TDA Rental Receives Power Boost With 376,000 Watts Of Crown I-Tech HD Amplifiers From Audio Pro

Immediately upgrading its sound reinforcement capacity, Harman Professional distributor Audio Pro Heilbronn has confirmed a major sale of Crown’s new I-Tech HD amplifiers to German touring company, TDA Rental GmbH. The company has acquired a total of 56 amplifiers, divided between 32 I-Tech 5000HD’s and 24 I-Tech 9000-HD’s. This will add a further 376,000 watts of amplification power to the company’s inventory.

TDA owner Stefan Todeskino had been delighted with the purchase. ”These are great amps, delivering a powerful sound, with a superb sounding DSP,” stated Todeskino.

Another feature that impressed Todeskino was the flexibility of the I-Tech HD’s, enabling them to be used with all speaker types and in various applications. He notes that control is made easy due to Harman HiQnet System Architect™ software.

Todeskino, who has a strong relationship with Audio Pro for sales and service, explained the decision to purchase Crown.  “We started off with a bunch of Micro-Tech 1200’s which are still used in some rare applications, and later bought Macro-Techs and I-Techs,” stated Todeskino.

Founded by Todeskino back in 1986 to offer a wide spectrum of sound reinforcement services, TDA has been using Crown amplifiers since the company’s inception.

At the same time, the company has invested elsewhere in the Harman Professional portfolio, purchasing Soundcraft Vi6 consoles to service regular accounts including Joe Cocker, Scorpions, Willy de Ville, well-known German band Wir sind Helden, Deep Purple, Guano Apes, Sisters of Mercy, Nickelback and The Cure. They also have a roster of industrial and corporate clients, including Panasonic, Daimler Chrysler, Sony and Coca Cola.

Commented Audio Pro product manager, Carsten Peter, “We are delighted that TDA has chosen to continue its long relationship with Crown amplifiers. TDA is an important partner for us, as the company is regarded as one of the best touring and rental companies in Germany. Many international artists and global players in the industry have come to rely on the technical service of the company for their tours, concerts and events,” stated Peter.

I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS called OMNIDRIVEHD. The new processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings. The OMNIDRIVEHD processing engine also features an innovative new suite of limiters called LevelMAX™. Harman HiQnet System Architect™ mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

Lexicon® Launches Complete Desktop Recording System with Omega® Studio Bundle

Lexicon^®, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), today has launched the Omega^® Studio Desktop Recording Bundle.  The Omega Studio Bundle is a completely integrated computer recording package that combines Lexicon’s Omega Studio USB recording interface with Steinberg^® Cubase^® LE 4 multi-track audio and MIDI recording software, the Lexicon Pantheon^™ VST reverb plug-in, and an AKG^® D 88 S^® lead vocal microphone and mic cable. It contains all the necessary hardware and software components to transform a PC or Mac^® into a professional 24-bit recording studio and allows the user to start recording immediately.

The Omega Studio recording interface is built around a mixer paradigm. This powerful interface is an 8-input, 4-bus, 2-output, USB I/O mixer with inserts, instrument input, MIDI I/O, and complete metering and monitoring functions with the ability to record up to 4-tracks at once. The Omega I/O mixer makes it easy to record, arrange, edit, process and mix music.  A user gets intuitive hands-on control over the most important functions, creating an easy-to-use interface for creative recording.

Cubase LE 4 integrates seamlessly with the Omega I/O mixer to achieve an easy-to-use 48-track complete recording solution that includes all of the modules that you need to track, edit, and mix your masterpiece.  The Lexicon name is synonymous with “the world’s best reverb” and the Pantheon VST reverb plug-in allows the user to add that full, rich luster of reverb and delay to create a polished and professional mix. In addition, the AKG D 88 S dynamic handheld microphone for lead vocalists completes the package.

“The Omega Studio Bundle represents Lexicon’s continued commitment to give users the highest quality recording options for their home studio.  This complete package provides someone with everything they need to capture the moment and begin recording immediately at price points that make this recording bundle accessible to all musicians and recording enthusiasts,” stated Randy Garrett, Director of Marketing for Lexicon.

·        Lexicon Omega 8-Input, 4-Bus, 2-Output USB I/O Mixer

·        AKG D 88 S Dynamic Vocal Microphone with Cable and Case

·        Steinberg Cubase LE 4 Multi-track Audio and MIDI Recording Software

·        Lexicon World Class Pantheon VST Reverb Plug-In

Pick of the Hits - Digitech - Guitar Player Timebender

Pick of the Hits - DigiTech - Guitar Player

JBL CBT Series Column Speakers Debut In Helsinki Sports Hall

Finland’s first installation of JBL Professional’s new CBT100LA column enclosures has taken place in the Latokartano Sports Hall in Helsinki. Eight of the compact passive line array cabinets were specified as part of a complete sound reinforcement fit-out by systems contractor Pertti Krautsuk of Workland.

Run by the Physical Exercise department of the City of Helsinki Sports Administration, the Latokartano Sports Hall consists of two large areas, which can be combined into a single, larger space. Schools and sports clubs use the space primarily for volleyball, floorball, football and tennis. Mr Krautsuk, who set up Workland back in 1994, selected the CBT Series loudspeakers for their high sound quality in terms of both music playback and speech intelligibility.

The Sports Administration issued the contract for the technical fit-out once the new building superstructure was complete. “Although the JBL solution was not originally specified, Workland turned to the earlier successful collaborations we have enjoyed with JBL once this became available,” commented Ari Hildén of Harman Professional distributor, Studiotec.

