Articles

EAW’s unique ‘engine’ drives its Adaptive line arrays

Inside EAW’s Adaptive Systems

by FOH Staff
February 22, 2016
Technology Spotlight

Since its earliest days, Eastern Acoustic Works has always been defined by an ongoing quest to redefine the state of the art in loudspeaker systems that offer practical solutions targeted toward professional sound reinforcement users and installers. Perhaps a clue to that comes from incorporating the term “Acoustic” into the company name, when “Eastern Speaker Works” might have sufficed. And certainly the most recent embodiment of EAW’s solutions-oriented approach comes in the form of its Adaptive Systems line, which now includes the Anya and Anna line arrays and the Otto subwoofer.

Empty Clair S4 cabinets form the outer perimeter walls of the rehearsal room. Photo by David Morgan

Nashville’s Blackbird Academy, Revisited

by David Morgan
February 22, 2016March 3, 2025
On the Digital Edge

Note: Last month, David provided a quick tour of The Blackbird Academy’s new live audio school in Nashville; this time he returns to delve a little deeper.

In August of 2015, I journeyed to Tennessee to mix a fantastic show with Andrea Zonn, vocalist and violinist in James Taylor’s band. She performed all the songs from her newly released CD, Rise, on the Music City Roots broadcast. This refreshingly eclectic music show is performed and recorded at The Factory in Franklin, TN, just southwest of Nashville. After Andrea’s performance, I took some time to interact with the Blackbird students. Last summer, Blackbird Academy’s Live Sound division was up and running and I looked toward participating in one of the classes.

Beside specs alone, other factors, like packaging and networking, can be important. Pictured here is Crown’s VRack, with three of its 4-channel I-Tech 4x3500HD amps - with power distribution and communication modules - all in a tour-ready rack.

Making Real World Sense of Amplifier Specs

by Steve LaCerra
February 22, 2016March 3, 2025
Theory and Practice

A power amplifier is generally designed to do two basic things: increase the power of an audio signal without changing it and control the motion of a loudspeaker. Some of the specifications associated with power amps can be a bit cryptic, so let’s clarify the terminology.

Infrared systems, such as this Sennheiser receiver, are especially useful in difficult RF environments

Assistive Listening and Your Church

by Vince Lepore
February 22, 2016March 3, 2025
Sound Sanctuary

What is the most important thing you do as a church audio engineer? I think all of us would agree that having the message heard clearly by each and every individual is the single most important thing we do. With a properly designed sound system, the average person should be able to hear the message without any problem, but what about those in our congregation who are hearing impaired? What can we do to make their experience better and ensure that they hear just as well as everyone else?

Hemp Audio!

by Baker Lee
February 22, 2016March 3, 2025
FOH at Large

Of the 20 medical marijuana dispensaries scheduled to open in the State of New York, the dispensary on 14^th Street and Third Avenue, in the heart of New York City, was one of the seven to open its doors on Jan. 7, 2016. For those of us old enough to remember the good old/bad days of the City, this is an amazing occurrence considering the Draconian laws Governor Rockefeller put in place in 1973 pertaining to possession and distribution of the herb. Alongside morphine, opium and cocaine, cannabis was categorized as a Schedule 1 narcotic that carried stiff prison penalties for possession and distribution. Even though this legislation made Rockefeller look tough on crime, other politicians from both the left and the right opposed this ruling and thought it was unjust to equate the non-violent crime of drug possession and trafficking alongside rape and murder.