Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Deep Purple Rocks Dubai Bike Week With JBL VERTEC Line Arrays Supplied By SLS Productions
Crown Audio I-Tech and Macro-Tech Series amplifiers powered the loudspeakers
Regional live event production company SLS Productions recently provided JBL Professional VERTEC line arrays for the 3-day, fourth annual Dubai Bike Week celebration.
The festival, which drew more than 25,000 visitors, motorcycle lovers and Harley-Davidson club members, was capped off with a concert by the iconic hard rock group Deep Purple.
Event promoters Live Nation and MECOM contracted SLS Productions to provide the sound, lighting and video systems for the event.
Held in Festival City, Dubai Bike Week featured the latest in motorcycles, ATVs, apparel, accessories, custom-designed bikes and motorcycle-related products from major international brands from Europe, the United States, Canada, Italy and Japan.
In addition to Deep Purple, other entertainers included the Scorpion Customs stunt team, DJ GQ and his stunt team of bikers, as well as local bands including Juliana Down, Abri, Lumi, The Meerkats, Paul Akiki and Jonas Desai.
The PA system included two main array hangs, each containing 16 VERTEC VT4889 full-size line array elements, supported by 48 ground-stacked VT4880A full-size arrayable subwoofers below the main arrays. An additional two stacks of two VT4888 midsize line array elements each served as the center fill system. Crown Audio I-Tech and Macro-Tech Series amplifiers powered the loudspeakers.
“This was a very memorable and exciting event,” said Girish Yerunkar, Sales Manager for SLS Productions. “It was also a very successful event for us, with help from our JBL VERTEC line arrays. The VERTEC arrays are always reliable and provide outstanding sound. They are also extremely light and easy to set up.”
JBL Professional Website
Crown Audio Website
Harman Professional Website
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Audio-Technica Enhances Engineered Sound Product Line With New Contractor Program
Company extends value of Engineered Sound products for contractors and end users with new five-year warranty, plus new freight options and extended terms for dealers
Audio-Technica has announced that it is offering contractors a new program for its Engineered Sound product line. As part of this initiative, Audio-Technica is providing new freight options and extended terms; the company has also expanded the warranty on its entire range of Engineered Sound products to five years.
The Audio-Technica Engineered Sound line is available only to the professional installed sound market via a network of specialized sound contractors and system integrators, as opposed to retail outlets.
The Engineered Sound line builds on A-T’s commitment to offering the fixed installation/sound contracting market the highest performance products, featuring RoHS compliance, full UniGuard RFI immunity and the ability to meet international specifications.
Since their introduction, Engineered Sound microphones and accessories have been the first choice of leading contractors and system integrators for installation in churches, boardrooms and government meeting rooms, courtrooms, distance-learning facilities and other corporate installations.
This contractor-exclusive line includes a wide assortment of UniGuard RFI-protected gooseneck, hanging, boundary, lavalier and handheld microphones.
The Engineered Sound line also includes Audio-Technica’s recently introduced ATCS-60, a fully self-contained wireless distributed audio system using infrared communications technology, designed for corporate, government and educational applications.
Additionally, the Engineered Sound line also includes the industry’s first-ever ultra wideband wireless microphone system, the Audio-Technica SpectraPulse.
Tom George, the Director of Installations at Eighth Day Sound Systems, based out of Highland Heights, Ohio, stated, “Sound contracting products need to be extremely durable – basically bulletproof – since in most cases, an installation requires that they work for months or years on end. Audio-Technica’s Engineered Sound products always meet these demands in a major way, and the new extended warranty underscores Audio-Technica’s reliability and commitment to the fixed installation markets. This is why I continue to spec Audio-Technica for critical installations in boardrooms, corporate facilities and houses of worship.”
