Wednesday, 31 July 2013
On many occasions in this past six months, HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Performer 3 and Si Expression consoles have come to the pair’s rescue on low budget tours around Europe. And when Bryony suffered a freak accident in Dortmund recently, leaving her at the A&E department of the local hospital, Boardman found himself piloting the Performer 3 for the first time and to his immense relief found it an intuitive ‘walk-up’ experience like so many sound engineers before him. On many other occasions he has simply taken October’s show files and performed the mix for other artists on an Si Expression. “It’s amazing what can be achieved, mixing FOH and monitors together and delivering a big sounding show from a desk that sits in a 19in rack,” he said.
Since finishing her long stint with the Noisettes, Bryony has worked with artistes such as Billy Ocean, Laura Marling, Delilah, Marika Hackman, Bo Bruce and now Moya—a 4-piece band fronted by lead singer Emily Andrews, who have been supporting Rod Stewart on his current arena tour.
Earlier this year Moya played equally large venues in an acoustic setting supporting Mick Hucknall—but this time the band wanted to plug in. And it has been Soundcraft’s ViSi Remote app for iPad, enabling the band to control their monitor mixes from the FOH desk, that has shown the true value of touring economics.
With their stripped down, Splitter van-friendly production consisting of little other than a router, CAT5 multicore and the compact Performer 3 (a convenient one-man lift), they persuaded Stewart’s Major Tom production team that rather than perform again in an acoustic context, they could carry a line system for the 30-minute support stint without compromising the main event.
With 29 of the 32 recallable inputs working the board to near capacity (along with 13 outputs) October is blessed that she that she can see all activity on the top Layer of the Si Performer with no page changes necessary. At the same time the desk’s FaderGlow™ and colour backlit name displays on every channel provide her with a definitive colour reference of what monitor mixes are being sent. “It means I never make a mistake when moving from FOH to monitor mixes and I can clearly see the dynamics present,” October said.
She has been using the Si Performer’s output processing to send post-fade FX to the stage so the reference sound heard in the band’s in-ears match the audience experience. “I am using ambient mics, reverb and panning to give them a feel that they are right there in the mix—providing an open sound so that they feel what the audience feels. I really like the ease in which I can change the panning on each mix using the same encoder as panning for the main mix. It means I can space things out in each band member’s mix depending on their position on stage.”
As to how she builds the soundscape, Bryony uses vocal reverb, drum reverb, slapback delay and tap delay (on Moya’s voice). “Although she has an incredible voice I also want the dynamics to be present in everything else, producing a good full range sound.”
But the sound engineer admits to having had concerns about mixing five in-ears from FOH in arenas and even a stadium at Dublin’s RDS— until the iPad idea struck her. “I upgraded the desk at production rehearsals with the new firmware and latest version iPad operating system—and the band were all over it.”
Nevertheless, on the first tour date they were tight for time. “We didn't know we had to provide our own complete line system until night day before the first show so I had to build my looms and wire up the patch during the first day’s soundcheck. Thankfully Rod Stewart’s team allowed us to set up on stage before Rod’s soundcheck, which gave us a lot more time. He was happy to work around our gear which is very unusual.”
The drummer and keyboard player used small mixers to facilitate hardwired in ears and a separate click channel which was split from the playback system. “If the drummer loses click, there’s no show,” October said, “so he has to have total control over that. We also gave him one of the two stage iPads as he is sat down and can access it most easily.”
This also provides reassurance for Moya herself (since she has no direct contact with her sound engineer) although she quipped, “The idea of trusting my life to my drummer was scary at first. But the setup has been quick and easy—and provides both confidence and consistency.”
After nearly two decades of honing her craft on the road, Bryony October has seen most things. But today, products like the Soundcraft Si Expression and Si Performer 3 are easing the burden. “The Si Performer has made this tour an absolute joy. It is the first time I have used Soundcraft’s iPad app—and having the band control their own levels has completely freed me up to concentrate on the FOH sound.”
Soundcraft and other HARMAN Professional products are distributed in the UK by Sound Technology Ltd.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
“The week we installed the M6, we had a guest artist playing and I was able to use it in a concert-style environment here at our venue,” Eguizabal stated. “The console’s encoder knobs made programming much easier and faster than I have experienced on any other console. M6’s touch screens feel great and the amount of playback faders, combined with the play pairs and Submaster module, plus the amount of user-definable buttons, allows me to customize my console exactly how I want. Programming and operating the M6 is incredibly fluid and free.
Based on the proven M-Series software by Martin, M6 provides users the ultimate control surface for fast programming and extensive playback control. The state-of-the-art console is designed to control everything from conventional and moving lights to the most advanced media server, meeting the demands of today’s venue’s high-intensity visual needs.
Harvest Ministries recently installed a 37 by 8-foot LED video wall across the back of its main stage, where a Martin Maxedia server and the M6 easily handle the lighting and video cues through its intuitive interface.
“We are incredibly pleased with the purchase of our M6 and look forward to many years of fun and creative programming,” Eguizabal continued. “Being more than just a lighting console is what makes the M6 an incredible tool for our venue, especially having our lighting and visual media content integrated through our Maxedia media server. Not only has the M6 made our transition into a new console smooth, but the performance also provides us with the power we need to put on exciting shows.”
Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin Professional is a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors. Martin lighting solutions are industry standard on top tours and events, grace prestigious theatres, energize nightclubs and decorate major television studios around the globe. Other important areas of application are indoor and outdoor architecture and commercial applications where Martin products are increasingly being used to transform spaces with dynamic light. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. The company operates the industry’s most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries. Martin Professional joined the HARMAN families of category-leading technology and lifestyle brands in March 2013.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
“I’m currently using the DigiTech Whammy DT. I couldn't ask for a better version of this pedal. I use the octave up and down harmonizer function in many of the songs I play for Ke$ha. It's especially apparent in her single ‘Blow.’ Also, on the fly, it's nice to have the transpose function that the DT provides for quick key changes where re-tuning is not an option. It's turned into a must-have for my role as working musician who plays for multiple artists,” explained Annis.
For Annis who has been playing the guitar since he was 11, DigiTech has been apart of his pedal board going all the way back to his first metal band in the late 1990s. “I grew up using DigiTech multi-effects processors and in the last five years I’ve used various versions of the Whammy on my board.”
The Whammy DT features an all-metal chassis, pedal and footswitch to stand up to the rigors of the road. “For gear that comes out with me, I look for stability, reliability and of course, a great sound. It's never fun having your pedal board go out, or have your guitar slip out of tune and have the singer glare over at you during a show! For live use, I try to have as rock solid of a rig as possible,” added Annis.
The DigiTech Whammy DT provides the classic pitch shifting effects made famous by the original Whammy, including nine Whammy bending modes from 2-octaves up through 2-octaves down, nine harmony bending modes, two detune modes and the popular Dive Bomb six octaves down effect. In addition, the Whammy DT offers can drop down or capo up seven half-steps or an entire octave from where a guitar or bass is tuned, along with dramatic “hammer-on” and “pull-off-type sounds and true bypass operation.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
The Jem Ready 365 Hazer houses advanced technology, including automatic shutdown with battery backup to prevent clogging and running out of gas by producing limited haze, even if gas pressure is lost. This allows the user to exchange the gas cylinder quickly without loss of effect. The Jem Ready is gas-efficient, sipping small amount of fluid per use and leaves no residue or smell.
The easy-to-use, plug and play system requires minimal setup time, runs nearly silent and features a list of innovative features, including:
· Water-based fluid - comparable performance to oil
· Long hang time
· Integrated airflow director for smooth haze distribution
· Stored settings and programmable fast access keys
· Easy to use and setup
· Gas pressure readout on display
· Inert gas operation with low gas pressure warning (via display and RDM)
· 3.5 L fluid storage in machine (approx. 200+ hours operation at low output)
· External gas cylinder with quick-connect fittings (self-sealing type)
· Low gas consumption. Expected max gas consumption 0.25 kg per hour
· DMX control with RDM as standard
· Robust, precision-pre-set regulator without gauges for maximum durability (accessory)
About Martin by HARMAN
As a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors, Martin lighting and video systems are renowned the world over. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. Martin operates the industry’s most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries. Founded in 1987 and based in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin is the lighting division of global infotainment and audio company HARMAN International Industries. For more information please visit http://www.martin.com
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Monday, 29 July 2013
LSU’s student government and LSU student group “Students on Target” coordinate the annual “Groovin’ on the Grounds” concert in Baton Rouge, which combines live musical performances and LSU’s Wellness Fair. This year, Lupe Fiasco, Levee Daze, Yelawolf and Grace Porter highlighted the “Groovin’ on the Grounds” lineup with PSS providing audio for the Main Stage and the Wellness Stage.
On the Main Stage, PSS deployed 24 JBL VTX V25 fullsize line array elements (12 per side), 18 JBL VTX S28 subwoofers (nine per side in a cardioid array), four JBL VERTEC® VT4886 subcompact line array elements per side for down fill and front fill, and four VT4886 subcompact line array elements plus two VT4883 subcompact subwoofers per side for side fill. Crown I-Tech 12000 HD amplifiers powered the system and all monitor amplifiers were Crown I-Tech 4x3500 HD models. PSS used a Soundcraft Vi6 as the front of house console for the Main Stage. For the Wellness Stage, PSS supplied a system highlighted by JBL PRX portable loudspeakers, including two JBL PRX612M loudspeakers per side, two PRX618S-XLF subwoofers per side and two PRX615M stage monitors.
Known as “The Largest Free Festival in the South,” the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans hosts jazz and blues performers and was attended by over 500,000 fans this year. PSS provided audio for four stages at The French Quarter Festival: the Riverside Capitol One Stage, Jackson Square Stage, Chevron Stage, and Kids’ Stage.
At the Riverside Capitol One Stage, PSS installed four JBL VERTEC VT4888 midsize line array elements per side, three ground-stacked JBL SRX728 subwoofers and two JBL VERTEC VT4886 subcompact line array elements per side. Crown I-Tech 12000 HD and Crown I-Tech 4x3500 HD amplifiers powered the system and Soundcraft Si2 consoles were used for both front of house and monitor positions.
At the Jackson Square Stage, PSS provided three JBL VERTEC VT4888 midsize line array elements per side and three ground-stacked JBL SRX728 subwoofers per side with Crown I-Tech 12000 HD and Crown I-Tech 4x3500 HD amplifiers powering the system that was fed by a Soundcraft Vi1 console at front of house and a Soundcraft Si Compact 32 at the monitor position.
The system at the Chevron Stage featured three JBL SRX722 loudspeakers stacked on top of three JBL SRX728S subwoofers per side powered by Crown I-Tech 4000 amplification. PSS used a Soundcraft Series 5 at front of house featuring Lexicon effects and BSS processing and the monitor console was a Soundcraft Si Compact 32. At the Kids’ Stage, PSS provided one JBL SRX722 loudspeaker per side on top of two JBL VRX918S subwoofers per side. Two Crown I-Tech 5000 amplifiers powered the main system with two Crown XTi 4000 amplifiers for the monitors.
