Traveling around the world and performing in a different city each day, it’s somewhat difficult to establish a lasting sense of continuity within one’s daily professional experience. We consecutively encounter venues that vary in age, size and architectural design — with each structure presenting its own unique set of physical and acoustical challenges. One of the few constants on a world tour with a major artist is the presence of those few pieces of essential gear that we carry everywhere with us. For example, I have been mixing on the same DiGiCo SD5 console since this tour began last May. It is both the cornerstone and the centerpiece of my mobile office.
You may (or may not) have noticed that the recent AES Show, which took place in Los Angeles in October, threw one hell of a big bone to the live sound community, in the form of its first-ever Live Sound Expo, a mini-event within the larger one. I say “may or may not” because — prior to this year’s edition — the show tended to elicit a big “meh” from many live-sound pros. That’s in light of the fact that the organization itself says that, historically, as much as a quarter — or more — of the shows’ attendees identify themselves as working in live sound.
Last month, we discussed the concepts of power requirements, and ensuring that the in-house service is up to the task of powering your P.A. system. This time we’ll look at some specific power distro products that can help make life on stage a bit easier.
No, I won’t be presenting any clever parodies of Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” But I don’t have to tell you that we will soon be celebrating Jesus’ birthday. Whether you live, work and play in the worship world or the secular world, Dec. 25 is the biggest day of the year for most of us and a busy time for sound crews. This season always causes me to reflect a little more on my life and the world than at any other time of year. Do you ever wonder what was going on at Joseph and Mary’s house during those first birthdays? Historically we know that they traveled to Egypt, but did they have a birthday party at year one, two, three and on? Was everyone invited? I am sure if there was cake there was certainly enough to go around. I am just throwing out a few different things to think about in between working events during this holiday season.
Starting at an early age, we all recognize the importance of the company we keep. Maybe these alliances we make stem from a primal xenophobic survival tactic or quite possibly it’s just human nature to affiliate ourselves with like-minded individuals. However, by junior high school, it seems we have already chosen sides and — though it often seems our choices are hormonally and psychologically predisposed — perhaps it’s merely circumstance that creates these bonds. Athletes hang with other athletes, the smart kids finding comfort with their own get labeled “geeks,” and the “in” crowd looks down on the social misfit crew.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA — Grundorf Corporation, a manufacturer of equipment cases and accessories for musicians and audio professionals and parent company of Grund Audio Design, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. From humble beginnings in the family garage, Grundorf Corporation has evolved into an international organization whose products have become an integral part of the livelihoods of musicians, audio professionals and technology managers everywhere.
LAS VEGAS – It was Vegas, after all, so the bet was on. “We were all voting when Benny [Collins] would start crying, and I said he wouldn’t make it through the introduction, and I won,” laughs production professional and friend Steve Thomas. Thomas, with Michael Ahern, presented the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award to Collins, the live event industry’s highest honor. Collins took the stage choked up and shed some tears in giving his appreciation to all he’s worked with and made friends with over the years. It was a fitting end to an evening filled with emotions, laughs and tears.
To download a PDF of the FOH Dec. 2014 Parnelli Awards report, CLICK HERE.
LONDON — Focusrite, the global music and audio products group supplying hardware and software products used in studios, sound reinforcement and music production / performance, went public with an IPO on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market on Dec. 11. Pictured here, from left, are company executive chairman Phil Dudderidge and Focusrite USA president Phil Wagner.
SHANGHAI — Earlier this year, K-Array (k-array.com) announced the first entries in its Firenze series — its new KH8 top and KS8 subwoofer touring loudspeakers. Referred to as “Slim Array Technology,” the KH8’s fit the name — each is built into a 46.4 x 19.7-inch (W x H) frame that’s that’s less than eight inches deep, yet contains eight 8-inch neodymium woofers, eight 4-inch cone MF drivers and four 1.4-inch exit HF compression drivers, offering 120° horizontal and DSP-controllable vertical dispersion.
NASHVILLE — The SRO Awards, created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry, were held Monday night, Dec. 8, at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Among the winners announced by emcee/road veteran Kix Brooks were FOH Engineer of the Year: Jeff Parsons (Blake Shelton); Monitor Engineer of the Year: Brad Baisley (Blake Shelton); Touring Musician of the Year: John Thomasson (Bass, Little Big Town); and Venue of the Year: Ryman Auditorium (Nashville).
CARTERSVILLE, GA – Moyers Group named Brad Ward system design consultant in the company’s Atlanta office. He will be focusing on system design and client relations in the areas of theater/performance, education, and houses of worship. Prior to joining Moyers, Ward was assistant professor of audio engineering technology at Belmont University in Nashville.
LOS ANGELES –– A fashionable new stopover in Koreatown, the Line Hotel is a 12-story modernist tower originally designed by the respected architecture firm Daniel Mann Johnson & Mendenhall which retains a mid-century look combined with an industrial chic aesthetic, stripped-concrete walls and double height windows in the lobby. Commissioned to install a sound system in keeping with the modern, high tech feel of the hotel, LA Sound opted for Martin Audio loudspeakers throughout the public areas downstairs and outside on the patio deck, pool area, and in the greenhouse.
