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Monday, May 21, 2012

First Midas PRO2 Sold Into Slovakia

Midas has announced the first sale of the PRO2 live audio system into the Slovakian market. Facilitated by Midas’ Slovakian distributor SBL Acoustics, the sale was made Patrik Kvacka, who runs his own rental company in Slovakia’s political and cultural capital of Bratislava. The new console has already been used for concerts by eclectic Berlin collective Jazzanova and British jazz and electronic band The Cinematic Orchestra.

Kvacka ordered the first PRO2 after attending a demonstration of the new console for the Slovakian sound industry, held by SBL and attended by more than 60 sound specialists and engineers.

“The dimensions of the PRO2, combined with its weight, capabilities and price, is exactly what I was looking for,” says Kvacka, who has several years’ experience of mixing on a Midas PRO6. “The PRO2 gives me everything that I need.”

Midas

Guitar Center Opens In North Charlotte, NC

Following an eventful Q1 that saw the retailer expanding its operations in Tucson, Arizona, and Highland Park, Illinois, Guitar Center held the grand opening of its new location in North Charlotte, North Carolina, in April. 

The store is located at 8813 JW Clay Blvd., STE A, Charlotte, NC 28262-5416. Guitar Center North Charlotte is Guitar Center’s 225th retail location.

Guitar Center North Charlotte’s grand opening introduced customers to a vast selection of products and a dedicated staff with unparalleled musical knowledge and experience.  As with all new store openings, Guitar Center hosted a Grand Opening Weekend celebration (April 19-22) featuring exclusive savings, gear giveaways, free events and live performances catered to local musicians.

Guitar Center’s newest North Carolina location features showrooms for customers equipped with the latest products for musicians – from guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards to live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment.

The new store also features Guitar Center Studios, an in-house, state-of-the-art lesson facility, which will create unrivaled opportunities for North Charlotte musicians of all ages and skill levels.

Guitar Center Studios is now the most modern and affordable lessons facility in the area. Guitar Center North Charlotte also features GC Garage, Guitar Center’s on site guitar repair service. Musicians could try out the GC Garage for free on Grand Opening night, and with a guitar purchase, customers could also receive a free, 22-point personalized set-up.

As part of Guitar Center’s ongoing initiatives designed to educate and inspire artists nationwide, Guitar Center North Charlotte will offer unique opportunities for musicians to craft their skills, maintain their instruments and experience many other aspects of the music industry first-hand. Musicians interested in learning about the industry will be able to come to the store to interact with and pick the brains of several industry leaders.

North Charlotte shoppers are also able to enjoy Guitar Center’s new multi-channel “endless aisle,” which includes multiple combinations of product options to conveniently choose from. Not only does the “endless isle” include North Charlotte inventory, but it also provides easy access to $400 million in new and used inventory located in hundreds of stores and warehouses across the nation.

Customers have the ability to combine a myriad of in-store, online and phone options to purchase music equipment from anywhere they may be, allowing for a personalized and convenient shopping experience. Free Recording Made Easy classes are also conducted every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 am for anyone who wants to make the exciting journey into recording their music.

In addition to special programs at the new North Charlotte store, Guitar Center offers nationwide programs designed to spearhead creativity and highlight the nation’s most promising undiscovered talent. North Charlotte residents will now be able to participate in these ongoing national events from their hometown:

•        Guitar Center On-Stage is an annual competition that provides unsigned artists the chance to open for established artists such as Motley Crue, KISS and Jane’s Addiction.

•        Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter is an artist discovery program which aims to find the nation’s best unsigned singer-songwriter. The winner receives a career-altering prize package including recording 3 songs with accomplished GRAMMY® Award-winning Producer John Shanks, recording time at Converse Rubber Tracks studio and $10,000 cash. The grand finale takes place in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.

•        Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues is a nationwide amateur guitar skills competition with the goal of finding the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. This year’s winner, Jonathon “Boogie” Long, performed alongside GRAMMY-winning guitarist Warren Haynes at the Grand Finals in LA, and won an incredible prize package valued at over $50,000.

•        Guitar Center’s Drum-Off, entering its 24th year, is the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered drummer. Drummers from across the nation compete in the world’s largest drum competition, vying for thousands of dollars in prizes and the coveted title of Guitar Center’s Drum-Off Champion. The grand prize package is valued at nearly $50,000.

Guitar Center North Charlotte is open seven days a week. Store hours are 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday; 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday; and 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday.

Guitar Center

Friday, May 18, 2012

IK Multimedia iRig MIX Now Shipping

IK Multimedia is proud to announce that iRig MIX, the first ultra-compact DJ and audio mixer for the iPad, iPhone, and the iPod touch is now shipping.

