HHB Supplies Hospital Radio

HHB Communications recently supplied Radio Northwick Park (RNP) with a 12-fader Studer OnAir 1500 console for its hospital radio broadcast.
RNP Technical Officer Ben Hart chose the OnAir 1500 system with two additional analogue input cards and XLR cable looms to replace the station's Soundcraft RM1D digital mixer after a demo at HHB's London HQ.
Radio Northwick Park is a registered charity that has been run by volunteers for more than 40 years, providing patient visiting and a broadcast entertainment service to the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust.
Ben explains that the RNP presenters have found the OnAir 1500 to be a very user-friendly console that have taken to very well: "It is a straightforward and easy to use system, so the learning curve for the presenters was minimal. It is also very customisable so I am able to do a lot more behind the scenes and lock down certain features so that they can't get themselves in trouble."
Another safe guard for presenters is the OnAir 1500's remote facilities, which allows Ben to control any of the features from any computer logged into the radio station's network.
He comments: "The presenters often make use of the extensive features to customise the system to suit their own style, but I can log in remotely and reset or control any of the features immediately, which saves me the journey to the station if something goes wrong or presenters need support."
Designed as a flexible hybrid solution for radio broadcasting and production, the OnAir 1500 is comprised of a grade fader unit and additional I/O and offers integrated USB playback and record functions. Northwick's local Hospedia broadcast distribution system is not a digital network; however, the OnAir 1500 is connected via its analogue outputs, and the compact control unit hides in a rack in a cupboard below the presenter's desk.
Ben states that demoing the OnAir 1500 system at HHB's HQ was invaluable to the selection process: "Although I had read the manual and did my research, I wanted to see and use one so that I was sure it was the best choice for the station. HHB was very helpful and knowledgeable throughout the process."
HHB Sales Manager Andrew Hingley comments: "Ben had a clear idea of his requirements and immediately felt at ease with the OnAir 1500 system. It is a very attractive product for a charity and community-media based radio station because it is both feature rich and cost effective."
hhb.co.uk
(IT/JP)