![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/aafef87f43c509b30e9c5dd933f2c349_DirectOut_Nerdmatics_6-2365-c-90.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/h2>\nKendrick Lamar\u2019s touring system featuring the DirectOut PRODIGY.MP<\/i><\/p>\nFred Carlton (Linkin Park, Drake, Kendrick Lamar<\/em>) on speccing DirectOut for his live sound company Nerdmatics. <\/h2>\nFred Carlton<\/strong> is the owner and operator of Nerdmatics, a Los Angeles\u2013based design team specialising in advanced music performance systems, as well as audio and MIDI software development. He is also a partner at ASAP Sound, a collective providing turnkey solutions for entertainment applications worldwide.<\/p>\nIn the past, designing playback systems often required Carlton<\/strong> to integrate multiple devices from different manufacturers, resulting in complex and fragmented workflows. With DirectOut Smart Audio Platforms, he found a solution capable of addressing even the most demanding system designs. His use of the PRODIGY Series<\/a> is replacing this multi-vendor approach with a unified, integrated platform that consolidates multiple mission-critical functionalities within a single, failsafe device.<\/p>\nStarting out as a musician, Carlton\u2019s<\/strong> career evolved into the technical side of music production. After building guitars for Fender, a chance encounter led him on tour as a guitar technician with 30 Seconds to Mars, an experience that would shape his entire professional path.<\/p>\n“For 30 Seconds to Mars, the demand on their technology was huge, it pushed me to become better quickly,” he recalls. “Their playback system had to be completely adaptable, it wasn\u2019t just hit play on a click track and forget, we were jumping and looping, so I became proficient very quickly.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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![\"Redundant](\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/EF359C38-2519-4F43-87D0-68EE9ED0592C_1_105_c.jpeg\")
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\nWhen the tour came to an end, Carlton<\/strong> founded Nerdmatics, officially launching the company that would later support artists across a wide range of genres.<\/p>\nBy 2014, he was working with Linkin Park, and soon his client list expanded to include Maluma, Becky G, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, among many others. Despite the diversity of artists and productions, his choice of DirectOut devices has remained constant across his systems.<\/p>\n
The platform provides the stability and flexibility required to build playback rigs that can respond dynamically to live performance, rather than locking artists into rigid, predetermined structures.<\/p>\n
“Most big pop shows now are completely locked in; every show is exactly the same, even the interaction with the audience,” Carlton<\/strong> explains. “When you\u2019re dealing with automation for moving stages, or pyrotechnics, it\u2019s dangerous to have the artist in control, but for music and lighting, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n“The desire for spontaneous live music, a shared singular experience that can\u2019t be anticipated, is really exciting and it\u2019s entirely possible to combine that with playback if you have the right set up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Discovering the PRODIGY.MC<\/h2>\n\nFinding the right setup has been an ongoing process of refinement. A major turning point came in 2018, when Carlton<\/strong> was tasked with designing a system for a stadium show for Riot Games. Searching for a solution that could meet the scale and reliability demands of the project, he discovered DirectOut\u2019s PRODIGY.MC.<\/p>\n“When I built these systems in the past, I would probably be combining six or seven companies – I was basically a system integrator,” continues Carlton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n“It wasn\u2019t easy because if there was an issue and I had to call support, and each brand would blame the next. Then DirectOut arrived and it was the first all-in-one system. I now have a built-in switcher, multiple styles of format and network protocol – Dante, MADI, Ravenna, Soundgrid – and they\u2019re all compatible.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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![\"Racks](\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Linkin-park.jpeg\")
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Modular design, full software control<\/h2>\n\nA key advantage for Carlton<\/strong> is the modular architecture of the PRODIGY Series: what began with a single PRODIGY.MC, configured with a Dante card and analogue backup, quickly grew into a long-term collaboration. Today, DirectOut forms the backbone of many Nerdmatics systems, including a recent installation for ILLENIUM at the Sphere: a 128 channel redundant audio system built around two of DirectOut’s Dual Network Dante.Dante SRC.IO cards.<\/p>\nThanks to the dedicated globcon user interface, global system control can be managed by a single operator and even accessed remotely when needed, enabling ongoing support regardless of physical location.<\/p>\n
