Arrakis ARC-10U-ARC-Blue 10 Channel Broadcast Console

A 10 Channel Broadcast Console With Bluetooth Calling Built In This bundle pairs the Arrakis ARC-10U broadcast console with the ARC-Blue external Bluetooth accessory, giving a station a complete on-air setup with wireless calling capability included from day one. The ARC-10U itself is a 10 channel, 10 input unbalanced console built for general on-air and production work, with two mic channels, seven stereo line inputs, and a dedicated telephone channel. The ARC-Blue adds Bluetooth connectivity on top of that base console by connecting to the mix-minus I/O channel using simple XLR cabling, so no internal wiring changes or hardware swaps are required. Once connected, any Bluetooth enabled device such as a cell phone, tablet, or MP3 player can pair to the console and be used for calls or audio playback. This combination is aimed at stations that want to run request lines, call-in segments, or remote interviews without needing a separate phone hybrid. It's a straightforward way to add modern wireless functionality to a proven console design rather than buying an entirely new board with Bluetooth built in from the factory. Reliable Console Construction Built To Handle Daily Studio Use The ARC-10U at the core of this bundle is built around socketed ICs, which makes component level repairs faster and less disruptive for a technician than a board with everything soldered directly to the circuit boards. Switches are LED illuminated and rated for multi-million operation cycles, so channels that get toggled constantly during a live shift hold up over years of daily use. The faders are engineered the same way, built to endure heavy repeated use without the sloppiness or noise that cheaper components develop over time. Because all of the audio signal paths are electronically switched, the console avoids the wear and reliability issues that come with older mechanical switching designs. Accessible internal components mean a station's engineering staff can perform maintenance quickly instead of losing air time waiting on a specialized repair. This construction approach is what lets Arrakis build a console with a lower price point while still matching the performance expectations of boards that cost significantly more. How The ARC-Blue Bluetooth Accessory Actually Works The ARC-Blue functions as a phone hybrid over Bluetooth, meaning a paired cell phone effectively becomes your caller interface without needing a traditional hybrid unit connected to the board. Incoming calls are accepted using the green Call button and ended or rejected using the red Drop button, mirroring the workflow staff would already expect from a standard phone hybrid setup. The caller hears a mix-minus feed of the console, meaning they get the program mix without hearing their own voice echoed back, which keeps calls sounding clean on air. Calls can be taken on the audition bus first, letting staff screen or record a caller before deciding to send them to the program output and on the air. Depending on the cell carrier and phone model, up to four callers can potentially be connected at once for a conference call style segment. The accessory uses a BlueCore 5 Multimedia Bluetooth chip, which is built to handle full bandwidth, high quality A2DP stereo audio streaming rather than the lower quality audio typical of basic Bluetooth accessories. Operating in the 2.4GHz spectrum also gives the connection solid resistance to RF interference, which matters in a broadcast environment full of transmission equipment. Practical Studio Uses For Wireless Bluetooth Connectivity Beyond phone calls, the ARC-Blue lets staff stream audio wirelessly from any paired device straight into the console, which opens up a range of practical studio uses. A DJ can bring a personal phone or tablet loaded with a playlist and play it directly on air without plugging in a cable or converting file formats. A news reporter can record a phone interview through the Bluetooth connection and immediately play it back for editing or broadcast. Staff can also connect a tablet wirelessly to trigger playback during a live segment, giving more physical freedom in the studio during a show. Because the console only pairs with one device at a time, there's no risk of a second device accidentally connecting and putting unintended audio on the air, which keeps the system secure during live broadcasts. Pairing and unpairing devices is handled directly from the console using the Call button, so switching from one host's phone to another between shifts takes only a few seconds. This makes the ARC-Blue a practical, low-friction way to bring outside audio sources into a broadcast chain that would otherwise require extra cabling or adapters. A Complete On Air Package Without Extra Hardware Purchases Buying the ARC-10U and ARC-Blue together means a station gets a fully wireless-capable console setup in one purchase instead of adding Bluetooth as an afterthought down the line. The console still includes its standard telephone channel for a traditional hybrid connection, so stations aren't forced to choose between wired and wireless calling since both can be used side by side. The bundle keeps the well-known ARC-10U feature set intact, including its dual Program output buses, built-in headphone and cue-talkback systems, and per-channel trim controls, so nothing is sacrificed to add the Bluetooth functionality. For a new studio build, this pairing removes a step from the planning process by delivering a console that's ready for phone segments and wireless audio playback right out of the box. It also gives smaller stations or podcasters a cost effective route to call-in functionality without purchasing a dedicated phone hybrid unit separately. Overall, this bundle is built for stations that want modern connectivity paired with the dependable, low-maintenance console design the ARC-10 series is known for.