All systems at the French Quarter Festival used JBL SRX712M stage monitors, with a total of 32 SRX712M monitors across all stages.
This year, the Baton Rouge Blues and Heritage Festival was the largest the event has ever been, featuring headliners such as Robert Randolph and the Family Band and Bobby Rush. In its first year running both stages at the festival, PSS provided JBL VERTEC line arrays for the main stage, a JBL SRX loudspeaker system for the smaller stage, complemented by Soundcraft Si Compact 32 consoles and Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers.
PSS has been a Soundcraft customer for many years and Russ Bryant, Director of Operations and Co-Owner of PSS, was impressed with both the Vi and Si series. “Across the entire line, the Soundcraft consoles have better audio quality than all of their competitors,” said Bryant. “The Vi series is extremely flexible, easy to use and I really like the fact that their stage boxes are compatible across the Vi and Si lines.”
In addition, Bryant commented on the advantages of the new JBL V5 presets for VERTEC. “We are very happy with the V5 tunings and the improved processing, especially the limiting in the I-Tech HD amplifiers,“ Bryant concluded.
For more information on Premier Sound Services, please visit www.psssound.com HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
In 2000, Sarathy won the “Virgin Voice Choice” contest sponsored by Virgin Records and Channel [V] India, taking first prize over 45,000 other contestants. Her professional career took off after singing the full-length solo song "Thoodu Varuma" for the blockbuster Tamil film, Kaakha Kaakha in 2003. She has since contributed to more than 350 Indian films and is also accomplished as a percussionist and keyboard player performing Western classical, soul, jazz and other styles.
Sarathy uses the AKG C5 professional vocal condenser microphone for live performance and the C414 XL II reference multi-pattern condenser mic for recording. “I love the AKG C5 and C414 XL II for their sonic purity, warmth and presence,” said Sarathy. “I know I can depend on the C5 to deliver outstanding sound anywhere I perform, night after night and it sounds exceptionally rich and detailed.”
“I can hear why the C414 XL II has become such a classic recording studio mic,” Sarathy continued. “It captures all of my vocal nuances and dynamics. I am always thrilled to hear a playback after singing through the C414.”
“We are thrilled to have Sunitha Sarathy come on board as an AKG endorsee,” said Ankush Agarwal, Director- Marketing & Business Development, HARMAN Professional India. “She is the first female solo vocalist to join the roster of international artists who endorse AKG in India, and this move reflects our commitment to associate with a wide variety of Indian musicians, artists and genres.”
Other Indian AKG band and artist endorsees include Soulmate, Sivamani, Niladri Kumar and Ranjit Barot.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012
Rock Star University was built from the ground up – the owners purchased a warehouse, gutted it and converted it into a combination performance venue, music teaching school and rehearsal studio. The 350-seat performance area features a full stage with concert-quality lighting, video backline and sound. The audio and video system was installed by systems integrator Sound Expressions of Santa Rosa (www.soundexpressions.com) under the direction of Greg Adams.
Sound Expressions was one of the first systems contractors to ever install the VERTEC VT4886 line arrays in the US and chose the VT4886 subcompact line array element for Rock Star University, having outstanding results with the speaker in various sizes and shapes of venues. “For this space it was a home run out of the box,” said Adams. “We needed a low-profile line array system because of the low ceilings in the performance space and I knew the VT4886 would be perfect for it.” Adams and his team hung five JBL VT4886 loudspeakers on each side of the stage, with low-frequency reinforcement provided by one JBL SRX728 subwoofer per side. The system also features four JBL SRX712M stage monitors.
PA system amplification is courtesy of Crown I-Tech 12000HD power amps. “The I-Tech HD’s have tons of power and tons of headroom,” Adams noted. They’re really clean even when pushed hard and the sound tailoring and system tuning capabilities offered by their onboard DSP is unparalleled.” A Soundcraft Vi1 digital live sound console was chosen for its combination of small footprint yet large channel count, ease of use and flexibility. Rock Star University puts a big emphasis on recording its students’ performances so the students can listen to and learn from them, and the Vi1 is equipped with a MADI card that outputs multitrack digital audio from the console into a ProTools rig.
Rounding out the system is a complement of AKG vocal and instrument microphones. The drum kit is miked using D40 dynamic mics on the snare and tom toms, a C214 large-diaphragm condenser overhead mic and a C451 B condenser on the hi-hat. Several D5 handheld vocal mics are on hand and the guitar amps are miked with Perception 120 condensers. CM311 and 520L headworn mics are available for drummers who sing and WMS 470 wireless systems are used with electric guitars. In addition, three IVM4500 wireless in-ear monitoring systems are available for vocalists.
“Students who attend Rock Star University aren’t just going to some glorified rehearsal studio—thanks to the HARMAN Professional audio system and the same staging and lighting you’d find in a real music venue, the students are getting a complete learning experience that’ll have them ready to rock wherever they play,” Adams concluded.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Provided by San Diego-based MSI Production Services, the D5 microphones were deployed by audio designer Rob Wisley and Eric Stahlhammer. HARMAN’s Ken Freeman, Senior Manager, Business Development, Installed Sound, was onsite to assist with the deployment. Wisley stated, “The D5’s performed very well, especially for this application, where a smooth, wide frequency response was needed in addition to a well-balanced low end for the speakers.”