By keeping audio routing and channel management within DirectOut devices – while handling musical elements through a flexible MIDI based workflow – Carlton<\/strong> maintains a system that feels musical rather than mechanical. This approach preserves spontaneity for the artist, while still providing the reliability and structure required by the wider production team.<\/p>\n“I like to use Ableton in rehearsals, we use MIDI locators to keep things fluid,” he explains. “I can hit play and everyone\u2019s machines will follow, but if something changes, I can just send new locator files to everyone.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s much more efficient than bouncing files after a long day, it’s not just audio tracks and waveforms. DirectOut delivers sample rate conversion and fail over redundancy, while MIDI control allows artists to move freely through their set, enabling them to react to the live audience and cater their set to their wants and needs.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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![\"Maulma](\"https:\/\/www.synthax.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Maluma.jpeg\")
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\nThrough platforms like Patreon, Carlton<\/strong> actively shares his system designs, helping others understand how a DirectOut powered approach can support creativity rather than constrain it.<\/p>\nFor him, a robust playback system does not need to be rigid or overly technical; it can be expressive, adaptive and responsive. “The modular part of my DirectOut systems is super important because people change their minds last minute,” Carlton<\/strong> says.<\/p>\n“By using PRODIGY Series solutions, I can build a system that is maxed out, so I can be asked for anything and it\u2019s not a problem. PRODIGY has done the hard work with its DSP so you can run with every single slot filled and everything happening at once, or you can run a simplified version and it\u2019s happy. That is flexibility on another level, and it makes a world of difference.”<\/p>\n
Explore the full range of DirectOut devices<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\nAbout DirectOut<\/h2>\n
DirectOut is a global leader in the development of professional audio connectivity, networking, and bridging solutions.<\/p>\n
With its innovative Audio Solution Model (ASMTM) and the award\u2010winning PRODIGY Series, DirectOut has evolved from a hardware manufacturer into a strategic provider of integrated, software\u2010enhanced audio workflows.<\/p>\n
Known for uncompromising reliability and German engineering, DirectOut enables seamless interoperability across the most demanding professional audio environments worldwide.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit www.directout.eu<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Fred Carlton (Linkin Park, Drake, Kendrick Lamar<\/em>) on speccing DirectOut for his live sound company Nerdmatics. <\/h2>\nFred Carlton<\/strong> is the owner and operator of Nerdmatics, a Los Angeles\u2013based design team specialising in advanced music performance systems, as well as audio and MIDI software development. He is also a partner at ASAP Sound, a collective providing turnkey solutions for entertainment applications worldwide.<\/p>\nIn the past, designing playback systems often required Carlton<\/strong> to integrate multiple devices from different manufacturers, resulting in complex and fragmented workflows. With DirectOut Smart Audio Platforms, he found a solution capable of addressing even the most demanding system designs. His use of the PRODIGY Series<\/a> is replacing this multi-vendor approach with a unified, integrated platform that consolidates multiple mission-critical functionalities within a single, failsafe device.<\/p>\nStarting out as a musician, Carlton\u2019s<\/strong> career evolved into the technical side of music production. After building guitars for Fender, a chance encounter led him on tour as a guitar technician with 30 Seconds to Mars, an experience that would shape his entire professional path.<\/p>\n“For 30 Seconds to Mars, the demand on their technology was huge, it pushed me to become better quickly,” he recalls. “Their playback system had to be completely adaptable, it wasn\u2019t just hit play on a click track and forget, we were jumping and looping, so I became proficient very quickly.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nWhen the tour came to an end, Carlton<\/strong> founded Nerdmatics, officially launching the company that would later support artists across a wide range of genres.<\/p>\nBy 2014, he was working with Linkin Park, and soon his client list expanded to include Maluma, Becky G, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, among many others. Despite the diversity of artists and productions, his choice of DirectOut devices has remained constant across his systems.<\/p>\n
The platform provides the stability and flexibility required to build playback rigs that can respond dynamically to live performance, rather than locking artists into rigid, predetermined structures.<\/p>\n
