On February 11, 2024, a significant sports event took place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the Kansas City Chiefs competed against the San Francisco 49ers.
Super Bowl LVIII attracted a massive audience, with 123.4 million viewers tuning in. The halftime show, performed by Usher and presented by Apple Music, was a major highlight, delivering a performance filled with nostalgia and excitement.
Advanced Audio Solutions by ATK Audiotek
ATK Audiotek, in collaboration with Clair Global, provided the live sound for the Super Bowl for the 27th consecutive year, utilizing a sophisticated all-digital Dante® networked audio infrastructure. This setup included more than 100 units from Focusrite’s RedNet range, marking the largest deployment of Focusrite equipment in Super Bowl history. Kirk Powell, Engineer-in-Charge for ATK/Clair, highlighted the importance of the RedNet system for managing the complex audio demands of the event, including performances by Reba McEntire, Post Malone, Andra Day, Alicia Keys, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and will.i.am.
Focusrite Gear in Detail
The setup featured 25 RedNet D16R MkII AES3 I/Os, 35 RedNet A16R MkII analog I/O interfaces, 25 RedNet D64R MADI bridges, 12 RedNet MP8R mic preamps, and eight RedNet AM2 audio monitoring units. These components ensured seamless connectivity and high-quality audio delivery across various interfaces and systems within the stadium.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenges and SolutionsOne of the most significant challenges was installing the public address system due to the cable-based ceiling structure of Allegiant Stadium, similar to SoFi Stadium. This setup limited the placement options for speaker clusters and required careful management of rigging and cables. Despite these challenges, the expertise of mixers Dave Natale and Alex Guessard, along with strategic equipment placement, resulted in exceptional audio quality for the event.
Reliability and Consistency
The use of RedNet technology has become a staple for ATK/Clair in ensuring the reliability and smooth operation of their networked audio system for the Super Bowl. This yearly event’s success is a testament to the effective planning and execution of a complex audio infrastructure capable of handling the demands of one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.