Comic-Con panels range from upfront, star-studded talks and how-to video game tutorials, to histories of characters and story lines and Q & A sessions. With such a massive following and demand for seats in the auditoriums, the clarity of the microphones and audio signal were a major priority among the event organizers.
“We understand the importance of the Comic-Con convention, where the support of the fans and other participants help make this international event such a success, so it was important to support the convention speakers with reliable and high quality sound,” continued Wisley. “The D5’s performed as expected and allowed each fan to take in valuable information without missing a word.”
For more information on MSI Production Services, please visit http://www.msiprod.com.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
“I’ve been a Lexicon user for about five years now and quickly fell in love with the Lexicon sound,” explains Murray. “I do a lot of TV music, and in the TV world, you need to compose and produce music very fast. So I primarily use the plug-ins now because they allow me to work really fast and pull up any sound or flavor that I want without disrupting my workflow.”
Murray’s company, switch., just finished their fifth album, entitled “Synthetica,” that is meant for horror movie trailers. His composing style relies heavily on production, taking simple sounds and turning them into something unique that no one has heard before. “To achieve this I am constantly on the hunt for the latest production plug-ins and tools,” said Murray.
“As with any type of music gear, having multiple options provides more opportunities to create,” commented Murray. “One Lexicon preset I often went back to on this project is ‘Random Hall.’ It has that great Lexicon tail that has enough carry over from the original input and sounds great in the overall mix.”
The debate between hardware and software plugins, Murray believes, is dead. He loves the ability to have the hands-on feel of physically turning knobs on hardware, yet, he feels that hardware is a thing of the past and plug-ins are the future. As composers today have grown into producers, mix engineers, editors, and writers as well, they need quality sound that does not slow them down or impede the creative process.
Commenting on his choice of Lexicon over other plug-ins available, Murray said, “For me it’s about versatility. Lexicon is a legendary company in the professional audio world. As new companies pop up, I often explore those as well, but going back to tried and true sounds is what often sounds best. Having both options suits me best. I like how I know what it’s going to sound like. It’s an old friend that I can rely on!”
“We are lucky to work with someone of Nick’s caliber. It truly shows the versatility of our plug-ins when an artist can go from movie work to making a fantastic record using one software suite,” added Noel Larson, Market Manager for Recording, Tour and Portable PA at HARMAN Signal Processing.
For more information on switch. please visit: www.switchtrailermusic.com
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
MAIDSTONE, United Kingdom – Maidstone Studios, the UK’s largest independent TV facility, recently completed an HD-upgrade to its Studio 2, which included the installation of a HARMAN Studer Vista 5 digital audio console. An essential part of the upgrade to HD was the audio system, and with a tight timescale of just under thre weeks to refurbish the studios including a large amount of HD cabling and gallery monitoring, it was paramount that a seamless transition in operations was achieved.
“With a Studer Vista 8 already installed for some years in Studio 1, it made sense to provide commonality of operation across studios so the Vista 5 was a logical choice,” said Rowland Kinch, CEO of Maidstone Studios. ”We’ve been very happy with Studer and the support they give us. We love the Vista’s instant snapshot functions and it’s a great live production platform for us. The consoles also share common hardware and cards, so support is made much easier for us.”
Kinch also praises the new VistaMix automatic microphone mixing software update for the Vista console, which has made a huge difference for the sound teams on unscripted panel and game shows such as Victory TV’s “Draw It” and ITV’s ”Take Me Out.”
“The Sound Supervisors love having this inbuilt facility at their fingertips, and think it’s fantastic!”
Kinch concluded, “Having the Vista consoles has really enhanced our opportunities and abilities to win program productions from major broadcast organisations who are familiar with the Studer platforms.”
For more information on Maidstone TV Studios, visit http://www.maidstonestudios.com
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
“We rent 90 percent of our lighting and it gives us the freedom to change frequently and try new ideas and technologies. We don’t want to be left behind when the industry makes a major shift, ” said Andrew Stone, Church on the Move’s production manager and audio director. Renting also cuts down on the need to retain additional maintenance staff – the church can handle all its lighting needs with two technicians. “The rental model also lets us use high-quality gear without spending a ton of money. We can rent more equipment as needed for bigger events.”
Church On the Move utilizes a host of Martin intelligent lighting products including MAC III Profile lighting, MAC Viper Profile high-output 26,000-lumens fixtures, MAC 700 Wash 26,000-lumens lighting and TW1 tungsten wash lights. Stone and crew will buy equipment when it makes economic sense, and recently purchased a number of Martin VC-Dot 1 fixtures, individually controllable LED dots that are used to create customized video displays. The VC-Dot 1 provides new ways to integrate video technology into stage designs, ceilings and other structures. Church On the Move lighting designer Daniel Connell states, “We can use the VC-Dot 1 as a design element, as a backdrop or split it up for use in several auditoriums.. It’s amazingly versatile and enables us to easily add dramatic visual impact to a space.”
Lighting designer Daniel Connell notes that music is a key element of Church On the Move’s services and that along with the HARMAN JBL, Crown and BSS-based audio system, a major part of the Martin lighting is to create a modern concert looking feel. He doesn’t want “a lot of flash” but the ability for the lighting to set a mood or tone on stage and throughout the sanctuary. “We don’t have a backdrop or a physical stage set so the lighting is our set,” Connell said. “Other house of worship lighting designers don’t do it this way but we feel it’s an interesting and powerful way to do it.”
