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Monday, February 06, 2012
RE/P Files: A Quadraphonic Microphone Development
Chris Huston
02/06/12 07:56 AM,
As a complete oversimplification, a microphone is an instrument which measures differences in air pressure. It is not surprising that somebody would, in light of the interest in Quadraphonic sound, experiment and perfect an instrument which would measure and transduce the differences in air pressure around a full 360 degrees - to effectively create a quadraphonic microphone. Figure 1 (click to enlarge) Such a truly Quadraphonic device, developed by engineer Carl Countryman and producer Brad Miller, is in external appearance…
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Sunday, January 08, 2012
Real World Gear: A Look At 2-Way “Conventional” Loudspeakers
Craig Leerman
01/08/12 01:26 PM,
When it comes to loudspeakers for professional audio applications, line arrays get the glory and much of the press, but traditional 2-way boxes are still the real workhorses of the business. They remain invaluable for a range of very good reasons, with versatility that translates to “great bang for the buck” topping the list. A quick check of manufacturer websites bear this out as well. Again, the latest line array might be the “next big thing” touted on the home…
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Friday, November 18, 2011
Knowing Cone Drivers: How They Work, Understanding Key Data & Specs
PSW Staff
11/18/11 10:43 AM,
(Editor’s Note: Eminence Speaker LLC contributed to this report.) Cone drivers (also referred to as woofers and transducers in this article) are not overly complex. When an electrical current passes through a wire coil (the voice coil) in a magnetic field, it produces a force that varies with the current applied. The cone, connected to the voice coil, moves in and out, creating waves of high and low air pressure. The coil and magnet assembly are the “motor structure” of…
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Thursday, November 17, 2011
In Profile: Karl Jackson Chief Audio Technician, United States Marine Band
Kevin Young
11/17/11 12:57 PM,
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When Karl Jackson applied for the position of chief audio technician for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band (USMB) fresh out of DePaul University in 1995, he really didn’t think he’d get the job. Founded in 1798 by an Act of Congress, the USMB is the oldest continuously active professional musical organization in the nation, with a stated purpose of providing music for the president of the United States and the commandant of the Marine Corps. “I thought I…
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Monday, November 14, 2011
Real World Gear: Microphones For Live Instrument Applications
Craig Leerman
11/14/11 06:11 PM,
Long ago, an old sound guy imparted to me words of wisdom about the optimum way to mic instruments: “Pick your best microphone, put it on your best stand, place it in the best spot, point it in the best direction, and hope for the best.” That statement seems a bit trite, but it also contains truth. So where do we start in this pursuit of the “best” in all aspects of instrument mic’ing? While it’s true that vocal mics…
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Monday, October 24, 2011
Extreme Makeover: A Look At Modern Power Amplifiers
PSW Staff
10/24/11 04:15 PM,
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The common “wisdom” just a few years ago was that the emergence of self-powered loudspeaker lines with enclosure-mounted amplifiers and protection circuitry tuned specifically for the loudspeaker meant the days of rack-mounted power amplifiers were numbered. But it’s funny the difference that innovation can make. Today’s amplifier is a powerhouse, light years removed from the huge, heavy and inefficient designs of the recent past. Current designs are also far lighter, and in some cases, come in a compact package that…
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Friday, October 14, 2011
Real World Gear: Developments In Cardioid Subwoofers
PSW Staff
10/14/11 01:14 PM,
Ever since the introduction of line arrays, it has become harder for subwoofers to keep up with the efficiency of tall columns of coupled transducers in large full-range systems. This has helped drive transducer and amplifier manufacturers to produce increasingly powerful low-frequency components. Multi-kilowatt dual-18 enclosures are now the standard. However, while flown full-length line arrays do a superb job of getting full-range sound to the back of enormous venues, stacked subwoofers – even with their advantage of half-space coupling…
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011
History Files: The Genesis Of Clair Bros To Today
PSW Staff
10/12/11 03:47 PM,
The story of Clair Brothers starts in 1954, when a grocer decided to purchase a PA system as a Christmas gift for his two sons, Gene and Roy Clair. “He had no knowledge of electronics or anything!” exclaimed Roy Clair of the extremely unusual present. “I like to think my father was ‘Clair’-voyent in choosing this as a gift.” The two brothers enjoyed using their PA to provide sound reinforcement for local dances, Easter egg hunts, etc.“The PA bug had…
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Real World Gear: Remote Control Microphone Preamps
PSW Staff
09/27/11 05:55 PM,
In the not-too-distant past, professional touring systems consisted of two or three remotely located consoles, tied to a combination of low-level passive or dynamic input sources (along with some active or phantom-powered inputs), connected by long lengths of multicore snakes, through a system of transformer-isolated or (yikes) passive hard-wired splitters. The effect on low-level signals with multiple consoles and long lengths of multi-core is a reduction in signal level, higher noise floor and less bandwidth. The most vulnerable points for…
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Real World Gear: The Latest In Line Source & Column Loudspeakers
PSW Staff
09/21/11 04:16 PM,
This month we look at line source column loudspeakers, which are also sometimes called “architectural” loudspeakers, presumably because their slim-profile design allows them to blend well into their surroundings. Despite their rather scant appearance, however, many modern column loudspeakers deliver exceptional full-range performance, and this can be furthered by companion LF boxes and subwoofers. There are two primary types of column loudspeakers – those that offer the ability to “digitally steer” the vertical beamwidth and those that don’t. But it’s…
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