All Classical Radio | ZTransform

On air since 1983, community-funded All Classical Radio is an accessible and wide-reaching resource for outstanding music, arts, and cultural programs. It serves as a beacon for community connection, and a platform for talented musicians and artists of all ages, reaching listeners locally in the Pacific Northwest, across the United States, and in 100+ countries around the world.

The Goal

Arts & Media for the Community

In 2024, All Classical Radio began a relocation process with a vision to create a one-of-a-kind arts and media center. To engage more deeply with the community, the stakeholders were looking for assistance in the planning, design and build of its new gathering spaces, production and recording studios, and an intimate performance space designed to accommodate rehearsals, spoken word, theater in the round, musical performances, and more.

The key for us was entrusting the end-to-end design and build to an experienced technical facilities provider [ZTransform].

Steve Albertson - Director of Administration, KNKX

The Challenge

Retrofit Reinforcements

The station was looking to enhance its production of high-quality classical music programming, while expanding opportunities to create new and engaging content for the community. This included pre-produced features as well as live streamed performances from their new sound stage.

All Classical Radio’s new home, a 15,000sqft space, located on the third floor of the KOIN Tower in downtown Portland, was once a former multiplex cinema. As such, the original architecture featured 22ft+ ceilings. While giving the studio spaces a large, open feel, and lots of flexibility for tuning the acoustics of performances, the signal distribution required nearly thirty miles of cabling and specialty equipment to perform the installation.

Another critical aspect of the new studio launch was the tightly-scheduled relocation of the operation from its existing building to KOIN tower. This required logistical planning for both staff and key, legacy equipment that would need to be relocated, installed, and tested within a tight window.

The Solution

Where Purpose Meets Performance

ZTransform designed and implemented a comprehensive broadcast and AV infrastructure tailored to All Classical Radio’s mission and operational needs. The new facility features five purpose-built production studios, including the flagship Broadcast Studio, the Richard Yarnell Studio, and the Moonflower Studio—dedicated to ICAN (International Children’s Arts Network)—each supporting the station’s remarkable 98% locally produced programming. A Broadcasting Booth in the lobby allows for spontaneous, public-facing content creation, reinforcing the station’s accessibility and community presence.

The entire operation now features a Dante IP-enabled audio infrastructure for pristine audio quality and digital content sharing across the media network.

At the heart of the new space is the Irving Levin Performance Hall, a 100-seat venue equipped with a 16×9-foot LED screen, five broadcast-grade cameras, and a professional lighting grid. Transform’s AV systems enable seamless recording, live streaming, and hybrid events—whether linking up with the BBC or hosting Zoom-enabled corporate sessions. Equipment placement was carefully planned to support both high-quality performance capture and ongoing maintenance, ensuring long-term reliability and ease of use for the station’s lean technical team.

The Result

Elevated Audio, and Room to Grow

ZTransform delivered a fully integrated broadcast system tailored to All Classical’s operational needs and artistic ambitions. The new setup supports FM and Streamed HD Radio transmission, live and recorded content workflows, and remote production capabilities. With intuitive control interfaces and robust signal routing, the station now operates with greater confidence, flexibility, and fidelity—ready to serve its growing audience across Portland and beyond.

The entire ZTransform team really understood how to balance the strengths of systems, people, and spaces. Plus, they made the experience enjoyable.

Steve Albertson -Director of Administration, KNKX

Key Technologies

The key systems involved in ths project include:

Axia Quasar & iQ Audio
Wheatstone M2
Telos Alliance
AdderLink Infinity KVM
Electrovoice Microphones
AJA KiPro and Helo Encoders
Allen & Heath Avantis Solo

Elgato Streamdeck
Evertz Master Reference Systems
Ross Carbonite Black
Panasonic PTZ Camera System
Yamaha DM Series
QSC Sound Systems and DSP

Radio Station Automation

Dante IP Audio

Integrated Audio Visual

Key Services

Planning & Development

Discovery sessions with multiple user groups detailed expansive operational requirements early in the process. Workflow and technical strategies were developed to provide solutions for the diverse user groups

Engineering & Design

Design and implementation of a comprehensive broadcast and AV infrastructure tailored to All Classical Radio’s mission and operational needs. Space planning, acoustics, electrical, pathway, and mechanical system requirements.

Systems Integration

ZTransform provided all fabrication, Installation, commissioning, testing and launch support services for the on-air cutover.

ZTransform came highly recommended and when our transition team met with them, it was obvious from their ideas about design and implementation, to their can-do attitude and work ethic, that we’d found a perfect fit.

Steve Albertson - Director of Administration, KNKX

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Arts & Media for the Community

Steve Albertson - Director of Administration, KNKX

Retrofit Reinforcements

Where Purpose Meets Performance

Elevated Audio, and Room to Grow

Steve Albertson -Director of Administration, KNKX

Key Technologies

Radio Station Automation

Dante IP Audio

Integrated Audio Visual

Key Services

Planning & Development

Engineering & Design

Systems Integration

Steve Albertson - Director of Administration, KNKX

Share the All Classical Radio Story

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