“Our new programs for the contractor-only Engineered Sound product line will benefit our E.S. dealers and end-users alike,” stated Greg Pinto, Audio-Technica VP of Marketing. “Extending the warranty on E.S. products to 5-years reflects the confidence the marketplace has in Audio-Technica products, while extending terms and freight programs show our commitment to solving the day-to-day difficulties faced by contractors and integrators in these difficult economic times. It’s a winning combination for everyone.”
Audio-Technica Website
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AES Releases Details Regarding Paper Presentations At 127th AES Convention In New York
Interactive games, analyzing loudspeaker defects, zones of quiet, and much more
AES has released details regarding 154 paper presentations for the upcoming 127th AES Convention, to be held in October (9 - 12) at the Javits Center in New York City.
“Beyond the awards, workshops, special events and bustling exhibition halls, the exchange of significant technical information remains the backbone of every Audio Engineering Convention,” states 127th AES Convention Chair Agnieszka Roginska. “This mission is exemplified by a robust syllabus of Papers and Posters. AES Papers Committee Co-Chairs Veronique Larcher and Steve Garrett have developed an authoritative program which exemplifies the level of accomplishment achieved by innovators in every sector of our community.”
One emphasis this year is the burgeoning digital game industry, including:
• The Wii Remote as a Musical Instrument -Technology and Case Studies: Paper by Paul Lehrman—The inexpensive and ubiquitous remote for the Nintendo Wii game system—known as the “Wiimote”—uses a combination of technologies that are highly suited for music generation and control including position tracking, tilt and motion measurement in three dimensions, a two-dimensional joystick (with its companion “Nunchuk”), and multiple buttons.
This paper examines the use of the system in two musical contexts: controlling an electronic orchestra performing classical repertoire, and creating a new type of multi-parameter, multi-user synthetic instrument.
• Eidola - An Interactive Augmented Reality Audio-Game Prototype: Paper by Nikolaos Moustakas, Ionian University - Augmented reality audio represents a new trend in digital technology which enriches the real acoustic environment with synthesized sound produced by virtual sound objects. An audio-game, however, is based exclusively on audible feedback.
This lecture presents an audio-game prototype which takes advantage of the characteristics of augmented reality audio for realizing more complex audio-game scenarios.
Other highlights from the schedule of 154 presentations Include:
• Intrinsic Mode Function Analysis for Loudspeaker Defect Detection and Classification: Poster by Wei Junfeng, Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences - Traditional methods for detecting loudspeaker defects are based on the analysis of the high-order harmonics energy of the sound in the frequency domain. However, the structure of the time domain signal can be helpful to the classification of loudspeaker defects which would otherwise remain ambiguous in the frequency domain. An IMF criterion for determining irregular defects in the device under test will be presented.
• Maintaining Audio Performance in Portable Devices While Lowering Power Consumption: Paper by Peter Frith, Wolfson Microelectronics - Examines the major power consumers in a portable audio product and how careful codec design and innovative amplifier design can lower circuit power consumption in the analog / audio subsystem to significantly increase battery life.
• Spatial Soundfield Reproduction With Zones of Quiet: Poster by Thushara Abhayapala, Australian National University - Reproduction of a spatial soundfield over an extended region of open space with a designated quiet zone is a challenging audio signal processing problem. By engaging a graphic simulation of a 2D spatial soundfield, this presentation will illustrate how to reproduce a given spatial soundfield without altering a nearby quiet zone.
• The Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Preferred Bass Equalization in Automotive Audio Systems: Paper by Durand Begault, NASA Ames Research Center - A set of experiments was conducted to study the effect of whole-body vibration on preferred low frequency equalization of an automotive audio system. Listeners indicated their preferred bass equalization for four different music programs reproduced through a high quality automotive audio system. The results reveal that the presence of whole-body vibration can reduce the preferred level of bass equalization by as much as 3 dB depending on the program, the level of vibration, and the individual listener.
“The process of gleaning through almost 200 scrupulously researched proposals is daunting work,” AES Executive Director Roger Furness concludes. “Each year we see a steady flow of submissions. The review board is tasked with selecting the most timely, and technically relevant from a field of extremely high-level candidates. We are indebted to our presenters for their willingness to share their knowledge, and to our Co-Chairs for building the best possible program from a splendid array of options.”