When used with an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch, IK’s included* DJ Rig FREE app and other DJ apps, it is a complete, highly portable DJ system for practicing, rehearsing, performing and recording.

With its unique miniaturized form factor and exclusive features, designed to be used with the entire range of portable iOS devices, iRig MIX brings a new meaning to the concept of mobile DJ-ing.

iRig MIX has everything a pro DJ needs, including full EQ adjustment, crossfader, headphone cue and a mic input.  Using DJ Rig or other popular DJ apps, users can record their performance and share with friends, publish or distribute at the event. DJs can choose either a traditional setup with two devices (one plugged into each of the independent channels) OR a single iOS device.

This flexibility, combined with iRig MIX’s portability gives aspiring and pro DJs a compact system that can be used everywhere… anytime. House parties or in the yard, after-parties, and impromptu dances are perfect environments for the iRig MIX. Planes, trains and automobiles used to mean that your DJ gear was inaccessible and unusable.  Now, no matter where you are or where you are going, you can mix and rehearse sets.

Plus - for the first time on any mixer - iRig MIX can be used for mixing any type of audio source (coming from mp3 players, CD players, etc.) with an iOS device using automatic tempo matching and beat syncing. This is accomplished with X-Sync, a feature that works in combination with the DJ Rig FREE app from IK Multimedia that is included* with iRig MIX.

Maximum Portability
With its slim, lightweight form factor iRig MIX is considerably smaller than traditional DJ mixers and can be carried anywhere you take your iPhone or iPad, is easy to stow and perfect for performers on the go. The iRig MIX also has minimal power requirements allowing it to be powered not only by the included power supply but also by a suitable USB battery pack or a laptop USB port for maximum mobility to mix anywhere.

Not just for DJs
iRig MIX is also versatile enough to provide the perfect mixing solution for solo musicians or small ensembles that use one or more iOS devices to play live. It features an extra guitar/microphone input that can be processed with other IK popular apps like AmpliTube and VocaLive or any other app that offers real-time audio processing. Its standard RCA output connectors provide easy, direct connection to PA systems or powered speakers.

iRig MIX includes* 4 free apps: DJ Rig, the new professional DJ mixing app from IK, AmpliTube, the most popular iOS guitar amp and effects app, VocaLive the processing app for singers and vocalists, and GrooveMaker®, the loop-based beat and groove making app.

iRig MIX features
-2 stereo inputs with gain, bass, treble and volume controls, independent cue on each channel with LED indication and channel crossfader
-Instrument/microphone extra input, with volume control, can be processed by iOS real-time effects apps (such as AmpliTube, VocaLive)
-Stereo output with RCA connectors, master level and LED meters
-High quality, pristine sound
-Quality headphone output for master or cue monitoring with independent volume control
-Input switch splits Input 1 into dual-mono for use with DJ mixing apps on a single iOS device
-“X-Sync” mode allows auto-sync with any audio source using the included DJ Rig free app
-Can be powered with the included AC adapter, battery pack and laptop USB ports
-Includes 4 free apps: DJ Rig, AmpliTube, VocaLive, GrooveMaker

iRig MIX costs $99.99 (excluding taxes) and is available from electronic and music retailers around the world.

IK Multimedia

Countryman E6 Omni Earset Microphone Works Magic

Tradeshows are a great place to discover the latest, greatest products. While many manufacturers use models or product specialists to present their wares, others want something a bit more unique—and that’s where tradeshow magician Scott Tokar comes in.

Outfitted with his trusty Countryman E6 Omni Earset Microphone, he consistently puts a fresh spin on tradeshow presentations.

Tokar is not only a magician; he is the founder of Corporate-Fx, a firm dedicated to maximizing a company’s tradeshow visibility by attracting prospective customers through the use of magic.

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively while pitching a company’s products or services is paramount to Tokar’s business, as is the freedom to use both hands.

After trying a variety of microphone types, Tokar quickly realized the lightweight, robust performance of the Countryman E6 microphone made it the right tool for the job.

“I’ve been using the E6 for several years,” Tokar reports. “The firm actually owns two units so that other magicians working under the Corporate-Fx brand can also use them.

“The sound quality of this microphone is terrific and I know I can count on the E6 to help me communicate clearly to my audience. I never worry about not being able to be understood while speaking.”

“I also find the microphone’s rugged, reliable build quality to be first rate,” he continued. “I regularly wear this mic eight hours a day and I frequently remove it from my ear and place it in my shirt pocket between demonstrations. I know I can count on the E6 to retain its shape so that I don’t have to constantly adjust it to fit my face.

