{"id":13,"date":"2026-04-26T01:13:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T23:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/?p=13"},"modified":"2026-09-26T14:33:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T12:33:38","slug":"lawo-mc2-ip-native-broadcast-consoles-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/lawo-mc2-ip-native-broadcast-consoles-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawo mc\u00b2 IP-native broadcast consoles: complete pro guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If broadcast television in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and increasingly across Europe and Asia has a default flagship console specification in 2026, it&#8217;s the <strong>Lawo mc\u00b2 series<\/strong>. Founded in 1970 in Rastatt, Germany, Lawo built its position progressively through the 1990s and 2000s, then consolidated it dramatically when the broadcast industry began the transition to IP-native infrastructure. Like <a href=\"\/en\/studer-broadcast-mixing-consoles-guide\">Studer Vista<\/a> and <a href=\"\/en\/calrec-apollo-summa-brio-broadcast-consoles-guide\">Calrec<\/a>, the mc\u00b2 line predates broadcast IP (its current generation dates back to 2004, built around Nova73 TDM\/MADI audio routing), but Lawo was an early champion of RAVENNA\/AES67 networking, and today&#8217;s mc\u00b2 consoles support SMPTE ST 2110, AES67, RAVENNA and NMOS natively, with the mc\u00b296 (2017) designed specifically for IP video production environments.<\/p>\n<p>This guide covers the mc\u00b2 family \u2014 mc\u00b2 36, mc\u00b2 56, mc\u00b2 96 \u2014 from a professional broadcast engineer&#8217;s perspective.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"lawo-mc\u00b2-36-the-compact-broadcast-flagship\">Lawo mc\u00b2 36: the compact broadcast flagship<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"Lawo mc\u00b2 IP-native broadcast mixing console with touchscreen meter bay and channel strips\" class=\"wp-image-249\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/05\/downloaded-image-2026-05-24T122022.732-2048x1153.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><strong>mc\u00b2 36<\/strong> is the smallest of the modern Lawo broadcast consoles \u2014 frames with 16, 32 or 48 faders, 384 DSP channels, integrated I\/O and native ST 2110\/AES67\/RAVENNA networking. The mc\u00b2 36 is widely deployed in regional broadcast facilities, smaller OB trucks, university and corporate broadcast operations, and as auxiliary console at major facilities. Pricing is on request and varies with fader count and I\/O configuration.<\/p>\n<p>The defining technical features:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Native Ravenna AES67 \/ SMPTE ST 2110-30<\/strong> I\/O without bridge devices<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lawo A__UHD Core<\/strong> software-defined processing technology (the same core family available for mc\u00b2 56 and mc\u00b2 96), integrated in the console<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lawo HOME<\/strong> integration \u2014 Lawo&#8217;s management platform for IP media infrastructures (device discovery, connection management and monitoring)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Video integration<\/strong> such as LiveView video thumbnails on the channel strips (mc\u00b256\/mc\u00b296), with Lawo&#8217;s V_remote4 and related products handling IP video on the network side<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"lawo-mc\u00b2-56-the-mid-flagship\">Lawo mc\u00b2 56: the mid-flagship<\/h2>\n<p><strong>mc\u00b2 56<\/strong> (now in its third generation, MkIII) is the workhorse of the Lawo broadcast line \u2014 16 to 144 faders, up to 1,024 DSP channels with A__UHD Core (up to 2,496 with HOME mc\u00b2 DSP), widely deployed at German-speaking public broadcasters and at a growing number of broadcast facilities worldwide. Pricing for mc\u00b2 56 systems with redundant processing and full IP I\/O is project-specific.<\/p>\n<p>mc\u00b2 56 is the natural choice for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Main TV studio production at mid-to-large broadcasters<\/li>\n<li>Large OB truck installations (sports, news, live entertainment)<\/li>\n<li>Major radio network main studios<\/li>\n<li>Corporate broadcast facilities at the flagship tier<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"lawo-mc\u00b2-96-the-full-flagship\">Lawo mc\u00b2 96: the full flagship<\/h2>\n<p><strong>mc\u00b2 96<\/strong> is Lawo&#8217;s largest console (the &#8220;Grand Production Console&#8221;, premiered in 2017) \u2014 frames from 16 to around 200 faders, up to 2,496 DSP channels with HOME mc\u00b2 DSP, deployed at the largest broadcast facilities worldwide. mc\u00b2 96 installations include major sports broadcast OB trucks, flagship TV studios at top-tier broadcasters, and large theatrical\/concert hall installations doing live broadcast. Pricing is project-specific and typically well into six figures for fully loaded installations with redundant systems.