Plainfield High School — TV/Broadcasting and Podcasting Studio
Plainfield High School wanted a working newsroom, not just a classroom with cameras in it. The district converted a dedicated space into a full broadcast and podcasting facility so students could learn every side of media production: shooting, mixing, lighting, directing, and streaming, all on equipment built for a real studio. PureTek Group designed and installed the systems from the ground up, then tied everything together under a single touchscreen so the students and staff running the show don’t need advanced technical training to do it.
The buildout covers three connected spaces: a control room, a main broadcast studio anchored by a large-format LED video wall, and a separate podcasting room. Each space has its own purpose, but they all report back to the unRAVL control system, so students and staff can walk between rooms and still know exactly how to run things.
LOCATION
Plainfield, NJ
DATE
Spring ’26
CATEGORY
TV Studio
Podcast Studio
PARTNERS
DMR Architects
Photos
Project Video
Project Solutions
Broadcast Camera and Production Systems
The studio runs on Canon EOS C400 cinema cameras fitted with power zoom lenses, mounted on tripod dollies for smooth, repeatable moves. A DataVideo production switcher handles live production, feeding a DataVideo teleprompter with an integrated confidence monitor so student anchors can read a script and stay on camera at the same time. A DataVideo streaming encoder pushes the finished program out live, with signal distribution amplifiers keeping the feed clean across the rack.
Large-Format LED Video Wall
A Planar UltraHD LED wall spanning nearly sixteen feet gives the broadcast space a striking visual backdrop, large enough to anchor graphics, live shots, or branded content behind the anchor desk. The wall is fed through AV-over-IP transceivers, keeping the signal path simple even though the source and display sit on opposite sides of the room.
Theatrical-Grade Lighting Control
Rather than settle for flat classroom lighting, PureTek Group installed Chauvet Ovation ellipsoidals, Fresnels, and onAir soft light panels, run through a networked DMX distribution system on a dedicated lighting console. Casambi mesh sensors and wall switches manage house and work lighting separately, so the crew can dial in a broadcast look on the console while everyday room lighting stays on its own simple controls.
unRAVL™ Unified Control System
At the center of the upgrade is the unRAVL platform, which brings lighting, audio, and video control into a single, intuitive touchscreen interface. Rather than requiring staff and students to learn separate consoles and software for every system, unRAVL gives operators one consistent point of control, making the studio approachable for first-time users while still giving experienced operators the depth they need.
Audio Production
An Allen & Heath digital console anchors the studio’s audio, paired with a remote audio rack so wireless mic and camera inputs terminate close to where the talent actually stands. Sennheiser shotgun and wireless lavalier microphones cover on-camera talent, while Electro-Voice and Dynacord loudspeakers, plus studio reference monitors, give the control room accurate playback. A second Allen & Heath touchscreen mixer runs the podcasting room as its own standalone system, complete with a broadcast-grade microphone and boom arm setup.
Wireless Production Intercom
A Pliant CrewCom system with beltpacks and headsets keeps the control room and studio floor in constant communication during a live shoot, backed by a signal transceiver to punch through the building’s concrete walls.
Custom Broadcast Furniture
HSA built a custom broadcast production desk for the studio, and Spectrum supplied the podcast room’s adjustable-height desk, giving the space a cohesive, professional look instead of off-the-shelf classroom furniture.
Editing and Production Workstations
Corsair systems power the studio’s editing and streaming workstations, with Elgato Stream Deck controllers giving students quick, one-touch access to production shortcuts without hunting through menus mid-broadcast.
Training & Services
PureTek Group commissioned every system on site and trained the Plainfield staff to run the studio independently, from basic camera operation through full use of the unRAVL touchscreen.