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Wednesday, April 07, 2010

AMX Adds TPControl As Authorized Product Partner

Partnership Launches Apple App that Connects as a Native AMX Device.

AMX has announced the designation of mobile software development company, Touch Panel Control Ltd., as an AMX Authorized Product Partner (AMX APP). 

The agreement speeds and supports the launch of Touch Panel Control’s iPhone application that enables an Apple iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to transform into a fully functional touch panel for controlling AMX system platforms.

The easy-to-use application provides real-time, touch control of AV systems, lighting, shades, room temperatures and more, from iPhones, iPod Touch and iPads.

As with the iPhone and other smart devices, the iPad can communicate with an AMX control system via 3G, GPRS and EDGE cellular networks, or Wi-Fi, to allow the convenience of remote use.

The TPControl application, soon available as a 10-day trial free download from the Apple App Store, connects as a native AMX device to an AMX NetLinx Master allowing ease of integration.

“It has been an AMX tradition to champion technologies that simplify integration and expand automation technology awareness and access,” commented Robert Noble, AMX, chief technology officer.

“This partnership demonstrates our commitment to provide open, flexible, and scalable solutions for our dealers and end users.”

“It is with great pleasure that Touch Panel Control has joined with AMX to provide a next-generation mobile interface solution,” said Michael Edwards, Touch Panel Control, Managing Director.

“We look forward to providing AMX control system integrators with essential tools to leverage to their competitive advantage.”

TouchPanelControl.com is the first company to participate in the AMX Authorized Product Partner program.  Moving forward, Touch Panel Control will be developing and selling applications to enable iPhone, iPad, and other devices to be utilized for accessing AMX control systems.

Touch Panel Control Ltd. Website

AMX Website

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Allen & Heath iDR Digital Audio Distribution Installed For Nokia Concert Hall

Manages audio distribution and control and zoning across throughout the venue

An Allen & Heath iDR digital audio distribution system was recently installed in the new Nokia Concert Hall in the Estonian capital, Tallinn.

Called the most modern concert hall in Northern Europe, the venue has the facilities to host conferences for more than 1,800 international delegates, as well as high-profile concerts and shows.

Provided by Allen & Heath’s distributor Music Center Pro, installer Eventech Ltd. managed the complete sound and light installation project.

The project included the selection of an iDR system to manage audio distribution, control and zoning across the venue’s many areas surrounding the concert hall, including foyers, artist rooms, backstage and stage managers’ area.

The system includes an iDR-8 16x16 matrix mixer, an iDR-in and an iDR-out expander unit, and an iDR-switch to enable the connection of external equipment, such as room dividers and relays.

In addition, several remote control units were installed around the venue, comprising a PL-7 LCD wall panel, PL-9 hub connector and PL-10 8-channel rotary fader panel.

The Nokia Concert Hall offers a main hall with video monitoring, 20x10m large screen and six interpreter booths, with 12 additional 500-capacity conference rooms, and a 3300m2 lobby area with catering services, plus a VIP lounge and an exhibition area. In addition to different concerts, shows and conferences, Nokia Concert Hall will this year also host the European Film Academy Awards.

A Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system, the largest in Europe, has also been installed in the venue.

“The conference centre truly is a state-of-the-art facility with a unique concept unprecedented in Estonia or anywhere in the Baltics. The top quality sound, light and video technique of the multi-functional conference facilities make it the best equipped performance hall in the region,” said Peeter Rebane, Chairman of the Management Board of Solaris.

The hall is part of Tallinn’s new 43,000m2 multi-functional culture, conference and entertainment complex called Solaris, which in addition to the Nokia Concert Hall, has a 7-screen multiplex cinema Cinamon, 2-screen arts film centre, Estonian Dance Academy, exhibition area, as well as several cafes, restaurants and shops. 
Allen & Heath Website

 

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Tuesday, April 06, 2010

New Roland Systems Group S-0808 Battery-Powered Digital Snake Now Shipping

Other powering options in include REAC embedded power as well as power over Ethernet (PoE)

The Roland Systems Group has announced that the new S-0808, an 8-input/8-output, compact, lightweight digital snake that supports multiple power options including battery-power, embedded-powered over REAC and power over Ethernet (PoE), is now shipping.

