Czech public radio broadcaster Czech Radio has upgraded its Riedel Artist intercom infrastructure as part of an ongoing system expansion.
Having installed the Artist wired intercom system as a versatile and reliable means of communication between individual workplaces with straightforward expansion options, the broadcaster subsequently scaled up its intercom system to accommodate changes in technology and operations.
‘In 15 years of collaboration with Riedel Communications, we have seen the seamless evolution of the Artist ecosystem,’ says Czech Radio CTO, Karel Zyka. ‘Thanks to thoughtful development by Riedel, we have been able to extend and upgrade our Artist infrastructure over time, without the need for a complete renewal of our intercom system.’
Over the years since its initial installation in 2009, Czech Radio has graduated from early versions up to the Artist-1024. and from early Riedel RCP and DCP Series intercom panels to next-generation SmartPanels. With Smart Informatics taking care of the system integration and support, the infrastructure now comprises one new Artist-1024 frame, three Artist-64 matrices, almost 120 intercom panels, including RSP-1232 and RSP-1216 SmartPanels, and a new Bolero wireless intercom system.
‘One of the reasons we recommended Riedel products to Czech Radio is their exceptionally long lifespan,’ says Smart Informatics MD, Tomas Vesely. ‘The company’s older products operate seamlessly with newer generation solutions, making for future-proof investments. What’s more, these innovative solutions continue to amaze with new unique features like the new 1200 Series SmartPanel’s Syntonous Mode, which enables flexible and efficient connections to remote locations.’
Czech Radio operates ten nationwide stations and a further 14 regional stations. Some of the regional studios are connected via VoIP, while others are connected via the SmartPanel’s Syntonous Mode, a feature that connects 1200 Series SmartPanels in wide area networks. In Syntonous Mode, the SmartPanel supports AES67 connections to the Artist matrix with high-path delay and without PTP synchronisation. AES67 with Syntonous Mode provides high-quality audio with low latency, making it a powerful alternative to VoIP connections.
‘Artist’s versatile feature set enables entirely new workflows for us, and we appreciate the variability of possible connections, the simple and user-friendly environment, and, above all, the system’s reliability,’ Zyka says. ‘We are the public broadcaster; we can’t allow mistakes. That’s why we use Riedel’s intercom technology. Also, the cooperation between Riedel and Smart Informatics is excellent. We especially love the fast service and almost nonstop support.’
In most situations, two technicians, a producer and one or two presenters use the Artist system for communication between work sites and for Madi interconnection to a third-party switching system. At the news stations, teams use the panels’ GPIO for on-air signaling to remote workplaces. For communication at outdoor events, they use the Bolero wireless intercom, which consists of two antennas, four beltpacks and a NSA analogue converter.
‘Czech Radio is a perfect example of modern broadcasters that must upgrade their facilities by degrees as they transition to IP infrastructure and other new technologies,’ says Riedel Communications Eastern Europe Senior Sales Manager, Ismet Bozkurt. ‘Our long relationship with Czech Radio is proof of Riedel’s ability to provide reliable communications infrastructure products that integrate easily and support the need to add on and swap out as needed, instead of ripping and replacing everything at once. We’re grateful for Czech Radio’s continued trust.’
More: www.smartinformatics.cz/en
More: www.riedel.net
