Japan’s NHK installs two SSL XL9000K series consoles

Japan’s national broadcaster NHK has installed two Solid State Logic XL9000K SuperAnalogue consoles in its concert hall in Tokyo.
NHK Hall is located next to the broadcaster’s main headquarters and is large enough to accommodate an audience of up to 3,000. The Hall has two audio control rooms that are used for the production of a variety of programmes, including Rock and Pops, Folk, Classical and Opera. The new consoles – an XL9056K and an XL9072K - were installed in the audio control rooms in 2002 and 2003 in readiness for the start of digital terrestrial broadcasting as well, which got underway in Japan in December 2003.
The fact that both consoles could cope with surround broadcasting was a major plus point. As NHK’s flagship facility, it was also imperative that any equipment chosen was both reliable and of the highest sonic quality. Engineers in music program department in NHK felt the SSL consoles fitted their criteria perfectly.
NHK’s decision to install SSL was influenced by the overall reliability and ease of maintenance of the company’s products. NHK now has 24 SSL consoles installed in its various facilities nationwide and this long established relationship with the UK-based company inspired confidence.
“We chose SSL because wanted world class consoles,” said senior engineer Akira Fukada, who is renowned for developing the Fukada tree system of microphone placement for recording surround. “Also, we believe SSL has the capability to develop software and hardware to the highest standards. The surround production capability of the XL range of desks, combined with their high audio quality, has already attracted favorable comments from musicians and engineers working in the NHK Hall.”
(GB)