The inputs offer remote controllable preamps, phantom-power, 24-bit 96kHz A/D conversion as well as choices of XLR, TRS line and even Hi-Z capability to reduce the need for direct boxes.

The S-0808 weighs around 6.6 pounds, making it portable and easy to setup. Rugged construction with steel handles withstands the rigors of live applications and frequent use. Fan-less design enables quiet operation in any environment.

All inputs employ a high quality preamp with fully discreet circuit design. Control input gain (-65 to +10 dBu), pad and phantom power are via a dedicated S-4000R remote controller or using the PC remote control software (S-4000RCS).

When using as part of a V-Mixing System, these parameters are controlled directly from the M-400 or M-380 V-Mixer.

The S-0808 is powered by REAC embedded power, external battery options or power over Ethernet (PoE). Choose the type of power conducive to the specific location and application.

V-Mount (IDX) and Gold Mount (Anton Bauer) battery systems and mounts are supported using the included universal adapter plate.

Roland Systems Group Website

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Danley Surround System Donated For New Eagle Ranch Theater Facility

Mike Hedden, president of Danley Sound Labs and dB Acoustics donated a 5.1 system for the new home theater facility.

For 25 years, Eagle Ranch in northeast Georgia has provided a home and Christ-centered inspiration to over 600 children in crisis.

Set in the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the 270-acre facility is comprised of six boys’ homes, four girls’ homes, an administration & counseling center, school for grades six through nine, a chapel, a gym, and a brand new lodge.

Until the completion of the rustic Wink Wynne Lodge, Eagle Ranch’s 60-some children gathered in the gym for movies and presentations, but with lighting and acoustics befitting basketball, the situation was far from ideal.

The new lodge features a state-of-the-art 5.1 home theater system with an eight by fifteen-foot screen and peerless loudspeakers donated by Danley Sound Labs.

Architect Lamar Wakefield designed the 7,100 sq. ft. facility situated at the edge of Lake Hodge. With a kitchen and lounge areas, Wink Wynne Lodge is now the central gathering place for the facility’s activities.

In addition, local community members are invited to rent the Eagle Ranch facilities for weddings and other events, and the Lodge provides an ideal setting for receptions and parties.

Mike Hedden, president of Danley Sound Labs and dB Acoustics, a long-time supporter of Eagle Ranch, donated a full 5.1 system comprised of two SH-100BIs, two SH-100s, one SH-95, and two DST-20 subwoofers.

“We didn’t know that Mike was going to donate them during the design and pricing,” recalled Eagle Ranch operations manager Tim Wilson.

“As our longtime A/V contractor dB Acoustics, who had done the sound systems in our chapel, gym, school, and administration buildings, recommended Danley loudspeakers and subs based on their reputation and sound quality, we were thrilled and thankful for the donation.” The system gets used for movies, presentations, and parties.

“The home theater looks and sounds amazing,” said Stefanie Long, director of communications at Eagle Ranch. “Just before we officially opened the Lodge up, Eagle Ranch founder, Eddie Staub brought the staff over to see it.”

“We put a movie on to test the system, and it was very impressive. The floor shook and the whole thing felt like a high-end movie theater. We were blown away and I remember thinking, ‘the kids are gonna be here all the time for movie night!’”

Hedden noted, “I’ve been around Eagle Ranch almost from its inception in the mid 80’s and over the years have gotten to know Eddie Staub as well as many of the house parents and staff.

“This is a ministry of impeccable integrity and it is an honor to play a small part in coming alongside the work God is doing there. The true impact of the lives that have been changed will only be seen in eternity.”

Danley Sound Labs Website

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Community Professional WET Series Chosen For University of Alabama Bryant Denny Stadium

WET-Series loudspeakers chosen to cover some of the stadium's most challenging zones.

Community’s WET Series Chosen For University of Alabama’s Bryant Denny Stadium

The University of Alabama’s Bryant Denny Stadium is one of college football’s oldest and most revered stadiums.

With the recent $80.6 million expansion to the stadium’s south end zone, it’s also one of the biggest.

Boasting a seating capacity of approximately 101,000, Bryant Denny is now the largest stadium in the Southeastern Conference.

The expanded south end zone includes a two-level South Zone club with more than 1700 seats and 36 skyboxes, as well as an 8500-seat upper deck.

