
events
Youre reading:
Entec Live expands its Optocore network
M8-BNC and X6R-FX converters added for Gorillaz / Blur and bigger arena shows
Entec Live has extended its investment in Optocore fibre network devices, expanding its Record and Returns racks capabilities-thereby future-proofing them for the growing roster of arena, stadium and festival events they are undertaking.
This was after the production company had invested in its first three M8-BNC MADI switches for the Gorillaz world tour early last year. Supplied by Optocore dealer, HD Pro Audio, the devices were designed to help optimise their Pro Tools rig, enabling connectivity with their Optocore-enabled DiGiCo SD7 digital consoles.
So successful was the deployment that this year they recently added a further M8-BNC, but equally significantly five X6R-FX-16AE interfaces (one with SRC sample rate conversion option, the other four without) creating an Optocore PA Returns rack that will become their de facto system for shows over the next year. Again, the order was fulfilled by HD Pro Audio.
Explaining the systematic upgrade, Entec Live Technical Manager, Peter Eltringham, said, Gorillaz-and by extension Blur-now have a Record rack that sits on the Opto loop with the two consoles-and allows them to do virtual soundcheck; they can multitrack record the whole gig, and can listen to play back at both ends of the multicore.
The Pro Tools record rig has a capability of 196 channels at 96K, and Entec Live deployed three M8's to get the channel count required. There was no point getting the devices with more BNC connectors because you can't use them in that set-up so we bought three of the M8 units and they've been absolutely great. This was extended with the addition of a further M8-BNC this summer.
As for the deployment of the new X6R converters, these made their debut with Blur at their two recent Wembley Stadium shows. Eltringham explains that the four devices without SRC provide AES output in the amp racks. Two AES units in each amp rack provide hardware redundancy, over and above the redundant power and loop topology that Optocore units provide. Tis means our backup signal to the amplifiers is the same as our main, maintaining audio quality.
The design for the amp racks was never to have signal coming in, so they didn't require SRC; however, the other one at FOH is effectively the ingest' for the system and does have sample rate conversion; this can handle different incoming signals without a problem and feeds it out to the units in the amp racks.
It's really the entire backbone for distribution, with a DirectOut Prodigy which is the drive system that sits on top of it, adds Entec Head of Sound, Dan Scantlebury. So we can run AES out of that into the SRC-enabled device. The SRC-equipped converter gives them the ability to use various different processors. We're not locked to just using the Prodigy, we can use Lakes, we can use Newtons, whatever we want really on the same fibre backbone.
Entec took over The Other Stage at Glastonbury this year and the new Optocore drive system will be deployed there next year-as well as many other sites-as they move away from Dante.
Peter Eltringham explains the rationale:
We had been talking about moving over to Optocore for PA returns, sending the signal back towards the amps, for a while. Technology like Dante and other networked topologies offer flexibility but the great thing about Optocore is it does one job and does it extremely well, on its own separate system. It handles the task of audio transport so well and reliably that you simply trust it for your console. When people ask about the redundancy and resilience, I simply say, Well your FOH mixing desk runs on that system and you trust that'. If you trust it for your FOH desk, for your monitor desk, for your broadcast you can trust it to get the signal back to the PA. We had been talking about moving over to Optocore for PA returns, sending the signal back towards the amps, for a while. Technology like Dante and other networked topologies offer flexibility but the great thing about Optocore is it does one job and does it extremely well, on its own separate system. It handles the task of audio transport so well and reliably that you simply trust it for your console. When people ask about the redundancy and resilience, I simply say, Well your FOH mixing desk runs on that system and you trust that'. If you trust it for your FOH desk, for your monitor desk, for your broadcast you can trust it to get the signal back to the PA.
He continues, Too many times I have been in a situation where the wrong connector in the wrong place has ruined the Dante network or has pressed the wrong check box and there's really not a lot of that you can do wrong with Optocore. There's not the temptation as with other network protocols to put other traffic on it so that all of a sudden it falls over and you've lost your show.
This is the start for us, and in time we can tack more things onto the loop. Although this time around at Wembley we used just AES to talk to the delay amplifiers, in future iterations we could easily add in some extra devices and extend the loop.
In conclusion, Dan Scantlebury foresees further investment in Optocore's advanced fibre solutions as the scale of events Entec Live undertakes warrants a higher level of redundancy to safeguard larger shows. This will basically now be our arena return system for the rest of the year, he reinforces. And it's infinitely expandable. -but because Optocore is so useful dry hiring it is practically impossible as it's always out on tour!
