Many smaller stations are looking for low cost digital desks as they upgrade their facilities in preparation for digital radio and audio streaming. radioinfo looks at more digital desks on display at SMPTE09.
Klotz
The Xenon desk is Klotz’ low cost offering for stations wanting to put in a digital desk, but without the money to afford the top end Vadis model which has been installed in many capital city stations.
Keith Prestige (pictured below) ran through the benefits of the Xenon model, which is priced at about $15,000 for a 12 fader unit.
The Xenon comes in a “box to go,” with combinations of analog and digital inputs and outputs to make it easy to drop into a table and to interface with other studio equipment. For a full tech spec, click to see the brochure here.
It is being used in university stations including Charles Sturt Uni, Newcastle Uni, Armidale, AFTRS and Curtin Uni WA. Prime Radio network has recently purchased 13 desks, and the Xenon is also in stations such as Gove FM Northern Terroitory and Joy FM Melbourne.
The unit does not need a separate computer ‘engine’ so is preferred for some studio situations. It does not offer variable configurable fader assignments like the more expensive model desks, so the faders remain fixed once a configuration is agreed. It sits flat on the desk, although some stations have built in a riser which lifts it a little so it slants towards the operator.
Meters are built in at top right and there is a handy ‘reporter input’ which can easily allow recorders or iPods to be plugged straight into the desk for quick replay.
More information at www.klotzdigital.com or contact Keith Prestidge on 0417 322 658
Elan Audio
Elan also offers a digital desk model, named Eagle in keeping with the other bird names in the Elan console product range.
The Eagle modular mixer is another “box to go” with the digital computer engine functions all built in to the console. The 12 channel model on display at SMPTE09 is priced at $16,500. A larger 16 channel unit is also available.
Like most Elan products, it is designed for good user serviceability, with the top able to life up so that cables can be accessed. Computer cable inputs are pluggable and wires are fixed into screw-in lugs. There is no patch bay on the back, all connections are hidden out of the way of fiddling fingers inside the top of the unit, which also keeps cost down.
Balanced mic and line inputs are available, as is telephone hybrid interface. The output can be configured for digital AES-EBU as well as analog. For a full tech spec, click to see the brochure here.
The desk can be programmed through a computer in the same way as other digital desks, but Elan has used the very simple Windows Hyperterminal interface to access the config setup.
Regional commercial radio operator Grant Broadcasters has ordered some of these desks, Super Radio Network has put it into 2SM, 2HD/NewFM and 2TM, and it is also at community stations 2XX Canberra and Twin Cities Perth. The Eagle has been on the market for 18 months.
More information at www.elan.com.au or contact Angelo D’Agostino (pictured below) on 08 9277 3500.
