Voci said if the Fraser studio is the centerpiece of the station, then Solid State Logic's (SSL) digital HD music production console is the heart of the Fraser studio, “Everyone loved our old SSL analog console. The new SSL digital console simulates or duplicates all those traditional analog controls and so much more.”

The Fraser studio (Radio Control 1) is equipped with the SSL C200 HD console. The C200 is SSL's 64-channel, digital recording console, capable of mixing up to 128 sources. WGBH's C-200 is also equipped with a Solid State Logic 48-channel stage box. The stage box allows producers to connect 48 microphones to the C200 through a fiber optic link.

In addition, Radio Control 1 features a 48-channel Steinberg Nuendo digital audio workstation, ATC mains, and an Aviom Pro 16-channel headphone mix/monitoring to supplement a proprietary headphone/cue system and a TC electronics System 6000 reverb and mastering system.

The World newsroom holds 34 reporters and producers.
Photo courtesy of Andy Washnik of Corpricom

Chris Gefken of The Systems Group, project integrator, said, "From a radio standpoint, there is nothing standard about the Fraser studio. It's a classic film scoring sound stage with an orchestra-sized live room. It's a large format recording studio environment."

Radio Control 2 is used for music postproduction. It is built around the Euphonics MC controller, a Steinberg Nuendo digital audio workstation, and the TC electronics System 6000 reverb and mastering system. Both Radio Control 1 and 2 are equipped for stereo and 5.1 surround sound.

According to Studio Designer Dennis Janson, "First and foremost, the acoustic design of the studio and the elements that you see on the walls and ceilings are all there for very specific reasons — to provide a uniform sound decay rate (RT60) in the room."

The World newsroom andproduction facilities

The World covers 4,500 square feet of floor space in the new facility, including: a news room that holds about 34 reporters and producers; a control room that broadcasts the Monday-Friday news program; a studio for the program host, a small production room built around a digital work station featuring a Sadie DAW; and a small announce booth.

The World control room broadcasts news five days a week.
Photo courtesy of Andy Washnik of Corpricom

The critical phase in moving for The World was closing the show out on a Friday afternoon and making sure that on Monday morning the production team could walk into the new facility and start producing at 7:30 a.m. Voci said, "Fortunately, Friday was a slow news day, and we were able to wind up the show relatively early."

Facility flexibility

According to Voci the move was not only an opportunity to make the conversion from analog to digital, but to fulfill a wide range of needs for the station's programming.

"We took a look at all of the of things that we do here. We're not just a radio station that has broadcast and production facilities. We also do the national news program, and we record live performances," Voci said.