Durring to the expansion, the entire stadium’s audio and visual systems are also being upgraded, including two new video scoreboards and a distributed audio system.

The sound system, designed by Austin, Texas-based consulting firm BAi, LLC, includes more than 75 of Community Professional Loudspeakers’ WET-Series W2-2W8 two-way full-range cabinets.

As BAi’s John Miller explains, the WET-Series loudspeakers provide focused coverage to some of the stadium’s most challenging zones.

The stadium’s previous system, in place for many years, was problematic even before the current stadium expansion. “The previous system consisted of a multi-device point source system located in the south end zone scoreboard,” says Miller.

“The owner was unhappy with the performance of the existing system’s lack of voice intelligibility in the seats, and gain before feedback issues on the playing field.”
U of Alabama2

Miller says the WET-Series loudspeakers were selected specifically for their superior intelligibility. “We used the Community boxes to cover the deep, dark recesses of the under-balcony seating,” says Miller.

“That’s an area that normally suffers from low frequency build-up and poor intelligibility. The Community loudspeakers were an excellent choice for this application, providing the coverage and intelligibility needed for a technically challenging acoustical environment.”

Community Professional Loudspeakers Website

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Guitar Center Professional Announces Mackie Onyx 1604i Sweepstakes

As part of its ongoing sweepstakes giveaway series, GC Pro highlights Mackie Onyx 1640i mixer, a $1699.00 value.

Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center has announced the latest in its ongoing series of online sweepstakes at www.gcpro.com.

The new contest is now live and will run through June 30, 2010, shortly after which a new contest will begin.

Several times a year, GC Pro management selects products from a high-end gear manufacturers to feature on the website and give away as that sweepstakes prize.

This newly-announced third contest features a Mackie Onyx 1640i mixer, a $1699.00 value. The 16-channel 1640i is the flagship mixer of the Mackie Onyx series. It features a full 16 mono mic/line channels each with four-band dual sweep Perkins EQ, six aux sends each with pre/post and solo capability, four sub groups and a powerful master section.

Despite its large channel count, the 1640i is compact, rack mountable and features Mackie’s flexible RotoPod™ design, allowing the mixer to be housed in any configuration – from custom studio furniture or live sound installs to even post-production machine rooms.

Past sweepstakes have featured such products as a Solid State Logic XLogic Alpha Channel, a $995.00 value, and a Royer R-121, a $1295.00 value.

To enter the contest, users simply go to gcpro.com and click on the “Sweepstakes” tab. There, entrants will complete and submit a short entry form. The winner will then be selected at random and contacted after June 30, 2010. Complete rules can be found at gcpro.com.

“Our first few sweepstakes have been big successes,” stated Rick Plushner, GC Pro Director. “They have contributed to our site’s traffic, they have given us chances to feature favorite products from valued brands, and they helped to show our appreciation to our loyal customer base. Our latest contest, with the Machie Onyx 1640i, will no doubt be just as successful, and we look forward to all of the submissions from our dedicated online community.”

Guitar Center Professional Website

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Aviom Personal Mixers Used For “Zorro The Musical”

Individual monitor mixes were necessary given the unique performance conditions that faced the musicians.

Aviom’s Pro16 personal mixing system is helping musicians stay on point for Paris’ newest show “Zorro the Musical” currently being staged at the city’s famous Folies Bergere Theater.

“Zorro” marries the tale of the legendary Spanish masked hero with the music of the Gypsy Kings. 

The show’s orchestration places instruments in three separate locations in the theater: guitars are situated on one platform, keyboards and miscellaneous percussion on another, and a full drum kit on a third. 

To make this layout work, Stage Entertainment, producer of “Zorro The Musical,” needed a way to configure the monitor mixes to keep all the musicians on cue and in time while also minimizing cost and setup time. 

Having used Aviom products for its production of “The Lion King,” the company knew Aviom’s personal mixers offered the simplicity and flexibility they were looking for.

“We had only one day for sound check with the musicians, so we needed to spend less time on gear settings and more time on sound,” says Bertrand Billon Audio Manager with Stage Entertainment. 

“With the Aviom system, all we had to do was run Cat-5 around the theater, cut it on site, and put the plugs at both ends. It couldn’t have been faster or easier. Plus, using Cat-5 helps keep production costs down.”

