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Tuesday, March 02, 2010

New Episodes Available In The Art & Science of Sound Recording Learning Series

Parsons offers education in studio acoustics, recording consoles, digital audio, and more.

Alan Parsons’ Art and Science of Sound Recording has released a series of new sections, available for streaming and digital download.

The Art and Science of Sound Recording collection offers something for everyone interested in recording their own music, from novice to professional engineers.

Supported by extensive musical examples, custom diagrams, and interview clips, each section offers an in-depth view of individual areas of the recording process.

Along with previously released scenes covering MIDI, EQ, Delays, Drums, Noise Gates and Recording a Choir, the new sections individually examine the recording topics of Studio Acoustics, Consoles and Controllers, Digital Audio and Computers, Monitoring, Microphones, Keyboards, and Bass.

Alan Parsons know for his work with The Beatles and other music greats, host and presents the entire project; aided by actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton, who takes on the role of narrator throughout.

The final set of sections in the ASSR series will be available in a month, just ahead of the release of the complete Art and Science of Sound Recording boxed set.

The Art and Science of Sound Recording Website

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Euphonix S5 Fusion Digital Mixing System Debuts in Spain

A boutique console to offer their clients more.

Euphonix is pleased to announce the installation of the first S5 Fusion in Spain. Fig Tree Studios has installed a 32-fader S5 Fusion in their newly opened post-production facility in Barcelona.

Said Andrew Galletly, owner of Fig Tree Studios, “There are two distinct markets in Spain: the first, and largest, is the distribution market of mainly American films which need to be dubbed and mixed into Spanish.”

“The other is the local production market for just mixing. I sensed that the local producers would welcome a studio which cared for their productions and would not push them out of the room when Disney knocked at the door with their next mega 3D flick!”

“With the Euphonix S5 Fusion as the cornerstone of my studio I can offer local producers more of a boutique, made-to-measure solution.”

“The idea is that I’m going to offer the studio in a dry hire situation where the client can bring along his mixer of preference,” continued Galletly.

The Euphonix S5 Fusion is an all-in-one digital audio mixing package that provides a fusion of Euphonix’ new processing DSP SuperCore engine with EuCon Hybrid. The system is designed to handle HD surround audio post and music applications.

“Post-production in the Iberian Peninsula has traditionally been of a very high standard and we are pleased that Fig Tree has chosen to partner with Euphonix. As the first Fusion in Spain, the door has now been opened to audio professionals throughout the country to work on this compact yet powerful console,” explained Dominic Jacobson.

Euphonix Website

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QSC Allows Belfast Parish’s Message To Be Heard

Famous Roman Catholic Church refitted with modern amplification system.

The third oldest Roman Catholic church in Belfast, the architecturally-superb St. Malachy’s, was recently restored.

The work included not only brick and plasterwork, a marble altar, mosaic floor and fan-vaulted ceiling, but a new sound system as well thanks to QSC.

A pair of sleek white polystyrene QSC AcousticDesign AD-S282H 2-way loudspeakers, yoke-mounted vertically onto the sanctuary walls on either side of the altar, provide the dispersion for both the gallery and ground floor seating tiers, while a pair of outfacing high-output AD-S82H 2-way loudspeakers (using the IntelliDock intelligent mounting system) extend coverage to the wrap-around side pews.

The low impedance system is backed up by a 100V line recessed ceiling speaker system which also ensures even coverage at the back and out in the entrance foyer, and all presets are stored in a rack-mount mixer in the vestry so that the officiating clergy need only to adjust the levels.

Installation contractor Gary McElveen said,  “The church is extremely wide and narrow, with a gallery that virtually overlooks the altar,” said McElveen.  “In the 23 years I have been in the business, I have never fitted out a church shaped like this — it was far from being the usual rectangle.”

This McElveen’s first experience with a QSC system, he remarked, “I have never heard a PA sound as well as when we turned this on — it was crystal clear.”

Rev. Fr. Martin Graham CC also professed happiness with the sound, especially at the lack of slapback, despite the lack absorption their stone floor provided.

QSC Website

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APB-DynaSonics Names Southeast Sales Rep

The APB-Dynasonic analog console is a great addition to the Griffith Sales line card.

APB-DynaSonics recently named Griffith Sales as Southeast Sales Representative.

Asked about the new relationship, Scott Hough said, “Griffith Sales represents some of the best audio and video product lines in the industry and we’re excited to be representing APB-DynaSonics in the Southeast US.

APB-DynaSonics offers a great sounding analog mixer line that our dealers and their customers will appreciate.”