“I have the mic set the way I like it positioned and each time I put it back on, it goes right to the position I want. I never worry about the mic shifting position and audio quality remains consistent the entire time I’m working. My E6 is never distracting and, as a magician who needs to use both hands, it enables me to focus on communicating with my audience.”

Because his E6 is constantly being taken off, placed in a pocket, and later placed back on his face, the cable encounters a lot of pulling and tugging.

“I use the thicker, 2 mm cable with my system,” Tokar explained. “I find this cable is extremely robust for my type of working conditions. For me, this is one of the E6’s most important features.”

Because the E6 uses replaceable cables to interface with a variety of wireless systems, Tokar knows he can use his microphone just about anywhere.

“I normally use my E6 with a Sennheiser ew 100 wireless system,” he says, “but I also have several cables for use with other manufacturer’s wireless equipment. I never worry about working a site where I go through the house system because the interchangeable cables enable me to easily adapt the microphone to a variety of wireless makes and models. This capability has saved me a lot of headache over the years.”

In addition to the E6’s solid performance attributes, Tokar is equally enthusiastic about Countryman Associates’ customer service. After being a bit careless with the mic, someone actually stepped on it and crushed the mic element. After contacting Countryman customer service they replaced the mic element very quickly.

“I was extremely impressed with the turnaround speed and professionalism of the company’s customer service group,” he adds. “They were a pleasure to deal with.”

Before directing his attention to an upcoming appearance, Tokar summarized his experience with his Countryman E6, “I use this mic as a regular part of my work. To me, it’s as personal as a toothbrush or anything else that you use daily. I somewhat feel as though I’m not fully dressed if I go out on stage without my E6. It is a very trusted business tool.”

Countryman

New Electro-Voice System For Iconic Minneapolis Venue

According to a recent survey by Gibson Guitars, First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota is “one of the ten greatest rock venues of all time.”

Touring artists consistently rank it one of the best places to play, both in the U.S and anywhere in the world. Between its authentic rock ‘n’ roll vibe, sightline-friendly layout, and iconic status as the concert venue in “Purple Rain,” First Avenue has everything a great live performance space should offer … including an exceptional sound system.

Having had an Electro-Voice PA in place for around 20 years, First Ave recently decided to upgrade to new, more efficient technology, and chose to stick with EV to ensure its reputation for superb audio remains intact.

“We are both thrilled and honored to be providing the new sound system for First Avenue,” says Michael Doucot of Electro-Voice, who worked closely with the First Avenue team and St. Paul-based Electro-Voice dealers and installation specialists Metro Sound and Lighting on specifying and installing the new main room sound system.

Doucot adds, “It was time to update the Electro-Voice X-Array loudspeaker system that has reliably served the main room night after night for the past two decades, upgrading to one of EV’s state-of-the-art XLC line-array systems. The old system was still going strong and sounding great, but it will now be repurposed for stage-fill sound rather than main front-of-house duties.”

“This is a new chapter in a relationship that makes sense for many reasons,” Doucot continues. “Like First Ave, Electro-Voice is very proud of the Twin Cities home base upon which its global reputation is built. We design and engineer our microphones, electronics, and loudspeaker systems here in Burnsville, and the touring artists that perform on the mainroom stage – and the audiences at their shows – can continue to expect the best club sound anywhere when they come to First Ave.

“We work well together, and it feels good to extend this local partnership with a new system that features our latest audio innovations, such as NetMax/IRIS-Net signal processing, which all add up to take the First Ave experience to the next level.”

Not only does the new XLC line-array system more precisely address the main room for more even coverage and intelligibility, it’s also driven by the latest Tour Grade series amplifiers, which are both significantly more powerful and more energy efficient than their predecessors – approximately 40% more. Another big change is that there are now loudspeakers covering hard-to-reach spots like the under-balcony areas. These new additions – from the EVF line – will help provide more seamless audio throughout the venue.

Doucot adds: “This was a great team effort: Randy Keeley and his colleagues from Metro, Brad Hertko and the First Ave crew, and our own George Georgallis and Stu Schatz really did an exemplary job installing all the components and fine-tuning the system on a tight deadline – it’s turned out to be one of the best-looking and best-sounding installs any of us have seen.

“The mainroom has always sounded great, but this new PA is in a league of its own – people are going to be blown away by how good it sounds in there!”

Electro-Voice

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Ford AV And WJHW Collaborate On Harman System For BBVA Compass Stadium

Founded in 2005, the Houston Dynamo is a professional soccer team that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS).

After playing its first few seasons at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium, the team needed a home of its own and will be moving to the newly completed BBVA Compass Stadium on May 12, 2012.