“Most big pop shows now are completely locked in; every show is exactly the same, even the interaction with the audience,” Carlton<\/strong> explains. “When you\u2019re dealing with automation for moving stages, or pyrotechnics, it\u2019s dangerous to have the artist in control, but for music and lighting, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n“The desire for spontaneous live music, a shared singular experience that can\u2019t be anticipated, is really exciting and it\u2019s entirely possible to combine that with playback if you have the right set up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Discovering the PRODIGY.MC<\/h2>\n\nFinding the right setup has been an ongoing process of refinement. A major turning point came in 2018, when Carlton<\/strong> was tasked with designing a system for a stadium show for Riot Games. Searching for a solution that could meet the scale and reliability demands of the project, he discovered DirectOut\u2019s PRODIGY.MC.<\/p>\n“When I built these systems in the past, I would probably be combining six or seven companies – I was basically a system integrator,” continues Carlton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n“It wasn\u2019t easy because if there was an issue and I had to call support, and each brand would blame the next. Then DirectOut arrived and it was the first all-in-one system. I now have a built-in switcher, multiple styles of format and network protocol – Dante, MADI, Ravenna, Soundgrid – and they\u2019re all compatible.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Modular design, full software control<\/h2>\n\nA key advantage for Carlton<\/strong> is the modular architecture of the PRODIGY Series: what began with a single PRODIGY.MC, configured with a Dante card and analogue backup, quickly grew into a long-term collaboration. Today, DirectOut forms the backbone of many Nerdmatics systems, including a recent installation for ILLENIUM at the Sphere: a 128 channel redundant audio system built around two of DirectOut’s Dual Network Dante.Dante SRC.IO cards.<\/p>\nThanks to the dedicated globcon user interface, global system control can be managed by a single operator and even accessed remotely when needed, enabling ongoing support regardless of physical location.<\/p>\n
By keeping audio routing and channel management within DirectOut devices – while handling musical elements through a flexible MIDI based workflow – Carlton<\/strong> maintains a system that feels musical rather than mechanical. This approach preserves spontaneity for the artist, while still providing the reliability and structure required by the wider production team.<\/p>\n“I like to use Ableton in rehearsals, we use MIDI locators to keep things fluid,” he explains. “I can hit play and everyone\u2019s machines will follow, but if something changes, I can just send new locator files to everyone.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s much more efficient than bouncing files after a long day, it’s not just audio tracks and waveforms. DirectOut delivers sample rate conversion and fail over redundancy, while MIDI control allows artists to move freely through their set, enabling them to react to the live audience and cater their set to their wants and needs.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThrough platforms like Patreon, Carlton<\/strong> actively shares his system designs, helping others understand how a DirectOut powered approach can support creativity rather than constrain it.<\/p>\nFor him, a robust playback system does not need to be rigid or overly technical; it can be expressive, adaptive and responsive. “The modular part of my DirectOut systems is super important because people change their minds last minute,” Carlton<\/strong> says.<\/p>\n“By using PRODIGY Series solutions, I can build a system that is maxed out, so I can be asked for anything and it\u2019s not a problem. PRODIGY has done the hard work with its DSP so you can run with every single slot filled and everything happening at once, or you can run a simplified version and it\u2019s happy. That is flexibility on another level, and it makes a world of difference.”<\/p>\n
Explore the full range of DirectOut devices<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\nAbout DirectOut<\/h2>\n
DirectOut is a global leader in the development of professional audio connectivity, networking, and bridging solutions.<\/p>\n
With its innovative Audio Solution Model (ASMTM) and the award\u2010winning PRODIGY Series, DirectOut has evolved from a hardware manufacturer into a strategic provider of integrated, software\u2010enhanced audio workflows.<\/p>\n
Known for uncompromising reliability and German engineering, DirectOut enables seamless interoperability across the most demanding professional audio environments worldwide.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit www.directout.eu<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
In the past, designing playback systems often required Carlton<\/strong> to integrate multiple devices from different manufacturers, resulting in complex and fragmented workflows. With DirectOut Smart Audio Platforms, he found a solution capable of addressing even the most demanding system designs. His use of the PRODIGY Series<\/a> is replacing this multi-vendor approach with a unified, integrated platform that consolidates multiple mission-critical functionalities within a single, failsafe device.<\/p>\n Starting out as a musician, Carlton\u2019s<\/strong> career evolved into the technical side of music production. After building guitars for Fender, a chance encounter led him on tour as a guitar technician with 30 Seconds to Mars, an experience that would shape his entire professional path.<\/p>\n “For 30 Seconds to Mars, the demand on their technology was huge, it pushed me to become better quickly,” he recalls. “Their playback system had to be completely adaptable, it wasn\u2019t just hit play on a click track and forget, we were jumping and looping, so I became proficient very quickly.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the tour came to an end, Carlton<\/strong> founded Nerdmatics, officially launching the company that would later support artists across a wide range of genres.