Riedel’s Digital Intercom Solutions Instrumental at Azusa Pacific University

Riedel Communications provided Azusa Pacific University (APU) with state-of-the-art communications equipment for instructional efforts and to broadcast live events between the university’s two campuses. APU is employing Riedel’s innovative Performer Digital partyline (DPL) system and Artist Digital Matrix intercom system to ensure seamless communications.

Azusa Pacific University is a non-denominational Christian University founded in 1899 and is located 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The University offers a leading Cinema and Broadcast Arts program featuring state-of-the-art broadcasting equipment. Each week, three live broadcasts bring students and faculty members at the University’s East and West campuses together for an informative discussion by a speaker for the chapel. The campuses are located one mile apart.

“Riedel is by far the most flexible solution for what we do,” explains Jeremy Lommori, production engineer of Azusa Pacific University. “We needed a system that can change and be set for three days a week to do one thing and then two hours later be set for a completely separate event with different configurations. It has to be able to shift with the push of a button and Riedel is the only system out there that provides such flexibility, as well as different options for panels and cell phone integration, including radio RF integration.”

The University employs two Artist 32 systems and one Artist 64, housed in each control room and the engineering center. The Darling Control Room serves as the main video control room servicing the Felix Event Center as well as two sound stages and houses the Artist 64. The Felix Event Center is the main event center seating 4,000 and houses an engineering center with one of the Artist 32 systems. The Upper Turner Control is the second control room located over a mile away servicing over an 1,800-seat venue that is often used in conjunction with the Darling Control Room for large events.

The Artist platform is designed to interconnect multiple matrix frames (nodes) by a dual optical fiber ring to form a single large, full summing, non-blocking distributed matrix, providing a decentralized infrastructure for live audio and intercom applications. The maximum distance between two nodes can be up to 1650 ft as standard, and optionally up to 12 mi. As a result, the matrix frames can be located near the intercom stations of a specific studio or production facility, saving a considerable amount of wiring and installation costs.

“The ability to clearly label with 8 characters is an extra feature that helps to simplify the control panels,” states Lommori. “This feature especially benefits us when we are quickly switching from show to show with different configurations.”

Riedel’s Artist 1000 LED series provides easy-to-operate, high-tech control panels with broadcast quality audio, minimum dimensions and outstanding design. The 1000 Series is the premium control key-panel from Riedel and is available in 19“ rack-mount, desktop and modular (Danner) versions. The University employs the RCP-1028 rackmount with 28 keys on just 2 RU and the DCP-1016 desktop panel from the Artist 1000 series. All control key-panels feature Riedel’s special designed, integrated 8-character, in-key LED displays and individual rotary encoder for listener level control. The 8-digit LED display keys are optimized for excellent readability under all lighting conditions. All Artist control panels are connected to the matrix digitally through an AES3-Signal over a single Cat5 or Coax cable resulting in perfect audio quality and minimum cabling.

At Azusa Pacific University, stage managers, producers and stagehands also utilize Riedel’s Performer digital partyline system to coordinate different events. The Performer Series provides a comprehensive portfolio of 2- and 4-channel master stations, rack-mount, wall-mount and desktop speaker stations as well as 2-channel beltpack headset stations. The components can be daisy-chained with XLR cables – just like their analog counter parts – but offer digital audio quality, perfect side-tone nulling and seamless matrix integration.