By Mark FrinkThe Official Frink’s Favorite product of the show is the Lab.gruppen PLM 10000Q Powered Loudspeaker Management system, a joint development with Dolby Lake. In a brazen move to create the ultimate in amplification, they’ve added Lake DSP and Dante networking to their FP+ platform, providing 4x 2,300 W at 4 ohms in a 29-pound 2U chassis. Its fully-featured Lake Processing has a new SuperModule mode that can group outputs in separate amps to act as a single module under version 5.0 of Lake Controller. Dante’s plug-andplay sample-accurate, low-latency audio distribution is standard, and employs Zen, Audinate’s automatic device discovery and configuration protocol. Yes, SmaartLive can run in the background, but now without FOH set up. What drive rack?
Beyerdynamic’s TG-X 930 is based on the “true condenser” cardioid capsule in their MC 930 and Opus 900 handheld wireless. It has a slight HF boost for an open detailed sound and a high-pass to compensate for proximity effect. It’s available in black or a matte nickel finish.
Studer introduced the Vista 5 SR, a rugged-ized Vista 5 in a standardized 84 mono plus 20 stereo inputs, with 10 mono and 10 stereo auxes and 16 DCAs with DSP grouping. The control surface is rebuilt with aluminum endcaps and a custom road-case. Its layout has two 8-fader input bays with 6 user-configurable pages, and the right-hand master section has four pages for its 10 faders. Pre-release sales include two desks for Celine
DPA’s 4080 miniature cardioid lavalier microphone is for situations where an omni doesn’t offer enough isolation and a head-worn mic is objectionable. It combines a 4 dB, 5 kHz boost for speech-optimized frequency response, a compact design plus DPA’s usual attention to detail in accessories: a pre-mounted pop-filter with an integrated shock mount on the shirt-clip.
Lexicon PCM 96 is a single RU stereo digital effects processor with a comprehensive selection of legacy reverbs, including Concert Hall, plus new Room and Hall algorithms. In addition to the main encoder and a Tap button, three additional encoders – labeled ABC – are patched to three parameters for quick access. Also on the front is a Compact Flash slot for storage. The rear has XLRs for stereo analog and digital I/O, plus MIDI, FireWire, and Ethernet for HiQnet compatibility.
Real Sound Lab’s CONEQ is a patented Convolution Equalizer. CONEQ’s PC-based software acquires the Acoustic Power Response of a speaker or system in about two minutes, then calculates a correction curve to produce flat response or to meet a target curve. That curve is stored in a 2-channel 1U APEQ-2pro Acoustic Power Equalizer. Variable time-windowing allows the operator to choose the amount of room response to correct for.
Studio Technologies SPLnet is a networkable SPL logging system that allows remote monitoring by multiple clients of multiple venues, while providing the same information to local venue management and mix engineers. The PC-based SPL Capture software includes a realtime analyzer, sound pressure level display, and data recorder to log SPL and provide standardized reports. Text message alerts!
Sennheiser’s MKH 8000 series incorporates their exclusive RF condenser technology which uses a unique symmetrical push-pull transducer with wide dynamic range and extended bandwidth that’s impervious to humidity change and provides transformer-less high-SPL, low-noise and low-distortion performance in omni, cardioid or super-cardioid patterns (MKH 8020, 8040, 8050). All come in a gray matte Nextel finish.
The Renkus-Heinz VerSys VL3 is their newest large-format digital line array system and the first with fully integrated RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network). Its on-board Class D amplification has digital dynamics, and employs new neodymium and carbon-fiber drivers. It receives networked audio over CobraNet along with loudspeaker monitoring and control, delivered over CAT5. The truck pack-friendly speakers weigh 200 pounds, with the ability to hang up to 20 boxes a side.
Media Numerics’ RockNet transports 160 channels of 24/48 audio or 80 channels at 96 kHz using bi-directional ring topology to and from up to 99 network nodes. The rear panel has redundant locking IEC AC connections and silent mini-fans. Three of RockNet’s MY Yamaha cards provide 48 channels of I/O. Mark Frink is Live Sound International’s Associate Editor and loves Ray’s Pizza.