<\/p>\n By 2014, he was working with Linkin Park, and soon his client list expanded to include Maluma, Becky G, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, among many others. Despite the diversity of artists and productions, his choice of DirectOut devices has remained constant across his systems.<\/p>\n The platform provides the stability and flexibility required to build playback rigs that can respond dynamically to live performance, rather than locking artists into rigid, predetermined structures.<\/p>\n “Most big pop shows now are completely locked in; every show is exactly the same, even the interaction with the audience,” Carlton<\/strong> explains. “When you\u2019re dealing with automation for moving stages, or pyrotechnics, it\u2019s dangerous to have the artist in control, but for music and lighting, it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n “The desire for spontaneous live music, a shared singular experience that can\u2019t be anticipated, is really exciting and it\u2019s entirely possible to combine that with playback if you have the right set up.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Finding the right setup has been an ongoing process of refinement. A major turning point came in 2018, when Carlton<\/strong> was tasked with designing a system for a stadium show for Riot Games. Searching for a solution that could meet the scale and reliability demands of the project, he discovered DirectOut\u2019s PRODIGY.MC.<\/p>\n “When I built these systems in the past, I would probably be combining six or seven companies – I was basically a system integrator,” continues Carlton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n “It wasn\u2019t easy because if there was an issue and I had to call support, and each brand would blame the next. Then DirectOut arrived and it was the first all-in-one system. I now have a built-in switcher, multiple styles of format and network protocol – Dante, MADI, Ravenna, Soundgrid – and they\u2019re all compatible.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A key advantage for Carlton<\/strong> is the modular architecture of the PRODIGY Series: what began with a single PRODIGY.MC, configured with a Dante card and analogue backup, quickly grew into a long-term collaboration. Today, DirectOut forms the backbone of many Nerdmatics systems, including a recent installation for ILLENIUM at the Sphere: a 128 channel redundant audio system built around two of DirectOut’s Dual Network Dante.Dante SRC.IO cards.<\/p>\n Thanks to the dedicated globcon user interface, global system control can be managed by a single operator and even accessed remotely when needed, enabling ongoing support regardless of physical location.<\/p>\n By keeping audio routing and channel management within DirectOut devices – while handling musical elements through a flexible MIDI based workflow – Carlton<\/strong> maintains a system that feels musical rather than mechanical. This approach preserves spontaneity for the artist, while still providing the reliability and structure required by the wider production team.<\/p>\n “I like to use Ableton in rehearsals, we use MIDI locators to keep things fluid,” he explains. “I can hit play and everyone\u2019s machines will follow, but if something changes, I can just send new locator files to everyone.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s much more efficient than bouncing files after a long day, it’s not just audio tracks and waveforms. DirectOut delivers sample rate conversion and fail over redundancy, while MIDI control allows artists to move freely through their set, enabling them to react to the live audience and cater their set to their wants and needs.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through platforms like Patreon, Carlton<\/strong> actively shares his system designs, helping others understand how a DirectOut powered approach can support creativity rather than constrain it.<\/p>\n For him, a robust playback system does not need to be rigid or overly technical; it can be expressive, adaptive and responsive. “The modular part of my DirectOut systems is super important because people change their minds last minute,” Carlton<\/strong> says.<\/p>\n “By using PRODIGY Series solutions, I can build a system that is maxed out, so I can be asked for anything and it\u2019s not a problem. PRODIGY has done the hard work with its DSP so you can run with every single slot filled and everything happening at once, or you can run a simplified version and it\u2019s happy. That is flexibility on another level, and it makes a world of difference.”<\/p>\n Explore the full range of DirectOut devices<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n DirectOut is a global leader in the development of professional audio connectivity, networking, and bridging solutions.<\/p>\n With its innovative Audio Solution Model (ASMTM) and the award\u2010winning PRODIGY Series, DirectOut has evolved from a hardware manufacturer into a strategic provider of integrated, software\u2010enhanced audio workflows.<\/p>\n Known for uncompromising reliability and German engineering, DirectOut enables seamless interoperability across the most demanding professional audio environments worldwide.<\/p>\n For more information, visit www.directout.eu<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/p>\nDiscovering the PRODIGY.MC<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nModular design, full software control<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nAbout DirectOut<\/h2>\n