What’s the future of Audio Mixing at the Broadcast Radio (FM-DAB-DRM and only-web) and TV Stations and at the OB Vans? What AEQ has to offer for the audio compression algorithms and transmission technologies (hardware and software)? What’s the role for 5G networks now and what will be the future with 6G networks? What are the reasons that several Radio and TV broadcasters, Media and OB/Production Companies all over the world are using Audio Consoles, Audio Codecs, Commentary and Communication Equipment by the Spanish brand AEQ? And what the range of Video products has to offer to the TV Stations, OB Vans/Trucks and Production Companies? Read this Interview and you can find many more.
Text: Andreas Tzanakos
Images: Andreas Tzanakos
Radiotvlink.com had the pleasure of meeting Sandra Serrano, AEQ’s new Area Sales Manager for Europe, during her visit to Athens. Her answers to our Tech Online Portal’s questions will provide readers with valuable insights—not only about this globally successful brand, but also about the development and manufacturing of new products for the Broadcast Radio and TV industry.
radiotvlink.com: Welcome to Hellas (Greece). It’s a great way to begin our conversation by asking you to share a few things about yourself, so our readers can get to know you better. What are your main thoughts and goals for your new business role at AEQ?
Sandra Serrano: I am Portuguese and have been living in Madrid, Spain for over 14 years, for business purposes.
My background is in Broadcast and, more specifically, in Professional audio, working as a distributor for several international brands in both Portugal and Spain.
At AEQ, my goal is to continue developing the European market for the AEQ brand, supporting distributors such as CALPRO, leveraging my expertise as a distributor and now as a broadcast manufacturer. Being side-by-side with my customers to grow together in the market, including visiting end customers together with our distributors.
Our plans extend beyond the Broadcast sector, includes parts of the Professional Audio market as well, since our Intercom products allow us to reach additional market segments as corporative, security and entertainment facilities.
radiotvlink.com: Now, let’s focus on AEQ. When was AEQ established? We know that for over four decades, the company has presented a wide range of products. Could you highlight the major milestones in AEQ’s successful journey to date? Can you also share some of its key technological achievements? Please tell our readers about AEQ’s philosophy and its impact on the development, design, and manufacturing of Radio and TV products. What about the relationship between AEQ’s Sales, Support, and R&D teams and customers around the world? How does AEQ use the feedback it receives from its customers?
Sandra Serrano: AEQ was founded in 1979 in Madrid, Spain. Since then, we’ve been developing and manufacturing audio equipment, automation systems, and production technology for radio, television, and other media. For more than four decades, AEQ has focused on innovation, quality, and reliability for broadcasters worldwide.
We continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the broadcast industry. A major breakthrough came in 1992, when the company provided technology and engineering services at its first Olympic Games, marking the start of a long relationship with major international sporting events. At the beginning of the 2000 century, AEQ already had a complete portfolio of radio solutions, installing analog consoles and audio communication and routing equipment in radio stations not only across Spain, but also in Latin America, Europe, and Asia. In 2014, the acquisition of KROMA Telecom expanded AEQ’s portfolio to include a complete line of video monitors and intercom systems. Most recently, in 2022, AEQ launched the innovative Xpeak matrix-less intercom system, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to technological advancement and flexible remote production workflows.
We develop our own technology, applying it across a complete range of broadcast solutions — from digital audio mixing consoles and audiocodecs to intercom systems and automation platforms. We’ve also delivered turnkey radio and TV studios worldwide, combining advanced engineering with real-world feedback to create solutions that make broadcasters’ work easier and more efficient.
AEQ has offices in Madrid, Miami, Mexico, Portugal and New Delhi, and a network of partners in more than 90 countries. This allows our Sales, Support, and R&D teams to work closely with clients, turning their experience and feedback into continuous product improvement. That collaboration is what keeps AEQ’s technology relevant and reliable — even in the most demanding and changing broadcast operations.
I believe our main strengths lie in the excellent price-to-quality ratio of our products, AEQ’s extensive experience, and the strong relationship between AEQ, our dealers, and end customers.
radiotvlink.com: Now is the right time to ask you to briefly speak about AEQ’s product range for Radio. What advantages does each product offer to Broadcasters, Technicians, Journalists, and On-Air Talent? Could you please share how AEQ’s radio products can be used effectively in different configurations, tailored to a variety of needs?
What is the future of audio mixing in broadcast radio (FM, DAB, DRM, and web-only), What new features are emerging? Will we see auto-mixing and other advanced capabilities in lower-budget products in the near future?
Sandra Serrano: The advantages we offer include highly modular products and the ability to deliver fully tailored projects that directly address our customers’ needs. When these custom features prove to be of broader market interest, we often introduce them as enhancements to our product line. A clear example of this evolution is the new CAPITOL IP PLUS mixing console, which incorporates expanded AoIP integration and advanced features previously found only in higher-end systems. And this is just the beginning; we will soon be presenting further innovations within our digital console family, continuing to push capabilities and flexibility even further.
We believe the future will be a combination of web-based platforms and, to some extent, FM and other traditional technologies. While evolution clearly moves toward web solutions, it remains essential to maintain alternative options for situations where connectivity may fail or during emergencies.
From our perspective, lower-budget products are not a core focus of our roadmap, as our projects have always been built on professional-grade solutions. In this direction, cloud-based workflows are also advancing, as shown by the growing adoption of XPEAK in the cloud for remote and distributed intercom operations.
radiotvlink.com: A lot of our readers – decision makers keep asking us about the services range of each manufacturer. What kind of services can a broadcaster and/or system integrator receive from AEQ’s Support Team before, during, and after an equipment installation?
