Clear-Com has introduced Mentrix, a compact intercom keypanel that mixes physical keys with a touch screen. The company is showing it at NAB Show New York, which opened Oct. 21 at the Javits Center in Manhattan, and is aiming it at broadcast control rooms, OB trucks, racing, theater and live events.
The panel has 16 keysets. Eight are physical lever keys, paired with either eight or 16 rotary keys, and touch controls sit alongside them. Clear-Com said operators can change controls and layouts as roles, shows and workflows shift. The panel also supports widgets and visual tools without needing a second display, and it adds USB connectivity and a dynamic display.
For installers, Mentrix runs on Power over Ethernet, so no separate power supply is needed, and it uses standard VESA mounting for monitor arms, walls or custom desks. For a crowded production desk, that means one network cable and no extra wall-wart power supply.
The company also said Mentrix Flex supports Audio over IP for networked intercom systems. It did not explain how Mentrix Flex differs from the base panel.
"We wanted to develop a solution that gives operators the flexibility to adapt to changing production demands while maintaining the speed and reliability they expect from Clear-Com," said Dave MacKinnon, vice president of product management at Clear-Com.
Clear-Com did not announce pricing or a shipping date. The panel is on display at Booth 739.