Connell finds Martin fixtures provide superior color range and saturation; while some fixtures fall off toward the saturated end of their range and some moving lights aren’t the best at delivering a certain color, Martin handles the full light spectrum equally well. Stone agrees, noting that the church has tried every brand of high-end moving light in the six years Connell’s been on staff and that he and Connell prefer Martin’s richer colors and better look and “feel.”
Reliability is paramount, especially with rented gear. “I don’t want rental fixtures dying in the middle of a service,” Connell states. “After a year of use you can start to have problems but I’ve never experienced that with Martin.” Like many organizations, Church On the Move is bringing in more LED lighting for its reduced maintenance and energy costs.
Since 2010 Church On the Move has enjoyed the sonic benefits of a large-scale JBL, Crown and BSS Audio sound system, comprising 38 JBL VerTec line array element hung in four clusters and complemented by 16 JBL ASB6128V subwoofers, 10 flown and six under the stage. Seven JBL AC28/95 speakers behind the perimeter of the stage provide front fill and the speakers are powered by 49 Crown MA5000i and 10 CTs 3000 and CTs 2000 amplifiers. The speakers and amps in the sanctuary and other JBL speakers and Crown amps throughout the church are linked by BSS Soundweb London BLU-160 digital audio processors, and all A/V is networked using HARMAN HiQnet System Architect software.
“We recently had a conference with 2,500 worship and creative directors from around the country, and have held many major events and big services,” Stone said. “Many people came just to hear the JBL VerTecs because of everything they’d heard about them, and that says a lot. Like the Martin lighting, the audio system has performed admirably.”
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
Like so many musicians, Ellis came to the point where he realized he needed to make the transition from analog to digital mixing. The artists and bands he worked with wanted it, and more and more he found that he personally wanted a digital console for advantages like increased flexibility, built-in reverb and effects and other benefits. Recently, Ellis found another reason to take his sound system to a higher level.
“Every summer the city of Wausau, Wisconsin does a series of weekly outdoor concerts called ‘Concerts on the Square,’” Ellis noted. “I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the front of house mixer for the series. However, that meant I had to buy an entirely new sound system. I’d been used to doing small to mid-sized clubs.”
Ellis realized this challenge offered the perfect opportunity to move up to a digital console. After looking at what various companies had to offer, Ellis chose a Soundcraft Si Expression 3. He had worked on Soundcraft Si Compact models before and liked their audio quality and ease of mixing and thought the Si Expression 3 would be a logical upgrade.
“What sold me on the Soundcraft Si Expression 3 was the sound quality,” said Ellis. “I was used to using very high-quality analog consoles and was not willing to compromise on audio performance. The sound I can get from the Si Expression 3 is as good--if not better--than anything I’ve used before, and its functionality and ability to do everything I need are perfect for me.” In addition to the “Concerts on the Square” shows, Ellis uses the Si Expression 3 for everything from club dates with his band to mixing local rock bands to mixing a 9-piece wedding band.
Summer is the busiest time of the year for Ellis, and now that he’s using the Soundcraft Si Expression 3, it’s getting even busier, and not just from his front of house role for “Concerts on the Square.” Ellis works with a production company that subs work out to him and now that he has an Si Expression 3, he’s getting more business from the company. “They appreciate the fact that I have a console that they know will sound great in any situation, and that plays well with their other gear,” Ellis concluded.
Joe Ellis’ career can be followed at www.joeellismusic.com.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Monday, 22 July 2013
Dolby Atmos is a new surround-sound technology that employs overhead loudspeakers as well as traditional surround speakers to create a remarkably realistic and enveloping sonic environment. Dolby Atmos employs up to 64 loudspeakers to heighten the realism and impact of movie theater sound. The Cinema Apollon is the first to feature the CP850 Dolby Atmos Cinema Processor in one of its theaters.
Danish HARMAN Professional distributor LydRommet Denmark worked hand in hand with Danish theater design firm AVC Kino Digital and Dolby technical staff in London in designing and specifying the system for the 180-seat Dolby Atmos theater. The system had to meet specific Dolby Atmos criteria, including maximum SPL levels for every speaker in the installation. LydRommet Denmark supplied the Crown DCi analog amplifiers and JBL loudspeakers and subwoofers.
The Crown DCi analog amplifiers in the Cinema Apollon include DCi models 8|300, 4|600 and 4|300. The amplifiers power an extensive complement of JBL loudspeakers including JBL ScreenArray® 3732 main speakers and 4642A subwoofers, 42 model 8350 cinema surround speakers and two JBL 4645C subwoofers that provide additional low-frequency reinforcement at the rear of the theater.
The Crown DCi analog amps were specified for their ability to deliver clean, powerful sound from a compact design only 2U rack spaces high, noted Flemming Bjerke of LydRommet. “The Dolby Atmos specification requires 105dB peak SPL at the reference point in the theater, and one of the biggest challenges we had with the system was achieving this spec with enough headroom,” said Bjerke. “DCi is such a high-quality amplifier range that it is a perfect match for Dolby Atmos.”
Bjerke emphasized how exciting it was to work with the experts from AVC and Dolby in creating the first Dolby Atmos system in Denmark, stating, “listening to the final result is a real joy and the Dolby Atmos technology and concept definitely take the experience of going to movie theaters to a much higher level.”
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
But after working with the system for a year, and learning much about its capabilities, Michael Story, Managing Director of Story Sound, was able to proudly declare, “With what we have been able to do with VTX we can now guarantee a different future for this event.”