APB-DynaSonics Website

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Studer Vista 5 Consoles Let Students Focus On The News

Walter Cronkite School Of Journalism And Mass Communication not only invested in equipment with the Vista 5, they invested in their students.

The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University in Phoenix has installed two Studer Vista 5 digital mixing consoles to be used as an integral part of the School of Journalism’s emphasis on real-world experience.

Housed in a 6-story, $71 million, 223,000-square-foot academic building located in downtown Phoenix, they are at the core of the School’s advanced broadcast facilities.

One Vista 5 is used to train students covering the J-School’s First Amendment Forum, used for town hall-type meetings. The second Vista 5 mixer has been installed in the School’s state-of-the-art broadcast control room, where it is used to record, edit and broadcast the School’s daily award-winning weekday news programming.

Jim Dove, Chief Engineer at the Cronkite School of Journalism, knew he needed a console that was highly flexible, extremely powerful, and cost-effective.

“There were all of those factors to consider, as well as the fact that Chris Callahan, the Dean of the journalism school, has a vision of making real-world experience an integral part of the curriculum here,” Dove explains.

“We were very happy to find a digital broadcast console that meets and exceeds all of those requirements. In fact, it’s accurate to say that these two Vista 5 consoles do the work of at least three or more consoles, so they were a very cost-efficient decision.”

Dove says that acquiring a Studer Vista 5 console constitutes more than simply getting a piece of equipment—he’s also gotten a partner. “Studer’s been incredibly helpful for us from the moment we decided to buy,” he says, noting that the company’s technical support has been readily available whenever he or his staff has a question.

“We’ve been very happy with the follow-up that we’ve received,” he says. “We made an investment when we bought the Vista 5 consoles, but we also feel that Studer has also made an investment – in us and our students.”

Studer Website

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Blue Expands US Pro Audio Sales

Expanding its sales organization to support recent and projected new growth

Blue Microphones has announced that it is implementing additional factory representatives and independent rep firms to manage its sales in the field.

Effective immediately, Blue mainstays Ben Thompkins and Jonathan von Retzell will be responsible for the western and central territories respectively as Technical Sales Representatives (TSR’s).

In addition, Blue has announced the hiring of New York-based Danny Garcia as the eastern regional TSR.

As company employees, this team of TSRs will oversee sales as well as provide professional technical assistance within their territories.

To enhance the roles of its TSR’s, Blue has hired three independent sales rep firms in the country.

Meyer Marketing will be responsible for the state of Florida and Puerto Rico, Benchmark Audio Sales will represent Blue in New England and Dallas-based Marketing Concepts will cover Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.

“While the vast majority of our competitors have shrunk their sales teams over the past few years, Blue has decided to up the ante.” explained Dino Virella, Blue’s Sales Director.

“Our unique combination of factory TSR’s and independent reps will allow us to continue the tremendous growth we’ve experienced in the past few years. Our dealers have been the cornerstone of this growth and we remain committed to them by making these changes and appointments ensuring that we don’t lose momentum despite a challenging economy”.

Blue Microphones Website

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Manifold Recording Chooses API Vision Console For Control Room

They chose the API Vision console because it was the only one that had the power and flexibility they knew was needed.

The Manifold Recording studio complex, fifteen miles southwest of Raleigh-Durham, is a state-of-the-art recording facility built upon zero-carbon emission practices.

It was also built upon a 64-channel API Vision console with integrated surround and stereo bus topologies.

Wes Lachot Design provided the architectural plan based on the principles of organic architecture and sustainable practices.

Slated for completion in fall 2010, Manifold Recording situated its 6,000-square-foot facility on seventeen country.

Control Room A will features the API Vision together with a collection of recording technologies, monitoring, and outboard processing. The smaller Control Room B utilizes a digital console, and both rooms are networked for combined or separate use.

Said Dan Zimbelman, director of sales at API, “Studio build-outs of this magnitude are rare, and news of Manifold Recording has stirred up some hopeful and happy feelings for audio professionals who recognize a project that puts people, music, and audio first.”

“We’re also very happy that Manifold Recording and Wes Lachot Design are pioneering sustainable building practices in what promises to be a zero-net-carbon building.”

“The decision to go with API for the very best in analog technology was an easy one,” said Lachot. “The Legacy would have been a great choice, but we went with the Vision to provide users with the flexibility to mix in stereo and surround simultaneously.”

“API has made that sort of dual-mixing process intuitive, and our choice reflects a commitment to provide users with every option at the highest possible quality.”

API Website

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