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-ip-native-advantage\">The IP-native advantage<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/lawo-mcc2b236-mkii-officiel-1024x409.jpg\" alt=\"Lawo mc\u00b236 MkII\" class=\"wp-image-637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/lawo-mcc2b236-mkii-officiel-1024x409.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/lawo-mcc2b236-mkii-officiel-300x120.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/lawo-mcc2b236-mkii-officiel-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2026\/09\/lawo-mcc2b236-mkii-officiel.jpg 1372w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Photo: Lawo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What makes Lawo distinct from the legacy broadcast console competition is the depth of IP-native integration. Specifically:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Single IP fabric for audio, video, and control.<\/strong> A Lawo IP installation (mc\u00b2 console plus Lawo&#8217;s IP video, control and HOME management products) can carry SMPTE ST 2110-30 (audio), ST 2110-20\/22 (video), and NMOS IS-04\/IS-05 (discovery and connection management) on a single network. Legacy approaches require separate audio (MADI\/Dante), video (SDI), and control infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Routing transparency.<\/strong> Any input on the IP fabric can be routed to any console channel without patch bays, breakout boxes, or format converters. For an OB truck doing a live sports broadcast with 80+ camera feeds, 200+ audio sources, and dozens of intercoms, this single-fabric approach is operationally decisive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Scalability and disaster recovery.<\/strong> Adding I\/O to a Lawo system means adding a Ravenna-compatible device to the network \u2014 no proprietary stage-rack expansion. Multiple consoles can share I\/O on a single fabric. Disaster recovery scenarios (failover to backup studio) are simpler when both studios are on the same IP infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Remote production.<\/strong> With low-latency IP transport (Ravenna or ST 2110), Lawo systems handle remote production scenarios where the console operator and the talent are in different cities or countries \u2014 increasingly common for sports broadcast, news, and corporate streaming.<\/p>\n<p>For broader broadcast routing context, see our <a href=\"\/en\/multi-format-routing-broadcast-mixing-consoles\">multi-format routing for broadcast mixing consoles guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"lawo-vs-studer-vs-calrec\">Lawo vs Studer vs Calrec<\/h2>\n<p>In the European broadcast market specifically, the three-way competition between Lawo, <a href=\"\/en\/studer-broadcast-mixing-consoles-guide\">Studer Vista<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/en\/calrec-apollo-summa-brio-broadcast-consoles-guide\">Calrec<\/a> plays out roughly as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lawo<\/strong> dominates German-speaking territories and is gaining share across Europe and Asia, particularly for new IP-native installations<\/li>\n<li><strong>Studer<\/strong> holds entrenched positions at established broadcasters and post houses where Vista frames are already in service<\/li>\n<li><strong>Calrec<\/strong> is especially strong in UK broadcast and in sports production, including many OB trucks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In US broadcast, Calrec and Lawo are both widely used in network facilities and sports OB trucks, while <a href=\"\/en\/avid-venue-s6l-pro-tools-mixing-guide\">Avid VENUE S6L<\/a> and Yamaha are common for music performances and entertainment events.