by Rojith Thomas, KUT-FM

AUSTIN, Texas — There’s something magical about walking into a radio studio before a live broadcast — the quiet hum of anticipation, the glow of screens, the subtle tension in the air as voices prepare to go live. At KUT(FM), we’ve always believed that the studio is more than just a room with equipment — it’s a space where stories come alive, where sound becomes connection.

Casey Cheek, technical director for the “Texas Standard” show, operates the Quasar mixing console in the Texas Standard studio. Photos: KUT

In mid-2023, after attending NAB Show, our team returned to Austin inspired. We had seen the future of broadcast technology, and we knew it was time to evolve. Our studios were still running on Axia Fusion consoles and PowerStations, which had served us well for years. However, we were looking for something more flexible and intuitive and aligned with the way we work today.

"At KUT, our broadcast infrastructure is deeply rooted in Telos Axia technology — it serves as the backbone of everything we do."

The Turning Point

In August 2023, Telos Alliance arranged a demo for us, led by Paul Kriegler, U.S. sales manager. It wasn’t just a product showcase — it was a hands-on experience. Our technical directors got to test different boards, explore features, and imagine how a new system could transform our workflow. That demo was a turning point. The Axia Quasar SR console and Quasar Engine stood out immediately.

The clarity of the interface, the modular design and the remote capabilities were exactly what we needed. We were especially drawn to Quasar Soft and Quasar Cast, which allow remote access and real-time mirroring of the console surface. These tools promised flexibility and control, whether we were in the studio or working remotely.

Juan Garcia operates the Quasar mixing console in the KUT live studio.

Phase One: Breathing new life into our production studios

We began our transformation with two of our most essential spaces: the Texas Standard production studio and the Newsmaker studio. Texas Standard is our flagship statewide daily news show, and the Newsmaker studio serves as the go-to space for podcast production and interviews.

The decision to start with those was intentional. These studios are where precision, flexibility and reliability matter most. The Texas Standard team works under tight deadlines, juggling live segments, remote interviews and breaking news. Meanwhile, the Newsmaker studio demands a quiet, controlled environment with seamless audio routing for long-form conversations and multitrack podcast sessions.

Installing the Axia Quasar SR consoles in these rooms was like opening a window to fresh air. The layout of the SR surface is clean and intuitive, and our operators quickly adapted to the customizable fader configurations. 

The tactile feel of the new faders was a noticeable upgrade — smooth, responsive and visually striking. It’s a small touch, but it makes a big difference in day-to-day use, helping operators instantly identify sources and personalize their workspace.

The Quasar Engine, behind the scenes, brought a new level of control. With Quasar Soft and Cast, our team could manage routing and configuration from any browser. One of the standout features we discovered during this phase was the Master Touch Screen Monitor/MTS-Mon built into the board. It’s not just functional — it’s visually impressive. It gives operators a clear, real-time view of multiple sources, making it easier to manage. It’s the kind of feature that makes you feel like the console is working with you, not just for you.

The upgrade process itself was smooth. Telos Alliance provided excellent support throughout.

KUT Technical Operations Center with Axia xNodes and other Telos Alliance products

Phase Two: Bringing the upgrade to KUT and KUTX

After seeing how well the new system performed in our production studios, we decided to extend the upgrade to our KUT and KUTX live studios in early to mid-2025. These studios are the heartbeat of our daily broadcasts, and the transition needed to be seamless. Thankfully, it was.

We replaced our Fusion consoles and PowerStations with Quasar SR consoles and Quasar Engines and added Telos Alliance Mixed Signal Nodes and Analog Nodes to expand our I/O capabilities. These additions simplified routing and provided us with more flexibility in managing audio across studios.

As part of the upgrade, we introduced xNode2 units into the KUT and KUTX studios. The new xNode2 series GUI is a major improvement — colorful, intuitive and far more user-friendly than previous versions.

Podcast recording in the Newsmaker studio

Broadcast infrastructure backbone

The Quasar SR consoles and engines mark the latest chapter in a longstanding relationship with Telos Alliance. At KUT, our broadcast infrastructure is deeply rooted in Telos Axia technology — it serves as the backbone of everything we do. 

From Telos Enterprise and Pathfinder routing control to 25-Seven Program Delay Managers, Z/IPStream R/20 streaming encoders, and Z/IP One codecs for remote contributions, our setup is built for flexibility and reliability. We continue to rely on xNodes, router selectors, studio control panels and Vset telephones, and we still operate Fusion consoles and Axia PowerStations in various studios. 

Even legacy components, such as Element 2.0 surfaces and traditional nodes, remain in our spares inventory — a testament to their durability and our commitment to maintaining a resilient system. Omnia audio processors and Minnetonka AudioTools software empower us to deliver high-quality audio across platforms and adapt quickly to evolving production needs.

This wasn’t just a technical upgrade — it was a transformation. Our studios feel more responsive and intuitive, and more connected to the creative energy of our team.

At KUT, we’re proud of the work we’ve done and excited about what these upgrades enable us to do next. Whether it’s producing statewide news or recording podcast interviews, our studios are now better equipped than ever to support the stories we tell and the communities we serve.

Rojith Thomas is KUT’s technology coordinator.

This article is reproduced courtesy of RedTech, the global business and technology publication and platform dedicated to the international radio broadcast and digital audio industries, and was published on 30 October, 2024.