The Opportunity
MediaWorks recently consolidated their Auckland radio facilities into a purpose-built location to house nine of New Zealand’s leading commercial radio stations.
The large 4400m2 converted warehouse located in Hargreaves Street, was specially designed to accommodate 16 studios and production suites, including meeting rooms, open plan offices and a semi-covered pavilion for private functions and guest performances.
The interior design and architecture features are inspired by music and sound, while the state-of-the-art technical infrastructure was conceptualised by the MediaWorks NZ technical team.
“We searched world-wide for the best-integrated technologies and have really transcended the limits on what is a once-in-a-lifetime project that we are all so very proud of.”
The Solution
“The technology that underpins the content delivery from Hargreaves St represents a significant upgrade in capability and is one of the world’s largest deployments of audio-over-IP,” says MediaWorks chairman Jack Matthews.
The studio suites have been optimised to allow for future video recording and live televised broadcasting. Radio Stations such as More FM require various satellite uplinks and local breakouts that simultaneously run a combination of localised and networked programming for different geographical areas.
A world class facility of this nature required affordable world-leading studio monitors for accurate audio in any production space and studio.
A combination of JBL Professional 3 Series 305PMKII 5” and 308PMKII 8” powered reference monitors were selected, depending on the layout of the studio. The JBL 3 series delivers an impressive dynamic range for a variety of music genres between the nine radio stations. The patented Image Control Waveguide provides a wide sweet spot with precise detail and imaging, allowing for tight segues and compelling audio imaging.
“The feedback we have received from our colleagues and the added smiles behind the mic have elevated our shows to a whole new level.”
The Impact
“We searched world-wide for the best-integrated technologies and have really transcended the limits on what is a once-in-a-lifetime project that we are all so very proud of,” says Mike Heard, Solutions Architect at MediaWorks NZ. “Watching our content and tech teams work in complete harmony to achieve this goal and seeing each station and show go to air in their flash new studios has been incredibly rewarding. The feedback we have received from our colleagues and the added smiles behind the mic have elevated our shows to a whole new level. Our next brand is a few months away but will be the most innovative radio build in NZ, if not the world. Hold on tight it’s going to be a heck of a ride.”