He was referring to an easing of the sound thresholds traditionally imposed on this one-day event by the local authorities. For this hard dance/DJ festival site—the picturesque Berendonck recreational park, situated on 160 hectares in the suburb of Wijchen—is surrounded by a densely populated neighborhood.
Promoters Matrixx have always been heavily restricted with their offsite sound—bound by an agreement with the original production manager to taper off the sound at the perimeter to just 80db(A) at 50 meters in order to avoid neighborhood sound pollution. “It was just mad as sound is so frequency-dependent—and you can't promote a festival on that basis,” stated Story.
However, this year the production company, aided by EASE plots, was able to show that by isolating the individual areas with the VTX system that it could exercise greater control. “In the past we have used the VERTEC® VT4889—but due to the new high frequency waveguide structure, VTX provides us with better tools,” he said.
“Also, we had better knowledge about how the sound would behave—we know a lot more about shaping the beam and are much more familiar with the EQ tapering and putting in the shelving features,” Story added. “The JBL Line Array Calculator is really accurate and after a year we can see much greater correlation between how the calculations are implemented and the actual reference sound. We proved that you could simply walk in and out of the sound field—and this convinced the authorities.”
Permission was granted to play 80dB(A) at 100 meters outside the festival area and on the field they were able to run the sound at around 105dB, with a distance of 50 meters between the stage and mix position—which satisfied both the promoters and audience.
This year’s Emporium Festival had grown to a 9-stage event, embracing every genre of dance music, which saw 30,000 people reveling under the theme, “Colours of India.” Each stage was named appropriately, with the main stage fittingly called Taj Mahal, and here DJ’s and dance acts such as Nicky Romero, Crookers, Shermanology, Showtek, Daddy's Groove, La Fuente, Jordy Dazz, Brian Loui John, Zawdi MC and MC Iceman performed.
To achieve a soundscape that appeased both the artists and the authorities, the main stage in particular required high rigging towers, supporting 12 V25 line array elements per side (with eight per side on the smaller stages), so that the lows and mids could be spread. “By raising the trim level we could achieve greater directionality,” he said. “We also used 21 S28 subwoofers in a reverse cardioid set up on all stages so there was a good coupling of energy and we deployed two extra stacks of six V25 loudspeakers each on stage tilted to the near rows.”
Two delay stacks were set up behind the main mix tower, each featuring six VERTEC 4887A compact line array enclosures.
All passive loudspeakers were powered by Crown VRacks and Soundcraft MH3 analog and Vi1 digital consoles were provided (with Soundcraft Si Compacts on the smaller stages). This enabled Story Sound technicians to control the input of the DJ and monitor feeds, as well as the MCs’ mics, using the desk faders.
Story Sound again provided a sound technician to supervise each stage, with wireless laptop communication back to the central network control position in the production village, overseen on the HARMAN HiQnet™ platform. This allowed them to listen to the measuring devices, on the same network. “We monitored the system throughout the entire day and adjusted any disturbing frequencies and levels to stay within the allowed values,” they confirm.
So successful was the connection to the wireless backbone of the three measuring devices set strategically in a circle around the field that Story Sound has now set up a dedicated wireless satellite internet facility called Event Connection, headed by the company’s Barney Broomer and Michael Story. “In effect we are selling security, and the possibility of carrying out wireless measurement. It means that in the future, production people, police and authorities can deal with just a single source,” he said.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
“The audio input counts for TV shows keep getting higher and higher, and it got to the point where we decided to build a truck designed primarily around audio mixing,” said Nic Dugger, President of TNDV: Television. “We’re doing more and more shows where the input count can reach 100 or even more—so we decided to take that number and double it when we started looking for a console for the truck!” In addition to TV, the Vibration truck is used for music festivals, concerts, awards shows, corporate and other events.
Dugger and his staff wanted a console that had “top-of-the-line everything” and could simultaneously deliver a live sound mix and recording feed. After considerable research and hands-on evaluations, TNDV: Television purchased a Studer Vista 9 console and four Studer Stagebox input/output expansion modules, providing a total of 256 input channels. The Vista 9 feeds the truck’s JBL LSR4300 Series studio monitors monitors and a recording setup comprising two 128-channel Pro Tools-equipped computer towers.
Vibration is a 53-foot 18-wheeler that is divided into three areas—the mixing room, a client lounge complete with guitars, air conditioning, comfortable couches and a “machine room” where outboard gear, A/V infrastructure and “anything that has fans and makes noise” is located. “We want a comfortable mixing environment without distractions,” Dugger noted, an important consideration for someone who does gigs for days at a time in 90-plus-degree heat. “We built Vibration to feel like and function like a recording studio on wheels.”
A big part of that comfortable feeling is the truck’s Vista 9 console. Dugger and his staff had previous experience with other Studer and Soundcraft consoles and were familiar with their working environment, making the transition to the Vista 9 easier. He noted that while any experienced engineer will expect great sound and quality mic preamps from a console, it’s the unexpected that sets a console apart. In the case of the Vista 9, it’s the console’s software capabilities, control layout and ability for an engineer to configure the console and way he or she wants it.
TNDV: Television does production for a lot of music festivals, and the Vista 9 gives the crew the ability to get a mix for each band at sound check the day before and then instantly recall all the bands’ settings the day of the show. Dugger uses the console in a novel way that saves even more time. “Because we have 256 inputs, we can divide the console into essentially four different 64-input consoles,” he said. “That means that on the day of the show we’re ready to mix four bands in a row without touching a thing. We can be ready to mix the next band before they even set up their drum set.”