The 30,000-seat stadium will offer the latest in facilities and amenities—including a Harman sound system that boasts more than 200 JBL loudspeakers, 50 Crown amplifiers and an extensive BSS Audio distribution and control system.

Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon and Williams, Inc. of Dallas, TX handled the audio system design, led by Senior Associate Gary White. Ford AV of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was the audio/video contractor for the project.

The loudspeaker complement for BBVA Compass Stadium main bowl includes a combination of 90 JBL AE Series and PD Series speakers. Models include JBL’s AM7215/95-WRX and AM7215/26-WRX full-range 2-way 15-inch speakers, and PD5212/95-WRX and PD5212/64-WRX 2-way 12-inch high-output speakers.

All of the speakers have JBL’s WRX extreme weather protection treatment and are used in the main seating bowl of the stadium. In addition, 113 JBL Control Contractor speakers are installed throughout the facility, including the Control 26CT and 24CT in-ceiling speakers and Control 25T and 28T-60 indoor/outdoor speakers, along with a pair of JRX112M monitors.

The speakers are powered by 45 Crown CTs Series CTs-3000-LITE and seven CTs-2000-LITE amplifiers.

The audio system is networked together by an extensive complement of BSS Audio Soundweb London components, including 16 BLU-800 devices with CobraNet, three BLU-160 devices, three BLU-120 I/O expansion devices, a BLU-80 device with CobraNet, seven 9015US Wall Panels, 12 BLUCARD-IN input cards and 29 BLUCARD-OUT output cards.

“BBVA Compass Stadium required a multi-purpose sound system that could handle public address and music throughout the facility,” noted Gary White. “We’ve had great success with Harman products in the past and AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), one of the major promoters of Major League Soccer, has a partnership with Harman so it was a good fit all around.”

The stadium’s audio system has numerous zones including the main bowl area, the entrances, 34 private suites, the restrooms and other locations. In addition, separate dedicated sound systems are installed in the stadium’s Premium Club, the press room and the post-game interview room.

“The BSS Soundweb London components were absolutely essential in getting all of the different audio signals properly routed to all these diverse areas,” White pointed out. “They make what could have been an overly complex system extremely manageable.”

“The JBL AM7215 and PD5212 models are ideal for the main stadium area,” said White. “They deliver high SPL and their rotatable waveguides enable optimum positioning and the ability to orient the speakers either horizontally or vertically.

“They are also weatherproofed and durable, which is almost as important a consideration as their sound quality and coverage pattern in a city like Houston with its extremes of weather and temperature.”

Jason Werle, Project Manager for Ford AV’s Dallas Division explained some of the challenges behind this installation.

“In order to meet a deadline of when the lifts were no longer [allowed] on the field, our first task was to install all of the bowl speakers. At the time, the field was highly populated and made it challenging to navigate around the bowl. We installed all these speakers from the field level using an articulating boom and chain hoists. Any project of this size will have difficult cable pulls and Dynamo was no exception.”

“We went with the JBL Control in-ceiling and outdoor speakers in the other areas of BBVA Compass Stadium because they are compact and can be installed inconspicuously, yet deliver powerful sound,” noted White.

Harman
JBL

Solotech Provides L-Acoustics Systems For Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball tour kicked off at Atlanta’s Phillips Arena in mid-March, with an L-Acoustics K1/KUDO WST line source system provided by Solotech US Corp of Las Vegas.

Harnessing the power of Springsteen and his 17-piece band is FOH engineer, mix veteran John Cooper, who has provided mixing services for the Boss for the past 10 years and also performs mixing duties for artists including Sheryl Crow, Wynonna Judd, Ringo Starr and Lionel Richie.
 
The K1/KUDO system provided for the Wrecking Ball tour consists of 60 K1 enclosures, 16 K1-SB subwoofers, 24 KARAs, 48 KUDOs, and eight SB28 subs. In many venues, the audience is in 360 degrees as the set design allows for unobstructed views from the rear. Sixteen V-DOSC cabinets are also brought along to provide delay fill in venues when necessary. All L-Acoustics speakers are processed and powered via the LA8 4-channel amplified controller and all LA8s are contained and interconnected via the LA-RAK. The tour also boasts the first wide-scale use of L-Acoustics’ NetworkManager 2 software, providing advanced control and monitoring of more than 76 LA8 controllers.

“Solotech personnel have been outstanding; they show a great attention to details,” says Cooper. “At this point in time I have not heard a more refined, more accurate and musical sound system.”

Springsteen’s first concert tour since 2009 is presently scheduled to play dates in North America and Europe through September, with stadium dates recently added for Boston, Vernon New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Toronto, Moncton, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Solotech is providing full audio production services for the entire US Wrecking Ball tour.

