Riedel Artist and RockNet at the Tony Awards

To provide a comprehensive system for distributing of the audio signals and establishing a comms infrastructure at this year's Tony Awards the production companies Firehouse Productions and Audio Intercom Services provided a versatile solution. The system comprised RockNet digital audio network including Studer Vista 5 console integration, artist digital matrix intercom and Performer digital partyline from Riedel Communications, one of the leading manufacturers of real-time networks for video, audio and communications.

One of the major challenges of this year's Tony Awards was the new location as the ceremonies were moved from the Radio City Hall to the much smaller Beacon Theatre. This meant that the equipment that usually would have been installed next to the stage, now needed to be installed in trucks and tents outside the venue resulting in a more complex setup.

For providing the live and the broadcast audio distribution, Firehouse Productions used a 154 channel Riedel RockNet system. At the heart of the audio installation were two Studer Vista 5 digital mixing consoles serving as front-of-house and monitor mixers. Four RockNet RN.343.VI integrated the consoles into the digital audio network providing remote control over the RockNet inputs and outputs. RockNet's independent gain feature allowed both the front-of-house and the monitor consoles to control the gains individually without interfering with each other. On the stage, 18 RockNet microphone input modules were used. With little space available backstage for monitoring, Firehouse Productions deployed "Engine 1", an especially equipped, double-expanding 48' semi-trailer production audio unit parked outside the venue.

"RockNet makes distributing audio very simple. Even at a large show like the Tony Awards, which needed to incorporate broadcast and live applications, setup was fast and easy. And the audio quality and routing flexibility are just amazing", said Mark Dittmar, from Firehouse Productions.

The JBL PA system and the broadcast production's Calrec desk were also integrated with RockNet. RockNet fiber connectors bridged the large distances between the various locations.

The intercom system managed by Audio Intercom Services consisted of five Riedel Artist mainframes at the various positions such as the OB truck, the front of house, stage, or producers. They provided the redundant communications backbone for 18 Artist 1100 series control panels. Furthermore, 40 Riedel Performer digital party-line belt packs were used in conjunction to the matrix intercom. They were integrated into the infrastructure via eight Riedel Performer C44plus system interfaces allowing calls from Artist control panels directly to selected partylines and vice versa. "Due the Beacon's lack of wing space on either side of the stage, the show was forced to relocate all of the tech department's locations that would normally be living on stage, to areas outside the venue. Riedel Artist's flexible design made facilitating all of this possible," said Anthony Bandelato, from Audio Intercom Services.

"Riedel's fiber-based decentralized approach allowed my assistant programmer, Justin Milner and myself, to make system wide changes from our location in the comms compound to any of the nodes in the ring via the Director software which is both intuitive and user friendly -- a huge time saver."

In addition, the OB truck's RTS Adam intercom was also integrated into the production comms infrastructure via 4-wire. "We are seeing more truck companies changing over to the Artist system, and when we encounter a truck with Artist on board, the set-up is even easier: We just include the truck's system in our network. After executing the 'Merge Configuration Files' function in the Riedel Director software everyone has access to all ports of the entire system," added Bandelato.