Live event production lives and dies on communication, and it’s one of the reasons having the right intercom system is so important. Some of the essential considerations include how large a space you need to cover, wired or wireless, the number of channels, and how easy the system is to deploy. The last one is crucial for church-in-a-box setups because all other features will take a back seat to ease of setup.
… very few [brand-name intercoms] offer an unlimited number of private channels and independent control for six different channels, which the Bolero does.
Antenna
The antenna itself is a pretty simple design; it’s basically a box. The majority of the front is dominated by a large NFC contact point used for touch and go registration. There is also a high contrast E Ink display for important system information like IP address and network name and a large “select” button surrounded by compass rose-style navigation buttons for quick and intuitive menu navigation. However, rather than utilize the navigation buttons, users will be better served by setting up the antenna through the Web UI. From there you can name the system, adjust beltpack profiles, check the system logs, or extend the system by registering other antennas.
The mounting options on the antenna run the gamut; the bottom has a mic stand threaded socket 5/8-inch and 3/8-inch and a spigot adapter. The back of the unit is dominated by a large heat sink with a cheese plate mounted over it, featuring all the mounting points imaginable. There are three RJ45 ports on the bottom, one for AES67/configuration and two for link. The antenna can be powered by standard four-pin XLR power or POE. The Bolero antenna to beltpack range is between 150 and 250 meters, depending on structures and line of sight. Multiple antennas can be configured in several different modes depending on how you plan to deploy the system, but each antenna can connect to 10 beltpacks at once.
Beltpacks
The beltpacks are IP-65 environmentally sealed, so they’re dust-tight and will stand up to low-pressure jets of water, but not complete immersion. The top portion of the beltpack can be fitted with an optional color-coded cover, making identifying packs quick and easy. Because of the orientation, the LED display on the beltpack functions equally well on the belt or mounted to a table. The belt clip features a metal
reinforced mounting point for screws and bottle opener, which is a testament to Riedel’s confidence in their belt clips. The screen layout is bright, easy to read, and intuitive to use.
One of the more valuable features of the beltpack is the “reply” button. In a multichannel intercom environment, it can become challenging to determine which channel you should be on in the heat of the moment; the reply button takes out the guesswork and activates the last channel you were listening to, allowing a reply. Most intercoms work on a standard party line; everyone shares one channel. Many name-brand intercoms have two channels, but very few offer an unlimited number of private channels and independent control for six different channels, which the Bolero does. For more details on the beltpack, check out the first impression article (https://www.churchproduction.com/gear/first-impression-riedel-bolero-wireless-intercom-system/).
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is one of the more exciting connection options for the Bolero. While incredibly cool, it feels a little like a double-edge sword. Connecting to your favorite Bluetooth headset is neat, but pairing to the phone, which is also an option, could get tricky. On long production days, it makes excellent sense, but just for Sunday service it might be a bit much. Let’s face it; you don’t want your camera four operator taking a call from his realtor in the middle of the service. While this feature makes just a ton of sense for theater and professional shows, it might not seem like a “feature” in the church market. However, the Bolero can inject the phone call into the intercom channels; this could be an excellent feature for multisite churches. It’s easy to imagine a scenario where the production director at one site needs to communicate to the entire team at another location. Having the whole site on the same page for a quick announcement or a short “we are going five minutes over” is huge. Also, listening to your favorite playlist from your phone between services is a serious bonus.
The audio quality was clear and loud enough to be heard even on a noisy stage.
In use
I’m typically not a fan of ultralight headsets; the headsets that came with the demo unit loaned to me were so light they should have their own ringside announcer bragging about their weight. These things are more closely related to an over-the-ear microphone than an intercom headset. The largest part of the unit is the XLR connector, and the heaviest part might be the foam widescreen. I have never seen anything this light. It looks like my speaking pastor’s mic and my worship leader’s IEM had a baby, right down to the flanged ear tips. They work well, but it’s hard to imagine volunteers getting excited about sharing these headsets. The good news is the four-pin XLR is a standard intercom connector, so the Bolero should work with any standard intercom headset. The audio quality was clear and loud enough to be heard even on a noisy stage.
The buttons on the beltpack are squishy, which I feel could lead to false latches when trying to talk on the Bolero. However, the daylight viewable screen should ensure you always know exactly what is going on with your beltpack. Setting up the intercom in the simplest configuration is almost plug-and-play easy. The demo unit I was sent was preconfigured, which is good because the instruction manual is the longest I have ever seen for an intercom system. I had to power it on and charge the batteries, and it worked flawlessly. I feel confident some features are buried in the menu that I didn’t explore. My testing determined this is a robust system. If you read the manual through the suggested service near the end, it sums it up best: for general, daily, weekly, and monthly it simply says “none.” For yearly it says “check the battery and replace if necessary.” The Riedel Bolero is a great intercom system, and it is so feature-rich it’s hard to imagine not getting your money’s worth out of it.
Learn more at Riedel.