For “Zorro,” the setup consists of a Y1 A-Net card installed in a Yamaha M7CL console at front of house.  Monitor mix elements such as direct outputs, sub-mixes, and stems from the console are routed by the mix engineer to the 16 channels of the Y1 card.

From there, the digital signal is output to an A-16D Pro A-Net Distributor, which sends the mix stems via Cat-5 cable to eight A-16II Personal Mixers located on the three platforms. Each personal mixer provides a 16-channel mix feed for the show’s eight musicians that they can customize as needed. The guitar and keyboard-percussion sections use wired in-ear systems, while the drum section uses noise canceling headphones.

Another benefit of the Aviom personal mixers is that they let users save and recall their personal mix settings. “Since “Zorro” has three groups of musicians, being able to recall the settings is very useful. It lets all the musicians be at their best, without requiring a lot of adjustment,” says Billon.

The personal mixers are also used to help train substitute musicians who can experience the show as if they were a member of the band while studying the score from the front of house mix position.  “Being able to add more personal mixers virtually anywhere in the theater is a very useful feature when the subs need to learn their parts and see how it accompanies the show’s staging,” he adds. 

The simplified monitor mix system takes minimal time to set up and provides high quality, easily repeatable results for the musicians in the band throughout each performance.

Aviom Website

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Monday, April 05, 2010

Renkus-Heinz Helps The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Feel At Home

IC Live steerable line arrays help create a natural ambience in the choir's main performance space.

Four of Renkus-Heinz’s IC Live steerable line array systems are being used to create a natural ambience in the famed choir’s main performance space.

Few vocal groups are as recognizable as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, both by name and by sound.

Founded in 1847, the famed choir has become an integral part of American culture, performing regularly from the landmark Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.

Called one of the world’s architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Tabernacle is a truly unique structure, its domed roof creating a remarkable acoustical environment that is arguably as much a part of the Choir’s sound as the voices of the men and women themselves.

However, as their audience has grown, the Tabernacle’s 6,000-plus capacity could no longer accommodate its legions of fans, and in 2000 the LDS Church opened the doors to its new 21,000-seat Conference Center.

But as Poll Sound’s Deward Timothy explains, the Conference Center can not match the intimate acoustics of the original Tabernacle’s dome. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the Tabernacle is still the Choir’s official home, with the Conference Center only used for performances to larger audiences.

“The domed area of the Tabernacle where the Choir sit is no more than about 80 or 90 feet across, and it has a very natural, unique ambience,” says Timothy. “They’ve been practicing and performing under that dome for 150 years, and while the rostrum of the Conference Center certainly sounds magnificent in its own right, it’s simply not the same, and they’re not hearing themselves like they’re used to.”

Unique challenges call for unique solutions, and the Choir called upon Steve Barber of Massachusetts-based Lares Associates. Utilizing a combination of close miking, strategically positioned loudspeakers and digital signal processing, Barber’s system creates a natural ambience that closely replicates that of the Tabernacle.

Four IC Live units are part of the system, positioned behind and to either side of the singers, with processing handled by Lares DSP and reverberation units.

“It’s a very low-profile system, and it’s pretty much inaudible to the audience,” says Timothy. “But for the singers it’s ideal. The IC Lives are an important part of the system; they’re exceptionally flat and natural sounding, with a high enough output to be heard over the 130 voices of the Choir.”

For the singers of the famed Choir, the system has addressed the challenges of maintaining the intimacy of the original Tabernacle in a much larger venue. “It works exceptionally well,” concludes Timothy. “It’s very subtle.

When you’re sitting in the Choir area, it’s like you’re speaking in a normal conversational tone, but it sounds like it’s coming from everywhere. The singers and directors are very happy; most of them say it sounds every bit as good as the Tabernacle itself.”

Renkus-Heinz Website

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HME Acquires Clear-Com Communication Systems

Acquisition will enhance market position, expand product offering and extend market presence.

HM Electronics Inc. today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Clear-Com Communication Systems.

Clear-Com will continue operation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of HME, with no changes planned for its award-winning product portfolio or its current mission to be the world’s first choice for high-end intercom solutions.

HME, a privately-held company, based in Poway, California, is a pioneer of digital wireless intercom solutions for restaurant, hospitality, sports and pro audio markets. 

