Zaretsky: Studio Tech integrates legacy gear into Dante networks
Studio Technologies’ communications equipment has become a cornerstone in the workflow of veteran audio supervisor Gideon Zaretsky, who has built a career delivering complex productions for NBC, Netflix, Food Network, and other major networks.
Zaretsky, owner of Electric Ear & Research Company, said the demands of reality and competition TV, where control rooms are often built and dismantled daily, leave little room for complicated systems. “There’s no budget or time for overcomplicated systems,” he explained. “That’s where Studio Technologies really shines.”
His first encounter with the company came through its two-wire to four-wire analogue interfaces, which enabled him to link party-line systems with improvised gear. That small innovation, he said, proved indispensable and set the tone for his long-term reliance on Studio Technologies products.
Over time, Zaretsky transitioned from DIY solutions to purpose-designed equipment, such as the Model 233 Announcer’s Console and the Model 240 Producer’s Console. The Model 348 Intercom Station, in particular, revolutionised his workflow by offering a compact yet versatile hub for IFB, talkback, and intercom functions.
“The Model 348 is a small box with eight buttons, but it’s brilliantly designed,” said Zaretsky. “We had been dreaming of a Model 348-like device for years. It immediately allowed the control room crew to seamlessly talk to wireless PL channels, talent, and each other.”
Today, his inventory includes more than 20 Model 348 units, multiple Model 5312 Intercom Stations, and the Model 5422A Dante Intercom Audio Engine, which simplifies complex routing during live shoots. “Typing in a label and hitting connect on the Model 5422A replaces ten minutes of complicated patching,” he noted.
Zaretsky recently added the Model 545DR Intercom Interface, which integrates older two-wire systems into modern Dante networks. “This unit is a full circle moment for me, because it extends the life of older two-wire equipment that has been sitting on the shelf for years, as it seamlessly integrates legacy gear into Dante networks.
“My favourite use of the product is as a Dante bridge for standalone wireless PL base stations, which, for some reason, still ship with two wire ports,” he said.
