Radio World - November 19, 2008 - (Page 13)

Can a radio console be over-engineered? (Only if you think “good enough” really is good enough.) The radio console, redefined. Building a great console is more than punching holes in sheet metal and stuffing a few switches in them. Building a great console takes time, brain-power and determination. That’s why Axia has hired brilliant engineers who are certified “OCD”: Obsessive Console Designers, driven to create the most useful, powerful, hardestworking consoles in the world. government sucks in taxes. By contrast, our silkysmooth conductiveplastic faders actuate from the side, so that grunge can’t get in. And our rotary controls are high-end optical encoders, rated for more than five million rotations. No wipers to clean or wear out — they’ll last so long, they’ll outlive your mother-in-law (and that’s saying something). Element ’s avionics-grade switches are cut from the same cloth. Our design team was so obsessed with finding the perfect long-life components that they actually built a mechanical “finger” to test switches! Some supposedly “long life” switches failed after just 100,000 activations; but when Beneath the surface There’s more to a great board than just features. Consoles have to be rugged, to perform flawlessly 24/7, 365 days-a-year, for years at a time. So we literally scoured the globe for the absolute best parts — hardware that will take the torture that jocks dish out on a daily basis. sticking the Lexan to the top of the module like some folks do, our overlays are inlaid on the milled aluminum module faces to keep the edges from cracking and peeling — expensive to make, but worth it. For extra protection, there are custom bezels around faders, switches and buttons to guard those edges, too. Which means that Element modules will look great for years. By the way, those on/off keys, fader knobs and bezels are our own design, custom-molded to give positive tactile feedback. The switch is flush with the top of the bezel, so it’s easy to find by touch. But if something gets dropped on it, the bezel keeps the switch from being accidentally activated. More than just products Even the best products are nothing without great support. So Axia employs an amazing network of people to provide the best support possible: Application Engineers with years of experience in mapping out radio studios the most knowledgeable, friendly sales people in the biz Support Engineers who were formerly broadcast engineers. Plus a genius design team, software authors who dream code one of the largest R&D teams in broadcast. And now Axia has become radio’s first console company to offer 24/7 support, 365 days a year. Chances are you’ll never need that assistance, but if you do, we’ll be ready for you. Our ‘round-the247 clock help line is +1-216-622-0247. 0 -622PORT Element frames are constructed from custom aluminum extrusions for maximum rigidity. Module face plates & console side panels are machined from thick plate aluminum. Even the hand rest is a beefy extrusion. All this heavy metal means even the most ham-handed jock can’t dent it.. First, Element is fabricated from thick, machined aluminum extrusions for rigidity and RF immunity. The result: a board that will stand up to nearly anything. With so many devices in the studio these days, the last thing anyone needs is gear with a noisy cooling fan. That’s why Element’s powersupply is fanless, for perfectly silent operation inside the studio. Element modules are hot-swappable, of course, and quickly removable. They connect to the frame via CAT-5, so pulling one is as simple as removing two screws and unplugging an RJ — no motherboard or edge connectors here. Faders take massive abuse. The ones used in other consoles have a big slot on top that sucks in dirt, crumbs and liquid like the our guys found the switches used in Element, they shut off the machine after 2 million operations and declared a winner. (The losers got an all-expense-paid trip to the landfill.) Element’s individual components are easy to service. Faders come out after removing just two screws. Switches and rotary volume controls are likewise simple to access. And all lamps are LEDs, so you’ll likely never need to replace them. Engineers have said for years that console finishes don’t stand up to day-to-day use. Silkscreened graphics wear off; plastic overlays last longer, but they crack and chip — especially around switches and fader slots, where f ingers can easily get cut on the sharp, splintered edges. We decided that we could do better. Element uses high-impact Lexan overlays with color and printing on the back, where it can’t rub off. . A xia miling s are s orldwide. And instead of just - op ios w board 2 SUP 4/7 +1-216 Proudly Over-Engineered Are Axia consoles over-engineered? You bet. If you’re looking for a cheap, disposable console, there are plenty out there — but this ain’t it. Not everyone appreciates this kind of attention to detail, but if you’re one who seeks out and appreciates excellence wherever you may find it Axia consoles are built just for you. these n 1000 stud e aso n e’s a r in more tha T h e r s a re le conso www.AxiaAudio.com © 2008 TLS Corp. Axia, Element, TM TLS Corp. http://www.AxiaAudio.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Radio World - November 19, 2008

Radio World - November 19, 2008 IBOC+Satellite? Subscribers Not Impressed The New World of AM DA MoM Contents Newswatch Buterbaugh Legendary in Upper Midwest From the Editor Buterbaugh: His Colleagues Look Back Workbench: What’s Wrong With This Picture? KFI Back at Full Power With New Tower 3G or Not 3G? That Is the Question Exploring HD Radio Availability in Philadelphia HD Radio Scoreboard Digital News GEP For That Bird Without a Wire A Chat With Bay Country Radiolicious Brings Radio to iPhones People News Belar FMHD-1 Clears the Skies Reader’s Forum Radio Thrives in Digital Age A Vote for Change

Radio World - November 19, 2008

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