Skip to content

A Show Grows in Brooklyn

WCBS produced the event at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

A Show Grows in Brooklyn

After literally shivering my way through the National Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington DC, I jumped into a rental car on the following morning and headed up I-83 North toward Lititz, PA. My final destination was the headquarters of Clair Global. Once there, I would spend two quick days in the shop prepping for an upcoming show at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This holiday event was produced by CBS Radio and featured individual performances by Sarah McLachlan, Jimmy Buffett and James Taylor.

Read More »
Miami’s Ultra Music Festival is among those EDM-themed events under scrutiny in recent years. Photo by Raveguy23

Cymbals and Symbols: Music Censorship and Beyond

Music festivals and the cities that host them have long had a fractious relationship, going all the way back to the original Woodstock in 1969. Los Angeles, Miami and New York have all put the brakes on EDM-themed music events in recent years, with drugs and drug-related deaths as the main point of contention. In other cases, some festivals’ own success have been their downfall.

Read More »
A comparison of the current TV frequency allocations (upper bands) and a possible repacking scenario (lower bands), where seven TV stations go off the air and four others are relocated. Illustration courtesy Joe Ciaudelli

Cleaner Air for Wireless Users

More Changes Afoot in the FCC’s Frequency Allocation Program

Back in 2008, when the FCC auctioned the 700 MHz portion of the UHF band (698 to 806 MHz), the audio industry took a huge hit on our ability to use wireless devices. Operation of wireless mics was prohibited in the 700 MHz region, a part of the UHF spectrum we had come to rely upon quite a bit. Vacating that space has put tremendous pressure on manufacturers to push wireless audio technology at an accelerated rate, and they certainly have responded with developments in alternate frequency bands, digital wireless technology and even re-examining the VHF band, which we had all but abandoned long ago.

Read More »
The DPA d:vote 4099P piano miking system — with its magnetic mounts — offer a versatile palette of placement options.

Piano Miking

Miking and mixing piano is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of mixing audio at a house of worship. Over the decade that I’ve been working in churches, I’ve experimented with numerous different techniques for capturing the piano and ultimately placing it into my mixes.

Read More »
Illustration by Andy Au

Opinions

“Well, opinions are like a**holes. Everybody has one,” is a quote by Harry Callahan in the 1988 movie The Dead Pool. Another version of this quote is, “Well, opinions are like a**holes. Everybody has one and most of them stink,” and lastly the best selling author Simone Elkeles embellished the quote to read: “Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one, but they think each others’ stink.” While there are a few more versions of the same quote, I have opted to leave them out, since none of them serve to enlighten us any further than the snarky gems previously stated.

Read More »
d:vote Instrument Microphone and mounts.

DPA Microphones to Make Music at 2017 NAMM Show

ANAHEIM, CA — DPA Microphones plans to showcase its range of modular microphones and accessories at the 2017 NAMM Show. Colorado bluegrass band Trout Steak Revival will perform at the booth as well, to demonstrate the d:vote Instrument and d:facto Handheld range of mics. DPA welcomes the personal feedback with customers and potential users at their booth in Hall A, #6013.

Read More »
The new, combined FOH and monitor system was designed, supplied and installed by Sapphire Sound.

Canadian Church Refurbishment Selects Allen & Heath

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA – Sapphire Sound supplied and installed Allen & Heath’s dLive S Class and ME mixing systems in Calgary’s Southview Alliance Church as part of a major audio refurbishment. The church needed the upgrade to accommodate its busy and varied schedule of services throughout the week, ranging from the traditional to the contemporary, including band performances. The system is also easy to run by its volunteer staff.

Read More »
Stephens Performing Arts Center chooses Martin Audio for Jensen Hall upgrade. Photo: Julie Hillebrant

Stephens PAC Chooses Martin Audio for Jensen Hall Upgrade

[caption id="attachment_126549" align="alignnone" width="800"]Stephens Performing Arts Center chooses Martin Audio for Jensen Hall upgrade. Photo: Julie Hillebrant[/caption]

POCATELLO, ID––Idaho State University’s Stephens Performing Arts Center installed a Martin Audio MLA Compact system as part of a sound and lighting system upgrade in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall. The previous system was 11 years old and no longer technically viable or able to meet contract requirements for visiting artists. The production team tested the system for a Don Williams concert prior to purchase, and positive feedback on the sound sealed the deal.

Read More »
Eminence N151M-8

Eminence N151M-8 Ring Radiator

Despite its minute size, the Eminence N151M-8 ring radiator compression driver promises monumental performance. Utilizing a phase plug design that improves the distribution of forces over the diaphragm surface results in a driver with lower distortion, smoother frequency response, and increased sensitivity as compared to conventional ring radiator designs.

Read More »
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus Xtreme will conclude its tour in Providence, RI, on May 7, 2017. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Out Of This World will conclude its tour in Uniondale, NY on May 21, 2017.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Productions to Close in May 2017

PALMETTO, FL — Feld Entertainment, the producers of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus productions, announced in March 2015 that it would be phasing out the use of live elephants in its productions by 2018. Now, as it turns out, the circus productions themselves will cease. The company says the loss of its elephant acts led to a dramatic drop in ticket sales and that, along with rising costs and battles with animal activists, led to the decision to shut down after 146 years of producing “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The last shows will take place in May.

Read More »
Capital Sound supplied Outline’s GTO C-12 system for Status Quo's final electric tour, named "Last Night Of The Electrics."

Outline Tours with Status Quo’s ‘Last Night Of The Electrics’

LONDON – In early 2016, Status Quo announced their final electric tour, the appropriately-named “Last Night Of The Electrics,” for which London-based Capital Sound deployed their Outline GTO C-12 rig. Long-standing FOH engineer Andy May agreed to use the system following a recommendation from Dave Roden (who used it for The Stereophonics during the summer) and has subsequently taken to it. Capital Sound also provided the same system for Il Divo’s tour in 2016.

Read More »
The new Pronet AX software offers a totally redesigned user interface with improved object identification and management – thanks to color-coded items, intuitive icons and panels, desktop grid, and docking Editor Panel.

Proel Launches Major Pronet Software Upgrade

Proel’s major upgrade of its Pronet remote control software is set to be released to Axiom users at the upcoming ISE in Amsterdam. Pronet AX enables remote control of all Axiom powered loudspeakers, DSP amplifiers and system controllers in a network of devices equipped with the Core DSP platform. 

The new Pronet AX software offers a totally redesigned user interface with improved object identification and management. 

Three different operating modes are provided: setup, edit, and live.

Read More »