RTVS Completes Control Room Refurbishment

Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) has recently completed the renovation of RTVS Slovak Radio's Studio 2 control room, consisting of a new Genelec 5.1 system.

The projects represent the latest stage in a long and successful relationship between Genelec and its regional partner, Centron Slovakia. For more than 20 years, the two companies have provided a number of bespoke solutions across the recording, broadcasting and post-production markets. Working to promote Genelec monitors throughout that time has been Brand Manager Richard Varkonda.

Varkonda has helped to shape the Slovakian industry, bringing his design touch to projects, as well as his understanding of Genelec's technology. From specifying 1037 stereo mains into regional recording studios in the 1990s, to creating 1032-based 5.1 and 7.1 surround systems in the early 2000s, Varkonda has sought to deploy the latest Genelec innovations. Highlights include supplying the Slovak National Theatre with a solution based on the three-way 1038B.

"The audio system for the Slovak National Theatre was designed by the general contractor for the theatre, who already understood their monitoring requirements and selected Genelec as the optimum solution," explained Varkonda, adding that having agreed the system for the main control room, Centron was then invited to submit a plan for the video element of the design, plus accompanying monitoring. "Thus we installed a 5.1 system based on 8020 monitors in the video control room as well."

Another project in 2011 arose when Centron was asked to redesign the recording control room of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra. "The Slovak Philharmonic was under total reconstruction and included within the proposed plan was a new control room for music recording," Varkonda said. "I completely redesigned the acoustics of the 5.1 control room– they chose us as an AV turnkey subcontractor including audio, video, stage lighting and all acoustic design, and this was a chance for me to introduce a completely digital infrastructure into the room, largely thanks to the 1238CF SAM Monitor.We saved a lot of money by avoiding the need for an analogue matrix and converters – and we achieved bit-to-bit perfect reproduction."

Most recently came the refurbishment of Studio 2 within RTVS Slovak Radio, which is home to the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.

"There were already a number of sound engineers within RTVS who had experience with Genelec, and who had attended a presentation of SAM technology, hosted by Genelec R&D Director Dr Aki Mäkivirta, in 2015," said Varkonda. "At that time, they recognised Genelec products as a new reference point for their facility. The technical director, Mr Zachar, and Chief Sound Engineer, Lubos Valky, decided that Genelec was the best brand for them, and so they chose my design."

The control room is now equipped with a 5.1 SAM system based on three-way 1238AC front channels and 1237A rear channels, plus a pair of 7271 subwoofers. The room is the only RTVS facility with monitors flush mounted into the walls.

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(JP/MH)