Firehouse Productions Uses Riedel’s Digital Partyline Solution for VH1’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

As VH1 Classic prepared for its first live airing of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” Firehouse Productions provided the broadcast team with Riedel’s state-of-the-art intercom solutions and innovative Digital Partyline (DPL) system. VH1 Classic’s broadcast is one of the first to rely solely on a DPL system throughout production.

For Firehouse Productions, supplier of live sound support, including RF and intercom systems, the decision to use Riedel for the first time at the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony” was based upon the ability to decentralize the architecture. Using three fibre-networked Riedel Artist 64 digital intercom matrix systems, Firehouse Productions was able to locate one frame at the truck, one at the monitor console area and one at front of house. The Artist platform is a digital matrix design for intercoms as well as for the distribution of analog and digital audio and TCP/IP data signals. The series provides three mainframe sizes consisting of 32, 64 and 128 ports per frame. Up to 128 mainframes can be connected via a redundant optical fiber ring to form a single large, full summing, non-blocking distributed matrix with up to 1,024 ports.

Along with the Artist 64 systems, Firehouse Productions used the Riedel Digital Partyline solutions for its pristine sound performance. With the superior audio quality of Riedel’s Performer C3 Digital Beltpack working in tandem with the Performer C44 System Interface, Michael Drazin of Firehouse Productions made the decision to rely exclusively on the Riedel DPL system during the show. With 24 ports between the TV truck’s intercom system and the Riedel node located at the truck, Drazin was able to move partylines between the two intercom systems as well as point-to-point communications, making the entire system act as if it was one.

“The Riedel system allowed us to decentralize and put hardware in close proximity to where it was needed, so that we were able to set-up faster and run less cable,” said Drazin. “The DPL system is also extremely flexible, as I no am no longer limited by the number of two to four wire converters and power supplies they are feeding. Every C44 system interface in the system provides four fully independent two channel outputs that can be assigned directly from the matrix.”

The set-up featured 22 C3 user stations for VH1’s production team. Riedel’s C3 is an ergonomically shaped, fully digital 2-channel beltpack that includes popular features from conventional analog partyline systems. The Perfomer C3 has no static or cross-talk issues and offers on-air broadcast quality audio. The C44 System Interface is a 19”/1RU unit that converts four 2-channel AES matrix ports to four powered beltpack lines. For stand-alone use, the device features an integrated analog audio matrix.

In addition to passing communications, the Riedel system was interfaced to a Studio Technologies model 212 digital announce console, which was used for the voiceover announcer. A single coax passed the bidirectional signal between the 212 and the Riedel matrix frame, enabling the A2s to monitor the main and the talkback circuit as well as check the interrupt circuit independent of the A1. By doing this, Firehouse was able to move AES audio to the truck using the intercom’s infrastructure instead of laying additional cables, providing the highest quality possible for the announcer’s voice.