Combining HME’s world-renowned expertise in wireless with Clear-Com’s leadership in TDM Matrix and integrated IP and wireless solutions will offer an expansive selection of communication products and technology for intercom customers with different applications and system requirements.

The acquisition will expand HME’s reach into new markets, while allowing the combined companies to leverage synergies in product development and operations.

In addition, Clear-Com will continue its long commitment in providing best-in-class service and support to its existing and new customers.

“After enjoying substantial growth in all our key sectors over the last decade, it was time for HME to take the next step,” said Chuck Miyahira, CEO of HME.

“Clear-Com is the best-known brand in the mission-critical intercom marketplace, and brings a wealth of industry knowledge, innovative technology and great business partnerships around the globe.  This acquisition will expand the HME business in the pro audio space with a wider range of complimentary communication solutions.”

“We are extremely pleased to make this announcement,” said Mitzi Dominguez, President of HME. “Both companies have been in the professional intercom business for over 30 years and share similar cultures and core values. And there is tremendous synergy between the two companies.  With their combined expertise in the professional audio industry they will focus on finding new innovative ways to help their customers.”

“We see a great fit with the strategy and vision of HME. The efforts of our combined teams will bring added value to our customers and greater opportunities for both companies,” said Matt Danilowicz, who will continue in his role as President of Clear-Com under the new structure within HME. 

“HME’s complementary expertise in wireless, their operations and manufacturing excellence, and their appreciation of our markets will solidify the growing recognition that Clear-Com’s products are setting a new standard for the industry.”

Clear-Com business headquarters remain in Alameda, California. Research and development will continue in Cambridge, UK and in Montreal, Canada.

 
HM Electronics Inc. Website

Clear-Com Communication Systems Website

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BSS Audio Provides Sound Processing And Control For Burj Khalifa

The World’s Tallest Building, Burj Khalifa required the most advanced in audio networking.

The family of advanced Soundweb processors from BSS Audio has been used extensively by one of Dubai’s system integrators, Bond Communications, to provide end-to-end networking at the Burj Khalifa.

This project, six years in the making, is the largest ever undertaken by the company — and the tallest building in the world.

Harman Professional distributors GSL Professional LLC provided the BSS Audio devices to Bond Communications.

These advanced audio tools function on most of the Tower’s 164 floors, and GSL’s Marketing & PR Manager, Glen Kershaw, states, “We were selling these products to Bond pretty much up until the day of the opening — and I anticipate that the after-sales support will be ongoing following the opening.”

Located in the Downtown district — and constructed on a 500-acre plot widely described as “the most prestigious square kilometer on earth” — the building itself boasts some amazing statistics.

The Burj forms a vibrant community for thousands of residents, employees, hotel guests and tourists, with up to 12,000 people living, working and playing inside a building that stands at more than 800 metres / 2,625 ft. The piéce de rèsistance is the tower’s 124th floor observation deck, ‘At the Top, Burj Khalifa’, which offers 360-degree views of the city and is open to the public.

When construction work was at its most intense, more than 12,000 people from over 100 countries were working every day at the Burj Khalifa site, which took 22 million man-hours to build.

Bond Communications AV package manager, Omar Chataw, confirms that his company was asked to provide an integrated, fully-redundant A/V system and the scope of work included networking, cabling, security, home automation, AV conferencing, two-way radio system and master control system.

Chataw knew that the design specification called for a CobraNet backbone, which would allow any input to be routed to any output over standard Ethernet.

His introduction to BSS Audio’s catalogue came when he was asked to trial the scalable DSP system on a nearby satellite project — the Lake Hotel.  “GSL Professional provided really good support in terms of both knowledge and service,” he said. “The BSS Audio specification was excellent — in particular the newer Soundweb London products with the digital audio bus, which also offered four times the processing capability.”

Chataw’s team constructed the network around large quantities of the newer Soundweb London family members, launched in January 2008. This provided Omar Chataw with another compelling reason for adopting the BSS Audio platform.

The building contains seven separate control rooms (and a master), each with a number of Soundweb London products. As there was a requirement for the audio to run over a standard Ethernet network between the control rooms, CobraNet had been the obvious choice, and thus a BLU-800 is located in each of the control rooms as the main configurable hub.