L-Acoustics

Alcons Audio Establishes Offices In India

Alcons Audio has opened a direct office presence in India, offering customers full factory support. The company will be operating out of Mumbai and Bangalore initially, with expansion planned to other cities in the near future. 

“Alcons is installing systems around the world and it was high time we entered an important market like India,” says co-founder and managing director Tom Back. “Having successfully established our American presence, India is the next step. It is an important growth market - like Brazil, China, US and Europe - and since we didn’t have a distribution presence here we have set up a direct office.”

“A quality brand like Alcons requires direct factory support so that we can give reliable and sustainable technical advice and customer support,” adds Alcons Audio India MD John-Paul Douma. “It is a commitment to our brand and to India, saying: we’re here and we’re here to stay.”

The initial hires for the Alcons India team include sound professionals Dhaval Mastakar (sales manager) and Amesh Sharma (technical support manager), both ex-Harman. Akshata Sirsikar, who has a background in the Indian music industry, completes the team as head of marketing.

Alcons made its entry into the Indian market in 2011 at the PALM Expo and will return this June in Mumbai at Stall I29 – 36. Back will also be conducting a seminar on ‘The Sound Characteristics of the Pro Ribbon Driver’ which will take place on June 1, which is day 2 of the expo (Mezzanine Floor at Hall No. 1).

The company will be pitching its “Evolutionary Audio Solutions” in India primarily to the touring systems, installed sound and cinema market segments. At the same time, the company will also be promoting its range of line arrays for touring systems that includes the newly announced LR24 mid-size line-array for large concerts and events requiring professional sound systems.

“Apart from being a growth market, India has a rich cinema tradition and we have the optimal products for this,” states Back. “Developments like 3D and Digital cinema have enhanced the cinematic experience and Alcons’ Cinemarray cinema systems generate a sound quality equally superior, “ he added. “Together they create a whole new level of cinematic experience.”

Alcons Audio

Turbosound NuQ System Makes Amber Leigh A Self-Contained Success

All the arrows are pointing upward for young country star Amber Leigh. Recently named south Florida’s female artist of the year, this hard-working multi-instrumentalist has built an impressive fan base by doing about 200 gigs per year.

As an independent artist, Leigh has built a self-contained organization to assure the same high quality shows no matter where the road might take her. Recently, the band added a Turbosound NuQ portable PA system to their touring operation.

“The idea is to be truly independent without sacrificing quality,” notes Holland Ryan, sound engineer for Amber Leigh Band. “So we got a small NuQ system from Turbosound. It’s compact, lightweight, and sounds incredible. So if the venue we’re playing doesn’t have their own sound system, like an outdoor festival or a hotel ballroom, we can still put on a quality show. It’s been amazing.”

Amber Leigh agrees. “With Turbosound speakers, each night I step on stage, I know my performance will sound terrific, and the audience will get to hear the show the way it should sound every time,” she says.

The Turbosound NuQ system employed by Amber Leigh Band includes four NuQ-12DP mains, supported by four NuQ B-15DP subwoofers. All are self-powered, eliminating the need for an amp rack. Typically Ryan double-stacks a pair of the B-15DP subwoofers on either side of the stage, with one NuQ-12DP on a pole mount above them. A second NuQ-12DP is then mounted on a tripod stand to the side, aimed as needed depending on stage width and the shape of the venue.

“Having the NuQ system has been fantastic for us. It’s extremely flexible and easy to use,” says Holland Ryan. “I can use all of it or part of it and provide great sound for anywhere from 100 to 1,500 people. The subs are under 100 pounds and are on wheels, so I can set the whole thing up by myself if I have to. And with the on-board DSP, I can optimize the performance for any situation. All I need is a power source and we’re good to go.”

For an independent artist like Amber Leigh, a self-contained rig like the Turbosound NuQ system helps ensure consistent sound regardless of the venue. “That’s always been our goal,” notes Ryan. “We could be playing a gymnasium, an outdoor park, small club or a hotel, and know that we’re going to sound good. Everyone who hears it is intrigued at how compact the setup is, and how polished and professional it all sounds and looks. It’s the kind of thing that gets you invited back.”

For gigs around their home base in Delray Beach, the Amber Leigh Band travels by van, carrying everything they need in a 6x10-foot trailer. The Turbosound NuQ comprises the PA system while a rack of in-ear systems provides monitors for the five-piece group, with Holland Ryan controlling it all from a single Allen & Heath iLive-T112 console. “The simple fact is, you can’t always afford to hire a full PA and crew for every gig,” he explains. “Being self-contained means we can do more gigs and know that the audience is getting great sound, no matter what kind of venue it is.”

