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January 2018

The upgrade took place at the megachurch’s main Lake Forest, CA location. Photos by Jake Henricksen.

Saddleback Church

Sound Image Helps Upgrade System, Acoustic Elements

The systems integration division is a well-kept secret,” says Larry Italia, VP integration division. “We are well known for our concert projects, but lesser known is the amount and size of our installation work.” Just this year Sound Image has worked on the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, the Newel and Jean Daines Concert Hall at Utah State University in Logan, UT, Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ. However, Italia adds, “the number one vertical market for us is the house of worship market.”

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The Parnelli Awards will take place Jan. 26 at the Anaheim Hilton in Anaheim, CA. Bobby 'Boomer' Thrasher, longtime production manager for Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and others, is winner of the 17th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

Parnelli Profile: Bobby “Boomer” Thrasher to Accept Lifetime Achievement Honor

Not even a sudden declaration of war slows down Bobby “Boomer” Thrasher, a “no-problem-only-solutions” kind of guy. In 1990, Billy Joel had done a USO show in Washington D.C., and he wanted to do more overseas. “To make it financially feasible, we tacked on some dates between Japan and Australia,” says Steve Cohen, Lighting/Set Designer for Joel. So in January of 1991, they had a deal that if USO would pick them and their four semis’ worth of gear in Japan and deliver them to the Philippines and then on to Australia, they could do it.

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Chris Conley at FOH

Mixing Los Lonely Boys

Appropriating the advertising slogan of a well-known insurance company, front of house engineer Chris Conley knows a thing or two, because he’ s seen a thing or two. Conley caught his first break in the late ‘80s while working security at a music club in Detroit, where he was born and raised. One night, just hours before all-girl L.A. grunge-rockers L7 were due to play, the house engineer, Conley’ s longtime friend, received a call.

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Damian Marley onstage. Photo by Evan Wollenberg

Jamrock Reggae Cruise

Cruise Production, 3G and Jonas Provide Audio for a High-Seas Adventure

For the fourth year in a row, Cruise Production teamed up with 3G Productions and Jonas Productions for the Welcome to Jamrock Cruise, a five day reggae festival on the high seas. More than 4,000 fans packed the sold-out Independence of the Seas to enjoy performances by such reggae luminaries as Damian and Stephen Marley, Luciano, Freddie McGregor, Cocoa Tea and Tarrus Riley. In all, more than 40 artists and DJs kept the party (and the audio crew) going nonstop with live performances, DJ sets and a reggae sound clash DJ battle. The cruise set sail from Fort Lauderdale on November 13 with stops in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

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Understanding Unity Gain: Waves H-Comp screenshot

Understanding Unity Gain

The concept of unity gain is deceptively simple: when the output level from a device is equal to the input to that device, you have achieved unity gain. It’s like a high level of Audio Zen, only better. When we say “device,” we can be referring to a hardware device or a plug-in — the concept applies equally in the analog and digital domains. The problem is that most “devices” are intended to mangle audio in some way or another, and that’s where simplicity goes out the window. Let’s look at a few examples.

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In Memoriam

The Passing of Two Masters

Somehow, 2017 brought the loss of so many legendary and influential musicians. Among those taken from us were South African guitarist/vocalist/writer/producer, Ray Phiri, and Cameroon’s celebrated guitarist/writer/arranger, Vincent Nguini. It was my immense honor and distinct artistic pleasure to have worked literally hundreds of shows with these gentlemen while both were members of Paul Simon’s touring band. Ray joined the aggregation for the 1987-89 Graceland tours after co-arranging and co-producing much of the landmark, scene-changing Graceland album. Vincent joined the tour in 1990 after collaborating heavily on what may be Paul Simon’s most intricate and luxuriant musical endeavor, The Rhythm of the Saints.

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