The first Studer Vista 1 digital mixing console to be delivered and commissioned in Malaysia has gone to the Media Prima Berhad, Malaysia’s leading integrated media investment group.

‘The Vista 1 fits the needs of our customer perfectly, containing all the advanced features of the Vista range, including surround 5.1, within the budget,’ says Lee Chin Kah, Senior Manager for Sales & Projects at Mahajak Trio, who supplied the console.

As a direct result of the Vista 1’s installation, Media Prima will be able to migrate from stereo to surround-sound mixing. In addition, the broadcaster noted that the desk is user-friendly, with the easy-to-learn Vistonics user interface and unique functionality, with 40 on-screen rotary knobs. Using Studer’s Virtual Surround Panning, the operator can take mono sources and create a realistic sound field.

‘We are in the process of adding the D21m AES EBU I/O card to expand our AES I/O channels,’ adds Nur Azrin, Director of Audio Engineering. ‘It takes us less than a minute for the console to recognise the new I/Os, just by pressing the Reconfig button on the rear of the console. Another advantage is that the Studer Stagebox can be used or interchanged between Studer and Soundcraft, since we also have Soundcraft Si Performer digital mixers – so it will save the expense of buying another Stagebox.’

Another key feature is the Studer VistaMix, which is also available for Vista1. VistaMix mimics the action of a human operator, increasing gain for active mics and reducing gain for all others while keeping the total gain constant. Even when several people are speaking, a clean live mix can be created. VistaMix also addresses news operations where multiple mics are installed in the studio but the desk operator is not sure which ones will be used. Vista Mix switches on only those mics that are in use, faster than a human engineer.

‘We have had no hesitation in recommending the Vista1 to customers based on the excellent quality of the sound and the inbuilt sound processing,’ Azrin says. ‘It offers one of the best price-to-performance ratios and this was a vital aspect, as it allowed us to meet the customer’s requirement – namely for flexibility and cost-effective sound for all video production.’