Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster Mediaset has upgraded three of its Virgin Radio studios with three Lawo ruby audio broadcast consoles, a Power Core DSP mixing engine and VisTool control software providing the backbone for fully IP-based production. Also part of the upgrade are Lawo Rǝlay virtual radio solutions that will permit hardware-independent on-air and production work.

The Power Core mixing engine found within Lawo’s ruby mixing console is fully Ravenna/AES67 compliant, and features network-link redundancy (to ST2022-7 standard) to help ensure uninterrupted broadcasts. High-density Madi and Ravenna interfaces are both standard, while eight expansion slots permit the addition of mic, line, AES3, Dante and studio I/O.

Lawo VisTool is a customisable touchscreen control environment for modern radio operations. Using context-sensitive onscreen controls, VisTool enables talent to mix and route audio using the same touchscreen environment used by other studio tools, and can even integrate controls for studio applications such as playout systems, phone systems and codecs directly into the mixing workflow.

ARET and Lawo have worked together on this project to deliver high-level integration between the ruby console and the VisTool interface. Talent can manage the entire radio environment with just a few mouse clicks, and operators can choose to use either the ruby hardware, or the VisTool interface to work virtually in every studio control room.

The three studios share resources like codecs, playout and programme feeds via Ravenna, with pre-configured logic programming for easy, intuitive operation – a set-up that delivers efficient, fast, and flexible workflows for all talent. Studio switching is accomplished using just two buttons – Enable and Studio xx – found on both the ruby surface and the VisTool display. The Lawo Power Core’s internal matrix switches the chosen studios to antenna after analysing the outgoing signal by DMS and internal logic.

Further logic integration is present in the form of yellow blinking fader lamps on the consoles that inform talent of programme silence. In this state, any operator can check and adjust the audio signal path quickly and easily to bring the studio on-air again. If there is no on-air session from the control room and silence is detected, the Power Core switches to a backup signal.

According to ARET, the new Virgin Radio studios have given flawless service since their commissioning earlier this year: ‘Since the new studios were placed on the air, staff have told us that their intuitive controls and seamless performance make producing their shows smoother and easier than ever. The advantages of an all-IP infrastructure are clear: better technology plus better workflow equals better radio.’