News

MADISON, WI – DSP horsepower and customizable functionality were just two of the factors that made QSC's Q-Sys Integrated System Platform the ideal solution for the recent renovation of the Wisconsin State Assembly's audio system.

WILKESBORO, NC – MerleFest, the bluegrass-and-Americana oriented festival founded by Doc Watson in memory of his son, Eddy Merle Watson, in 1988, returned to Wilkes Community College with support once again by SE Systems and co-owner Cliff Miller, who served as the event's audio director. Miller, who has been supporting the event for all of its 24 years, brought something new – DiGiCo's SD10 console, which made its North American debut at the four-day event – and which Miller had recently purchased, sight unseen.

HAMILTON, Ontario – The Studio at Hamilton Place isn't just a recording studio, it includes a 500-seat theatre and concert space known for its sound quality. Artists including Bruce Cockburn, The Cowboy Junkies, Billy Bragg and others have performed there, and the venue also hosts theatrical events ranging from comedy shows to boxing.

DETROIT, MI – David Frangioni and Audio One recently recorded a series of Bob Seger live concerts at the 20,000-seat Palace of Auburn Hills using a Pro Tools HD2 Accel rig interfaced to an Avid VENUE console.

RED LAKE, MN — Hot off the production line, DiGiCo’s first SD11 console made its debut in the field—and on the road—with Staind founder and frontman Aaron Lewis. Out in support of his debut country-tinged solo album, Town Line, released in March 2011, the stripped-down tour features Lewis in an acoustic duo setting on sold-out stages ranging from headlining 700-seat casinos, churches and honky-tonks, to playing opening slots on 50,000-seat arena and festival bills. Longtime DiGiCo user Clay Hutson—who’s wearing multiple hats on this outing including FOH/monitor engineer and day-to-day/production/tour manager—wanted to get his hands on the first SD11 rack-mountable system for the tour after reading about it.

CHESAPEAKE CITY, MD — The Chesapeake Inn, a multi-room waterfront facility used for weddings, graduations and other events, needed to contain the sound emanating from its outdoor deck and Tiki Bar. Design consultant Mike Rapp of Bear, DE-based Sound Solutions came up with a system using 14 Community WET W2-2W8 two-way loudspeakers and four Community Wet W2-112 Subs for the outdoor areas, aimed inward.

OXNARD, CA – Rat Sound Systems recently expanded its L-Acoustics inventory with 12 KIVA and four KILO enclosures, four SB28 subs and an LA8-equipped LA-RAK touring rack. This acquisition follows the company's recent purchase of 18 KARA enclosures earlier this year.

Rob Lingfield, 59, a former sales and marketing director for Martin Audio, who was also chairman of PLASA's European Regional Board, died after a long illness on June 19. At Martin Audio, Lingfield served as a director until taking on a consultancy role, where he was actively involved in the development and launch of the Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array (MLA) system.

SNOWMASS, CO – Just a few miles from the glitz and flash of Aspen, St. Benedict's Monastery's Benedictine monks mix daily prayer with the running of a working ranch and bakery. While honoring the value of quiet meditation, the monks aren't strictly bound by long-term vows of silence. They conduct daily liturgical services and occasionally host performances by well-known musicians from nearby Aspen.

LAS VEGAS – A key group of forward-thinking companies have already confirmed their spots as sponsors of the 11th Annual Parnelli Awards, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Peabody Orlando. This year's Parnelli Awards ceremony will honor Kenton Forsythe, the Parnelli Audio Innovator; Ed Wannebo, winner of the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award; Jim Fackert, the Parnelli Visionary Award winner; plus yet-to-be-determined winners of awards in the worlds of audio, lighting and video. It will take place at 8 pm, following a cocktail reception at 7 pm.

LAS VEGAS – The Electric Daisy Carnival's dusk-to-dawn electronic music and arts extravaganza moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas this summer, adding a third night to the schedule. The total attendee count was near 250,000, far exceeding the 130,000 who attended the two-day event in Los Angeles last year.