Riedel Leaves Mark on ProLight + Sound Show

DiGiCo and Riedel Announce Technology Partnership

At this year’s ProLight + Sound in Frankfurt, Germany, Riedel Communications, which specializes in intercom, fiber, and audio network technologies, and DiGiCo, a UK-based manufacturer of digital mixing consoles and FPGA designs, announced a close technology partnership.

“Riedel as leader in signal distribution solutions for the event industry is a partner who is interesting for us in many aspects”, says James Gordon, managing director of DiGiCo.

Riedel and DiGiCo have agreed to work together on the integration of their technologies. Both partners intend to develop solutions that increase the compatibility between products of both companies in order to create benefits for the partner’s customers.

“We’ve always seen our products as an open platform. Integration with other manufacturers always results in benefits for our customers,” says Andreas Hilmer, Riedel’s director marketing and communications.  Therefore we’re proud to welcome DiGiCo as our newest technology partner.”

Since the 2010 season, DiGiCo’s SD8 is serving as the main mixing console in Riedel’s set-up for the Red Bull Air Race world championship. The event’s complete signal distribution for HD video, audio, intercom, and data is based on Riedel’s fiber network solution MediorNet. In addition, a RockNet audio network solution in fully integrated with the MediorNet backbone.

Riedel Presents New RockNet Digital Input Module

Riedel also unveiled the new RockNet RN.335.DI digital input interface at this year’s Prolight + Sound.

The new digital input module provides eight digital inputs via AES. To integrate different digital sources it features high quality algorithms for excellent sampling rate conversion. It supports sampling rates between 32 and 192 kHz.

RockNet is a digital real-time audio network that provides up to 160 digital audio channels over a single counterrotating CAT-5 ring. Based on a redundant ring topology, RockNet forms a self-healing network with no loss of audio in case of a connection fault between two devices.

New RockNet 100 Output Solution

Riedel presented the new RockNet 100 RN.102.IO module, which offers 16 line outputs and eight microphone/line inputs, at Prolight + Sound to the pro audio and tour sound markets.  RockNet 100 is a flexible, digital snake solution, which provides up to 80 digital audio channels over a single counter-rotating CAT-5 ring. The new RockNet RN.102.IO easily integrates analog mixing consoles into the audio network or can be set up for a simple redundant multicore connection.

RockNet can be set up within minutes without a computer. Its technology and user interface is designed for real-world live sound applications. The system is auto-addressing and can be easily configured via the front- panel or – additionally – via the intuitive RockWorks software.

RockNet 100 offers superior audio quality with a dynamic range of 114 dB. RockNet’s rugged steel enclosures are made for heavy-duty road use and offer the distinct advantage of magnetic shielding. All connectors are gold plated. The circuit design is streamlined to ultra low noise and minimum distortion to meet the highest demands in audio quality. The compact and lightweight design of RockNet 100 allow rack-mount as well as flat-on-the-floor stage-box operation.

RockNet is based on a redundant ring architecture with road-proof Neutrik Ethercon cabling, which allows light, compact and redundant connection between FOH, stage and – if wanted – a monitor mixer. With its redundant ring topology, RockNet forms a self-healing network with no loss of audio in case of a connection fault between two devices.

RockNet 100 modules can be seamlessly integrated into any RockNet 300 installation. The RockNet RN.141.MY expansion card for digital Yamaha mixing consoles enables full remote control over all connected RockNet modules. In addition the RockWorks software and the front panel of each modules provide easy and hands-on configuration of the whole RockNet audio network. RockWorks is available for Windows and Mac OS X and allows extensive configuration and remote control of any device in the whole RockNet installation over a single USB connection.

Soundcraft Studer Goes RockNet

Riedel also unveiled the new RockNet RN.343.VI expansion card for Soundcraft Studer digital mixing consoles at the event.

The RN.343.VI card fits into a console’s SCore Live or D21m card expansion slot and gives access to 64 input and 64 output channels. A wordclock input is featured via the backplane connector, while a wordclock output is available at the front panel. A rotary switch is provided for device identification and selection of up to 15 programmable routing tables. The RN.343.VI enables the respective Soundcraft Studer product to become a part of the RockNet digital audio network and enables remote control of any RockNet microphone pre-amplifier.

The RN.343.VI also supports RockNet’s Independent Gain Feature.  Independent Gain allows several mixing consoles to operate with the same mic pre-amps without affecting each other. While the master-console is controlling the analog gain of the pre-amps remotely, all other consoles operate with emulated pre-amps just as if they were also controlling the actual mic input. This makes multi-console and recording setups very convenient.