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Dave Shadoan, Ross Ritto To Be Honored with 2012 Parnelli Audio Innovator Award

Stayin’ Alive: Sound Survival

Once upon a time and long ago, most of us were enticed into becoming sound reinforcement professionals. Of course, at the time, few of us realized that this meant taking a lifelong oath of poverty (we’re never paid what we’re truly worth) and abuse — when it’s right no one notices; when something’s wrong, it’s always our fault. But we love what we do and stick to it in spite of any such minor trivialities.

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USS John C. Stennis

Sound For A Different Kind of Cruise

HONOLULU — It’s not often a sound company is asked to specify a full PA system and backline for a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, let alone to look after it on its cruise from Hawaii to San Diego, but that’s exactly what Southern California-based audio providers Mambo Sound and Broadcast Support were tasked with last month, and they chose dB Technologies for the job.

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Any successful tour requires a great team. Shown here are: (back row, left to right): Etienne Lapré (L-Acoustics K1 system engineer); Jeff Tweedy (Steve Van Zandt guitar tech); Troy Milner (stage right monitor engineer); John Cooper (FOH engineer); John Bruey (crew chief/system engineer); Ray Tittle (system tech); Monty Carlo (stage left monitor engineer). Front row, left to right: Rob Zuchowski (system tech); Klaus Bolender (system engineer).

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band “Wrecking Ball Tour”

A Conversation with FOH Mixer John Cooper and Solotech’s Mario Leccese

A Bruce Springsteen tour isn’t just an event; it is a movement celebrated by fans in packed venues around the world. And in an era when groups are scaling down with smaller ensembles, acoustic shows and looking at “more intimate” venues, Springsteen brings his own version of intimacy to stadiums and arenas, staying just as much in touch with audience members in the front row as the people in row YY on the second deck.

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The neodymium magnet shown in this cutaway view of JBL’s 2262H Differential Drive woofer provides full performance with greatly reduced weight.

Our Friend Neodymium

Neodymium (Nd) is one of the chemical elements employed for the high-strength, permanent magnets in high-output/low-weight loudspeakers. Over the past several years, the small, tight-knit pro audio industry has seen volatile neodymium price changes on the global commodities market. And with Nd becoming an important component of modern, high-performance loudspeakers (particularly in flying systems), this price volatility has created uncertainty in end-user pricing of loudspeaker systems.

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