TORONTO, CANADA — In the few months since it opened with Wagner's complete Ring Cycle, Toronto, Canada's new CDN$181 million Four Seasons Centre has added more than 150 Meyer Sound loudspeakers, though their presence isn't apparent; all are concealed from sight, either around the proscenium or embedded in the hall's walls and ceilings.
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HERCULES, CA — Currently with Pro Media/UltraSound in Hercules, Calif, Derrick Featherstone has spent well over a decade working with alt-rock band Primus as both their tour manager and FOH engineer. Though they're noted "analog die-hards," Featherstone and the band recently made the decision to swap out their aging analog equipment for a new digital system and chose Digidesign's VENUE live sound environment to handle FOH duties for the band's U.S. and Canada tour.
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OLD LYME, CT — Sennheiser has engineered a new microphone head for its RF wireless microphone, the SKM 5200. The MD 5235 mic head is a rugged dynamic capsule designed to cut through high on-stage levels. The new mic head can be used with all handheld transmitters of Sennheiser's 5000 Series – the SKM 5000, SKM 5000 N and the latest model, SKM 5200.
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SAN JUAN, PR — CBS, as in Caribbean Broadcast Supply, recently installed a new Martin Audio system at the Magna Aula ("Big Hall" in Latin) Performing Arts Center at the University of Puerto Rico's Rio Piedras campus in San Juan. The university had originally envisioned a modest audio and lighting system but CBS founder Freddie Rojas and his audio engineer/installer sons, Freddie Jr. and Alex, had already created sound systems for performing arts centers in Santurce and Caguas, used by musical groups and artists from all over the world. They counseled the University to go for something more comprehensive.
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SPOKANE, WA — The Spokane Opera House (Spokane, Wash) has remained in use since its Expo '74 debut, and through the years, the 2,700-seat venue hosted the Spokane Symphony subscription series, as well as events ranging from pop and country concerts to ballet, civic celebrations and, yes, even the occasional opera, but in the spring of 2006, the publicly owned venue was rechristened INB Performing Arts Center to reflect its corporate sponsorship from Inland Northwest Bank, and along with the name change, the venue was treated to extensive interior renovations, including a new system of 18 self-powered Meyer Sound loudspeakers.
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NASHVILLE, TN — Alison Krauss and Union Station have played a major role in keeping the bluegrass on its upward trajectory with a string of albums and tour dates, a schedule that includes QSC and SE Systems to provide audio support.
Read More »NILES, IL — Shure has announced that it will again donate $50,000 this year to four organizations as part of the Shure Listen Safe program. The four organizations are Columbia College, an undergraduate and graduate college in downtown Chicago; Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the real dangers of repeated exposure to excessive noise levels; The House Ear Institute (HEI), a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing hearing science through research and education to improve the quality of life; and the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) Scholarship Foundation, which was begun in 2003 to provide scholarship awards to graduate students focusing on applied/practical studies in hearing loss prevention/hearing conservation at regionally accredited institutions.
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ATLANTA, GA — The Midas XL8 digital live performance system has been mixing sound for Sister Act, The Musical, the new show by Alan Menken. After completing a run at the Pasadena Playhouse, the show moved to The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta for a six-week stint, accompanied by FOH Engineer Pierre Dupree and an XL8 deployed by Sound Associates, Inc., whose Carl Casella and Domonic Sack completed sound design for the show.
Read More »As I write this I am on a plane bound for Washington DC, where I am going at the invitation of the Microphone Interests Coalition. We will be speaking with the FCC and some members of Congress about the push to open the "white space" around TV station to unfettered, unlicensed and unregulated personal communication devices. The problem, if you have not been following it, is that those "white spaces" are where our wireless mics and monitors live. We will go and try to talk sense to a group of people more known for listening to campaign contributions than reason.
Read More »WOODINVILLE, WA — It was announced on March 6 that LOUD Technologies, Inc has entered into an agreement to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of Martin Audio Limited of the UK. The purchase price for this acquisition will be estimated on the closing date and will take into account Martin's cash on hand, third party debt obligations and levels of net working capital, with a final purchase price calculation to be made after closing. Assuming a closing date of March 31, 2007 and fluctuations in levels of cash, third party debt and net working capital consistent with Martin's recent financial history, it is estimated that the purchase price will be between £17.25 million (US$33.2 million) and £18.25 million (US$35.1 million), depending on cash available to the company at closing and third party indebtedness outstanding as of the closing date. The purchase price may fall outside this range. Closing is expected to occur this month and is dependent upon customary conditions including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals.
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MCKEES ROCKS, PA — Northern Sound & Light (NSL) recently outfitted the new off-Broadway touring production of Urban Cowboy with DAS Audio Aero series self-powered line array loudspeakers.
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LEVELLAND, TX — South Plains College, a comprehensive two-year community college in Levelland, Texas, has recently added a Live Sound/Sound Reinforcement Certificate program to their already existing Sound Technology program. The college's Sound Technology program, a part of their Creative Arts department, has been in place for 25 years.
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