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The open plaza between halls featured stages set up for outdoor line array demos.

Product Hits of 2016 Prolight + Sound/Musikmesse

Frankfurt, Germany became the capital of the pro audio, lighting and music technology world as Prolight + Sound (5 to 8 April) and Musikmesse (7 to 10 April) came to town. It definitely sparked some controversy, as this year’s fair launched a new concept where PL+S would begin two days before Musikmesse. Previously run concurrently, the two 4-day shows would only overlap for two days, leaving some manufacturers scurrying to decide whether they would have to run two separate exhibits or pick one show and hope for the best.

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Fig. 1: One enhancement in S6L version 5.1 is improved parameters displayed by the OLEDs, such as the EQ section.

Avid VENUE S6L Console, Part 2

As is the case for any computer-based product, a digital audio console is a system in a continual state of evolutionary flux. In my article from the December 2015 issue of FRONT of HOUSE, I presented my initial impressions of Avid’s VENUE S6L live console. In that “On the Digital Edge” discussion, I expressed great satisfaction with audio produced by this new system. From input to output, the 96k S6L is very powerful machine. However, due to its work-in-progress status, I chose to delay discussing many of the specific features and operations until more agility and refinement had been added to the console/computer system.

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Foreigner, Dickie Betts and Richie Furay are among those offering live concert recordings through the StereoCast app.

Concert Recordings: Is the Third Time the Charm?

We’ve been down this road before. Way back in 2004, I told you about the initiatives by several companies (most notably, including Clear Channel, the radio giant that was a huge stakeholder in the touring business before it spun off Live Nation), to take a two-channel mix of a show as its last notes rang out and have it ready for sale before it had a chance to cool off. A copy, on CD, would be picked up by attendees who had either prepaid for them when they bought their tickets or as an impulse buy, like a pack of gum at the checkout counter.

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Waves C4 is a multiband compressor plug-in that divides the frequency spectrum into four bands, providing control over Attack, Release, Range and Makeup Gain per band.

Secrets of Multiband Compression

Contrary to popular belief, multiband compression is not the art of fitting a headliner, three support acts and their gear into a VW van. Multiband compression is a somewhat different manner of applying gain reduction to an audio signal. Understanding multiband compression requires understanding compression in general, so if you are rusty on the topic, revisit “Theory and Practice” from the February and March 2015 issues of FRONT of HOUSE. I’ll hang out here until you return…

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Sennheiser's Frequency Finder

Wireless Advice

Roughly a year ago, I started writing this monthly House of Worship column for FRONT of HOUSE. One of the first articles I wrote was about wireless, so it only stands to reason that coincidentally, a year later, I’m revisiting the subject to provide some additional insights that will hopefully improve your wireless operation.

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Illustration by Andy Au

The Gear Gambler

A song started playing in my head while I was trying to decide upon the new gear I should purchase and which pieces of inventoried equipment I would need to sell:

“You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em; know when to fold ‘em.
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table.
There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealing’s done.”

—“The Gambler,” written by Don Schlitz and made famous by Kenny Rogers

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