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Road Tests

dbx DriveRack PA2

dbx DriveRack PA2

It has to be at least 15 years since dbx introduced the first DriveRack, and there is no doubt that since then, the DriveRack family has improved sound systems across the globe. That may sound like a huge, sweeping statement, but it’s probably true. A few years ago, I got a dbx DriveRack PA+ to go with my self-powered speaker rig. In a very short time, the DriveRack became my favorite piece of outboard gear. Mainly because dbx has skillfully crammed so many useful functions into a single rackspace package. Well, now there is the DriveRack PA2. After my experience with the PA+, I decided I had to get my hands on a PA2. However, it occurred to me that some of you may not know exactly what a DriveRack PA2 is, or what kind of magic it can do. So, here we go…

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Yamaha QL5 Digital Console

Yamaha QL5 Digital Console

Two years ago, Yamaha unveiled its popular CL series mixers to much fanfare. Here was a solid digital console with a great feature set, including Dante interfacing, onboard preamps, Dan Dugan automixing, Rupert Neve-designed signal processing and the fast GUI of Centralogic control. The CL Series was an immediate hit.

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The PLD family: the 1600W PLD4.2, the 2500W PLD4.3 and the 5,000W PLD4.5.

QSC PLD Series Amplifiers

A year ago, QSC debuted its PLD (for portable/live sound applications) and CXD Series (contracting/installed sound) amplifiers. Available in several power configurations, all are 2-rackspace, Class-D multi-channel amps with slight feature set variations catering to their intended use, but sharing a radical new channel-combining methodology, with flexible onboard signal processing as well.

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3 Zigma Audio CHI Series Microphones. Pictured here, the C-LOL-67 capsule on an HA-TL II head-amp

3 Zigma Audio CHI Series Microphones

Larry Villella is a musician, audio enthusiast and former Steinway piano dealer who turned his love of vintage mic collecting into a full-time business as ADK Microphones in 1998. Most of the ADK line centered around mics that emulated the sound of classic studio models. A couple years ago, he branched out with his new 3 Zigma line, which were more compact than the large body and tube models that ADK offered and employed the CHI (Capsule/Head-Amp Integrator) Series.

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Audio-Technica BP894 MicroSet Headworn Mic

Audio-Technica BP894 MicroSet Headworn Mic

Over the years, headworn microphones have become significantly more improved, with better performance from smaller, near-invisible packages. So last year, when Audio-Technica debuted its BP894 MicroSet — a design that takes a completely new approach to headworn microphones, I was intrigued about its performance — and sound.

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Alto Professional Stealth Wireless Speaker System

Alto Professional Stealth Wireless Speaker System

I’m one of those types who likes to avoid wireless if at all possible and I usually shake my head wondering why when a client or artist insists on using an RF mic when they never wander more than about five feet in any direction. So last year when Alto Professional announced its Stealth Wireless speaker system, I initially wasn’t too impressed. In most portable sound systems, adding another component (and level of complexity) just to replace 25 feet of cable feeds from a stagebox or snake to the mains just didn’t seem worth the extra effort.

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The Orbit 2 dual boom simplifies stereo mic placements from a single stand.

Triad-Orbit Advanced Microphone Stand Systems

I never thought I’d be reviewing a mic stand. But then again, Triad-Orbit’s Advanced Microphone Stand Systems aren’t ordinary mic stands. Actually, the real point here is whether I need another (or several) more mic stands. After all, I have a ton of them that I’ve bought over the years, ranging from cast base models to various folding versions.

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Ear Trumpet Labs Myrtle Microphone

Ear Trumpet Labs Myrtle Microphone

Sometimes, it’s all about the look. There are literally thousands of live performance vocal mics to choose from for stage applications, ranging from large side-address condensers to handheld dynamics to ultra-miniature headworn microphones. So is there really a place for a new live vocal mic that emulates the appearance of a classic 1920’s Western Electric double button carbon microphone? For the right artist, in the right setting, the answer would be absolutely.

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Allen & Heath Qu-16

Allen & Heath Qu-16

Allen & Heath has built a good reputation and become popular with their larger digital consoles. Now they have taken a lot of the technology that has served them well with their iLive and GLD series mixing boards and incorporated it into the Qu-16 (and recently introduced 24-channel Qu-24) consoles.

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RedNet modules 1 through 5

Focusrite RedNet Audio Networking

Well-known in studio circles, but perhaps less familiar to sound reinforcement users, Focusrite has a long and distinguished legacy in professional audio. The company was founded 29 years ago by audio legend Rupert Neve (whose circuit designs still grace a number of Focusrite’s products) and four years later, it was acquired by Soundcraft co-founder Phil Dudderidge. After a short bout in the large console market, Focusrite began expanding its world-class signal processing series with a successful line of audio interfaces that were on-time and in-step with the burgeoning studio market.

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The control panel on the side of the Black12 has I/O, mixing and access to DSP settings.

Alto Professional Black Series

Whether aging a fine wine or tweaking a speaker design, good things often take a while to develop. During the InfoComm show back in 2012, I stopped by the Alto Professional booth and was taken aback by a preview of the company’s just-unveiled Black Series loudspeakers. I had been aware of Alto Professional since 2000, when the company was first launched. That young company had ambition and good ideas, but seemed unfocused and often embarked on products which, I suppose, had great appeal to overseas customers, yet weren’t always quite in sync with the needs of pro users in North America.

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