This transmits the CobraNet bundle direct to CobraNet-equipped amplifiers, ensuring that the signal is kept in the digital domain throughout.

The Soundweb London digital audio bus is used throughout, allowing each zone to have its own fault tolerance.  The central control room uses 2 x BLU-800, 2 x BLU-160 and 5 x BLU-120 devices to handle a matrix of over 100 inputs and 100 outputs, taking feeds from the main music server and local line inputs.

Each of the other control areas house either two or three amp/processor racks — giving a total of between 22 and 25 for the entire construction.  Only the newer Soundweb London products could create a matrix of this size due to the combination of abundant processing capability and the high channel counts involved with the individual devices.

An AMX control system is employed in various zones throughout the system which interfaces seamlessly with the Soundweb London devices via RS-232 to allow quick and full control of the audio system.

As a result each area is able to listen to the same centralized source or to a source different than the others without any interference. The music system covers all the public areas including corridors, lift lobbies, terraces, reception areas — as well as a number of fine dining rooms and bars inside the world-first Armani Hotel Dubai, which are equipped with local source select and volume controls.

At the same time meeting rooms are provided with complete audio visual solutions for presentations and conferencing, with high-definition capabilities.

Concludes Omar Chataw, “The DSP processing power of the newer BSS Audio products and the digital audio bus provided us with a perfect opportunity. But although we have a strong technical team, we wouldn’t have gone down this route unless we knew we would get full programming, technical and integration support from both BSS Audio and GSL Professional.”

BSS Audio Website

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Friday, April 02, 2010

Hard Rock Café Singapore Chooses Soundcraft

Already a fan of Soundcraft, Hard Rock Singapore chose the Si2 for greater flexibility in the venue.

Singapore recently upgraded its in-house sound system with a Soundcraft Si2 console to easily manage all entertainment from background music to multiple live bands each night, keeping tourists, locals, musicians and celebrities continuously coming back for more.

HRC Singapore was the first HRC to open in Asia more than 20 years ago. 

The first mixing console in use when it first opened was the Soundcraft Spirit Live. 

It was subsequently replaced by a Soundcraft Delta and a Soundcraft Series 8000 32 channel that was in use for more than 10 years.

With a history of bringing the best in entertainment to its customers, the management and technical crew at HRC Singapore decided to replace its older Soundcraft Series 8000 console with the Soundcraft Si2. 

“It always comes down to the overall experience with our patrons, so we decided to concentrate on making the music really stand out.  We have been using Soundcraft consoles from Day One and are very happy with their quality, sound and reliability” “With the Si2, our system has performed flawlessly and sounds great,” says Irwan Snin, Front of House Engineer.

Supplied and installed by Electronics & Engineering (E&E) PTE LTD in Singapore, the Si2 continues to provide quality sound to Hard Rock Café fans every day. Established in 1951, E&E is one of Singapore’s leading A/V specialty contractors, and has represented Soundcraft for more than 20 years.

Gary Goh, Director of E&E stated, “The user-friendliness of the board was the top selling point in our work with Hard Rock. The digital console was perfect for a mid-sized venue like this one.  There is no doubt that the Si2 has made musical operations run much more smoothly at the Hard Rock.”

Soundcraft Website

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Thursday, April 01, 2010

Jim Cousins Joins Rational Acoustics Smaart Instructor Team; New Training Sessions Announced

Training sessions upcoming in Manchester, Minneapolis and Chicago

Jim Cousins has joined the cadre of worldwide Smaart Instructors and will be conducting Smaart training classes on behalf of Rational Acoustics in the U.K., Europe, Asia and Pacific Rim.

Cousins has been involved with almost every aspect of professional audio for the past 25 years starting with a stint in technical design for Midas consoles and moving on to independent design and alignment services for artists like Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Pavarotti, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lou Reed and Paul Weller, large scale operas such as Carmen, Aida and Turandot plus countless live events, musicals and festivals.

He has also provided design and technical training support to companies such as Autograph Sales and Meyer Sound, where he ran SIM training workshops across Europe.

Most recently Cousins was the Product Manager for Martin Audio where he provided system design and project support training for Martin Audio’s worldwide users. In January 2010, he returned back to the world of independent sound consultancy, forming his Oxfordshire, U.K. -based company Sound Improvement Services to provide a full spectrum of design and support services to fixed install, touring and special event clients across Europe.