Having used the Turbosound NuQ system for a couple months now, Holland Ryan is convinced the band made a smart choice. “The NuQ is the cleanest, clearest, flattest sounding box I’ve heard in a very long time,” he concludes. “The output they provide in such a compact size is almost insane. I can produce sound in the mid-90s decibels for over 1,000 people and still have plenty of headroom to spare. And when I push the system close to its limits at big shows, it doesn’t get distorted, and it stays accurate, with none of the midrange honk you get from a lot of other systems. It’s really amazing.”

Turbosound

Outline GTO Line Array Deliver The Word For Joel Osteen

Outline Grand Touring Outline (GTO) Line Array Speakers were used exclusively by Special Event Services (SES) to supply front-of-house sound for the recent Joel Osteen Ministries America’s Night of Hope 2012 event.

The program, featuring musical presentations and inspirational speeches, took place at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., home to the Washington Nationals baseball team, and featured 12 stacks of six GTO speakers each, mounted on specially designed mobile speaker carts for easy “wheel-in” setup.

Sound for the event was run from the ground level with sonic accuracy, clarity and punch delivered by the GTO cabinets. Attendees enjoyed crystal-clear, loud, full-range sound from any vantage point in the stadium.

“For this event, we were asked to shoot all the audio up from the ground,” says Jason Farah, owner of SES. “The stadium seats 41,487, with the elevation of the top seats at 115 feet in the air and 250 feet back from the GTO speaker stack—that’s almost a football field away—and the sound was simply incredible.

“The band sounded full, rich, beautiful and clear. You could hear and feel every note. But when Pastor Osteen came out to deliver one of his messages, people in the farthest corner of the stadium, in the back row of the third seating deck behind the foul-line pole, were responding as enthusiastically as the audience behind home plate. GTO presented an amazing sonic experience.”

Reed Hall, senior director, audio and technical production for Lakewood Church Joel Osteen Ministries, was also impressed with the GTO setup.

“During our event in Washington D.C.‘s Nationals Park, I had the opportunity to walk the entire stadium during sound check and the actual event,” he says. “The frequency response and clarity were incredible. At extreme edges of the park the sound was clear, concise and had an impressive amount of low-end, considering the distance from the loudspeakers.

“For the past year I have had the pleasure of using this Outline rig in venues across the country and have been very impressed from day one. They just sound great out of the box, with no tuning and no subs. When Jason Farah from SES hands the Outline PA over in the afternoons, an 18,000-seat arena sounds like a 3,500-seat auditorium. SES has a little secret called GTO that puts them way ahead of the competition.”

The GTO series of line array speakers, offering a unique combination of high-power output in a compact and relatively lightweight cabinet, feature Outline’s patented Butterfly design. The cabinets deliver clear, non-colored, high-SPL audio capable of bringing listening environment quality to the live event experience. When coupled in an array, GTO’s unique V-shaped front baffle allows individual sound sources to be positioned much closer together than in conventional line-source systems.

This facilitates superior acoustical coupling between high-frequency modules, thus producing a smooth yet extended HF response. It also creates the ideal “unbroken baffle” shape through an array, which minimizes diffraction and deterioration of the mid-high frequencies, contributing to the far-field performance of the system. A GTO line array system is capable of delivering a true visceral response to the audience while maintaining clarity.

Outline

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Black Box Analog Design Introduces New “Black Box” Microphone Preamp

Black Box Analog Design, an engineer-led design firm dedicated to handcrafted, American-made audio equipment, has announced the official release of the Black Box microphone preamp.

The company has selected Vintage King Audio as its distributor, and is currently taking orders worldwide.

Designers Eric Racy and Robert Wainscott have created versatile piece of gear that enables users to uniquely shape their sound by implementing unconventional methods and such features as an entirely analog audio path, custom, hand wound Cinemag input and output transformers, hand soldered point-to-point wiring, independently controlled Pentode and Triode tube stages (as well as independent Pentode/Triode “Tone Boost” switches), 350-volt linear power supply and the ability to shape the frequency response without the use of an EQ. (Specifications here.)

“As studio owners and engineers, Robert and I collected over 19 types of preamps, ranging from vintage to brand new, in search of a high-end preamp versatile enough to bring out the best in many types of sources and allow us to capture sounds in a way that didn’t require an excess of processing at mix time,” says Racy. “We felt there had to be a better design, which set us down the path of creating it for ourselves. Using our ears to guide us, we created a unit capable of things a conventionally designed preamp isn’t made for, yet maintained a user-friendly interface.”