Sandra Serrano: Of course, we provide both pre-sales and post-sales support. Before any sale, we assist the customer with all the necessary information to help them make the best decision and ensure the solution aligns with their needs.
During installation, given that most of our customers are located at a distance, we offer remote installation support — and, when required, on-site assistance to complete the final configuration.
After the sale, our technical support team is always available to assist with any questions or issues that may arise.
We are always innovating and staying up-to-date with the evolving needs of the market. The future of our products is increasingly focused on cloud-based systems and AI-driven workflow simplification. By leveraging AI, we can streamline and optimize complex workflows, making them more efficient and user-friendly.
radiotvlink.com: Now, let’s focus on AEQ’s products for TV. Please tell us about AEQ’s range of TV products and give us some examples of how these products are used in practice.
Sandra Serrano: Our main solution for the TV market is our Intercom system, which is currently our best-selling product in this segment. We offer everything from small, entry-level setups to large-scale projects supporting up to 1024 ports.
Within this range, XPEAK stands out as a compact, matrix-free intercom solution designed for decentralized and remote coordination. Its simplicity, flexibility, and AoIP-based workflow make it ideal for distributed teams and productions that require efficient communication without a traditional central matrix.
We also provide the Atrium mixer, our flagship mixing console. It is fully modular and can be configured according to each customer’s specific needs.
In addition, we offer a full range of Audio Codecs — including the latest multi-audio Solaris Codec — as well as our Talkshow System and AoIP Netbox Interfaces.
For example, Intercom systems are frequently included in OB Van TV productions.
For more than four decades, AEQ has focused on innovation, quality, and reliability for broadcasters worldwide. We continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the broadcast industry.
radiotvlink.com: Why do you think major Radio and TV Broadcasters, Media Companies, and OB/Production Firms around the world choose AEQ’s audio and video products, Made in Spain? Can you mention some of these clients? Could you also highlight AEQ’s clients in Greece and the equipment they use? And why do you think Universities and other Educational Institutions are now investing in AEQ’s technology?
Sandra Serrano: I believe our main strengths lie in the excellent price-to-quality ratio of our products, AEQ’s extensive experience, and the strong relationship between AEQ, our dealers, and end customers.
We are aware that, being based in Spain — and competing with companies from the USA and Germany — we have to work hard to maintain and strengthen our market position. However, thanks to AEQ’s long-standing history and reputation in the industry, we have achieved solid recognition. In addition, being a “Made in Spain” manufacturer within the European Union allows us to guarantee high production standards, strict quality control, and the reliability associated with EU engineering and regulations.
We are proud to serve a wide range of prestigious customers around the world. Our solutions have been chosen by organizations such as the Olympic Games, the University of Sydney, JRTV Jordan, Hong Kong Power Media, Asaka FM, All India Radio, National Radio of Angola, National Radio of Argentina, National Radio of Colombia, Televisa Mexico, Rionegro TV Chile, Morena FM Brazil, TVI Portugal, RTVE Spain, Radio Emaus Poland, Virgin Radio UK, Radio Gazy Turkey, National Radio of Romania, RAI Italy, and Euradio France. These are only a few examples — our global customer base is significantly broader.
In Greece, our technology is trusted by leading broadcasters such as Open TV, ERT, SKY TV.
Furthermore, AEQ solutions are widely used by universities and educational institutions, helping train the next generation of media professionals. The main reasons institutions choose AEQ include our intuitive interfaces, which allow students to work in a truly professional environment, our modular designs that support a wide range of courses, and our competitive pricing.
radiotvlink.com: How is AEQ positioned in the global market? Are you optimistic about the brand’s future? What are the next steps in AEQ’s business strategy? What are the prospects for the Greek and Cypriot markets? How would you evaluate AEQ’s collaboration with CALPRO? What does the future hold for AEQ’s partnership with CALPRO in the Greek and Cypriot markets?
Sandra Serrano: We are well positioned in the market, primarily because we have distributors and dealers all over the world. Our market share continues to grow with the launch of new products such as the Xplorer MAX Intercom beltpack, the Capitol IP PLUS digital mixer, and the Solaris multichannel audio codec.
The outlook for the Greek market with CALPRO is very positive. CalPro is a well-established company with a strong market presence, and the relationship between our two companies is solid. By working closely with the CALPRO team and engaging the local market, we are confident in achieving outstanding results together.
We develop our own technology, applying it across a complete range of broadcast solutions — from digital audio mixing consoles and audiocodecs to intercom systems and automation platforms. We’ve also delivered turnkey radio and TV studios worldwide, combining advanced engineering with real-world feedback to create solutions that make broadcasters’ work easier and more efficient.
radiotvlink.com: “We think it would be helpful to share more details about AEQ’s policy on updating and upgrading its products—especially considering how rapidly the Broadcast Industry is evolving with new formats, standards, and codecs.
Considering AEQ’s extensive experience, what is your perspective on the future?
Sandra Serrano: We are always innovating and staying up-to-date with the evolving needs of the market. The future of our products is increasingly focused on cloud-based systems and AI-driven workflow simplification. By leveraging AI, we can streamline and optimize complex workflows, making them more efficient and user-friendly.
radiotvlink.com: Thank you very much for the fruitful conversation. I wish AEQ and you all the best for the future.
Sandra Serrano: Thanks very much to you for this.
Info: https://aeq.eu & CALPRO *
* Distributor for Hellas