Previous post Next post
Optocore GmbH
Alte Allee 28
81245 M nchen
tel: +49 89 899 964 0
OPTOCORE is a German-based manufacturer of World's most p
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Cobalt Digital and SineSix Media Partner to Transform Accessibility Compliance into a More Engaging Viewer Experience at NAB Show 2026
Collaboration integrates...
17/04/2026
Strengthening Appear's North America team with a new Vice President of Business Development
Appear ASA (Appear, OSE: APR), a global leader in live producti...
17/04/2026
New framework helps broadcasters, streaming platforms, and sports organizations apply AI to live video for monetization, metadata, highlights, and downstream wo...
17/04/2026
New whitepaper gives broadcasters and OTT operators independent, codec-by-codec evidence that the VisualOn Optimizer transforms viewer quality of experience.
V...
17/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces New Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive 100G
Brie Clayton April 17, 2026
0 Comments
World's first immersive cinema camera f...
17/04/2026
NAB 2026: Vubiquity and Eluvio Showcase Streaming Solution that Significantly Re...
17/04/2026
What Makes a Good Marathon Running Playlist? We asked Xander Dawson, an eighth-semester saxophone major at Boston Conservatory running the Boston Marathon thi...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
At NAB Show 2026, PTZOptics (Booth N1902) will showcase a live sports streaming demo created in collaboration with Moondream, offering a new look at how Visual ...
17/04/2026
The Eindhoven University of Technology is a research university in the Netherlands spanning 25 buildings, specialising in engineering, science and technology. D...
17/04/2026
Documentary Editor - US, Remote
Brie Clayton April 17, 2026
0 Comments
Documentary Editor
April 13, 2026Freelance Video Cameraman - Los......
17/04/2026
Blackmagic Design Announces New Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF 100G
Brie Clayton April 17, 2026
0 Comments
Revolutionary digital film camera brings cinem...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
17/04/2026
Dubformer, the AI-powered dubbing platform, and Adapt, a global leader in AI-driven localization and dubbing solutions, have enabled Goalcast, the inspirational...
17/04/2026
At NAB 2026, Mavis will launch Mavis Studio, a new live production app for iPad that gives creators, broadcasters, and production teams a powerful new way to bu...
17/04/2026
Avid and Google Cloud today announced a multi-year strategic partnership to integrate generative and agentic AI into the media and entertainment industry's...
17/04/2026
At NAB Show, LucidLink will showcase how its platform brings content, people and workflows closer together than ever before, with newly available capabilities a...
17/04/2026
Beth Morrison and Moses Pendleton to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berkle...
17/04/2026
Jacob Collier, Jill Scott, and Vinnie Colaiuta to Receive Honorary Doctorates at...
16/04/2026
Appear ASA (OSE: APR) will announce three additions to its X Platform at NAB Sho...
16/04/2026
Harmonic has announced that CentralCast, a centralized master control facility for U.S. public media, has deployed Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor t...
16/04/2026
Interra Systems has announced that Encompass Digital Media has integrated its BA...
16/04/2026
Grass Valley will demonstrate its Media Infrastructure capabilities at NAB Show 2026 (Booth C2408, Central Hall), bringing routing, signal processing, and orche...
16/04/2026
As preparations ramp up for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Verizon has outlined a sweeping connectivity and infrastructure initiative that will underpin broadcast ope...
16/04/2026
Advanced Image Robotics (AIR) has announced its selection for the 2026 MLS Innovation Lab. AIR will work with MLS clubs, players, and executives on automated vi...
16/04/2026
JWX has announced the acquisition of True Anthem, an AI-powered social publishin...
16/04/2026
Jomboy Media and FuboTV Inc. have launched the Jomboy Media Channel, a 24/7 channel available to FuboTV base plan subscribers. The channel, timed to the start o...
16/04/2026
Wave Central, a Domo Broadcast Company (Booth C2820), and EVS Broadcast Equipmen...
16/04/2026
Tata Communications and Formula 1 have released Race Before the Race, the firs...
16/04/2026
DPA Microphones has released a firmware update for its N-Series Digital Wireless...
16/04/2026
Sony's Live Stage at NAB Show 2026 is the place to hear directly from the content creators, end users, and technology experts who are pushing boundaries in ...
16/04/2026
Perfect Game and Youth Prospects have announced a partnership covering broadcast...
16/04/2026
National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) has announced a media rights partnership with Al...
16/04/2026
Audio-Technica has announced two new mid-side (MS) stereo broadcast microphones:...
16/04/2026
PSSI Global Services has announced the acquisition of Beagle Networks, a provider of IT infrastructure and onsite technical support for media and enterprise cus...
16/04/2026
Blackmagic Design has released Blackmagic Camera for iOS 3.3, a free update available now from the Apple App Store. The update will be demonstrated at NAB Show ...