Broadcast EAST COAST RADIO
One of the leading
commercial radio stations in South
Africa is situated in KZN with their
studios in Umhlanga. Claiming to be
KZN’s No.1 Hit Music Station, they
broadcast throughout KZN.
After broadcasting from the same studios for 17
years. East Coast Radio decided that it was
time to update the broadcast technology and
acoustics of their studio complex.
A decision was made early in the project to
remain at the current location, but build a new
studio facility with modern look and feel that still
honoured the corporate identity. The new facility
would be designed to meet operational
requirement, while also being a world class radio
broadcasting facility.
MMPS was commissioned to provide a full
consultancy and turnkey solution for KZN’s No 1
Hit Music Station. Our appointment included
broadcast technology, furniture design, acoustics,
mechanical, electrical, interior finishes,
procurement, project management, installation
and commissioning.
Taking into account the operational requirements
of East Coast Radio, Mtshali Moss Professional
Services developed a conceptual design in
conjunction with the client. This concept was then
refined and visualised with 3D renders by our
interior designer for client approval. Following the
approval process the technical requirements were
developed to industry best practise in conjunction
with our network of specialist consultants and
equipment suppliers.
The new on-air facility consists of two On Air
Studios, associated Production Control Rooms
and a News Booth. The new technical support
facility houses four Production Booths, a Voice
booth and Main Control Room. Non technical
areas included in our work scope included a new
DJ Lounge and Green Room.
The DJ Prep Station and Green Room included
brand new DJ Lockers, a state of the art
kitchenette, funky lounge area, show prep
stations and an on-air talent meeting area.
The studio complex is located on a prominent
rise in Umhlanga so the brief from the client
included a requirement that the studios should
have a view of the ocean – something that the
old studios could not have.
East Coast Radio also had unique requirements
including that the main On Air Studio include a
large video wall, space for five presenters and
controller together with a dedicated area for live
On Air music performances for visiting artists.
Radio broadcast studios have to maintain a first
class acoustics environment in terms of both
isolation and insulation. With the large sea facing
glazing and LED screens in the studios, we
designed a wide band acoustic ceiling to minimise
reverberation times, comb filtering and direct
reflections that would otherwise degrade the
sound picked up by the microphones.
Acoustic absorption panels were used to meet
acoustic environment requirements while also
being used to re-enforce the corporate identity.
As radio studios broadcast for a 24/7 period, the
air-con for the studio complex had to be robust,
quiet and capable of handling the extremes of the
harsh seaside weather. The air-con was designed
to meet psychometric requirements while still
achieving better than NC25 noise figures. This low
noise figure was especially critical as a number of
the client’s radio programs consisted of music as
well as long periods of live microphone.
The digital broadcast hardware centered around
the class leading AXIA Fusion Mixers in the On
Air Studios with more cost effective AXIA DesQ
consoles in the Production Booths. For continuity
the Client’s existing ProTools stations and Brand
digital broadcast software were integrated into the
new solution with all connectivity being done in
the digital domain to maintain signal quality and
integrity.
While all of our technical design are optimised
for functionality they also incorporated design
elements that reflected the corporate identity
and especially the sound wave patterns of their
logo.
With commissioning of a world class broadcast
system installation East Coast Radio will sound
good for years to come.