He also regularly presents guest lectures for the live sound section of Manchester’s School of Sound Recording.

Cousins’ first class will be the Manchester, U.K. class scheduled for April 29/30, 2010, and he will also be working with Rational Acoustics and its U.K. Distributor NTM Systems (formerly known as Lava Integration) on additional Spring/Summer 2010 training classes which will be posted on the company’s training schedule page as soon as dates and locations are confirmed.

New Training Classes Scheduled: Manchester, Minneapolis and Chicago
The Manchester U.K. Class will be held on April 29-30, 2010 at the Shena Simon Campus of Manchester College. Registration, pricing and logistic information can be obtained through Rational’s UK Distributor, and host of the class, NTM Systems, by e-mailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

The Minneapolis and Chicago Classes are being presented in conjunction with the yearly Bormania Road Show, hosted by Bormann Marketing:
• The Minneapolis Class will be a two-day Smaart Fundamentals & Applications class held at the Bormann Marketing offices on May 3-4, 2010.
• The Chicago class will be also be a two-day Fundamentals and Applications class, with an optional 3rd day Practicum. It will be held at the Irish American Heritage Center on May 6-8, 2010.

Both classes will be taught by Jamie Anderson. Registration, pricing and logistic information is available through Bormann Marketing by e-mailing Glenn Manske at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Rational Acoustics Website

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Kensington Church Notices The Difference With VENUE

After upgrading to the VENUE profile there was a tightness and clarity to the sound that they’d never heard before.

Nearly two decades since a handful of congregants gathered in a rented school cafeteria for Kensington Church’s first service, today Kensington’s five campuses are the epitome of activity.

Bustling with activity, there’s always something going on from youth programs and community groups to multiple services throughout the week.

Kensington’s main campus in Troy, Michigan recently upgraded its sanctuary with a new Avid VENUE Profile system.

As veteran engineer, Tim Corder explains, the VENUE is the first phase of an upgrade plan that will eventually include a new P.A. system.  However, Corder observes, the new Profile console has already delivered far more than expected.

“The VENUE system was the only thing we changed, so we were able to clearly hear what a difference it made,” Corder says. “I was sitting in the booth with the music director, and we were just giggling like little kids.”

“There was a tightness and clarity to the sound that we’d never heard before. I’d never have believed one piece of gear could make such a difference. Even our lead pastor – who’s definitely non-technical –  remarked on the difference.”

No stranger to digital consoles, Corder cites several factors that influenced the decision to choose VENUE. “One of the main considerations was the fact that we don’t have a monitor engineer. When the church started 18 years ago they didn’t have one, and that’s never changed.”

“It’s a big job for the FOH engineer, who has to contend with both in-ears and wedges in addition to the house mix. The VENUE Personal Q option gives us a great degree of interaction between the engineer and the musicians.”

The VENUE system’s integration with Pro Tools systems was another deciding factor, but not for the usual reasons. “We don’t do a lot of live multitracking,” Corder admits, “but our music team does a lot of their composing and arranging in Pro Tools.”

“Being able to work with systems that speak the same language means I can be an active collaborator. When they bring me a new song, I can pull up the same plug-ins they used in the demo, and deliver a live mix that sounds like what they intended. That kind of partnership is invaluable.”

Corder also points to Virtual Sound Check as an important feature. “I can come in on a Tuesday morning and fine-tune the mix without the pressure of a live congregation,” he says. “It also allows me to see what’s happening with the monitor mixes from up on stage, as well as allowing the musicians to come out to the console and hear what their mix sounds like.”

“That’s huge in terms of the creative partnership between us. I can hear what they’re hearing, and they can hear what I’m hearing, and that’s provided us with a level of trust and confidence that would never have been possible before.”

Overall, Corder is very happy with the new system. “VENUE has completely changed the way I work. It allows me to be more of an artist. And the system is so sophisticated, so rock solid, and has such great support from the company. The Avid folks really did their homework, and it shows.”

Avid Technology, Inc. Website

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JBL Loudspeakers Chosen By St. Francis Of Assisi Church

The JBL PD Series were the perfect complement to the complex acoustics of St. Francis’ sanctuary.

