HHB Helps Uni Radio Go Digital

HHB Communications has provided University Radio Nottingham with two Studer OnAir 1500 audio mixers for both of its studios as part of a major refurbishment.
Over the summer of 2012, University Radio Nottingham replaced the core of its technical infrastructures with new equipment, cabling and studio furniture. The extensive new facilities are based around sophisticated digital audio technology comprised of the OnAir 1500 mixers, a DirectOut Andiamo MADI audio router and Lynx digital sound cards. The digital audio equipment package was specified and supplied by HHB, and the installation work was carried out by radio staff.
University Radio Nottingham is based in Nottingham University’s Portland Building and provides 16 hours of programming, seven days a week over AM radio and the Internet. Retaining the traditional dual studio plus central news/production office layout, the routing functions of the Studer OnAir 1500 mixers has been configured to create a facility wide audio matrix. Both mixers are fitted with MADI expansion cards and the Relink I/O sharing software option. A DirectOut Andiamo (analogue to MADI converter) is installed in the central technical rack and fibre MADI cables have been used to create a multi-channel audio loop. Lynx Studio AES16e (AES PCIe audio) cards are fitted to the station’s audio computers and connect to the OnAir 1500’s AES/EBU ports. Audio signals from each area can be routed and shared across the facility with a high degree of flexibility.
"This is first major upgrade of the studio facilities in over ten years," comments Robin Murphy, the outgoing Station Editor. "We run a diverse range of radio programmes from news, sports, outside broadcasts to music shows, and with a large number of presenters with different levels of experience. The Studer mixers offer an impressive level of flexibility and we’ve been able to integrate them with our playout systems and red-light switching. The MADI distribution system has allowed us to rationalise the audio cabling and replace analogue multi-core with fibre cables."
"University Radio Nottingham’s new facility is very impressive and professional,” states HHB Educational Sales Manager Andrew Hingley. “The staff is largely made up of a very knowledgeable group of volunteers and many of the installation team have already graduated from the University. This installation also highlights that the continued popularity of MADI technology has made it affordable for radio facilities of all sizes."
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