Steiger Media’s adoption of Calrec’s compact Argo M console not only makes its innovative new hybrid truck faster, more efficient, and agile, but enables the German remote broadcast specialist to be part of something far bigger.
Covering everything from classical concerts and jazz festivals to corporate events and sports broadcasts, Steiger Media’s new AV-Mobil hybrid remote unit has enabled the company to reinvent its entire broadcast infrastructure with the installation of a Calrec Argo M console with integrated DSP. The installation was managed by Calrec’s DACH distribution partner, Cerberus Media Solutions.
Specialising in live events and television productions across both traditional linear television and streaming channels, the company has been serving German-speaking audiences across the entire DACH region for the last 25 years. But in an increasingly competitive market, Steiger Media’s 7.5 tonne AV-Mobil remote unit has supercharged the company’s ability to deliver a wider range of content.
Designed as both an autonomous on-site production unit and a hub that can work in tandem with a remote studio, the truck was launched in summer 2025 and is built around a compact 36-fader Argo M console. Managing Director, Tobias Steiger says the ST2110-native truck is already giving the company a distinct edge.
“We wanted to move away from rigid structures and totally rethink broadcast with this project,” he says. “AV-Mobil’s remote capabilities give us the agility to accept more short-notice projects and deploy our best talent exactly where it’s needed; it allows us to act much faster and more efficiently, and it gives us a decisive competitive edge.”
Calrec will showcase the power of True Control 2.0 controlling Steiger Media’s Argo M console at this week’s HAMBURG OPEN, January 14-15. Steiger Media’s AV-Mobil remote unit housing the 36-fader Argo M will demonstrate the agility of Calrec’s True Control 2.0, seamlessly connecting the truck to a 24-fader Argo M with Internal DSP and an Argo S with ImPulse1 core, positioned on the Calrec stand. This workflow showcases true remote surface control in action and follows a similar successful demonstration at Tonmeistertagung in November 2025.
At Tonmeistertagung Steiger says, ” The reaction was pure amazement. Many visitors know remote production in theory, but seeing the desk in the truck, which was parked outside, controlled live from the exhibition stand with almost zero latency was a real eye-opener. It proves this technology isn’t just futuristic sci-fi; it’s ready for deployment.”
Looking ahead to future projects Steiger adds, “Calrec’s True Control 2.0 technology will give us the freedom to control the desk from anywhere. We can dispatch the truck and handle fine-tuning or the entire mix from our remote studio if the project demands it. Argo M can also be rebuilt remotely for every job, and in a hybrid world where we might mix news gathering today and a symphony orchestra tomorrow, this is essential. Moving away from rigid structures towards an open-space concept means we’re no longer an island outside the venue; we’re part of a wider network.”
But the motivation behind AV-Mobil’s design is not just about providing greater flexibility. With a busy upcoming pipeline focused on spatial music productions, Argo M’s immersive capabilities, power and space-saving design were also key considerations.
“We refused to make any of the audio compromises that are found in many compact vehicles,” says Steiger. “AV-Mobil features a fully calibrated Genelec 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos monitoring system, the first fully immersive control room in a 7.5-tonne truck in our region. Space is always the most expensive currency in an OB van, so we needed a console that was physically compact but could compete in terms of performance.
“The Calrec Argo M was the only viable option. It has native support for 7.1.4 without workarounds and it gives us the necessary fader density and DSP power to handle complex orchestral recordings or immersive sports mixes without needing a trailer.
“Meanwhile, the ability to adapt the console to our workflows on the fly was vital. Argo M’s reliability and fast scene recall means we can operate on tighter schedules and produce more content in less time, and with no sacrifice on quality. On the contrary, Calrec’s sound quality elevates all our master outputs.”
Steiger pointed to the smooth installation process, crediting Calrec’s award-winning end-to-end support. ” The support was exemplary,” he says. “From initial planning of the AoIP network to commissioning, the Calrec team were by our side. It felt less like a vendor-client relationship and more like a technical partnership.”
As a service provider dealing with multiple onsite feeds, Argo M’s ability to natively integrate a range of protocols, from legacy MADI connectivity to IP-enabled sources like Dante and AES67, also makes it simple for Steiger Media to plug directly into modern infrastructures. Not having to cascade external converters to accept a range of formats minimises both potential points of failure as well as setup times and makes Steiger Media an easier partner to work with.
“The nature of content production is changing, and broadcasters are facing unprecedented demands,” says Calrec International Sales Manager for Germany, Graham Murray. “Sticking with traditional production workflows can sometimes be a barrier to winning new business, but this creative combination of the compact Argo M gives Steiger Media an edge. The ability to create flexible, distributed and hybrid workflows on the fly makes it an ideal combination for a range of production environments where top-quality professional audio are essential, but on-site space may be limited.”
Calrec is exhibiting at HAMBURG OPEN, January 14-15 2026, in Hall B6, Stand 218. Calrec and Cerberus Media representatives will be available throughout the show.
Cerberus Media Solutions Managing Director René Harder says, “We’re really looking forward to demonstrating the innovative True Control 2.0 workflow at HAMBURG OPEN. We’re proud to support Calrec and to bring state-of-the-art broadcast audio technology directly to customers across the DACH region. This installation at Steiger Media represents the future of audio production and we’re excited to see how the company continues to develop its offering to meet the fast changing needs of live broadcast events. ”