Lights All Night
Theater Sound: The Ultimate Challenge?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you’re looking for an easy gig in audio, theater sound is no picnic. In fact, it’s probably the toughest job in audio. On a large musical production, the FOH engineer may have to deal with a 20-piece orchestra/band, another 20 (or more) performers and chorus members on wireless headworn mics, plus dozens of cue playbacks of ambiences, sound effects, etc. That’s a whole lotta input sources, all requiring precision timing.
Read More »
Black Sabbath’s Swan Song
FOH engineer Greg Price states that “The End” tour is “incredible for all Sabbath fans. In my judgment, this is the best the band has ever played on tour. Start to finish, it’s a great show.” Good thing, too, because for the band that exemplifies the heavy-metal aesthetic and sold 75 million albums worldwide, these Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are going out one last time.
Read More »
Recent Theater and Performing Arts Center Projects
Years ago, the question of whether theater was dead was constantly brought up by detractors on every front. And if live theater remained trapped in the genre of stodgy parlor dramas, any predictions of its demise would have seemed credible. However, today, quite the opposite is true, and the application of advanced technologies in staging, lighting, visual effects and high performance sound systems have done much to keep theater not only alive but growing.
Read More »
Classic Looks, Modern Sounds – New Microphones with Vintage Appeal
When recreating a vintage vibe, looks are everything. A Beatles cover band loses a lot of the visual impact if the Ringo portrayer is playing a Simmons hexagonal electronic kit, John has a Flying V, Paul plays a Steinberger headless bass and George is shredding on a B.C. Rich Warlock with demon graphics. The same applies to theater, where even the smallest anachronisms can spoil the scene, shattering the illusion that the director is trying to project, especially in a period piece.
Read More »
VUE Audiotechnik al-12 Line Array
Founded just four years ago by a team of industry veterans who played major roles in shaping the course of modern sound reinforcement system designs over the past four decades, VUE Audiotechnik continues to break new ground in product innovation.
Read More »
Large Format Line Arrays
Tours and installs in arenas, stadiums and larger venues typically need long throw, high power systems, that call out the really big guns — typically in the form of. large-format line arrays, here defined as systems with dual 12- or 15-inch woofers. In such applications, systems are rarely used as simple pairs and are usually deployed in multiple box arrays, with prices determined as part of an overall system purchase (typically with subs, amps, rigging, wiring, processing, etc.) and as such, single-cabinet pricing is less meaningful and not provided. URL’s for each company are attached; contact the manufacturer for more information.
To download a PDF of the March 2016 FRONT of HOUSE Buyers Guide, CLICK HERE.
Read More »
Royer Labs R-101 Live Ribbon Microphone
Way back in 1998, I reviewed the R-121, the first microphone from a startup company called Royer Labs. This mic sparked a revival in ribbon mics that continues to this day, not only from Royer, but other manufacturers as well. But the R-121, and its patented (U.S. #6,434,252) proprietary offset ribbon technology with a pure aluminum ribbon and neodymium magnet structure proved to be a hit even to this day (and earning a Technical Grammy Award in 2013), offering a warm, smooth sound from a transducer that was more compact and rugged than previous ribbon designs.
Read More »