LCM builds the world?s largest RedNet system

The University of West London’s London College of Music has installed the world’s largest RedNet installation, featuring 42 RedNet units.

Although LCM’s existing network infrastructure could have been used, the decision was taken to lay a separate dedicated audio network as part of the Future Campus building and refurbishment programme. Two standard 48-port Cisco Gigabit Ethernet switches were installed and as the network is fully distributed, it can be managed from any network node rather than requiring central control.

14 Pro Tools HDX systems are linked into the network with RedNet 5s, covering six tracking studios, three surround rooms, and teaching rooms, while performance spaces are fitted with RedNet mic pres and A/D-D/A interfaces for playback. An additional forty Logic and Pro Tools 11 software workstations can join the network thanks to the Dante Virtual Sound Card driver software, which is installed on all of the machines around the campus. Altogether there are 42 RedNet units installed at UWL – three RedNet 4 mic/line input units, nine RedNet 1s, 12 RedNet 2s, and a RedNet 6 MADI Bridge installed at LCM in addition to the RedNet 5s – all supplied to LCM via education technology provider Academia. The final stage of the Future Campus programme calls for a new 15-room building at Ealing Film Studios with a fibre optic link to the main campus.

Also, LCM trains a lot of theatre sound engineers, and its RedNet 6 provides a 64-channel link to a MADI-equipped DiGiCo console, linking it with the rest of the campus network. RedNet will also allow simultaneous multiple recording of theatrical performances and other works that take place in the theatre.

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