In other words, once Krautsuk had been introduced to the new JBL column array it had been a simple decision to switch brands. “Having seen the visuals and specifications [of the CBT100LA] I was certain that this was the correct choice. Having heard the system I have to admit that its performance is definitely superior to the alternative model,” Krautsuk said.

Krautsuk designed two transportable systems, which come into play when the partition curtain divides the room into two independent spaces. Four CBT100 enclosures have been installed down the long walls (so that one
side runs silent and the other with music). A Crown XLS 602 amplifier feeds two speakers from Channel 1 and two from Channel 2, while the two sections are controlled independently via a Crown mixer.

As part of the CBT (Constant Bandwidth Technology) functionality, these speakers include a switch that selects either long-throw or mid-throw dispersion patterns. Also standard for the series are “Music” and “Voice” settings (the latter featuring a vocal-presence boost) and Dynamic SonicGuard overload protection circuitry, which combats distortion issues.

Despite the inherent reverberation associated with large sports halls, the Krautsuk said the combination of his own experience and the excellence of the speaker design was all that was needed. “By choosing the correct speakers and angling them in the direction where the sound pressure was needed we could avoid projecting the sound onto the walls and ceiling, thus avoiding the normal reflections,” he noted.

Numerous portable JBL systems can now be found in Finland’s sporting facilities and swimming pools—in fact, the Latokartano Sports Hall itself also contains a separate gym where Workland have installed JBL Control 28 speakers.

Summing up, Krautsuk said, “Both the customer and I are delighted with the new JBL speaker system. No outboard gear was necessary as we were able to use the built-in controls in the Broad Dispersion position to cover the area properly and in the Music position to maximize the low-end power.”

AKG Teams With R&B Legend Missy Elliot To Deliver A Flawless Live Performance On David Letterman’s Late Show

With millions of viewers tuning in to see her perform live on David Letterman’s Late Show, recording legend Missy Elliot used AKG’s wireless microphone to debut her chart topping hit “Get Involved.” Using her crystal stone AKG D 5 microphone, Elliot was able to showcase her Grammy nominated lyrics to a viewing audience of more than three million people without interruption.

The performance was the first time that Missy Elliot appeared on the Late Show, adding to Letterman’s star-studded list of past performers that includes Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, and Bon Jovi. With her D 5 handheld mics, Elliot was able to stand out from past performers thanks to the patented AKG laminated varimotion diaphragm that was able to pick up her most sensitive vocal tones. Also, the supercardiod polar pattern that comes standard on all D 5 mics ensured maximum gain before feedback, allowing Elliot to focus on the show without worrying about the audio quality or unanticipated feedback.

“The AKG D 5 handheld microphone is perfectly suited for these types of applications,” said Joseph Wagoner, AKG’s product manager for wireless tour and installed sound. “These mics are designed to give the performers the most flexibility possible without compromising the sonic quality that AKG is famous for.”

The Late Show’s concert was one of the first times Elliot played “Get Involved” in front of a live audience, and she was able to deliver a faultless performance. For the show, she used her own specialized AKG D 5 microphone: a crystal stone-studded handheld with spring steel-wire mesh grill.

“Artists around the world enjoy AKG because we always put sound first,” said Walter Ruhrig, AKG’s artist relation’s manager. “These mics are no different. They deliver unrivalled sound integrity coupled with sonic flare. We’re please that Missy chose to use our mics and we look forward to working with her and other artists around the world to ensure great sound pervades.”

Firehouse Deploys Crown I-Tech HD Amplifiers and JBL VerTec® Line Arrays For Legendary Performance at Historic 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Concert

In a historic two day concert event featuring some of the biggest names in the history of rock and roll, Red Hook, New York-based Fire House Productions provided a JBL VERTEC® line array system with Crown I-Tech HD power amplification for live sound reinforcement at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts on Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th.

The event took place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden with proceeds from the show going to benefit the Rock and Roll Foundation.  Over the course of the two nights performers included Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon, U2, Aretha Franklin, Jeff Beck, and Metallica.  

For the two concerts, Firehouse deployed a PA system that consisted of 18 VERTEC VT4889 large-format line array elements and 12 VT4880A ultra long excursion arrayable subwoofers per side. An additional 14 VT4889’s per side and 14 VT4887’s for front fills rounded out the system, which was powered by 96 Crown I-Tech 12000HD amplifiers.

Firehouse Productions system engineer Mark Dittmar explained that VERTEC was the perfect solution for an event of this magnitude.  “With VERTEC you get a light weight system that sounds excellent and it can be aimed at angles that other PAs wouldn’t be able to achieve” he noted. “Additionally, since this concert was being recorded for TV we needed the system to cover the entire arena, yet not be visible in the camera shots. With VERTEC we can easily achieve that goal.”

Firehouse, one of the earliest users of the Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers, has continued using them consistently for large-scale events. “With Crown I-Tech HD you get more power and clarity than any other amplifier,” stated Dittmar.  “Also, the limiters on the I-Tech HD amps are extremely efficient.  We have also been using JBL’s V4 DSP presets for the I-Tech HD amplifiers, and in terms of sonic accuracy and the increased power we’ve gained with the system, that has been extremely useful.”

I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS called OmniDriveHD. The new processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings. The OMNIDRIVEHD processing engine also features an innovative new suite of limiters (Peak, Thermal and RMS), called LevelMAX™. As a remote control and monitoring application, Harman HiQnet System Architect™ software mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

For more information on Firehouse Productions, please visit www.firehouseproductions.com or call 845-758-9898.