Sanremo 2026: inside the RAI audio setup with Project Lead, workstations and Dolby Atmos

Project Lead at Sanremo 2026: Italian workstations at the heart of RAI audio direction

Behind the sound of the Sanremo 2026 Festival is a technical presence that the general public does not see, but which plays a decisive role in the final result: Project Lead.

In fact, the Italian company, which has been active for decades in the design of professional audio and video workstations, has come this year to cover 100 percent of RAI's audio infrastructure for the Festival, including the management of Dolby Atmos.

This is an important milestone, not only for the brand, but also for the value it represents: reliability, operational continuity, and the ability to support one of the most complex broadcast environments in Italian television.

Over thirty years of experience and eighteen editions of the Festival

Founded by Giovanni Zucchi, Project Lead has been in the business of building workstations dedicated to professional audio and video applications for over thirty years.

Each machine undergoes extensive testing before delivery, guaranteeing stability and continuity in critical contexts.

The collaboration with RAI has been active since 2008 and has resulted in a layered infrastructure where systems of different generations coexist.

Machines installed years ago still work alongside newer ones, demonstrating fundamental solidity in live broadcasting.

Sanremo's audio setup: a complex and very high signal density machine

The Festival's audio infrastructure is among the most complex in Italian broadcasting, with distributed direction and management of hundreds of signals.

The system uses 16 matrices with 64 MADI channels each, for more than 250 digital signals managed in real time.

Project Lead workstations are integrated via MADI over fiber optics, allowing efficient and orderly management of audio streams.

Each workstation arrives at 256 available signals, with processing managed on 32 stereo channels.

Project Lead and the ultimate transition from hardware racks to software

The transition from hardware to software is now complete in live broadcast.

Plug-ins have gradually replaced the outboard, offering greater flexibility and total recall.

Project Lead workstations ensure stability and performance even in critical contexts.

Automation via timecode: plug-ins and live autotune

The system uses automation via MIDI and LiveProfessor to control plug-ins in real time.

Parameters are automatically changed scene by scene with pinpoint accuracy.

This ensures consistency and total reduction of live errors.

Dolby Atmos at Sanremo 2026

Sanremo 2026 introduces Dolby Atmos on RAI 4K, enhancing the immersive experience.

Project Lead is an integral part of the immersive audio direction.

Managing orchestra, band and voices in 3D presents a technical challenge of the highest level.

Project Lead reliability in live broadcast

In a national live broadcast, reliability is critical.

Machines are tested for months without operational problems.

This ensures continuity and safety in every situation.

From San Remo to international productions

Project Lead is also involved in international productions and major events such as the Olympics.

Contexts where stability and zero downtime are critical.

Why Project Lead is central to Sanremo 2026

The Project Lead case demonstrates the evolution of professional audio toward software-based workflows.

The real value today is in the stability and reliability of systems.

And this is where Project Lead makes the difference.

We are official Project Lead resellers at the European level and offer exclusive ZERO RATE purchasing on the Italian territory.

👉🏻 Discover HERE the entire Project Lead catalog in our store and configure your workstation.