The Axia Interview: Piotr Kubacki, Magnetic Media
Polish broadcast dealer explains why he chose Axia.
20 September 2004, Cleveland Ohio, USA
Another new distributor has joined the Axia Audio network of worldwide representatives: Magnetic Media, of Poznan, Poland. Piotr Kubacki, Magnetic Media’s owner and General Manager, took a few moments to speak with Axia’s Clark Novak.
Axia: Piotr, greetings from Cleveland. Tell us about Magnetic Media. How did you get started?
Piotr: I studied Physics Acoustics at Poznan University in the late 1970s, afterward I went into broadcasting. I worked as a multi-track recording engineer for Polish Radio until 1994.
In 1990 I started Magnetic Media, primarily to distribute Ampex tape products. It wasn’t too long before I decided to expand the business to pro audio equipment sales. Now our clients include the largest broadcasters in Poland — Polish Public Television, Polish Public Radio, Radio Zet, RMF FM…
Axia: What was it about Axia that made you want to distribute our products?
Piotr: Axia is a very innovative product. It’s a whole new way of utilizing common Ethernet networks, which are present everywhere nowadays, for live audio networking — very useful, very modern, very cost-efficient. I’ve had a long-term relationship with Telos, and I know how innovative and committed you are; Axia is a logical extension to my partnership with Telos.
Axia: What do you like most about the Axia approach to IP-Audio networking?
Piotr: Its flexibility! I can’t think of a single situation where an Axia network isn’t suitable; it works in any building where we want to connect and consolidate dispersed audio sources. It’s perfect for a radio station with many studios, or for a network head-end. And Axia’s usefulness isn’t limited just to broadcast: any company that wants to network or distribute high-quality audio will definitely benefit from Axia's flexibility and ease of use.
Axia: Thanks, Piotr. Is there anything else you’d like to say before we go?
Piotr: One thing. I can’t believe how inexpensive Axia equipment is! A radio station can build an Axia network for so much less than what a big router costs. How did you guys do that?
Axia: Actually, an Axia system costs about half that of a hardwired TDM router. We built it around standard mass-produced computer industry elements that cost a lot less than purpose-built routing switchers. In fact a few of our clients have been complaining that they’d already budgeted for twice as much and they don’t know what to do with the extra cash… We’ve offered to help them with that problem, but
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Piotr: Let me guess: no takers?
Axia: Um… no.
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Axia, a Telos company, builds network-based professional audio products for broadcast, production, sound-reinforcement and commercial audio applications. Products include digital audio routers, DSP mixers and processors and software for configuring, managing, and interfacing networked audio systems.