The EFE Agency, or simply EFE, is an international news agency based in Madrid (Spain) founded in 1939. EFE is the leading multimedia news agency in Spanish, with a volume ofthree million news items per year to more than two thousand media outlets, through anetwork of more than three thousand journalists of 60 nationalities. It operates 24 hours aday from 180 cities in 110 countries and has four editorial offices in Madrid, Bogotá, Rio deJaneiro, and Bangkok. Currently, Agencia EFE has carried out a major technological upgrade in its productionstudios, relying on AEQ technology to enhance the quality of its audio operations. Theinstallation of two Atrium consoles represents a qualitative leap in terms of control, processing capacity, and connectivity, placing it on par with international benchmarks inprofessional audio technology. Each of the new Atrium consoles features 18-fader control surfaces, combined withadvanced operating modules and ATX Screen touchscreens, offering an intuitive andconfigurable interface to optimize technicians' workflows. Thanks to this combination ofhardware and software, operators have greater visibility and control over signals, with theability to customize views, dynamically manage buses, and adapt the console to differentproduction scenarios. The renovation process has increased input and output capacity, incorporating eightmicrophone inputs with high-quality preamps, along with specific headphone outputs thatimprove monitoring for broadcasters. Similarly, four new line inputs were added, expandingthe analog connectivity of the studios, and 64 audio channels over IP were enabled viaDante, providing scalability and allowing immediate integration with other devices andnetwork systems. In addition, AEQ HB-02 cards have been incorporated into the booths, facilitating the direct connection of microphones and headphones with volume adjustment, improving ergonomics and reducing setup times. ATRIUM is the third generation of ON AIR's AEQ digital consoles for large-format audioproduction in broadcast environments with the most demanding technical requirements andintensive workflows. The unit incorporates IP audio systems that allow inputs and outputs, processing, and control to be distributed across different devices, sometimes physicallydistant from each other, with a maximum of 96 motorized faders and up to 6 controlsurfaces connected to the same AEQ XCORE central chassis. The Atrium consoles have been interconnected with the main matrix via Dante, whilemaintaining parallel compatibility with MADI, ensuring seamless integration with the existinginfrastructure and, at the same time, guaranteeing the redundancy and reliability required ina highly demanding environment such as an international news agency. With this modernization, Agencia EFE is not only updating its audio equipment, but alsostrengthening its production capacity in content broadcasting and distribution, providing itsprofessionals with a more versatile, robust work environment that is prepared for thetechnological challenges of the future. The collaboration with AEQ, a leading manufacturer in the development of advancedsolutions for radio and television, has been key to carrying out effective integration, respecting existing operations and ensuring service continuity during the technologicalmigration process. With the installation of AEQ Atrium consoles, Agencia EFE reaffirms its commitment toinnovation and technical excellence, placing its studios at the forefront of the broadcastsector. The entire project was led by the technical services department of Agencia EFE, headed bytechnical manager Carlos Madrid, in collaboration with the engineering and facilitiesdepartment of AEQ, coordinated by Bernardo Saiz as commercial manager. For more information from Agencia EFE, visit www.efe.comFor more information about AEQ or the equipment and systems it manufactures and itsprojects, visit www.aeq.eu, send an email to aeqsales@aeq.es, or call +34 91 686 1300.
07 October 2025
