When Northern Arizona University’s School of Communication first called Key Code Media in 2019, the conversation started with a single need: upgrading an aging production switcher.
Today, that initial engagement has grown into a multi year partnership modernizing NAU’s control room, TV studio, newsroom systems, and connectivity infrastructure. The outcome is a professional broadcast environment built for real world student training.
Background: A Real World Newsroom for Student Journalists
NAU’s School of Communication operates a fully functioning media ecosystem that includes a live TV newscast and sports show, a radio station, print and digital outlets, a studio connected to the Media Innovation Center. Students rotate through every position in the control room including graphics, TD, directing, audio, intercom, and cameras, producing one to two live shows per week.
“We give our students the closest thing possible to a real newsroom,” says Brian Rackham, Ph.D., Director of the Media Innovation Center. “They learn by doing. They operate every part of the control room so they understand how everything fits together.”
The program has already earned significant recognition, including regional production awards and several national honors for its student newscast.
The Challenge: Moving Beyond a Single Box Switcher
The journalism program transitioned to HD production in 2015. By 2022, the system was showing its age and no longer met the demands of a modern broadcast operation. Critical broadcast operations were running on a single computer. Weather graphics were built in Keynote. Manual workflows slowed down production and created points of failure.
“We had simply outgrown the limits of a single one-box video switcher system,” Rackham explains. “We wanted something that reflected how real broadcast operations work.”
NAU needed a modular, professional architecture that supported routing, playout, newsroom integration, and graphics—while still allowing instructors to teach broadcast fundamentals rather than rely entirely on automation. Their production services partner recommended Key Code Media, and the partnership expanded from there.Com
The Solution: An Upgraded Control Room Designed for Teaching
Key Code Media designed and delivered a multi-phase upgrade centered around a Ross Video production ecosystem—carefully architected to balance automation, transparency, and hands-on learning.
Core Production and Routing
- Ross Carbonite Production Switcher
- Ross Ultrix Routing Platform
- Ross Tria Express Duet Production Server
- Ross Streamline Media Asset Management and Playout Control
Graphics, Weather, and Newsroom
- Ross XPression Studio and XPression Designer
- XPression MOS Plug-in and Gateway
- Ross Raiden Weather System
- Ross Inception News Academic Edition
Audio and Infrastructure
- Allen & Heath SQ-6 Console with DX32 I/O and MADI
- LiveU Remote Contribution with IFB and Return
- AJA HELO Streaming and Recording
- AJA Distribution Amplifiers
- Full Structured Cabling and Machine Room Rebuild
Key Code Media handled system design, installation, commissioning, training, and continues to support NAU through Key Code Total Care.
Implementation: Upgrading While Class Was in Session
NAU secured grant funding and had just 24 hours to formalize the technical plan. The project then unfolded across several phases—while classes and live productions continued.
“There were weeks where we were learning new systems right alongside our students,” Rackham recalls. “It was intense, but it also became one of the best teaching opportunities we have ever had.”
Ross Video and Key Code Media provided focused training for XPression, Streamline, Raiden, Carbonite, and Ultrix. Faculty and students immediately applied what they learned as productions continued on schedule.
Eric Lessing, Senior Broadcast Coordinator, observed how quickly students adapted: “It’s amazing how quickly our students pick up on the new equipment and software.”
The phased rollout also exposed students to real-world broadcast transitions, showing how workflows evolve, systems integrate, and teams troubleshoot during live operations.
Balancing Smart Automation with Broadcast Fundamentals
Integration between Inception, XPression, Streamline, and Tria significantly reduced manual steps for graphics and media. Reporters now add graphics and video directly into scripts, with assets automatically appearing in the control room.
Weather production using Raiden delivers polished visuals that were previously impossible to produce. Notably, this installation represents the first Ross Raiden weather system ever deployed in an educational environment worldwide, giving NAU students early exposure to professional-grade weather production tools used in broadcast stations.
“At the same time, we want students to understand what’s happening under the hood,” Rackham says. “The technology is smart, but we are intentional about teaching the fundamentals—signal flow, routing, audio mixing, and MOS workflows.”
This approach ensures graduates are prepared for both highly automated and fully manual broadcast environments.
Results: A Professional-Grade Learning Environment
Since completing the upgrades, NAU has seen significant improvements in workflow reliability, flexibility, and production quality. Newsroom operations are more efficient, on-air presentation is cleaner, and interoperability has improved across routing, graphics, MAM, and newsroom systems.
“One of the best outcomes is that our students now experience the exact tools they will see in real stations,” Rackham notes. “They leave here prepared, confident, and ready to contribute on day one.”
The program continues to receive awards and industry recognition. The partnership with Key Code Media has expanded into future planning, including upcoming phases for studio cameras and lighting.
“Key Code Media has been a true partner,” Rackham adds. “I can pick up the phone and get answers from someone who knows our system inside and out.”
Key Technologies Deployed
Production and Routing
- Ross Carbonite Production Switcher
- Ross Ultrix Routing System
- Ross Tria Express Duet Production Server
Graphics, Weather, and Newsroom
- Ross XPression Studio and Designer
- XPression MOS Plug in and Gateway
- Ross Raiden Weather System
- Ross Streamline MAM and Playout
- Ross Inception News Academic Edition
Audio and Infrastructure
- Allen and Heath SQ 6 Digital Mixer
- DX32 I/O Modules and MADI Interface
- LiveU Remote Contribution System
- AJA HELO Streaming and Recording
- AJA HD and SD SDI Distribution Amplifiers
- Structured Cabling and Machine Room Rebuild
Services Provided
- System design and workflow consultation
- Installation, commissioning, and interoperability testing
- Ross and Key Code Media training
- Key Code Total Care ongoing support