Blackmagic Design Fairlight Live Audio Panel 20

Professional Live Audio MixingThe Blackmagic Design Fairlight Live Audio Panel 20 is a professional desktop audio control surface with 20 motorised faders and 2 large touchscreen displays, purpose-built for precise live audio mixing in Fairlight Live workflows. With dedicated controls for layers, bus, matrix, aux, VCA, sub-masters and talkback, this compact Fairlight Live Audio Panel 20 gives broadcast engineers, streamers and studio producers fast, hands-on access to complex mixes while staying fully integrated with the world’s most powerful software-based live audio mixer.

Channel StripsFairlight Live audio panels feature customizable channel strips that you can tailor to each production. Every strip includes a motorized fader, solo, mute, and select buttons, plus a rotary encoder for fast access to channel functions. The bright LCD touch screen display keeps channel status and identification clear, while upper deck controls let you adjust additional parameters without interrupting your workflow. Assign any strip to any track or bus, and a single strip can control multiple tracks or buses simultaneously. This flexible design gives you an efficient and organized way to manage productions of any size, from small shows to large-scale live broadcasts with hundreds of channels.

LCD Touchscreen DisplayEach group of 10 channel strips has a dedicated LCD touchscreen, giving you a comprehensive graphical display of your audio mix. By default, it displays all channel VU meters and mixer status at a glance. When you select a function, the display shifts into a task-based view with a split layout. The upper section shows selected parameters, the bottom displays level controls. Soft menu buttons and encoders adjust the selected function. Adjust plugins, assign channels to busses, control the cue player, manage monitoring, configure layers, and set spill zones via the touchscreen. You can control complex live mixing tasks in one place without navigating to separate menus during live production.

Fast AccessUpper deck function buttons give you fast access to channel processing and routing tools including EQ, dynamics, plugins, panning, and bus assignments. When you select a function, the menu buttons, encoders, and touchscreen automatically adapt to show relevant controls and parameters. The display updates in real time, giving visual feedback on adjustments. Function buttons work with soft menu buttons to navigate parameter pages, keeping advanced mixer functions organized and accessible. The home button returns the LCD to the default VU meter and mixer status display. The upper deck lets you respond quickly during live production, making key adjustments faster than mouse-based mixing.

Your Command CenterThe left side of the lower deck serves as your command center for channel strip functions and mixer navigation. Buttons include rotary, snap Iso, AFL, spill, fader flip, layers 1 through 6, and ALT. Pressing snap Iso, AFL, or spill temporarily changes the function of the channel select buttons, allowing you to isolate channels from snapshot recall, engage After Fader Listen monitoring, or reveal channels contributing to a selected bus. Rotary opens a floating LCD window where you can assign alternate encoder functions. Fader flip lets you move controls such as aux send levels onto the faders. Layer buttons make it easy to move between channel banks, helping you navigate larger productions.

Direct Access to Live Production ToolsThe right side of the upper deck gives you direct access to the most important live production tools. Online synchronizes timecode from external sources, while on air turns red when active, locking critical functions to prevent accidental changes. The player recorder lets you record and play back virtual sound checks using armed channels. The cue player provides instant access to audio and MIDI cues for jingles, stingers, and effects. Snapshot controls enable fast preview, recall, update, and creation of snapshots for seamless show transitions. The most important live production functions are grouped so you can move quickly between rehearsal, playback, cue execution, and show automation.

Dedicated ControlsThe player recorder section on the right side of the upper deck gives you dedicated transport controls for recording and replaying virtual sound checks. Using locator 1, locator 2, record, rewind, fast forward, stop, and play, you can capture live performances and instantly return to key positions for review. Press view to open the player recorder window on the touchscreen, where transport controls, playback status, and timecode are displayed. Because all armed input channels can be recorded and played back, you can test mixes, refine settings, and rehearse complex productions without performers on stage, saving time while keeping your workflow efficient and repeatable.

The cue player section gives you immediate access to audio and MIDI cues from dedicated controls on the upper deck. Dedicated A/B, MIDI, view, dump, and eight cue trigger buttons let you launch sounds without navigating menus. Switch between banks A and B for up to 16 audio cues, or enter MIDI mode to access up to 16 MIDI cues. Press view to open the cue player on the touchscreen and monitor cue status and playback. Supporting up to 16 simultaneous sounds, the cue player is ideal for jingles, stingers, transitions, sound effects, and show elements. You can trigger cues from the panel, a MIDI controller, or keyboard shortcuts, giving you fast, reliable playback when every second counts.

Storing, Managing, & Recalling ConfigurationsThe snapshot section provides you with dedicated controls for storing, managing, and recalling different mixer configurations throughout a production. Buttons for preview, next, view, load, XFade off, update, and new put key snapshot functions directly at your fingertips. Press view to display the snapshot list on the LCD, or use load to preview upcoming and previous snapshots before recalling them. A snapshot can capture levels, routing, EQ, dynamics, panning, effects, and bus assignments, making it easy to move between different show segments. Crossfade options help create smooth transitions, while update and new simplify ongoing changes during rehearsals and live events.

Target Individual Groups or CollectionsThe masters section is dual purpose and lets you target individual groups or collections of master channels to either meter views or physical faders. In normal operation, masters will be sent to a set of faders that you have pre-defined on the console. When ‘view only’ mode is active the bus buttons send meter views to the screen, leaving the channel faders focussed on the mix. Bus types such as sub, aux and mix minus can be activated independently or combined as desired. Meters provides detailed metering for all channels. The flexible layouts lets you adapt in real time between high-level mixing, deep-dive signal routing and problem solving as the demands of your live production unfold.

GlobalsThe globals section combines dedicated buttons and touchscreen controls to give you fast access to system functions and customizable layouts. Press setup to display layer and master section controls on the touchscreen, where you can assign channels and busses to layers 1 through 12 or configure the master faders for each 10 fader bay to match your panel. Navigate with forward and back, reverse actions with undo, and close windows or exit operations with escape. Three programmable user buttons provide instant access to your favorite settings windows, including auto mix controls, bus contributors, and AFV settings, helping you work faster while keeping essential controls within easy reach.

Crystal Clear CommunicationThe talkback section gives you dedicated controls for managing communication throughout live production. The talk buttons provide instant access to four independent talkback groups, allowing you to communicate with talent, announcers, crew members, and production staff. The talk channel select button extends communication beyond the talkback groups by letting you talk directly to an individual channel using that channel's select button. View opens the talkback window on the LCD for onscreen talkback mic adjustments. Supporting both latched and momentary operation, these controls streamline sound checks, talent coordination, and live production communication from a dedicated control section.

Dual 10G Ethernet PortsAll Fairlight Live Audio Panels include dual 10G Ethernet ports for SMPTE 2110 IP audio, and a 1G Ethernet control port for connecting to the computer with Fairlight Live software installed. You can also connect and power your computer via USB-C. The audio I/O includes 2 balanced XLR outputs for speakers, a 5-pin XLR for headset and mic, and a 1/4" headphone jack on both the front and rear of the panel. There’s also an HDMI output for video monitoring when you are using a 2110 IP network. With support for Core Audio, ASIO, Windows audio, and SMPTE 2110, you can connect laptops, audio interfaces, as well as ATEM switchers for flexible live production workflows.