Cadena Melodía de Colombia, a long-established Colombian radio network, has upgraded the main studios at its headquarters in Bogotá with SX2 audio production consoles from DHD.audio. The project, carried out by local systems integrator Aspa Andina, included digitizing the broadcaster’s core production facilities.
Founded in 1967 following the merger of Radio Industrial and Melodía FM Estéreo, Cadena Melodía operates a national network that expanded during the 1980s to cities including Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Cartagena de Indias, Barranquilla, Cali and Pasto. The broadcaster also distributes its programming online in HD audio, extending its reach beyond terrestrial AM transmission for listeners inside and outside Colombia.
According to Aspa Andina, the installation positions Cadena Melodía as the first radio station in Colombia to base its studio digitization around DHD’s SX2 control surface. Juan Pablo León, technical director, commercial, at Aspa Andina, said, “This upgrade of Cadena Melodía’s studios in the Glass Building on Bogotá’s 45th Street sets a benchmark as the first station in Colombia to have entrusted its digitization process to DHD’s SX2 control surface.”
León said the system allows multiple studios to be interconnected using Cat6 Ethernet cabling, with the SX2 consoles supporting both production mixing and flexible audio routing. “In addition to their role as production mixers, the SX2 control surfaces can be used to perform audio routing from any available input to assigned outputs, including recording tools, booth monitoring, audio codec returns and hybrid outputs,” he said, adding that routing is managed via a 10-inch multitouch screen integrated into each modular surface.
This upgrade…sets a benchmark as the first station in Colombia to have entrusted its digitization process to DHD’s SX2 control surface
Juan Pablo León, technical director, commercial, at Aspa Andina
A technological renewal
Each SX2 console is equipped with motorized faders, enabling the use of a virtual microphone mixer on a secondary layer. León said this approach helped optimize space and cost in the broadcast master control area while supporting automatic mixing. “Studio microphones are routed to one of the 16 available program buses, controlled using DHD’s Automix tool, which simplifies console operation,” he said.
The system supports a wide range of audio input and output formats and includes headphone connections with independent level control, allowing announcers to receive individualized return feeds. These can include dedicated talkback or instructions from Cadena Melodía’s master control room when required.
The installation also includes a telephone hybrid that is fully controlled from the DHD console. According to Aspa Andina, it supports traditional POTS and PSTN lines as well as VoIP telephony, with additional two-way wireless connectivity via Bluetooth-enabled smartphones for listener interaction. The system can also interface with GSM networks.
“In summary, we appreciate the trust of the entire management, technical and administrative team of Cadena Melodía de Colombia for allowing us to continue being part of the technological renewal of radio in the country,” León said.
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