DJzone DJ Magazine

Topradio, the biggest dance music radio station in Belgium, has installed the final piece in its digital jigsaw, becoming the first broadcaster in the country to specify Soundcraft's RM1ds compact digital on-air broadcast console.

Headquartered in Ghent, Topradio is a privately owned network that successfully targets the 16-24 youth market with a menu of chart hits and dance music. This year, the station has opened a new on-air studio and, on the advice of specialist broadcast installation company TVV Sound, has installed a Soundcraft RM1ds.

"All the studio infrastructure is digital, from the computers to the sound processors," explains TVV's Edo Dyjkstra, "so it made sense to stay within the digital domain with the console as well and to enjoy the other advantages, such as much less cabling and the flexibility of this console. Unlike other digital desks, everything is inside the RM1ds, so you can change between formats without having to run out and buy additional units to enable this. It's not only a fantastic price/performance package, but the RM1ds is also a very easy console to maintain."

Ten years ago, Topradio was equipped with one of the first SAC200 on-air mixers from Soundcraft. Today, its new stand-up studio is not only the first in Belgium to have Soundcraft's digital desk technology, but it is one of the first in the world to order the on-air model in its 12-fader-plus-script-tray frame format.

Soundcraft is a leading British manufacturer of professional mixing consoles and devices for live, broadcast, theatre, recording and DJ markets. The company's products are distributed in the US by Harman Pro North America (HPNA), which also distributes products for Studer. HPNA is a subsidiary of Harman International Industries.