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Snaring the Perfect Sound

Snaring the Perfect Sound

Bartha Audio/Visual Helps a Skin-Care Firm Pull Out All the Stops for Its Annual Celebration.

Corporate gigs don’t have the glamour of a rock show, but they also don’t have the same requirements — a lot of times they have more. Corporate events aren’t only about pumping lung-crushing SPLs — trying to maintain intelligibility and fidelity with a larger dynamic range than a rock show, while battling video, and lighting, is where the skill portion comes in. Bartha Audio/Visual recently used all its skills to turn the MGM Garden Arena into a convention hall for skin-care firm Arbonne’s annual National Training Celebration, and then reinforced a marching band to rock out the attendees.

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The Main Show and the Sideshow

Trade shows, like everything else in the industry, are facing their next evolution.  

The “L” in trade show LDI’s name once stood for “lighting” (more recently it was changed to “live”). In the future, it might also stand for “Lots of other stuff, too, including audio.” At a time when much of the commercial landscape in the media technology world is moving toward a niche-based paradigm, some of the trade shows that have acted as hubs have sought to become more comprehensive. This is, in part, to address the effects of convergence — as more media technologies become digitally based, their operation and functions increasingly overlap, such as having both Final Cut Pro and Garageband on a single laptop, for example. Additionally, it is an attempt to stem losses from exhibitors that are increasingly taking their products out on “road shows” — demonstrating wares across the country unilaterally or in conjunction with complementary partners.

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Converting to Personal Monitoring

Is it time to trade in your wedges for more racks?

So you have been hanging on to the simplicity of wedge monitor mixing, but you are ready to take the plunge into the wild side of personal monitors. Welcome to the brave new world. Yeah, I like the thought of not lugging heavy wood wedges, long lengths of Speakon patches, racks of graphic EQs and power amplifiers as much as the next guy, but what replaces this?

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Multiplying Your Business

No miracle required, just hard work.

Most of the work I get with regards to worship sound comes from referrals. What I would like to talk about this month is how to get yourself into a position where you receive an abundance of referrals. It’s like Jesus with the loaves and fishes (John 6:10). Somebody had to give him the first fish and the first loaf to get the ball rolling. So, maybe I can help you get that first fish.

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Keeping It Safe

There’s nothing common about common sense.

Ken: So Brian, here’s how it goes: I’m usually a vendor coming into someone’s venue. When I get there, I have trouble keeping the reins on the folks around me — getting them to do what’s best for the show. There always seems to be simple, common sense problems with the venue’s representative or another vendor. And they’re usually doing something wrong that eventually becomes dangerous. I try to give them suggestions, but the trouble usually starts when one of these guys feels the need to give me his verbal resume to convince me of something that I know is a bad idea. Saying “I told you so” just makes me the asshole. Putting this problem on paper makes me sound conceited, but what is a guy supposed to do?

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Taming the RF Beast

Several months ago in "The Bleeding Edge," we discussed the pending problem with the FCC’s threatened release of “White Space” broadcast frequencies for wireless broadband use and unlicensed transmission. [Check out www. fohonline.com/whitespace for a complete rundown —ed.] While this directly impacts wireless pro audio systems, any increased activity in the airwaves — such as that from microwaves, cell phone signals, and emergency-band communications systems — presents a threat to our never-ending quest for interference-free audio. Any wire that is carrying low-level audio — such as from a microphone or mixing console — acts like an antenna, and may actually attract radio interference. Furthermore, junctions where the audio system may have gaps in its shielding — such as where a cable is connected to the chassis of an audio device — are an invitation for EMI to weasel its way in. Several manufacturers are addressing these concerns with new ways of battling RFI and EMI to keep it out of wired audio.

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Yet Another Series of Random Thoughts

Here we go again, he can’t come up with something coherent to write about so he is going to throw together a bunch of random crap. Geez, why can’t this guy be all intellectual and organized like that guy who runs the magazine for the squints?

Because I can’t, that’s f#&%ing why so just shut up and deal with it.

OK, now where was I? Oh yeah random stuff…

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Symetrix Deuce 722

The latest product in the new Integrator Series is the Deuce 722, designed to solve numerous everyday audio processing problems for integrators. The Deuce 722’s toolset is designed to be applied to a variety of applications such as live sound speaker management, voice processing for public address, headphone processing and line sweetening for broadcast, nightclub system protection, and retail paging over background music or ambient noise compensation.

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New Tony Awards for Sound

NEW YORK — On June 19, the Tony Awards Administration Committee voted to add two new competitive categories for future Tony Awards ceremonies. The newly announced categories for which the upcoming 2007–2008 season’s productions will be eligible are Best Sound Design of a Play and Best Sound Design of a Musical. This is the first time the Tonys have recognized sound design along with the other production elements in the competitive categories.

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Cal State Fullerton Sounds Great with EAW

FULLERTON, CA — The 800-seat Meng Concert Hall at the new Performing Arts Center at California State University, Fullerton, features a sound reinforcement system designed by Multi-Media Consulting Inc. (MMC) of Los Angeles, incorporating EAW AX Series loudspeakers and SB Series subwoofers. MMC Founding Principal Rick Wells took the lead role in the system design process for Meng Concert Hall, specifying three sets of dual EAW AX366 loudspeakers to provide coverage throughout the room.

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VENUE by Digidesign Hits Major Sales Milestone

DALY CITY, CA — This spring, VENUE system sales hit an all-time high of 500 worldwide. Since its introduction in Spring 2005, the Digidesign VENUE live sound environment has become one of the most in-demand digital consoles available. Today, VENUE systems can be found on international tours, in fixed installations for theatre and houses of worship and in TV and radio broadcast environments. “The 500 mark is an amazing milestone for us to reach in such a short span of time,” says Robert Scovill, Market Manager for Digidesign’s Live Sound Products. “It’s just so rewarding to see mixers, systems integrators and even PA companies genuinely excited by what VENUE brings to their efforts."

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Humpin Hannahs Keeps Rockin with JBL

BOISE, ID — Humpin’ Hannah’s in Boise, Idaho, recently upgraded its sound system with JBL Professional VP Series powered loudspeakers to accommodate its high-energy, eclectic environment. Located in the heart of downtown Boise, Humpin’ Hannah’s has been a staple of the city’s nightlife since it opened almost 29 years ago, and the tri-level venue serves as both a live rock club and dance club.

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