KCET Deploys Riedel Solutions

KCET, the largest independent public television station in the United States, has selected Riedel Communications' Riedel Artist digital matrix intercom system and RockNet real-time audio network to support communications across its production facilities and to enable secure distribution of audio between its studios and control rooms.

Serving Southern and Central California, KCET operates from a state-of-the-art broadcast facility in Burbank. The public broadcaster also rents out its studio space, which includes an innovative virtual studio. Within these facilities, KCET uses the Artist system to link two control rooms, two production stages, 15 edit bays, tape rooms, master control/on-air operations, transmission, and an insert studio.

Six Connect Duo telephone hybrids serve as an interface between the Artist intercom system and ISDN and PSTN public telephone networks, enabling a connection to the outside world during live broadcasts. The Riedel Artist system is also integrated with KCET's Telex BTR wireless systems and with its Harris Platinum SDI router via a MADI connection, which allows KCET to connect any audio source directly in and out of the Artist frame while keeping signals in the digital realm.

"We require total flexibility and connectivity so that we can easily interconnect and collaborate across different studios for larger productions, or insulate the different aspects of the operation to support multiple independent productions simultaneously," said Gordon Bell, vice president of engineering at KCET. "As our clients and staff have become ever more familiar with the Riedel gear, they have found our new communications network to be a very powerful tool."

"As a digital communications system with functions including MADI I/O and enhanced user interfaces, the Artist offers features and capabilities that just don't exist elsewhere," added Tyler Ries of KCET's engineering department. "We chose the RockNet system for similar reasons. The all-digital, redundant audio network allows for reliable connections and eliminates a mess of patch cords while enabling on-the-fly reconfigurations that don't interrupt production."

The RockNet system gives KCET a stable connection between stages and control rooms while facilitating versatile creation of digital audio links throughout the facility as needed. Integrated with KCET's Yamaha digital mixing consoles, the Riedel system also provides high-quality microphone pre-amplification and digital conversion.

"An award-winning creator and distributor of cultural and educational programming, KCET is among the nation's most-watched public television stations," said Joyce Bente, president and CEO of Riedel North America. "We're proud that KCET has put our Artist and RockNet systems to work in supporting these productions and in enhancing its facility rental services."

Image: KCET Control Room Facilities.

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(JP/LM)