Since I have been writing Sound Sanctuary, I have spent a lot of time in houses of worship, mixing live sound, installing sound systems, tuning up systems and interacting with the people that operate and volunteer at worship houses. The one theme that seems to be common among the different houses that I have visited is the lack of volunteer training.
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I have this one annual gig in the LA area that I should really give up. But I like the people, and the nature of the event lends itself to trying new gear, so it is a great Road Test opportunity. In fact, in the five years I have been doing the gig I don’t think we have used the same speaker system once. This year, the boys at Spectr Audio got the call. After going back and forth a few times on the requirements of the gig, we agreed on a configuration.
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Electro-Voice has revived the PL series of pro audio microphones, and brought forth a promising crop of both vocal and instrument microphones that are value priced, but professional in performance. The PL Series is currently on the road with STAIND, Finger Eleven and ZZ Top (on drums). The mics have also proved roadworthy on this summer's Vans Warped Tour. With three-year warranties, EV is making a promise that the quality is worthy for road usage. I received one of each model for this road test review.
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If you think Crown would gracefully sunset the popular Macro-Tech line of tour-grade audio power amplifiers, well you are in for a surprise. The new Macro-Tech i Series provides a decent series life extension by keeping the front-panel look and feel, while sneaking in some of the same technology from the I-Tech series amplifiers. One could spend a lot of time comparing the I-Tech with the Macro-Tech i, but the little time I spent on this tells me there are both similarities and differences.
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“Somebody had to figure out the microphone thing. So that was the first thing I did.”
Jerry Pfeffer got into the PA business while playing in his first band. He was in grammar school. “Somebody had to figure out the microphone thing,” he recalls with a laugh. “So that was the first thing I did.” A handful of years later, Pfeffer was working at a hi-fi store in San Francisco when the phone rang and somebody needed a PA system. The owner let him borrow the van and he loaded up a couple of speakers with a handful of microphones. “It’s been one of those things where it’s one job to another to another,” he says of his company’s growth, “until it’s got to this point. It’s a little crazy now.”
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MGM Grand and Foxwoods Resort Casino join forces to build a new entertainment venue.
The symbol of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is a reflection of the past. A tree perched on a rocky knoll and framed against a clear sky represents Mashantucket, the “much wooded land” where the people hunted and prospered. A statue of a fox stands as a vigilant reminder of the turbulent times when the Pequots adopted the name that still remains today, the “Fox People.”
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Mass music events are becoming the norm around the world.
We have covered festivals as a business trend and have covered many individual events as production profiles, but this year we are pulling out all the stops and gathering coverage of more than a half-dozen festivals into a single feature. It’s a big job, but somebody’s gotta do it… Enjoy.
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Sound crew worked hard to ensure the Boston Pops’ Fourth of July performance was as vibrant as the fireworks.
There’s nothing like hearing majestic symphonic music and then seeing a sky erupting with colorful fireworks on the Fourth of July, and the concert at the Esplanade on the Charles River is the most prestigious annual celebration of its kind. Featuring lively performances from conductor Keith Lockhart and the acclaimed Boston Pops Orchestra, guest appearances throughout the years by everyone from David Lee Roth to Rascal Flatts, engaging hosts like talk show personality Craig Ferguson, and (of course) a vibrant fireworks display, the event is a local sensation, and after 10 p.m., a national television event on CBS.
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Ahhhhh. Smell that? It’s the exciting but somehow slightly putrid smell of trade show season bearing down upon us. And the dance begins. Everyone wants A) their stuff covered as widely as possible and B) to have it still be a surprise when officially unveiled at PLASA in September or AES in October. You know, everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. Can’t have it both ways.
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A few months ago, I was hired to do a gig for a company I had not worked for before, but heard a few horror stories about, mostly pay related. We were carrying most of the gear, but subbed out local crew, most of the lighting, racks and stacks and some backline. First, there was a problem with the promoter paying the balance when due, and the local crew (who had a five-hour call) sat around for three hours (after unloading the local gear for the first hour). Finally, the payments were made and we started unloading our truck.
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We catch up with Brad Madix, Brent Carpenter and Rush.
To say that Rush is a damn good rock band would be the understatement of the last four decades. Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson are three of the best at what they do in the world. When they perform live, it’s a mind-boggling experience. Since the release of the band's self-titled debut album in March 1974, Rush has become known for the instrumental skills of its members, complex compositions and eclectic lyrical motifs drawing heavily on science fiction, fantasy and libertarian philosophy, as well as addressing humanitarian, social, emotional and environmental concerns.
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Randall Turner Owner/Designer Turner Specialty Contractors, LLC Bradford, PA www.audionlightsnstagecurtains.com 877-45-AUDIO [email protected] Services Provided: Audio, lighting, stage curtains, design/build. Clients: ABC News — “Nightline with… Read More »Randall Turner and Terry Holdershaw
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