Cloudbass puts software-defined remote production to the test with Solid State Logic System T Virtual Tempest Engine

Combining software-defined processing from SSL’s System T Virtual Tempest Engine (VTE) at Thruxton Circuit with remote operation from its Ripley production gallery, Cloudbass demonstrates a more compact, flexible and sustainable model for live outside broadcast production.

Oxford, UK, 29^th October 2026 — UK outside broadcast specialist Cloudbass has completed a proof of concept demonstrating how software-defined production could significantly reduce the infrastructure and physical footprint required onsite. Conducted alongside Cloudbass’ conventional outside broadcast operation for live British Touring Car Championship coverage, the trial combined onsite audio and video processing at Thruxton Circuit with remote control from the company’s production gallery at its Ripley headquarters.

The project explored an alternative to traditional OB facilities, where dedicated processing equipment, production galleries and technical teams are housed within large vehicles onsite. By consolidating core services onto commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers and locating the main operators remotely, Cloudbass believes comparable production capability could ultimately be delivered from a vehicle no larger than a small Sprinter van.

“We are looking at new ways to build the outside broadcasts of the future,” says Cloudbass Technical Director Michael Beaumont. “Traditional hardware takes up a lot of space, consumes significant power and generates heat that then requires extensive cooling. Moving to software-based processing allows us to reduce the machine-room footprint, while remote operation means the production and audio galleries no longer need to be in the truck. That space can be removed or redeployed for other uses.”

Building a more sustainable OB model
The proof of concept formed part of a wider Cloudbass initiative spanning multiple production disciplines. Grass Valley AMPP supported the software-defined video workflow, while SSL’s System T Virtual Tempest Engine provided virtualised audio processing on COTS server hardware.

Keeping the processing onsite at Thruxton enabled Cloudbass to retain full-quality production signals within the local environment, while extending control to Ripley over a public internet connection. This reduced the need to transport bandwidth-intensive signals to a remote operations centre and allowed engineering support, configuration and fault-finding to be accessed from either location.

“The industry is under pressure to find more efficient ways of working,” Beaumont continues. “Reducing the amount of equipment and the number of people required onsite has clear sustainability and work-life balance benefits. A software-based model also gives us the flexibility to scale resources up or down depending on the size and requirements of each production.”

Cloudbass also sees the software-based approach as an opportunity to deploy processing according to the requirements of each event, supporting temporary, variable and peak production demands without the same upfront investment in single-purpose infrastructure.

Onsite processing, remote control
At Ripley, the audio operator used a 32-fader SSL System T S400 control surface to remotely operate the Virtual Tempest Engine at Thruxton. The setup gave the operator the tactile and familiar mixing experience required for high-pressure live production, despite the processing and control surface being in separate locations.

A compact local control position at Thruxton, comprising SSL’s Tempest Control App and a Desktop Fader Tile Plus, gave the guarantee engineer independent access for monitoring, signal checking and technical support. A trackside SSL SB 8.8 stagebox provided remotely controllable analogue I/O for local microphones.

“Touchscreens work well for certain tasks, but in high-pressure live production environments, operators still need the familiarity and immediacy of physical faders and controls,” says Beaumont. “We wanted all parameters to be accessible at both ends, so that operating remotely from Ripley felt just like sitting at a physical console connected locally to the processing engine. System T gave us that complete mixing experience, while the onsite guarantee engineer at Thruxton retained independent access to the same processing.”

Integrating with ST 2110 production
At Thruxton, an SSL Net I/O ST 2110 Bridge integrated the System T environment with the wider production ST 2110 infrastructure. Audio feeds were brought into the virtualised System T platform for processing, with completed mixes returned to the ST 2110 network for distribution across the production ecosystem.

“The Virtual Tempest Engine integrated with the truck’s existing ST 2110 infrastructure, allowing us to receive the audio feeds we needed from the cameras and return the completed mixes to the network,” says Beaumont. “We also used SSL stagebox beside the track to bring analogue microphone feeds into the system. That ability to combine software-based processing with the wider production environment was an important part of proving the viability of the overall workflow.”

Remote operation over public internet
The POC used approximately 50 Mbps of upload bandwidth from Thruxton to Ripley for control data and the audio and video monitoring required by the remote operators. Because the main processing remained onsite, Cloudbass avoided transporting every uncompressed production source to Ripley, reducing connectivity requirements compared with more centralised remote production models.

“The bandwidth available at many circuits and venues can make traditional remote production difficult,” Beaumont explains. “By retaining the processing onsite, we keep latency down and maintain signal quality, while only remoting the control and monitoring the operators need. That makes this model more deployable in locations where dedicated high-bandwidth connectivity may not be available.”

SSL Broadcast Product Manager Berny Carpenter says the Cloudbass project demonstrates why software-defined processing represents an important part of the future of broadcast audio.

“The ability to deploy audio processing wherever it is needed and control it from anywhere gives broadcasters and production companies far greater operational freedom,” says Carpenter. “Cloudbass has demonstrated how System T VTE can reduce onsite infrastructure while retaining the purpose-built, tactile control and trusted feature set that live operators expect. Combining that familiar experience with scalable processing on standard servers provides a powerful foundation for more efficient distributed production.”

“The technology has reached a point where software-defined workflows can meet the demands of live production,” Beaumont concludes. “This proof of concept demonstrated the flexibility, reduced footprint and sustainability benefits we are looking for. Most importantly, the technology operates behind the scenes, without compromising the quality of the production delivered to the viewer at home.”

Cloudbass Case Study at SVG Europe Sports Audio Summit 2026
Solid State Logic will present the software-defined remote production proof of concept developed with Cloudbass at the SVG Europe Sports Audio Summit, alongside Cloudbass Technical Director Michael Beaumont. Join us on 12 November at Kings Place, London, to hear about the project first-hand and discover the technology behind the workflow.

About Solid State Logic
Solid State Logic is the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast, live and post production professionals. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solidstatelogic.com.