Crown Amplifiers Kick In The Power At Moses Mabhida Stadium In South Africa

Demonstrating their ideal performance for the world’s most demanding fixed install applications, Wild & Marr recently installed Crown amplifiers to power sound at World Cup venue Moses Mabhida Stadium.  The stadium also features AKG, BSS Audio, JBL, and Soundcraft components as part of the sound reinforcement system.

Situated in Durban, the new stadium has a capacity of 70,000 and hosted five group games, one second round game, and a semi-final match during the World Cup. The venue is named after Moses Mabhida, a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party.  The stadium’s unique design is highlighted by an arch, which represents the once divided nation of South Africa coming together. 

The Moses Mabhida Stadium system installation was handled by South African Harman Professional distributor Wild & Marr and features 74 Crown I-Tech 4000, 36 I-Tech 8000 and 33 CTs 4200USP/CN amplifiers.  Signal processing is provided by BSS Audio with three BLU-800 devices, eight BLU-160 devices, six BLU-320 devices and mixing by Soundcraft RM100 series consoles.

Wild & Marr also provided 118 VerTec® VT4888 midsize line array elements as well as 36 JBL AM6315 loudspeakers and over 1,400 Control 24 CT Micro and 100 Control 25AV ceiling speakers. Control and configuration of the system was completed through Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™. 

In the area leading into the stadium complex commonly referred to as Peoples Park, 32 JBL CBT100LA column speakers are powered by five Crown CTS8200USP3/CN, with sound processing handled by a BSS BLU-800 device. The area also features a dedicated Soundcraft RM100 console and AKG microphones.       
“The World Cup is a global event that transcends the way we view sports,” stated Marc Kellom, vice president of marketing for Crown Audio. “Our CTs amplifiers provide unmatched performance and reliability, setting the standard for the biggest stadiums in the world and the World Cup was no exception.”

JBL VERTEC® Line Array Systems Take Center Stage At Serbia’s Exit Festival

Studio Berar, Serbia’s leading production company for professional audio, video and lighting systems, deployed a full JBL VERTEC® line array system for the 2010 Exit Festival in Novi Sad, Serbia. The festival, which is one of Europe’s largest and most popular every summer, took place July 8-11 at the historic and picturesque Petrovaradin fortress near the Danube River, drawing 165,000 music fans from around the world over the 4-day span. Studio Berar was awarded contracts to support three of the largest stages of the festival. 

More than 500 artists performed on 20 different stages during the 4-day event, which was recently voted ’Best European Festival’ by UK Festival Awards according to Yourope, the European Association of the continent’s 40 largest festivals. This year’s Exit performance lineup included Faith No More, Chemical Brothers, David Guetta, Missy Elliott, Placebo, Mika, LCD Soundsystem, Royksopp, Crystal Casteles, among many others.

The Main Stage, Dance Arena, and Fusion Stage were collectively equipped with 64 VERTEC VT4889 full-size line array elements, 80 VT4888DP powered midsize line array loudspeakers with JBL DrivePack® technology developed in coordination with Crown Audio, and a total of 100 VT4880 full-size arrayable subwoofers. The entire system was configured for remote control and monitoring with Harman’s HiQnetTM System Architect™ software.

“I’m proud to say it’s been 10 years now that Studio Berar has been the primary professional A/V rental supply company for the Exit Festival,” said Zoran Matic, chief system engineer of Studio Berar. “Our VERTEC line array systems, along with Crown amplification and the HiQnet system, have performed flawlessly year after year. Although the design and setup of the main concert sound system is always challenging due to the unique landscape of the event site, the result this year has exhilarated the crowds of music lovers. Exit Festival 2010 is another highly successful project in our portfolio.“

Studio Berar can be reached on the worldwide web at http://www.studioberar.com

Radhusteatret Ski Invests In Soundcraft Vi6™

SKI, Norway – Situated in the heart of the Norwegian town of Ski to the southeast of Oslo, the Rådhusteatret theater recently upgraded its sound system with a Soundcraft Vi6 digital console. With two stages--respectively catering for 365, and between 60 and 100 people--it is used for local as well as touring productions.

The theatre boasts a broad spectrum of performance, ranging from theatrical productions, musicals, choir, ballet, jazz and rock concerts, conferences, and even the occasional heavy metal band.