“I approached the design of the Black Box microphone preamp in the same manner I would set up for a mix session,” adds Wainscott. “I mixed a single tube with everything plugged into a ‘patchbay’ and all the values that shape how the tube works were fluid. Everything from plate voltage to blocking capacitors could be changed in real time, which afforded me the room to perfect the mic pre’s design, resulting in the unit we have today.”

The Black Box microphone preamp (MSRP $2,500 USD) is now available through Vintage King Audio at an introductory MAP price of $1,995 USD.

Black Box Analog Design
Vintage King Audio

Delicate Productions Steps Up With Martin Audio MLA At 20th KROQ Weenie Roast

This year’s KROQ Weenie Roast Y Fiesta was both a 20th Anniversary musical celebration and a heartfelt remembrance for the Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch, who passed away from cancer the day before the show.

Delicate Productions, also celebrating its 20th Anniversary of providing sound for KROQ’s annual event, upped the ante by deploying Martin Audio Multi-cellular Loudspeaker (MLA) arrays for the first time at the roast.

Held at the Verizon Amphitheatre, the event featured headliner Coldplay along with heavyweights Incubus, The Offspring, Silverspun Pickups, Pennywise, Angels & Airwaves, The Dirty Heads, Garbage, AWOLNATION, Grouplove, Of Monsters and Men and Walk The Moon.

The show also included a surprise appearance by the recently reunited Soundgarden, Coldplay capped off an exceptional set featuring their hits with a solemn piano version of “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” as a tribute to Yauch and the band that broke so many musical boundaries.

The sound system incorporated 15 MLA enclosures and one MLD down fill enclosure per side for mains, joined by seven MLAs and one MLD per side for side fill, 12 MLX subwoofers (three flown and nine ground-stacked), eight W8LMs for front fill, and Martin Audio LE700 stage monitors. Delicate also provided Yamaha PM5D consoles for monitors.

Delicate’s crew for the Roast included Andy Turner (FOH tech), Brennan Houser (system tech), Steve Walsh and Manny Barajas (monitor techs), Dave Reyna (RF tech), Manny Perez and Peter Baigent (stage), and Meegan Holmes (project manager).

“It was phenomenal,” says Delicate director of touring Jason Alt of MLA. “Expectations for the system were great and it performed above and beyond. Given the variety of artists that played, whatever people put into it, they got out of it.

“Overall, every engineer that mixed on the system had a really positive experience and was blown away by the fidelity of the system.”

 
Martin Audio

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

PWS Walks The Red Carpet AT Billboard Latin Music Awards

Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) has been providing wireless solutions and gear onsite at the Billboard Latin Music Awards for the past 13 years.

This year the PWS team, including Brooks Schroeder and James Stoffo, created a custom wireless communications package for the show, with the company’s frequency coordination team working backstage to ensure all wireless operations went off without a hitch.

“This year’s package included all of the wireless microphones, in-ear monitors and IFBs for the technical production and musical elements, as well as the wireless communication for the production crew for both the main show and pre-awards red carpet show,” says Brooks Schroeder, project manager, PWS. 

Since 1999, The Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony has been broadcast on the Telemundo television network, where it has become the network’s highest-rated music special.

For the main show, PWS used the new Shure Axient wireless microphone system along with the Shure PSM1000 personal monitor system.

“The Axient Wireless microphone system provides us with an innovative and fail-safe system,” adds Schroeder. “Features like the advanced planning, setup and control capabilities of the Axient make it an extremely reliable product, especially in the very populated Miami television environment.”

The PSM 1000 brings personal monitoring to its most advanced level yet. The PSM1000’s diversity bodypack receiver is ideally suited for large awards shows and other special events with a high noise floor from LED walls and the other wireless systems.

According to Schroeder, “We chose to use the PSM 1000s because it outperforms the other equipment on the market and comes loaded with operational features that no other equipment has. This is critical for live broadcast because you want to hedge your bets as much as you can by using the most reliable equipment available. This equipment allowed us to focus on all of the other things we needed to do.”

Additionally, for the pre-show red carpet activities, PWS’ John Garrido utilized Shure UHF-R wireless microphones and BTR 800 intercoms. In addition to the equipment provided, frequency coordination was another large part of the service PWS performed for the show. During the festivities, PWS’ team of experts was busy monitoring the RF spectrum to ensure there were no issues with the large amount of media covering the event. 

“Trying to manage the local and international press that are in attendance and make sure they do not interrupt the frequencies used for the shows is a big challenge,” concludes Schroeder. “Our goal is to have a perfect, interference-free show every time and we do whatever it takes to accomplish that.

“By using customized gear and bringing in our filtered products, RF monitors and antennas, we are able to pull off these large shows. This year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards was another successful event for us.”

