Regarded as a "most modern studio" at the beginning of the 1990s, the privately operated radio station had outgrown its old location by 2012, and was no longer at the cutting edge of technology. Since then, the 'Löwenbräu' Area of Zurich has provided an ideal new space - not more than 1200ft from its old location. Here, SLG constructed an entire studio complex at the beginning of 2013 in the time-honoured 'blue hall' in the Löwenbräu Area.
In a record-breaking construction period of just two months, two state-of-the-art broadcast studios and associated equipment rooms were built, plus 24 editors' workplaces, some with an audio-over-IP connection. Rounding out the facility, is a layout studio and a stage for small performances, a digital-signage-system for TV and informational, displays and an automatic camera system for webstreaming.
Both studios are identically equipped, using Lawo sapphire mixing consoles. These are each fitted with 12 faders and include a central module that can be operated by the host. Additionally, each desk is complemented by an additional 4-fader module for the news presenter or co-host, each with its own overbridge and configurable touchscreen. In the production studio, a Lawo crystal was installed to mix live performances on the stage and record them to a Pro Tools DAW. The crystal and the DAW are both connected to the central router via MADI.
It was also possible to include the station's OB-van in the new facility. Built six years ago as a VRS (Virtual Remote Studio), this has been incorporated into the new technical environment by adapting its software. VRS enables the hosts and technical staff to access services in the broadcast studio from a remote location, as if they were present in the facility. Reference monitoring is taken care of using PMC "twotwo" loudspeakers.
(Jim Evans)
