Prosound solutions support community radio
Published: MEA
SOUTH AFRICA: Prosound has supplied systems to support the broadcast operations of a number of community radio stations. The distributor and systems integrator has recently provided budget-conscious solutions to Radio Medunsa, Thetha FM and Joyous Radio.
Radio Medunsa at the Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) in Garankuwa was looking for a new on-air and production studio. During an initial site visit the budgetary constraints for this project were discussed, and Prosound came up with a design that utilised professional broadcast equipment, but within the constraints of the required budget.
Central to the design was AEQ’s Capitol digital broadcast mixer; a compact digital mixer designed with community radio studios in mind. Electro-Voice RE320 broadcast microphones, Audio-Technica headphones and Tannoy studio monitoring completed the system.
The simplified design allowed the Prosound installation team to prepare the complete system in-house, pre-wiring all the equipment and testing it. The system was then ‘flatpacked’ and shipped to site, thereby minimising time spent on site and reducing the installation costs. The production studio, to be used for the production of jingles and promotional segments as well as being a back-up on-air studio, was constructed in a flight-case, turning it into a mobile studio for outside broadcasts on the campus.
The second installation at Thetha FM called on much of the same equipment. The Orange Farm community radio station had moved its location to a shopping mall and required a new system for its on-air studio. The compact solution from Prosound again called on the AEQ Capitol mixer alongside the EV RE320 mics.
Finally, Joyous Radio is a gospel station based in Dube, Soweto. It has had an online presence for three years and has its sights set on an FM broadcasting licence in the future. Prosound has provided an on-air studio solution for Joyous Radio that incorporates its current live streaming, but will allow the transition to FM broadcasting. Again, an Electro-Voice RE320 microphone is used for the presenter, but this time an Audio-Technica Pro62 vocal microphone has been supplied for guests. The AEQ Capitol is once again the mixer of choice fitting into the client’s budget whilst allowing flexibility with its digital routing engine and various inputs and outputs.