A new collaboration between Sony and Waves Audio now allows Waves Audio’s Cloud MX Audio Mixer to be compatible with Sony’s M2L-X live production switcher for software-based live production workflows. Sony says its M2L-X provides more flexibility and capability for customers’ production workflow, due to its forthcoming utilization of a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) environment.

Sony says the M2L-X is specifically designed to address the evolving demands of professional live production within the B2B domain, where demand for content continues to expand. Particularly in scenarios such as multilingual international sports events and local sports content, Sony says the M2L-X stands out as the ideal solution. It caters to extensive-scale live productions, providing adaptable workflows to accommodate current mid-to-large-scale live production challenges.

Waves says the Cloud MX is a cloud-based audio mixer, designed for the challenges of modern broadcast environments. It delivers audio, mix control and creative processing capabilities, with full integration of Waves’ catalog of audio plug-ins — all in a scalable, remotely operated, broadcast-ready cloud workflow. The companies say the integration with Sony’s M2L-X vision switcher provides a balance of high fidelity and operational efficiency, advancing the broadcasting industry’s move toward cloud production. This method emphasizes scalability, flexibility and cost-efficiency, minimizing the need for on-premises resources and making broadcasting more accessible and economical for various entities.

The companies say users will see a streamlined workflow in the cloud, with good audio quality and updated features, including multiple touchscreen support allowing users to combine two Waves FIT Controllers to the same mixer for 32+2 faders and encoders per mix layer, or independently, where each FIT controls a mix layer of the user’s choice. Plug-ins are controlled directly from the Waves FIT controller (and/or Mackie/MIDI controllers) offering a tactile experience to mixing with plugins. Plugin parameters are auto-mapped to the FIT control surface, allowing users to mix with plugins hands-on, with zero manual setup.