John Berry
Okay, Now Get Back to Work!
All right, now that all this political fuss is over, it’s time to stop posting those silly partisan memes on Facebook and get back to work. Yet despite all those months of backstabbing and mudslinging between all the candidates, I for one am going to miss that drawn out process of primaries and general election frivolities. Well, not the constant barrage of negativity on the television ads and sound bite news journalism, but the massive influx of jobs and gigs it brings to the entire audio industry in terms of providing sound systems for all those rallies, events and fundraisers.
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On Tour with Sia
Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, known mononymously as Sia, recently set attendance records for her “Nostalgic for the Present” tour, which crisscrossed North America in support of her seventh studio album, This Is Acting. The artist is quickly redefining performance art while simultaneously setting the bar for those following in her wake. Special guests Miguel and AlunaGeorge accompanied the singer on the 22-city jaunt that kicked off at the end of September at Seattle’s Key Arena and wrapped up with a Nov. 6 show at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX.
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2016 Bridge School Benefit
Not Just Another Day at the Office for Sound on Stage
In 1986, rocker Neil Young called in some industry friends to help him create a fundraiser for The Bridge School, an innovative organization based just north of San Jose, on the San Francisco peninsula and dedicated to educating children with severe speech and physical impairments through the use of creative approaches to education and communication. The reaction to that first event was an overwhelming outpouring of support from both fans and musical performers alike, and now it continues, after three decades of success and sold-out venues.
Shure Launches SystemOn Audio Asset Management Software
Shure’s new SystemOn Audio Asset Management Software provides centralized IT support and real-time troubleshooting of Shure’s wireless systems. For IT administrators and AV technicians responsible for large-scale and mission-critical corporate and higher-education installations, the SystemOn framework provides enhanced convenience and ease-of-use. Features include allowing the user to identify issues ahead of time before they become critical problems, such as dead batteries and missing equipment and more, and enables remote adjustment of channel level, mute status, and other parameters.
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16th Annual Parnelli Awards
The 16th Annual Parnelli Awards was on track to be its typical high-energy, funny, and emotional show … and then Tom Petty surprised the audience by taking the podium. He flew in himself and 11 members of the Heartbreaker family to give accolades to his long time tour manager, Richard Fernandez, who received the live events highest honor, the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Large-Format Digital Consoles
Sometimes size matters, especially when it comes to the really big shows. We checked out some large format digital consoles and found models to fit nearly anyone’s needs, especially if your channel requirements hover in the near-100 (or more) range. And in this rarefied world of large boards, customization is key, as these big guns typically come with a long list of user-selectable options and choices, making exact price comparisons difficult, unless you configure each model for your particular specific application. But when you’re ready to go large, these are just the first-class ticket.
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Martin Audio Deployed at Dusk Music Festival
TUCSON, AZ – A Martin Audio MLA Compact system ran the Dusk Music Festival for Soundwave Productions. The audio challenges included the eclectic array of artists and the need for noise limitations to keep sound from spilling over to the park’s nearby businesses and apartments. Erich Schmoldt, Soundwave FOH engineer and system tech, said the Martin Audio MLA gave him the control the event required.
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Allen & Heath dLive Digital Console
When I got word I’d be reviewing Allen & Heath’s dLive system, I was excited to check out its new flagship digital console. My colleagues — who regularly use Avid, DiGiCo and Yamaha consoles — had nice things to say about dLive. I wondered if the board could live up to the hype. My demo system arrived in a nice, tour-worthy road case, and consisted of an S3000 surface, a DM32 Mix Rack, and the optional M-Dante expansion card. But before we dive in, let’s take a look at the entire dLive lineup.
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