Radio Kol-Chai Chooses DHD Audio Mixers

Radio Kol-Chai, a broadcast and live streaming station based in the city of Bnei Brak just east of Tel Aviv, has chosen DHD audio mixers and processing cores as part of a relocation to new production studios.

The system was integrated by Jerusalem-based audio technology specialist Broadcast Design Ltd. It includes four DHD SX2 consoles – two with 16 faders and two with 22 faders – and 11 TX2 compact multifunction touch panels. Six of the 11 TX2 mixers are assigned for use by the host and the producer in each studio, plus two for the edit booths, two for supervisors and one for the TV control room. Processing and network interfacing are performed in DHD XC3 cores.

Established in 1996, Radio Kol-Chai produces two channels of audio and video content: Radio Kol-Chai FM and Radio Kol-Chai Music. Radio Kol-Chai FM’s output includes news, live discussion, podcasts and music as well as general information and entertainment. The channels are broadcast six days a week on 93.0 FM across central Israel and 92.8 FM to the Jerusalem district. Live streamed and on-demand programmes are also accessible at www.93fm.co.il to a much wider online audience. 
 
"We have integrated four studios," said Micha Blum, founder and CEO of Broadcast Design. "Studio 4 will be used for video production and is equipped with a 22-fader DHD SX2. Studio 1 is for Kol-Chai’s general channel and Studio 2 for Kol Chai Music. Studio 3 is assigned for recording and can also operate as a backup presentation studio. Every studio and every voiceover booth can be assigned to any channel. One of the two editing booths can also be deployed for Top of the Hour news presentation.

"Radio Kol Chai broadcasts a lot of shows, news bulletins and hourly newscasts from other locations such as its Jerusalem studios or from a host at home. This requires complex talkback and codec management between these sites and the producer, editor and technician based at the Bnei Brak headquarters. DHD audio consoles were chosen because they can be used to manage all the feeds, codec assignment, monitoring, talkbacks, alarms and silence detection in addition to their audio mixing and production roles, without need of any third-party equipment."

"The DHD system also allows any of the control room mixing consoles to be assigned easily to any studio. The main studio has a dedicated control room. This can be assigned to handle a live broadcast, for example, while the studio is used to record an entirely different production. We configured automatic routing which handles bidirectional talkbacks between host, producer and technician independently to more than eight audio codecs. with clear status indication to avoid any errors."

"The relocation was an ideal time to integrate more advanced interconnection architecture as it increases operational efficiency and simplifies future system expansion. The feeds from each studio to the master control room are sent via DHD’s APC Audio which allows connection of a multiple audio channels via standard point-to-point network cables. The system will additionally be used for Radio Kol-Chai’s visual radio productions. We also provided training to the Radio Kol-Chai ops team and support technicians."

"DHD audio mixing consoles have performed very effectively for us for the past 10 years," summarised Radio Kol-Chai project manager Assaf Klein. "They are robustly built and have intuitive controls supported by onscreen status and signal level displays. That combination gives our operators the full confidence they need to work live. Our technical staff appreciate the ease with which each DHD mixer can be configured plus the ability to provide IP-connected help via DHD’s Assist WebApp if needed for an unusual production routine or for a guest presenter. System settings such as routing and monitoring can be supervised on a TFT screen in the master control room. An authorised operator can access the Assist app from any location via a web browser. Every studio also has a DHD Assist App license which allows technical support on any console."

DHD’s SX2 console is based on a four-fader central module. The central module gives access to the most important audio inputs and outputs. A microphone input and headphone output are included and loudspeakers can be connected directly. SX2 consoles expand beyond four channels by adding one or more modules with six motorised faders each. This allows the integration of up to 20 channels. Central and fader modules each incorporate a 10.1 inch multi-touch display showing relevant configuration and operating parameters. SX2 features can be extended simply by adding optional license codes to the DSP core, allowing extra faders, busses and clean-feeds. Functions such as loudness metering and talkback to other DHD mixers are also supported.

DHD's TX2 is a multitouch mixing console with an intuitive control interface for daily operation at news desks, as co-host panels, in edit suites and in SNG vehicles. Its flat table-top design includes a 10.1-inch multitouch display, two assignable potentiometers and six silent multicolour hardware buttons, allowing professional audio mixing on a small footprint. The most important connectors are available directly in the device for telephone interviews or dubbing. A single network cable connects the TX2 to a core processor or concentrator. The cable carries all audio and control signals, plus power, up to 100 m from the core. The TX2 is a very useful and easy way to extend any DHD system. It can be used with XC3 or XD3 cores as standalone device or as part of a larger mixing system and does not require a PC for operation.

DHD digital signal processing cores form the heart of every DHD system, connecting control surfaces, perform input/output routing and interfacing with the outside world. IP audio feeds as well as IP-connected remote device control can be closely integrated. Automated workflows and product virtualisation are also supported. Occupying just 1U of rack space, the XC3 IP core is designed for use in on-air studios. It comprises two dual-core DSP modules which combine into 1U. These jointly support up to 48 stereo faders, 72 stereo buses and 16 channels of AES67 IP audio. IPx expansion modules can be added to accommodate 128 channels of AES67/Ravenna IP audio in/out plus up to 512 Dante channels. A companion module, the XC3 Concentrator, allows easy interconnection of multiple DHD IPx modules, control surfaces and I/O modules.

www.dhd-audio.com
www.broadcastdesign.co.il