that lets training environments start with minimal complexity and scale as curriculum demands grow.

Broadcast Solutions Connect serves as DHD's UK-based technical representative, providing consultancy, system architecture, and managed services across the broadcast and media industry from offices in Monheim am Rhein, Frankfurt, the UK, and France. Rupert Brun, the company's UK technical representative, described the SX2 as designed for contemporary broadcast workflow with modular and software-based expandability. The SCRAM 2026 deployment in Walton-on-Thames represents a use case where DHD hardware moves beyond traditional studio and OB environments into educational and community settings, extending the addressable market for compact IP audio consoles, which are increasingly favored for their flexibility in modern production environments.