Los Angeles, California, February 15, 2024 – On February 11, 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers faced off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Super Bowl LVIII, one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, had 123.4 million viewers. Usher's Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance was a nostalgic and heart-pounding spectacle worthy of the big game. His ATK Audiotek (a Clair Global company), his provider of live sound for the Super Bowl for the past 27 consecutive years, uses his extensive Dante® networked audio infrastructure, which includes Focusrite's RedNet components. Thanks to its all-digital audio signal path. Various audio converters and interfaces connected to a Dante network.
“This is our ninth year using Focusrite RedNet with a Dante Audio-over IP network at the Super Bowl,” said Kirk Powell, ATK/Clair engineer for Super Bowl LVIII. “This year, we are employing over 100 RedNet units. This is the largest Focusrite setup ever used at the Super Bowl.” Once again, ATK will feature Reba McEntire (National Anthem), Post – Responsible for all sound in the stadium, including pre-game performances featuring Malone and Andra Day. Halftime show with Usher and special guests Alicia Keys, HER, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and will.i.am. Allegiant Stadium also makes announcements to fans during games, so having a bulletproof system is paramount. “Each year, the Super Bowl presents tremendous logistical hurdles in processing a large number of diverse sound sources and routing them to various destinations,” Powell commented. “The use of Focusrite RedNet components is essential to our operations as they provide the connectivity and versatility we need to run our operations effectively.”
ATK Audiotek's Focusrite gear setup for Super Bowl LVIII included 25 RedNet D16R MkII 16-channel AES3 I/Os. 35 RedNet A16R MkII 16 Channel Analog I/O Interface. 25 RedNet D64R 64 Channel MADI Bridge. 12 RedNet MP8R 8 Channel Remote Control Mic Pre with Dual PSU. 8 RedNet AM2 stereo audio monitoring units, for a total of 105 RedNet units.
During Super Bowl LVIII, the A16R unit facilitated connections between the various interfaces managed by the venue and other parties, and the D16R unit linked with the amplifiers. A RedNet D64R MADI bridge was utilized to connect to the console and broadcast truck. Effective clock management is critical during the Super Bowl and benefits both teams and audio production. RedNet D64R combines rich channel capacity with the ability to convert sample rates between different audio systems at the multitrack level, allowing seamless audio transfer and transfer between systems without relying on a common master reference clock. Guaranteed sharing. According to Powell, FOH and stage monitors can be synchronized to the same clock, but there are differences in production trucks. Powell elaborates: “The production truck runs on a separate clock because it is not in use all day. The D64R allows us to separate the clock between the system and the production truck, especially when closing after halftime. Demolition begins At times, I prefer not to sync with a clock to avoid premature shutdown. I also use the D16R and A16R as I have analog backup as an interface to the amplifiers in my system.”
When asked what was the most challenging part of designing and installing the audio system for Super Bowl LVIII, Powell answered without hesitation, “Flying the PA.” “Allegiant Stadium's ceiling structure is cable-based, like SoFi Stadium, but weight limitations and rigging points limit options for placing clusters and similar components.” Rigging and cable management presented challenges, as did determining amplifier placement. We had to compromise on some positions, but the system worked well. We also worked with renowned mixer Dave The audio for the performance sounded great, with Natale and Alex Gethard handling FOH duties.
Focusrite equipment helped ATK/Clair find their rhythm for this annual event. Mr. Powell said: “Venue routing may vary, but RedNet played a key role in establishing a consistent setup. Reliability is paramount for large events like this, and RedNet ensures the smooth operation of the network. We guarantee.”
