Focusrite RedNet Interfaces Chosen by TV Tech, Inc. for Upgraded 5.1 Mix Truck

15/06/2017

Focusrite RedNet Interfaces Chosen by TV Tech, Inc. for Upgraded 5.1 Mix Truck 01 Jun 2017 Audio-video technical management and client support company TV Tech, Inc. launched its first remote audio production truck in 2016, recording and mixing a 14-show music concert series for Verizon's GO90 live streaming service, and has been a major player in broadcast production for concerts/entertainment ever since. The company has now relaunched the 5.1-channel surround music mix truck after installing an infrastructure of RedNet Dante -networked audio interfaces from Focusrite. This new interface system feeds dual 128-track recording systems over a Dante audio-over-IP network. TV Tech, Inc. made the decision to install a Dante-enabled RedNet system based on the reputation of both Focusrite and Audinate's network protocol. Kevin Hartmann, TV Tech, Inc.'s technical manager/project manager, notes, We specifically designed the truck, which we call TV Tech Unit #1,' to handle the needs of clientele in the entertainment industry, whether it's a high-profile broadcast event, a live concert, or an opportunity for live remote recording.

TV Tech, Inc. music mixer Thom Cadley notes that, after watching various audio-over-IP protocols emerge over recent years, We concluded that Dante was the most embraced, so we felt that was a pretty easy call to make. I've been a big Focusrite fan for years and years, back to the analog days, states Cadley. He was chief mixing engineer at Sony Music Studios in New York for many years and has extensive TV live music mixing credits, including The Concert for New York City, for which he received a TEC Award; An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash, which earned him an EMMY nomination; and the PBS concert series Sessions at West 54th. I love the way Focusrite products sound, their reliability and the overall engineering. It was pretty easy, once we decided to go in the direction of Dante, to integrate as many Focusrite products as we could.

Dave Hewitt originally built the custom 39-foot Peterbilt rigid box truck, which he named Polar Express, for his Remote Recording Services company in 2006. Things have changed a fair bit since then, says Hartmann. So when Verizon's GO90 wrapped, Thom got in there, took it apart and put it back together using Focusrite equipment and a lot of Cat 6 cable.

The truck now includes three Focusrite RedNet D64R 64-channel MADI bridges that can ingest 128 inputs from remote-controlled microphone preamps located at the stage plus 64 inputs from the production truck. Once on the Dante backbone, those signals are available for routing to dual 64-track Avid Pro Tools 12 | HDX3 DAWs and three 64-track JoeCo BBR Blackbox Recorders. Signals are introduced to each Pro Tools system via a pair of RedNet HD32R 32-channel HD Dante network bridge. Hartmann notes, RedNet created the bridge that allowed us to create a single path from the inputs to the truck to the console and recorders, which ultimately streamlined our workflow and gave us added flexibility.

The truck includes a variety of speaker systems available for 5.1 and stereo monitoring, including Genelec, JBL, DynAudio and K+H. Each 64-track DAW interfaces to the Avid ICON control surface's XMON monitor management system via a RedNet A16R 16-channel analog I/O interface and converter. Offering additional local input and output options, TV Tech Unit #1 also houses a second RedNet A16R, a RedNet D16R 16-channel AES3 I/O, and another RedNet D64R MADI-to-Dante bridge. Hartmann notes, The A16R's, as a D-to-A, just sound superb. We use them in the truck for monitoring, because some of our monitors require analog inputs. We're also using them to enable the insertion of analog equipment into the signal chain, and we're also using them as a outbound path from the truck, should another interface require an analog signal.

With two complete 128-channel Pro Tools and JoeCo recorder systems available, says Cadley, We can scale them however we need them. Because we are using Pro Tools and the ICON, it's like having two consoles and two entire recorder setups in the truck. With the push of a couple of buttons we can go from stage A to stage B in a very scalable way. It could be a big stage with 100 inputs and a small stage with 28, or any combination thereof.

Having changed out the analog cabling for Cat 6 runs, TV Tech, Inc. significantly reduced the truck's weight. There are piles of cables upstairs in a spare room, says Hartmann. With the addition of Dante and RedNet interfaces, our workflow has been completely streamlined, and we are now in a position to offer clients an enhanced level of service.

To connect to the stage over long distances, continues Hartmann, We use single mode TAC4 fiber with Neutrik Opticon Quad connectors. We own a lot of single mode fiber for video, so it made sense for us to get the RedNet boxes with single mode connections. That way, all of our fiber in-house is basically the same.

With the truck newly renovated, TV Tech, Inc. is now busy marketing its services, and already has some interested clients. Once everybody sees it, the word is going to spread, says Hartmann. It won't take long with this truck - it's so beautiful.

In this Article

RedNet A16R

RedNet D16R

RedNet D64R

RedNet HD32R

LINK:	https://uk.focusrite.com/news/rednet-tv-tech...
	See more stories from focusrite

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 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 Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026