Thunder City Pro has selected Calrec’s compact and modular Type R IP mixing system as the audio backbone of its BOLT mobile production units, providing great flexibility in layout, size, and capacity. Designed for content producers in need of smaller, more agile production vehicles without sacrificing features, the BOLT units are available in 16-, 24-, and 32-foot models, offering a cost-effective solution for a range of events, from live sports and concerts to corporate conferences.

BOLT units come pre-integrated with equipment based on a pre-designed floor plan, though Thunder City Pro also offers custom designs tailored to each client’s specific needs. According to Justin Stancil, President of Thunder City Pro, the decision to standardize with Calrec’s Type R system was key to maintaining BOLT’s balance between compact size and high performance.

“We needed an audio console that was not only compact but also powerful, with customizable screen real estate,” Stancil explains. “Type R provides the perfect blend of modularity and expandability. We can license exactly the amount of DSP resources needed, and the core hardware remains the same, regardless of the configuration.”

The modular nature of the Type R system, which features PoE panels, allows for future growth and reconfiguration. “We can easily install any combination of Large Soft Panel, Small Soft Panel, and Type R fader panels to meet the specific requirements of our clients,” Stancil added, emphasizing that the flexibility of the system makes it ideal for a wide variety of production workflows.

Thunder City Pro serves a diverse range of clients, from the University of South Florida to Major League Baseball teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles. For these clients, the modularity of Type R helps enable flexible workflows, allowing seamless adaptation to different broadcast and production scenarios.

Stancil particularly values the system’s SMPTE 2110-native capabilities, as well as its compatibility with other audio formats such as MADI, Dante, AES, and analogue. “We love that Type R is SMPTE 2110 native, but its modular I/O also makes it easy to interface with other audio systems,” Stancil noted. He highlighted that Thunder City Pro integrates Type R with an Evertz NEXX router to embed and de-embed audio seamlessly, and that the system’s flexibility extends to the ability to route audio between MADI, Dante, and the console without consuming DSP resources.

Remote capabilities are also a significant advantage for Thunder City Pro, particularly through Calrec Assist, Type R’s browser-based user interface. “Calrec Assist is an amazing tool,” said Stancil. “The web UI enables the A1 and EIC to locally program the console and monitor audio levels, while also allowing us to offer low-latency remote support from our Technical Operations Centre in Saint Petersburg, Florida, whenever clients need help.”

According to Dave Lewty, Calrec’s Regional Sales Manager, Thunder City Pro’s integration of Type R into the BOLT units is a perfect match. “This is the first US installation of Type R in a mobile production truck, and it fits perfectly with BOLT’s flexible design,” Lewty said. “The system allows clients to define their hardware and processing requirements, delivering a powerful yet modular audio console in a compact space.”

As both companies have stated, with Type R’s flexible design and Thunder City Pro’s commitment to meeting diverse client needs, the BOLT units represent a new level of efficiency and customization in mobile production, offering content producers the freedom to scale and adapt without compromise.