Spanish music station Supermix FM recently upgraded its broadcasting studios in Murcia. Sound engineer Juan Pablo Magarian Solakian recommended AEQ’s Forum Split and Capitol IP mixers.
“I love the AEQ mic preamps,” says Solakian, “you can use any low- or high-end microphone, and it will sound great. The idea of putting the same control on the input and output of the compressor is great. It gives a lot of impact to the voice. The EQ can brighten up vocals, yet the desk is quite quiet, with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. The sound of the console is crystal clear and has a spectacular loudness.”
The installation team used a TV screen on the wall to better view the VU meters, auxiliary sends and MPX. It also allowed them to adjust the EQ and dynamics processes precisely.
“The built-in digital hybrid canceller works great, and the fact that you can equalize and compress the phone gives it body and makes the calls sound better on air. It also includes the frequency extender mode, typical of AEQ hybrids, which improves the sound quality,” says Solakian. “Unlike other manufacturers in the market with digital mixers that tend to have a “colder” sound, AEQ’s digital mixers provide a sound closer to old school analog.”
DJ-themed impact
The team added an external sub-mixer. Supermix FM is a DJ-themed station, so there is usually more than one mixing. They sent the signal through the AES-EBU input and used the limiter compressor. Having the input and output in a single volume control gives a lot of impact to the line inputs in the same way that it acts on the microphone inputs, thus compensating the peaks and generating greater depth.
Solakian says that knowing the director of the station, Jorge Giovanny Cueva, and being aware that he always bets for superb sound quality, the best option has been installing the AEQ Capitol mixer since the operators mentioned the ease of operation, its easy handling and above all its sound quality. “In terms of price-performance ratio at the moment, there is nothing better on the market than AEQ’s digital consoles — their performance is spectacular.”
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