Comprehensive abstracts of all papers and posters will be available soon on the calendar of events to be posted at http://www.aes.org/events/127/.
AES Website
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Monday, August 03, 2009
New Online Communities, Tools & Training Aids From Soundcraft And Studer
Audio aficionados will also enjoy Soundcraft and Studer’s ‘back catalogues' of product literature in light of the nearly 100 years of cumulative experience between the companies
Harman Professional’s two console companies - Soundcraft and Studer - have launched of a range of online facilities and social networking sites.
The new Studer website, www.studer.ch, features white papers on Mixing in Surround, Virtual Surround Panning, and how to measure the true quality of sound.
A series of tutorial videos can be downloaded explaining and demonstrating operational philosophies of the Vista digital console range.
With Studer’s product range now spanning more audio markets, the site also features application-specific areas for broadcast, live sound, theatre, performing arts centres and Houses of Worship, with dedicated news sections and product recommendations.
Soundcraft’s new site, www.soundcraft.com, features a comprehensive selection of tutorials including the acclaimed ‘Guide to Mixing’ available in download booklet form as well as video streams, while white papers provide help for all levels of user; beginners looking to do their first gig on their first mixer, right up to the top pro’s operating tours, shows and studios with the most advanced digital systems.
Topics start with how to cable up your mixer, through to Audio Balancing, Matrixes, LCR Panning and VCA Grouping.
The Video Vault contains demonstrations ranging from the Analog MFX family right up to the Si and Vi Series digital, large-format consoles; user testimonials provide an insight as to why engineers love using these consoles.
Audio aficionados will also enjoy Soundcraft and Studer’s ‘back catalogues’ of product literature in light of the nearly 100 years of cumulative experience between the companies.
For example, look back at Graham Blyth’s first ever flight-cased Soundcraft Series 1S built in 1974 specifically for the early touring bands, or the legendary Studer J37 eight-track tape machine, which during the 60s and 70s, was essential equipment to be found in most of the world’s top recording studios including Abbey Road, where it was used by Geoff Emerick and George Martin to record The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s.
To help users share information and pick up tips of the trade from one another, Soundcraft has just launched its own fans page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/soundcraft, where fans can also pick up latest news, pictures and information, and also upload their own Soundcraft-related news and photographs.
This supplements the existing YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/Soundcraftuk, which already hosts all the chapters of the Soundcraft Guide to Mixing.
A new MySpace site, www.myspace.com/soundcraftxx, is another way for users and musicians to get closer to their favourite mixer news and showcase their own bands.
Harman Professional
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Gand Concert Deploys Largest NEXO GEO T Rig In North America For Youth Of America Event
The size of the NEXO GEO T system topped the previous record, also set by Gand Concert Sound for a concert by Elton John at the Georgia Dome
Gand Concert Sound of Glenview, Illinois recently provided a NEXO GEO T, GEO S, CD18 subwoofers, PS15, PS10 and PS 8 monitors for the Evangelical Lutheran Youth of America (ELCA) Gathering, held in late July at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The event was attended by 38,000 teenagers from around the world, and featured music acts including Skillet, Group 1 Crew, the Katinas, rapper Agape, and Peter Mayer from the Jimmy Buffet Band. A Sunday morning musical mass with Lutheran Bishop Mark Hanson included communion for 37,000.
The size of the NEXO GEO T Tangent Array system topped the previous record, also set by Gand Concert Sound for a concert by Elton John at the Georgia Dome.
The rig consisted of 60 GEO T plus 24 GEO S, 8 CD18s - all flown, and 24 CD18s on the ground. Amplifiers included Yamaha PC9501Ns with NEXO 242 processors.
Audio consoles included a Yamaha PM5D, MC7L, and LS9, with the system requiring more than 7,000 feet of cable. More than one hundred channels were utilized for live performance, video playback, spoken word, DJ and theatrical production.