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"where-lawo-fits-in-a-2026-facility\">Where Lawo fits in a 2026 facility<\/h2>\n<p>Lawo mc\u00b2 is the natural specification for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>New broadcast facility builds where IP-native architecture is the explicit requirement<\/li>\n<li>ST 2110 transition projects at established broadcasters<\/li>\n<li>Large OB trucks doing major sports and live entertainment<\/li>\n<li>Remote production workflows (sports, esports, corporate streaming)<\/li>\n<li>Multi-studio facilities sharing common IP fabric<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For application context, see <a href=\"\/en\/best-mixing-console-broadcast-tv-radio-2026\">best mixing console for broadcast TV\/radio 2026<\/a> and <a href=\"\/en\/broadcast-tv-radio-mixing-console-setup-guide\">broadcast TV\/radio setup walkthrough<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"where-to-buy-lawo-consoles\">Where to buy Lawo consoles<\/h2>\n<p>Lawo mc\u00b2 systems are sold primarily through factory direct (Lawo AG, Rastatt) and authorized broadcast integrators rather than through general pro audio retail. General retailers such as Thomann do not stock mc\u00b2 consoles as standard items. Installations go through Lawo&#8217;s regional offices and partners with custom integration and on-site commissioning.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"bottom-line\">Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Lawo mc\u00b2 is the IP-native broadcast flagship for engineers and broadcasters serious about ST 2110 infrastructure. The combination of mature RAVENNA\/ST 2110 networking, video-aware features such as LiveView, and scalable processing makes Lawo the default specification for new broadcast IP builds.<\/p>\n<p>For the broader context on professional mixing consoles, return to our <a href=\"\/en\/professional-mixing-console-2026-expert-guide\">professional mixing console 2026 expert guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fader-rating\">\n<h2>Le Fader Rating \u2014 Lawo mc\u00b2 series<\/h2>\n<p>Rated with our <a href=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/le-fader-rating-method\/\">Le Fader rating method<\/a> (audio quality 30% \u00b7 workflow 25% \u00b7 connectivity 15% \u00b7 value for money 20% \u00b7 reliability 10%). Specs and prices sourced from manufacturer sites and specialist retailers (Thomann).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Model<\/th>\n<th>Audio<\/th>\n<th>Workflow<\/th>\n<th>Connect.<\/th>\n<th>Value<\/th>\n<th>Reliab.<\/th>\n<th>Overall \/5<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Lawo mc\u00b2 56<\/strong> \ud83c\udfc6 Best choice<\/td>\n<td>4.7<\/td>\n<td>4.6<\/td>\n<td>4.8<\/td>\n<td>3.5<\/td>\n<td>4.8<\/td>\n<td><strong>4.5 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Lawo mc\u00b2 36<\/strong> \ud83d\udcb0 Best value for money<\/td>\n<td>4.6<\/td>\n<td>4.4<\/td>\n<td>4.8<\/td>\n<td>3.8<\/td>\n<td>4.6<\/td>\n<td><strong>4.4 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udfc6 Best choice: Lawo mc\u00b2 56<\/strong> \u2014 highest overall rating (4.5\/5).<\/p>\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udcb0 Best value for money: Lawo mc\u00b2 36<\/strong> \u2014 best value-for-money axis (3.8\/5).<\/p>\n<p><!-- [CTA_THOMANN] -->\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"ItemList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"item\": {\"@type\": \"Review\", \"itemReviewed\": {\"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"Lawo mc256\", \"category\": \"Broadcast mixing console\"}, \"reviewRating\": {\"@type\": \"Rating\", \"ratingValue\": 4.5, \"bestRating\": 5, \"worstRating\": 1}, \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"MixingConsoleExpert\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"MixingConsoleExpert\"}}}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"item\": {\"@type\": \"Review\", \"itemReviewed\": {\"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"Lawo mc236\", \"category\": \"Broadcast mixing console\"}, \"reviewRating\": {\"@type\": \"Rating\", \"ratingValue\": 4.4, \"bestRating\": 5, \"worstRating\": 1}, \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"MixingConsoleExpert\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"MixingConsoleExpert\"}}}]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"mce-read-also\"><strong>Read also:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/mixingconsoleexpert.com\/en\/calrec-apollo-summa-brio-broadcast-consoles-guide\/\">Calrec Apollo, Summa, Brio, Argo broadcast consoles: pro guide<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mce-sources\"><strong>Sources<\/strong> \u2014 manufacturer documentation consulted for this article: <a href=\"https:\/\/lawo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lawo<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If broadcast television in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and increasingly across Europe and Asia has a default flagship console specification in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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