Product of the Month: LC16D the Network Bridge for Seamless Integration Product of the Month: LC16D the Network Bridge for Seamless Integration...

In the modern landscape of professional audio, the debate often centers on hardware: which line array throws the farthest or which subwoofer digs the deepest. However, the most critical component in a complex system is often the one that sits quietly in a rack, invisible to the audience. This month, we focus on LC16D, a high-density network audio converter designed to solve the logistical and technical puzzles of signal distribution.

Bridging the Gap Between Legacy and Network

While we remain staunch advocates for the Milan-AVB protocol due to its deterministic nature and reliability, we recognize that the real world is rarely a “clean slate” project. Integrators frequently encounter existing infrastructure—MADI-based consoles, AES/EBU processors, or layer-3 network constraints—that must coexist with a modern L-Acoustics ecosystem.

LC16D acts as a versatile bridge, offering:

• High-Density Conversion: Simultaneously interface up to 80 legacy channels.
• Multi-Format Connectivity: Includes 16 AES/EBU inputs with independent Asynchronous Sample Rate Converters (ASRC) and up to 64 MADI inputs/outputs.
• Protocol Flexibility: Effortlessly bridges these legacy formats to and from Milan-AVB or AES67 networks.

Precision in the Field: Bierkönig, Mallorca

A recent installation at the legendary Bierkönig venue in Mallorca serves as a masterclass in the importance of this level of connectivity. The venue, a sprawling 5,000-square-meter space, required a decentralized system to address architectural challenges such as limited ceiling height and multiple columns.

To manage the complex signal flow across various audio zones, project managers utilized LC16D to handle signal distribution from the venue’s matrix mixer. By converting MADI to Milan-AVB, LC16D ensured that the LA7.16i amplified controllers received a pristine, networked signal, regardless of the source.

As Tobias Hemmersbach, Project Manager at Babbel & Haeger, noted, “The L-Acoustics ecosystem provided the reliability and flexibility we needed to deliver on schedule while maintaining the highest quality standards.”

Reliability by Design

Technical failure is not an option in high-stakes environments like a 2,000-capacity beer garden or a major festival stage. LC16D is engineered for ultimate reliability, featuring innovative power redundancy options including AC mains and dual PoE. This ensures that even if a power source is compromised, the network bridge—and your audio—remains active.

LC16D is the essential connective tissue that enables a sound system to transcend its physical limitations. By ensuring the science of sound remains uninterrupted, LC16D keeps focus where it belongs: on the experience.