Professional Wireless Systems

DiGiCo SD11 Aids Australian Education

In these financially difficult times, maximizing the potential of facilities has become a key issue for the education sector. At the same time as delivering high quality education in line with modern expectations, schools need to ensure that their facilities generate their own revenue.

These are the reasons why one Australian primary school has invested in DiGiCo, opening up a new market for the console manufacturer.

Helensvale Primary, located on Queensland’s Gold Coast, recently finished a new performing arts centre, complete with a full audio-visual solution designed, supplied and installed by Dominica Sound via DiGiCo’s Australian distributor, Group Technologies.

“The school was previously hiring halls at its local arts centre for its events, but wanted to become self-contained in order to cut some of the operational overheads,” says Steve McCallum, director of Dominica Sound. “At the same time, they wanted to ensure that the space could accommodate a wide variety of events and be rented out to other schools - generating income while, at the same time, saving the other schools money.”

Measuring around 40m x 25m, with a stage at one end and elevated seating at the other, the 1100-capacity venue needed a high quality audio system and so a DiGiCo SD11 digital console was specified.

“We went with DiGiCo because it turned out to be a higher quality and more cost effective solution than anything else,” says Steve. “The sound quality of any other digital console wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good as the SD11, so it was a simple choice.”

Another big advantage of choosing the SD11 was the ability to configure the console for non-technical individuals, such as teachers and student AV operators from other schools.

“Helensvale holds a talent show at the end of every school day. The SD11 is setup with every input on every layer so anybody can walk in, clearly see which fader belongs to which input and begin using the desk. The teachers have commented on how easy it is to use. They just turn it on, select the inputs and then control volume, it’s that simple,” Steve continues.“Everyone loves the new system. One of the teachers has told me that they feel like they’ve won the lottery!”

DiGiCo

Altinex Announces Dual Input-Type Interconnect Boxes

Altinex is pleased to announce the availability of the dual input-type TNP162 / TNP162C Interconnect Boxes, a new addition to the ever-expanding line of Tilt ‘N Plug interconnect offerings.

As a compact interconnect solution designed for installation into tables, podiums, or other furniture as part of an AV presentation system, the new TNP162 / TNP162C offers convenient, one touch access to a variety of video, audio, computer, network, and power connections—making the tabletop connection point attractive for any boardroom or conference room table.

As an easy-to-use tabletop connection device, the Altinex TNP162 is a sharp looking, highly functional tool for facilitating power, Internet/Network access, plus audio and video connections for one’s laptop computer while attending a meeting in the company boardroom or presentation space.

The standard configuration TNP162 provides two different input plates. One input section provides two CAT6 (RJ45) input connections and two AC power connections. The other provides one AC power connection, Computer Video (15-pin HD), Computer Audio (3.5 mm Stereo Mini), Modem (RJ11), and Network CAT6 (RJ45) input connections. All signals are pass-through.

The Altinex TNP162C is highly customizable, with a wide range of available connector options—all factory-configured and terminated so installations are quick and effortless. By calling Altinex customer service at 1-800-ALTINEX or visiting the company’s website, one is able to select from a variety of connector options such as USB, S-Video, RCA, BNC, and more.

Each AV and Data connector comes with a 6-foot cable and is terminated appropriately for quick connections to one’s audio-visual system (wall plate, floor plate, etc.). AC Power connections are provided with 9-10 foot cable lengths.

Either module of the TNP162 can be reversed before installation and each input plate is accessed by pushing down on the top cover. The unit then auto-tilts open with assistance from an internal pneumatic spring. Once open, the input plate remains securely in place.

The input plate is hidden, or closed, by pressing down on the top cover until the latching mechanism engages. In the closed position, the top panels lie flush with the table’s top, held in place by the latching mechanism. This secure fit also means less chance for paperwork to catch the TNP162’s edges when being passed across a table—so documents remain clean and professional in appearance.

Grant Cossey, Altinex Vice President of Sales, commented on the company’s new Interconnect Boxes, “Our TNP162 and TNP162C Tilt ‘N Plug interconnect boxes are the ideal boardroom choice for creating a quick and convenient means of patching equipment into a company’s data network or presentation system. With its ability to be customized in so many ways, the TNP162C offers tremendous flexibility for configuring a presentation space exactly to one’s preferences.

“To match any room’s décor, its bezel is available in black or brushed aluminum, so it looks terrific. With the quick, easy access these units afford combined with their elegant design; the TNP162 and TNP162C create a high-tech visual aesthetic that compliments the décor of any boardroom or presentation space.”

The Altinex TNP162 and TNP162C Tilt ‘N Plug interconnect boxes are available now with a MSRP price of $795 and $835 respectively.

Altinex