Radio World’s Buyer’s Guide section this month focuses on consoles and mixers.
Swiss private broadcaster CH Media has installed seven new Lawo diamond mixing consoles in the on-air control rooms and production rooms at Zurich’s Radio 24.
Diamond is a modular AES67-compliant AoIP console, which gives buyers the flexibility to design consoles that meet their operational requirements, according to Lawo.
“Because diamond is IP-native, its modules can be combined into a traditional single-unit mixer, or used separately as distributed surfaces that all work together,” the company states.
At Radio 24, the three on-air studios share an identical setup. Workstations for a host and co-host, a news position, plus space for two guests are integrated into a table in the center of each studio. The host operates a 12-fader diamond with central control module, which is split into two sections and flush-mounted into the desk, and is complemented by a Lawo VisTool control screen.
The co-host also has a four-fader diamond control surface, plus VisTool and playout system screens. A two-fader diamond module for the newscaster completes each studio.
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Dominik Widmer, host of the Radio 24 morning show, described the diamond as intuitive — fast and comfortable to work with. “After a short time, you operate it without even looking.” He said users appreciate the logically arranged controls, the feel of quality and its compact size. “The table can be used optimally, leaving plenty of space for notes and other things.”
Diamond complies with current AoIP standards including AES67/Ravenna audio-over-IP networking standards as well as ST2110-30/-31 and ST2022-7. It is powered by Lawo’s Power Core DSP mixing engine, which in addition to AES67 and MADI ports provides expandable I/O via plug-in cards for analog, AES3 and Dante.
The diamond surface supports console sizes from two to 60 physical faders, and up to 120 virtual faders. A new Virtual Extension option provides touchscreen operation of console functions as well as integrated control of other studio hardware and software.
The consoles can be remote-controlled via LAN or WAN via PC connection with access to every function, suitable for distributed facilities and work-from-home applications.
