CrewLAN is a local communication platform for crews working on live productions. Chat, status updates, shared notes and tables, alerts, and a network-based shoutbox run directly within the local network – reliably, without being tied to the cloud, and independently of a stable internet connection. Crew members simply access a shared workspace through their web browser.
With the release of CrewLAN PRO, the platform is now taking its next decisive step: crew communication can be connected directly to existing production software and event technology.
At the centre of this development is the new CrewLAN Connect app. It expands CrewLAN with OSC, an API, and a dedicated interface for Bitfocus Companion. CrewLAN is therefore evolving from a standalone communication tool into an open and integrable platform for modern production workflows.
During a production, important information is generated in many different places: at the mixing console, in the lighting system, on the media server, within show-control software, or directly among the crew.
CrewLAN PRO brings this information together on a shared level. Status updates can be transmitted automatically, actions can be triggered from external systems, and central CrewLAN functions can be operated through Companion-compatible controllers.
All communication remains local and continues to work even when the internet connection at the venue is unstable or unavailable. CrewLAN thus becomes the link between the crew, software, and technology.
Via OSC, CrewLAN can exchange commands and status information with mixing consoles, lighting systems, media servers, and show-control solutions.
The API enables custom integrations with existing software and production workflows. Production companies, system integrators, and technically experienced users can build their own workflows and transfer data between CrewLAN and external applications.
The dedicated Bitfocus Companion interface makes it possible to assign important CrewLAN functions directly to programmable buttons. These include status updates, alarm resets, and shoutbox control.
CrewLAN PRO does not replace existing systems and is not intended to displace established standards. Instead, the platform connects existing solutions and creates a shared local layer for communication, status information, and actions within a production.
This is where the potential of CrewLAN PRO lies: different departments, software solutions, and technical systems can exchange information without depending on the cloud, a specific manufacturer, or a stable internet connection.
CrewLAN remains quick and straightforward to use for smaller productions. At the same time, the PRO version now provides the interfaces required for more complex production environments, custom integrations, and automated workflows.
CrewLAN PRO is therefore more than an expanded feature package. It marks the transition from a local crew tool to an open communication layer for modern live productions – and an important step towards a new standard for event communication.
