Streamline Your Church’s Production Network with Unify
By Jake Gosselin
Managing a church’s tech setup can be a daunting task, especially as audio and video production rely increasingly on network-based protocols like Dante and NDI. That’s why I’m excited to share how Unify products from Ubiquiti can simplify and enhance your production workflow by creating a dedicated network for your church.
In a recent project, we implemented a Unify network to separate production devices from other church systems like office and kids’ ministry networks. This isolation ensures smooth performance, especially when using network-heavy systems like Dante for audio and NDI for video.
Key Components of the Setup
To create this network, we used:
- Dream Machine Pro: The router that assigns IP addresses and organizes traffic.
- Unify Switch Pro 24 POE: Provides power and connectivity to devices like Dante AVIO adapters and NDI cameras.
- Access Point U7 Pro: Offers a dedicated wireless network for production tasks like monitor mixing or app control.
With these components, we established a reliable, scalable network tailored to the needs of our production team.
Why Use Unify?
The Unify ecosystem stands out for its intuitive control software, which offers visual network mapping and straightforward device management. With just a glance at the topology diagram, you can see what’s connected and troubleshoot issues without wading through complicated IT jargon.
The ability to create VLANs (virtual local area networks) is another huge win. We set up a VLAN specifically for Dante traffic, ensuring that our audio network is isolated and operates seamlessly without interference from other systems.
Practical Tips for Implementation
- Plan Your Topology: Map out where your Dream Machine Pro, switches, and access points will be located.
- Assign VLANs Thoughtfully: Use VLANs to separate categories of devices. For example, create one for audio traffic and another for general network use.
- Configure Your Switches: In the Unify interface, you can assign ports to specific VLANs and ensure that devices like Dante gear are on the correct subnet.
The Results
After setting up the Unify network at our project site, the production team noticed immediate improvements in reliability and ease of use. Troubleshooting was simpler, and the dedicated network eliminated the common hiccups caused by competing traffic from other church departments.
Want Help Setting Up Your Network?
If this sounds like a game-changer for your church, we’d love to help. Whether you’re starting from scratch or upgrading your current setup, our team at Churchfront can guide you every step of the way. Schedule a call today to get started!
By leveraging Unify products, you can ensure your production ministry runs smoothly, leaving you free to focus on the mission of creating impactful worship experiences.