A new audio system was recently installed at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bend, Oregon, featuring JBL Professional PD Series loudspeakers.

Chosen to deliver quality sound with the least amount of speakers possible, Morgan Sound of Lynwood, Washington was responsible for the acoustic consulting and design of the system.

Morgan Sound teamed with Anderson Group International of Eugene, Oregon for the installation.

The installation at the St. Francis of Assisi Church initially presented many challenges given the large space with polished concrete floors, CMU walls and granite and marble covering the substantial altar platform, all of which work together to create a very reverberant room.

A desire existed to maximize the presentation of sound without filling the entire auditorium with large speakers, which is why Morgan Sound President Charlie Morgan ultimately chose the JBL PD series, powered by Crown amplifiers.

The pattern control of the JBL speakers allows the church presenters to reach high SPL levels when needed while maintaining speech clarity.

“As the Application Engineer at JBL, Jay Fullmer’s advice was most helpful in using the PD boxes,” said Charlie Morgan, President of Morgan Sound. “The sound in the room is focused, very intelligible and even throughout the entire seating area. In short, we couldn’t be happier with the result.”

In addition to the JBL PD series loudspeakers and Crown amps, there are JBL Control 29AV loudspeakers, all of which are controlled by a BSS London processor.

An analog mixer on the platform gives the choir director control of the local inputs, and there is also the option to run everything in static mode with 16 microphone channels controlled through the BSS London processor. The system includes Harman’s HiQnet™ System Architect™ software for quick and easy configuration.

“We finished the installation in the 700-person auditorium of the church two months ago, and the customer is just thrilled with the result,” continued Morgan. “Using the Harman brands together gives the user a tremendous ease of use, and topping it off with the JBL loudspeakers means that they are getting the best possible sound available.”

JBL Professional Website

Crown Website

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Bosch & Electro-Voice Deliver Safety, Sound Quality At Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay

Project includes more than 1,500 Electro-Voice loudspeakers, including EVID C8.2HC high ceiling models and EV 205 4-inch ceiling models

Renowned Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly’s latest masterpiece is one that does his native country of Uruguay proud: the new terminal at Carrasco International Airport, near Montevideo, which is served by a combination of Bosch Praesideo public address systems and an extensive distribution of Electro-Voice ceiling loudspeakers

System design/installation contractors PROMÚSICA supplied the mass notification and life safety communications systems.

“PROMÚSICA did an exceptional job designing and installing these systems,” says Juan Montoya of Bosch, “which can handle everything from routine paging through to emergency notification – all with the highest level of reliability and speech intelligibility.”

PROMÚSICA worked together with Bosch system engineers to precisely address rigorous international airport standards. Key components in this effort are Bosch Praesideo public address systems - utilized at numerous airport installations around the world - and EVID recessed ceiling loudspeakers.

A digital system for public address and emergency notification, Praesideo employs optical fiber for communication and offers interference-free audio along with a high level of redundancy.

The system is fully programmable and compatible with other security systems, including fire detectors, warning and emergency systems.

Simple to set up and modify either locally or remotely, a typical Praesideo system is designed in the form of a combination network cable and fiber ring.

“While this architectural environment is very easy on the eye, it is not so friendly from an acoustical perspective,” Montoya adds. “The software-based audio simulations and acoustic research confirmed the typical challenges posed by glass, granite and high reflective ceilings, where high levels of RT60 are the norm.

“We were able to select products that met these challenges exactly – both Bosch and EV have a very wide range of products for commercial audio applications like this. Bosch LBC3210/00 line arrays loudspeakers were perfect for counteracting this reverberation, and offer excellent directivity control for uniform coverage and intelligibility.”

More than 1,500 Electro-Voice loudspeakers, including EVID C8.2HC high ceiling models and EV 205 4-inch ceiling speakers, were installed.

Montoya continues, “The C8.2HC was designed for high-ceiling spaces where poor acoustics can be offset by precise coverage and high-definition, full-bandwidth acoustical performance. The EVIDs provide sound quality that is closer to a full-sized loudspeaker than a typical ceiling speaker.

“It’s hard to see them up there as they blend in so well, but they can be heard loud and clear. The entire installation raises the bar for form and function in airport audio systems.”

Bosch Security Systems Website
Electro-Voice Website

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