Remote Control Audio System

RCAS™

The Remote Control Audio System™, (RCAS™) enables audio technicians to remotely make on-the-fly adjustments without touching the transmitters.
 

From the NBA to the Rockettes

RCAS™ technology is indispensable in all kinds of situations where it’s not practical for an audio tech to be in contact with the transmitters; when used to manage dozens of transmitters at once, it’s awe-inspiring. The innovative RCAS™ technology started development in 2006 specifically for the NBA, and has since become popular in sports arenas and world leading theatrical venues like Radio City Music Hall where it has worked flawlessly for hundreds of live performances since 2009.
 

Share the Spectrum

By turning on and off groups of transmitters, and changing their frequencies, it is possible to reuse one receiver (and one frequency) with multiple transmitters used at different times in a performance. In the case of Radio City Music Hall in RF congested New York City, only 80 usable frequencies were available. There, 80 receivers are shared by 300 transmitters.
The RCAS™ consists of Transmitters, MicControl Software, Gateways and Receivers:

Transmitters

RCAS™ transmitters maintain the same rugged, miniaturized packaging that has made Q5X the standard for demanding wireless microphone applications. The QT-5000 has the same comfortable, concealable, rubberized, flexible form as the QT-1000 PlayerMic® and can be tuned to 4000 frequencies. The TapShoeMic can be custom built right into Tap Shoes, in the heal or under the arch and can be tuned to 1000 frequencies.
 

MicControl Software

The RCAS™ MicControl software runs on a central Windows computer that can turn transmitters on and off, make changes to frequency and mic gain, organize them into groups and monitor their status and battery level. The system can be arranged to support hundreds of transmitters controlled over an entire venue. When the transmitters are not in control channel range, they maintain their settings, making the whole system failsafe. The transmitters are controlled trough USB or Network RCAS™ Gateways connected to the computer.
 

Gateways

Network and USB Gateways

Two types of gateway are available: a USB RCAS™ Gateway the size of a pen drive, with a range of 75 feet, and a Network RCAS™ Gateway, the size of a wifi router, with a range of several hundred feet. The RCAS™ Gateways communicate with the transmitters via a 2.4GHz radio frequency control channel. When using multiple gateways there is the added benefit of easily identifying the location of the transmitters based on which gateway they are closest to.
 

Receivers

Since the transmitter settings are controlled directly from the computer, RCAS™ specific receivers are not necessary. QR-1000 or QR-2000 receivers are recommended. The transmitters will also work with some other wireless receivers.