Rwanda’s KISS FM Migrates to IP With Lawo RƎLAY Radio-Mixing Technology

While moving into their new building Kigali, Rwanda, KISS FM has broken new ground in broadcasting, using the country’s first IP technology in their brand-new, stylish studios. Instead of conventional mixing consoles, operators are using large-sized touchscreens with Lawo RƎLAY VRX software which gives the broadcast facilities a modern and uncluttered appearance, perfect for cameras and ‘visual radio’.

Dubbed the “Switzerland of Africa”, Rwanda is a country with high aspirations. It has been proactive in setting up industries like automobile and smartphone production and views innovation in Information & Communication Technology as a major driver of the country’s economy. The spirit of innovation can be felt on every corner, in all areas, and now also in the broadcast sector. KISS FM in Kigali is just one example of Rwanda using future-proof innovative technologies for commercial success and taking the media landscape of the region to a new level.

RƎLAY Virtual Radio Mixers run on a standard PC or laptop, creating saving on rack space and cost. The intuitive, multitouch-enabled screen interface makes RƎLAY easy to use. RƎLAY is a complete Virtual Radio Mixer, with a full suite of professional tools – from voice processing to mix-minus – built into its multi-touch-enabled interface. Operators can build an entire broadcast studio on a single touchscreen PC, using RƎLAY software on the same PC that hosts the playout system, software codecs, streaming encoders, and other studio.

“We are the first station in Rwanda to use IP technology for broadcast,” says KISS FM’s Managing Director John Wilkins. “Touchscreen mixing is a huge advantage because it’s so easy to learn and use. Today’s radio hosts are used to touchscreen phones & tablets so they love our new RƎLAY touchscreen mixer.

And in the field, a computer with RƎLAY and a 4G telephone connection makes it possible to originate high-quality remote broadcasts with much less equipment and very little setup time,” He continues. “Our presenters have all social media platforms and Skype on the touchscreen so at the touch of an on-screen button they can interact with the huge KISS FM community online who are invited to shape our programs – it’s an innovative approach that has made us a clear market leader.”

Lawo’s line of physical and virtual radio solutions include the new ruby radio console, sapphire, sapphire compact and crystal mixing surfaces, crystal CLEAR and RƎLAY Virtual Radio Mixers, and advanced VisTool GUI-builder software, all designed to provide more capability for less cost.