Interpreter control console with audio routing

The Williams AV IC-2 Interpreter Control Console serves as an audio control center for multilingual environments. It combines microphone input control, Floor and Relay listening selection, Norm and Relay output routing, and separate left and right headphone adjustment in a compact black-and-silver console. Backlit controls clearly identify microphone, listening source, mute, and relay-routing states, while rear-panel adjustments support level setting and system integration.

Ideal Use Cases

The IC-2 is designed for multilingual audio workflows that require controlled listening and microphone routing. Its capabilities support:

• Systems that switch interpreter monitoring between Floor and Relay audio.
• Configurations that route microphone audio to either balanced Norm Out or Relay Out connections.
• Linked IC-2 installations distributing balanced line-level Floor and Relay audio between consoles.
• Workstations requiring XLR, 3.5 mm TRS, or 3.5 mm TRRS microphone and headset connectivity.

Why Choose This Model

The console organizes essential interpreting controls into an accessible front-panel layout. Separate blue-backlit Floor Input and Relay Input buttons select the listening language group, with either-or operation that disables one source when the other is selected. Bright red Mic On buttons activate the microphones and are interlocked so only one side can be active at a time. A red-backlit momentary Mute button silences both microphones while pressed.

A yellow-backlit Relay Output button determines the microphone output language group. When illuminated, the microphone is routed to Relay Out; when unlit, it is routed to Norm Out. A separate yellow indicator shows when Relay Output is in use. Left and right rotary controls provide individual headphone volume adjustment, while center-detent bass and treble controls tailor monitoring tone for each side.

Installation and Integration

The IC-2 accepts Floor audio through a three-pin female XLR connection with balanced or unbalanced operation, 24 kΩ differential input impedance, and a maximum balanced input of +19 dBu. Norm Out and Relay Out use three-pin male XLR connections and deliver balanced audio at up to +19 dBu into a 600 Ω balanced load.

CAT5 8P8C RJ45 bus input and output connections distribute balanced line-level Floor and Relay audio to another IC-2. These ports are dedicated IC-2 bus connections rather than specified Ethernet LAN interfaces. Slide switches enable Floor feedthrough independently to the Norm Out and Relay Out XLR jacks. A ground-lift switch disconnects the console’s internal chassis and audio grounds when required by the installation.

Power is supplied by an external 18 VDC desktop-style switching inverter rated for 110-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, and 1 A. The console measures 10 inches by 6.35 inches by 2.45 inches, weighs 3.4 pounds, and has a black-and-silver finish.

Performance Highlights

With the bass and treble controls set flat, the specified frequency response is 45 Hz to 20 kHz at +0/-3 dB referenced to 1 kHz. Total harmonic distortion is less than 0.5 percent at 1 kHz and full power. The signal-to-noise ratio is greater than 82 dB at 1 kHz, while crosstalk attenuation is greater than 63 dB at 1 kHz.

Bass adjustment provides up to 12 dB of boost or cut at 100 Hz, and treble adjustment provides up to 12 dB of boost or cut at 10 kHz. A rear green LED indicates the optimal Norm Out XLR level when blinking. The standard 3.5 mm headphone output supplies up to 190 mW into a 32 Ω stereo headset and supports headphones with an 8 Ω minimum impedance. The TRRS headset output supplies up to 40 mW into 32 Ω.

What Makes It Different

Microphone flexibility is a central feature of the IC-2. Its XLR microphone inputs accept balanced or unbalanced signals, provide 58 dB of variable gain, and include switchable 12 VDC simplex power. The balanced input impedance is 2.4 kΩ, with a maximum balanced input level of +19 dBu.

For electret condenser microphones, the console also provides a pink stereo 3.5 mm TRS input and a black stereo 3.5 mm TRRS input. These unbalanced inputs offer 40 dB of variable gain and 3.7 VDC bias through 2.7 kΩ. Dedicated rotary gain controls adjust microphone and Floor audio levels. This combination of input formats, routing controls, feedthrough options, and linked-console distribution distinguishes the IC-2 as a focused multilingual audio control solution.

Final Assessment

The Williams AV IC-2 combines interpreter microphone management, source selection, headphone monitoring, balanced audio routing, and multi-console bus distribution in one control surface. Its interlocked microphone operation, illuminated status controls, adjustable tone and gain, and separate Norm and Relay paths provide direct control over multilingual audio. Listed approvals and declarations include CE, FCC, Industry Canada, RoHS, C-Tick, and CB, and the console carries a five-year parts-and-labor warranty, with 90 days of coverage on accessories.