In fact, Dugger and his staff have pre-loaded about 20 “snapshots” of how bands typically use a mixing console, and store these templates on a USB drive and use them as a basis for getting a ballpark mix almost instantly. Dugger plans on sharing these stereo and multichannel mixes with other engineers on the Studer website. “We’ve done production for artists like Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Dunn and many others, and time after time their engineers are very impressed by how good everything sounds,” he said.
“If any audio engineer came up with a wish list of what they wanted in a console, I doubt he or she could find anything on the list that the Vista 9 doesn’t provide,” Dugger concluded. “We certainly haven’t!” HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Throughout the stage, 34 Martin MAC Viper Profiles, 13 MAC 2000 WASH beams, 20 MAC Aura LED’s, 12 Atomic Strobe 3000’s and 12 Scroller 3000 lighting units were deployed, strategically designed to provide a spectacular visual landscape for the show.
Soundgarden’s live production team ordered the Martin lighting solution specifically for the Palicio de los Deportes performance.
“We’ve been using Martin lighting for years and our inventory has been trustworthy and bright from the beginning,” stated Sandro Arellano, OCESA PRG Mexico. “Even with such a complex production, the visual aspect posed no challenges for the Martin equipment. The band and fans were quite pleased throughout the entire show!”
Martin Professional distributor Audio Acustica provided the lighting equipment to OCESA PRG Mexico.
For more information about OCESA PRG Mexico, please visit http://www.ocesa.com.mx.
As a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors, Martin lighting and video systems are renowned the world over. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. Martin operates the industry’s most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries. Founded in 1987 and based in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin is the lighting division of global infotainment and audio company HARMAN International Industries. For more information please visit: http://www.martin.com.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Matt Saltzman, Grand Park’s event manager, noted that the entire park is wired with fiber optic cable, buried underground and running to media hydrants located throughout the park that are linked to the main control room. The media hydrants provide digital audio and video connections via a Riedel light pipe data network and are terminated with Cat 5e for audio, video and control. The media hydrants are embedded in concrete and the connectors face outward horizontally for durability and waterproofing. The units are locked with a steel gate when not in use.
“In planning the A/V system for Grand Park, the County wanted to ensure live music and entertainment would be accessible in the widest variety of areas throughout the park,” said Saltzman. “They devised the underground fiber optic system to enable us to do this, rather than have to restrict performances to the stage area. However, to make this idea work we needed to be able to move the mixing console to each area. The Soundcraft Vi1’s digital connectivity enables us to do that.”
With its compact footprint, the Vi1 is relatively easy to move from place to place—and it’s easy to connect the Vi1 to the audio system using a Soundcraft Compact Stagebox. The Vi1 connects to the Compact Stagebox using a single Cat 5e cable, and the output from the Stagebox is then plugged into a media hydrant via Cat 5e. Saltzman notes that this arrangement eliminates the need for anywhere from 15 to 30 XLR cables. In some instances, Saltzman doesn’t even have to move the board—he or one of his staff will use an iPad to control front of house mixing from a remote location.
The Vi1’s built-in processing, reverb, compression and comprehensive EQ and effects eliminate the need for outboard effects racks, further adding to the mobility of the setup. Saltzman notes that all the Vi1 draws very little power, as much as a laptop. “All we need at front of house is literally a single power strip,” he said.
Saltzman points out that the Soundcraft Vi1’s comprehensive control and configuration flexibility make it comfortable for both the in-house staff and visiting sound engineers to use. “It can be set up to ‘feel’ like a traditional analog console, or you can use its tremendous amount of processing and flexibility to take advantage of all of its digital features, like assigning input groups and saving cues on the console’s cue/snapshot system.”
In fact, Saltzman discovered an unforeseen advantage of the Vi1 minutes before one particular performance. “Ten minutes before show time I accidentally pulled the AC power to the console at the end of sound check—without bothering to save my settings. Luckily for me the Vi1 had backed everything up and recalled all my settings. The show went off without a hitch.”
Photo Credit: Javier Guillen
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Monday, 15 July 2013
SMASH, headed by Alex ‘Junior’ Cerio and Tim Smith is known for its innovative, imaginative and fresh approach to production design, creating fabulous environments by combining lighting, video, visuals and scenic elements for any type of live event. Their work has encompassed many genres and styles, from corporate launches and parties, to touring with international DJs and bands.
“Investing in control elements to run mixed media shows is very much on our agenda, so we wanted a forward-looking console,” stated Cerio. “M6 definitely fits the bill, providing straightforward and simple control of complex multimedia and supplying the user with a look into the future with its variety of visual tools.”
The M6 is a state-of-the-art lighting console, which functions as an advanced ‘visual control’ surface, able to control any lighting rig from conventional moving lights to digital fixtures and LED pixels. The console can be hooked up to media servers in SMASH’s studio and used for pre-visualizing, designing, planning and programming shows in advance. The console also provides an element of continuity for shows on worldwide tours. With a Martin M2GO console and Ether2DMX8 node already in its rig, SMASH is well aware of the reliability and intuitive operational philosophies of the Martin M-Series of products.
“A massive amount of thought has gone into the M6 console and how it can be used by the most demanding designers, programmers and operators, like our friends at SMASH,” said Dave Stewart, Martin Show Consultant. “The M6 presents a real challenge to established control brands, with inventive and easy-to-use hardware like fast-dials access to parameters and multi touch-screens.”
