A commentary unit, in software

Everything a hardware commentary unit gives the commentator — on-air key, cough, talkback to the director, programme return and IFB in the headphones — on a phone, tablet or laptop, with broadcast-quality audio into vMix or cloud production.

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Commentatorheadset + phone or laptop

Commentary unitON AIR · MUTE · talkback · mix

vMix or Relayaone input per voice

ProgrammeTV and platforms

Software commentary unit on desktop — The commentary unit on a laptop: GO LIVE, MUTE, quality, headphone mix, talkback and programme picture.

Commentary unit on a phone turned sideways — On a phone turned sideways: programme picture, GO LIVE, MUTE and talkback.

What a commentary unit does

A commentary unit (or commentary box) sits on the commentator's desk: microphone and headset plugged in, an on-air key, a cough key, talkback keys to production and a headphone mix of programme and director. Active Intercom does the same in software, connected over the internet instead of a 4-wire or Dante line back to the truck.

The controls, one by one

GO LIVE / ON AIR — the commentator's voice goes into the programme mix
MUTE and cough — on-air audio off, intercom stays open
Talkback keys to the director and audio — they cut air automatically while held
Headphone mix — programme level, sidetone and ducking when the director talks
IFB — the director talks privately into the commentator's ear
Programme picture — low-latency preview (about 0.5 s) on the same screen

Broadcast-quality audio

Opus from 64 to 320 kbps, mono or stereo. Each commentator has a slot and lands on a separate vMix audio input, or as a guest input in Relaya cloud production, typically 150–300 ms after they speak.

Where it is used

Remote commentary from a home studio, commentary positions in venues without a commentary box, analysts and second-language commentary, and productions that cannot ship hardware to every venue.

On-air key & cough

ON AIR, MUTE and cough on the screen.

Programme return & IFB

Mix-minus return, director on top.

Headphone mix

Programme, sidetone and ducking levels.

Programme picture

Low-latency preview next to the controls.

FAQ

Does it replace a hardware commentary unit?

For remote and internet-connected commentary, yes. For commentary positions wired into an OB van matrix, the Dante / 4-wire bridge (pilot) connects the two.

Which headset should commentators use?

Any USB or wired headset-mic. Bluetooth works, wired is safest.

How many commentators can I run?

Each commentator has their own slot and vMix input. The Team plan includes 4 commentator slots; Crew includes 1.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. Turned sideways, the phone shows a large programme picture with GO LIVE, MUTE and talkback; audio keeps running with the screen locked in the iPhone and Android apps.

Remote commentary into vMix, without a commentary box Your intercom matrix, on every phone — over Dante An intercom key panel on any screen Production communication for the whole crew The crew intercom that lives in everyone's pocket IFB and talkback, on the phone in their ear vMix tally on the operator's phone Commentators straight into Relaya cloud production A Unity Intercom alternative without a server to run Next to your Clear-Com or Riedel, for everyone beltpacks can't reach

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