We just did a tree lighting a few weeks ago at the Grove in Los Angeles. It was video taped and edited into a show which played a few days ago. We had a truck mix, FOH and monitor position. Each desk had three RN141 MY RockNet cards all with separate gain control. The truck had control of the analog pre and the other two desks were in slave mode with gain compensation. After the show we were talking and realized that no one had any issues or even realized they were using the RockNet system compared to the traditional copper snake.
We utilized a RN 302 8ch line out unit in the truck for additional outs for ISO records, 3 RN 101 IO at the stage. We used copper sub snakes to go to the stage. We had feeds going everywhere. The truck had a TV mix that had to go to three different locations, VIP area and green rooms. One location was near the Monitor mix position and the other was near the FOH position. I sent one feed down RockNet and the guys routed the signal to there output and feed the location. I also had tracks that needed to be at FOH and Monitors also just sent it down RockNet and they placed it on there input strip, done. I also had a shotgun mic that was behind FOH, I had the mic plugged into the FOH desk and he routed the mic to me via the PM5D. I did not have gain control but it was a set and leave it. Worked in a pinch.
In the software we labeled every input and output so that when it came time to route signals to different locations it wouldn't get confusing.
Our truck run was 400' to the stage and the front of house run was 350' to stage.
Once we get the boxes made we are going to use the RN 101 IO as a stage box. We will be able to drop 4 RN 101 IO throughout the stage with one where the wireless mics and IEM reside. At each location we have the option of 16 mic inputs and 8 outputs. FOH or Monitors can send back feeds or mixes to any of these locations. The boxes will also be able to be connected together so they can act like a standard split on the side of the stage. We have been using it all together as one large system or just a MY card and a stage box. There is not other system that provides this type of flexibility with such ease and reliability. Load in and load out is way faster. Take a look at the dog house on the back of the FOH desk for this tree lighting. Does that look like a typical 48 in and 24 out mess?
Since the day we bought out RockNet system we have not used a copper snake since...and don't plan on it. I have been waiting for a digital snake system that I feel good about and that could deal with multiple splits with seamless gain compensation. They’re minor tweaks we would love to see happen but they are insignificant compared to the over all package.
I guess I like the system this was easy to write.
PS. The picture with the RockNet in the box was our first use. The rep brought it to our load in and we had it up and running in 45 min. We used two cards and two RN 101 16x8 IO boxes.
Trace Goodman
Goodman Audio Services, Inc.
Los Angeles, California
Goodman Audio Services News