The first SMASH Productions show for the new M6 was David Guetta’s special guest appearances on Rihanna’s UK & European stadium shows. SMASH recently provided production and visual design (lighting and video) plus technical co-ordination for the main stage of the Love Saves The Day Festival in Bristol. Additionally, Cerio is the Lighting Director for David Guetta’s on-going live performances.
As a world leader in the creation of dynamic lighting solutions for the entertainment, architectural, and commercial sectors, Martin lighting and video systems are renowned the world over. Martin also offers a range of advanced lighting controllers and media servers, as well as a complete line of smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. Martin operates the industry’s most complete and capable distributor network with local partners in nearly 100 countries. Founded in 1987 and based in Aarhus, Denmark, Martin is the lighting division of global infotainment and audio company HARMAN International Industries. For more information please visit: http://www.martin.com.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Thursday, 11 July 2013
“We launched Global Rockstar simply because we love music,” stated Christof Straub, Founder of Global Rockstar. “There is so much undiscovered talent that is worth a listen and we hope to provide a stage for all artists who believe in their art.”
To ensure a fair outcome during the contest, a jury formed of social media users and an expert panel of music business professionals will choose those who advance throughout the contest. The highest voted songs and additional “wild card” votes from the panel will be in the running for $10,000 and an AKG prize pack worth more than $15,000, which includes: numerous D5, D7 and C214 microphones, K271 and K171 headphones and WMS470 instrument and vocal wireless system sets.
For their loyalty, activeness and support, fans are also eligible to win AKG prizes.
“Our motivation for supporting the Global Rockstar competition is its offering of a professional competition for young, up and coming musicians and an opportunity to present themselves internationally without a major recording deal,” said Walter Ruhrig, Artist and Key Customer Relations, AKG. “With AKG’s professional line of mics, headphones and wireless systems, these artists will be able to continue pursuing their dreams with professional-grade equipment, bringing out their best sound possible!”
For more information and to register for the Global Rockstar competition, please visit: https://www.global-rockstar.com. Artists can upload their original songs on the site up to August 5, 2013. National pre-selections will end September 2 and one national winner from each country will be chosen for the global finals, which run from September 2 through December 20.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
A number of thoughts were considered to improve the yard’s aesthetics, but the proposal to illuminate the 140 x 11-meter façade was the winning idea. A unique and fun way to tell Boligbeton’s production story, from the open pit and transportation to the end product, would provide a stunning, yet simple solution. Architect Daniel Olsen of PA understood a dynamic illumination scheme would be pleasing to passers by and those working in the yard.
The Exterior 400’s are mounted across 4-meter-tall masts, 36 meters from the façade. Four fixtures project straight onto the wall and six project the distortion calculation graphics to compensate for angled projection. At approximately 6.5 seconds per drive-by, it takes several passes to read the entire 10-story picture.
According to PA Partner and Architect Suna Cenholt, the projectors are installed in a very aggressive environment, exposed to rain, high winds and dust. “We tested several products but the Exterior 400 Image Projector made the difference. It was important for us to find a durable product that does not require any special maintenance. In addition, the LED technology in the Exterior 400 IP saves on power, which is also of great importance.”
The lighting system is both dynamic and flexible and allows the company to project a different expression using new graphics and new story if they wish. In addition to the Boligbeton story graphics, the fixtures can also spell out ‘Boligbeton’ in text across the façade. The system s controlled via the PC-based Martin M-PC control package with touchscreen technology.
“The outcome has transformed the yard and drivers’ experience of Boligbeton dramatically – we are very pleased with the result,” says Linette Helbo Jensen, Product Manager at Boligbeton. “The illumination has received a lot of positive feedback and provides an entertaining experience for the many drivers along the highway every day.”
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
CBC/Radio-Canada Upgrades Its Montreal Broadcast Facilities With Four HARMAN Studer Vista 1 Consoles
Three 32-fader Vista 1 consoles and one 22-fader console are being installed in four separate control rooms in the Montreal video production studios: CDI Control Room 1, CDI Control Room 2, CBMT (which broadcasts English-language news) and CDI Control Room 3, which will employ the 22-fader console. Each console is configured with eight AES pairs in, eight AES pairs out, 32 mic/line in and 32 line out (including monitoring).
All four consoles will be connected to a central control room that will house a Studer Route 6000 router, seven Studer D21m high-density audio interface systems and a Studer D21 MasterSync clock. The Route 6000 can accommodate up to 1,728 x 1,728 inputs and outputs. It is fully modular and can handle a variety of formats including mic, line, AES/EBU, MADI, ADAT, TDIF, SDI and Dolby® E. An additional D21m will be located in the CMBT control room.
The consoles and components will be connected using Studer’s RELINK Resource Linking I/O Sharing System, which links together Studer consoles in various locations in a broadcast facility to allow audio source and control data sharing across a wide network. The Route 6000 will allow all the console operators to directly access all shared sources via each Vista 1’s control screen display. The Route 6000 will also be controllable from Studer’s new X-Y Panel hardware control panel and from PC workstations running Studer’s Route 1000 software.
In addition, Studer Vista Compact Remote Bays will be installed in CDI News Room 1, CDI News Room 2 and the CMBT control room to provide added mixing flexibility. The Vista Compact Remote Bay is a small, foldable unit similar to a laptop that can be used as a slave or secondary console in parallel with the main console and operated away from the main console, or even outside of the control room.
HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of audio, lighting and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson®, and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman audio and infotainment systems. Harman has a workforce of about 14,300 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.
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