Tucked away in Nairobi’s buzzing creative district lies a unique facility that quietly reshapes how media professionals learn and evolve. It’s called the Experience Centre. Operated by Highway Audio Visual Limited, the Centre has steadily grown into a launchpad for training, experimentation, and innovation in the broadcast and media technology space. With its state-of-the-art tools and an open-door policy for learning, the Centre is making waves in East Africa’s media training ecosystem.
One of the Centre’s recent highlights is its week-long collaboration with Horizon TV, a media house keen on transforming its operations and upskilling its team. Scheduled from Monday, 19th May to Friday, 23rd May 2025, the training is part of a larger initiative to align Horizon TV’s technical capacity with modern broadcast standards.
A Training Program with Real-World Relevance
From the get-go, this training isn’t your average seminar or workshop. It’s hands-on, department-focused, and crafted with the input of technology manufacturers like Blackmagic Design, VIZRT (TriCaster), and Kiloview. The Experience Centre serves not just as a venue but as a fully functional production studio where concepts can be tested and applied instantly.
Each training day is designed to serve a small, focused group, ensuring that every participant gets sufficient time with the equipment, trainers, and workflows. A maximum of three participants per session ensures one-on-one guidance and minimal distractions.
So far, groups from editing, production, and technical operations have walked through the Centre’s doors. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants describing it as “refreshingly practical” and “the kind of training the industry really needs.”
Day 1–3: Cut, Color, and Collaborate
he first three days focused on Editing & Post-Production. The training used DaVinci Resolve by Blackmagic Design as the main tool to introduce modern editing workflows, shared project management, color correction, and broadcast-ready delivery formats.
Participants explored;
- Media management and project organization
- The Cut and Edit pages for fast, precise editing
- Multi-cam editing for studio-based content
- Fairlight for audio cleanup and mixing
- Color grading principles using node-based tools
- Delivering for OTT platforms and traditional broadcast
One trainee remarked, “We’ve been using DaVinci just for grading, but now I see how it can unify our whole editing and finishing process.”
The Virtual Layer: Anytime Access with Structure
What makes this initiative stand out is that it doesn’t end when participants leave the Experience Centre. The same course is available on the EXLAB virtual training platform: www.exlab.highwayav.africa. Participants can register for the online course titled “Cut & Color: Editing with DaVinci Resolve by Blackmagic Design” using a coupon code.
This online module provides structured lessons, visual demonstrations, and review quizzes to reinforce what was covered in the hands-on training. It’s an essential tool for revision, onboarding new team members, or deepening understanding after practice.
What’s Next: Studio and Signal Flow
With Day 4 and 5 around the corner, the focus will shift to Live Production and IP Signal Distribution:
Day 4 – Studio Production will walk producers and operators through:
- TriCaster live switching systems
- Setting up remote contributors
- Managing multiple inputs and transitions
- Automation of lower-thirds and branding graphics using Viz Trio
Day 5 – Signal Distribution will dive into:
- NDI and SRT protocols
- IP routing for PTZ cameras and encoders
- Remote playout and redundancy systems
- Monitoring tools and mobile alerts
This portion is aimed squarely at broadcast engineers and supervisors tasked with managing system architecture and uptime.
Why the Experience Centre Matters
Kenya’s media scene is growing. Whether it’s traditional broadcasters, online platforms, or hybrid models, the demand for professionally trained media staff is higher than ever. Yet access to equipment, mentorship, and real-world experience often limits how quickly teams can adapt.
The Experience Centre bridges that gap. It isn’t just about showing up for a course—it’s about having a safe space to fail, ask questions, test ideas, and collaborate. It gives equal attention to producers, editors, engineers, and even interns who are just starting out.
Highway AV’s decision to build a curriculum around actual manufacturer tools (instead of generic lectures) adds real weight to the process. When a producer learns on TriCaster or a graphics operator masters Viz Trio, they aren’t just learning theory—they’re building readiness.
Looking Ahead: A Culture of Continuous Learning
By the end of this program, Horizon TV will not only have gained knowledge, but also templates, workflows, and access to ongoing virtual content. This creates a culture where learning doesn’t end with a certificate but continues through community and content.
The goal for the Experience Centre isn’t to be a one-off training spot. It aims to become the region’s go-to place for media technology education, much like a lab where skills and creativity are both nurtured.
Whether you’re a freelancer, a senior producer, or a broadcast technician, the doors of the Experience Centre remain open—ready to equip you for the future of media