The event used three main stages plus two outboard stages in the audience, designed by Steve Bass of Academy Awards fame.
“We bought the first GEO T system in the USA for this event in 2003 and have increased our inventory every year to keep up with the growing demand,” states Gary Gand, President of Gand Concert Sound. “This is our third and biggest ELCA event. The ELCA likes what we do and the NEXO gear has worked flawlessly.”
FOH engineer Adam Rosenthal said, “No other system has the cardioid ability that NEXO provides. I can have it cranking in the house and the band can still hear each other on stage. It’s shocking how good this rig can sound in some of the largest venues in the country, which can be acoustic nightmares.”
NEXO Website
Yamaha Commercial Audio Website
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AKG Head of Advertising Mathilde Neubauer Steps Down After 37 Years With Company
She focused primarily on strengthening the position of AKG products in the company's main markets
For an impressive 37 years (1972 to 2009), Mathilde Neubauer worked for AKG, and she has announced her retirement, effective August 1, 2009.
As Head of Advertising, she helped to develop the brand of a leading professional audio technology and product provider. In this effort, she focused primarily on strengthening the position of AKG products in the company’s main markets, the USA, Europe, and Asia, year after year.
“AKG is famous for making premium quality microphones and headphones, many of which have become legends. Mathilde Neubauer proves that many of the people behind our products have become legends, too. I would like to thank her personally for contributing to the development of the AKG brand for all these years,” states AKG Vice President, Marketing, Alfred Reinprecht.
Reinprecht. will add Neubauer’s agenda to his own responsibilities.
AKG Website
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Producer Loops Introduces Largest Trance Sample Collection To Date
Includes 10 construction kits (300MB per kit) suitable for use in all sequencers on both Mac and PC
Producer Loops as introduced Trance Elevation Volume 1, a huge construction kit sample library that offers everything required to produce top-level Trance tracks.
It includes 10 construction kits (300MB per kit) suitable for use in all sequencers on both Mac and PC. MIDI files have also been provided for intermediate and advanced users.
The collection was produced for ProducerLoops.com by Jonathan Blakoe of Static Blue, who’s remixes for Armin Van Buuren, Sunny Lax, Kamil Polner and Adam Szabo have earned him much respect from the major players on the Trance scene.
The construction kit elements within Trance Elevation Volume 1 have been broken-out into separate files, with each part isolated so users can choose which parts they want to use in their own tracks. All parts are looped, with users able to simply drag and drop the desired parts into their music sequencers.
MIDI files have been provided for the melodic synthesizer riffs (including leads, pads and bass lines). Therefore, if users want to put these melodies through their synthesizers or plug-ins ,they simply import the MIDI file into the sequencer then select their own synth or plug-in as the output.
Both dry and processed (wet) versions of the loops are provided for most parts. Beginners will want to use the wet versions, whereas intermediate and advanced users will find the dry versions and
MIDI files particularly useful.
For most synthesizer leads (and some pads), an up-filter, a down-filter, and a flat-filter are provided. This facilitates creating huge anthem sound up to a climax, letting it roll for a while, then filtering it back down again.
Audio riffs that include reverb and delay tails are also included to meet the needs of the professional producers. These do not loop because the reverb/delay tail can be up to two bars in length.
Content: 3 GB total data (1.5GB each format), 574 files (each format), ACIDized Wave Files, Apple Loops / AIFF Files, MIDI Loops (for melodies), and Key and Tempo in file names. Samples include Bass lines, Clap Loop, Crashes, Drum Loops, Kick Loops, Kick Samples, Hat Loops, Pad Loops, Plucked Synth Loops, Reverse Cymbals, Snare Loops, Synth Leads, Synth Arps, Sound Effects.
Price and Availability: Trance Elevation Volume 1 is available for instant download at ProducerLoops.com for £34.95/42,06 EUR/$40.12 USD.
Producer Loops Website
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