“While this broad range of productions is interesting to work with it requires a flexible equipment set up,” says technical director Hans Erikstad. “The advantages of a digital mixing console became increasingly clear in recent years so we searched for the ideal solution.”

Several options were evaluated in the decision process, but the technical team kept coming back to Soundcraft Vi series digital mixers. The theatre’s sound engineer, Fredrik Pagander, explains: “We previously used a Soundcraft MH3 console, which we were very happy with--and we definitely wanted a similar work surface with the digital board.

“Sound quality was another main factor in the decision process--and we found both requirements more than adequately fulfilled with the Vi6. I must say that I have been very impressed with the sound quality right from the start, and it feels a very natural desk to work with.”

As a creative process, he says, mixing should be supported by an intuitive user interface, and the Vistonics II system also handsomely fulfills that remit.

The Soundcraft Vi6 was supplied by Oslo-based LydRommet AS, Harman’s distributor in the territory. 

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Studer OnAir 3000: A Sound Solution For Nova TV

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgaria’s leading TV station Nova TV, part of the Swedish group MTG, has transformed its audio capabilities in live news and sports applications, thanks to two Studer OnAir 3000 consoles.

According to Vesselin Todorov, president of Bulgarian music company Factor TC, Bulgarian television has always been notorious for its poor sound quality, but the installation of two Studer OnAir 3000 broadcast consoles into Nova TV has broken that conception; it is now the best-equipped TV station in Bulgaria.

More often than not, the OnAir 3000 is utilized in radio stations, but Dobromir Georgiev, systems support engineer at Nova TV, believes it to be the perfect choice for live TV broadcast. “The ‘Touch’n’Action’ user interface is what makes Studer the best, because it’s just so easy to use,” he said. “Having the touch screen there in front of you means you can access all of the functions very quickly.”

Both consoles are configured identically: one PGM stereo output; four hybrid channels for phone hybrids (bidirectional); separate channels for the audio server (4 AES inputs and 4 AES outputs); a mic group (8 mics); a server group (4x2 AES channels); external sources (5x2 AES channels) and a VTR group (3x2 AES channels).

Each console also has an output VTR group (3x2 AES channels), an embedder group (8x2 AES channels), an external outputs group (2x2 AES channels) and 16 analog output channels; hybrid channels and mic channels are also analogue. The mic group is hard wired to eight wireless mic receivers and there is an additional group for analoge mics (12 inputs). Four AUX buses and four additional N-X busses are assigned to the hybrids.

The main frame of the mixer is a Studer Compact SCore with one D21m extension frame; 24 symmetrical digital AES inputs and 24 outputs are in the core and the extension frame comprises of 12 mic inputs, 24 line inputs and 24 outputs, which are all analogue.

They also have two sixteen channel ADAT boards installed and the console is fed with AES Sync and a separate time code signal for internal clock synchronisation; all inputs and outputs are passed through patch-pannels.

There is an OnAir 3000 in both the live newsroom and the sports centre at Nova.   Next May, the station will launch brand new sports channel (Nova Sport) broadcast directly from the Nova TV sports centre.

“Nova Sport will be produced by Diema, another TV company in the MTG group, but the main live production will come from Nova’s sports centre because it’s the best facility,” says Georgiev. “People find it much easier to work here and after coming from another company myself, I found the contrast to be incredible; the Studer sound quality is outstanding.”

Nova TV has two local networks for its OnAir 3000 consoles, which are separate from each other and all other network domains. Vladimir Lazarov of Nova TV, said he’s been delighted with the scalability and flexibility of the system.

“The OnAir 3000s cover all operations in our two studios. I have been most impressed at its capability to connect several cores and consoles in one network and to use one console to control several cores,” he stated. “Being able to create presenter profiles is fantastic; every presenter has their own profile of settings, according to his or her voice and this helps us to uniform the sound, regardless of on-air personality.”

Sound Image Completes Erykah Badu’s Musical Journey Full Circle With Soundcraft Vi6™ Console On ‘Out My Mind, Just In Time Tour 2010 AD’

Building on its already stellar reputation for world-class, advanced audio designs, Escondido, California-based Sound Image is currently deploying a Soundcraft Vi6 digital console as part of the sound system for Erykah Badu’s international 43-night tour.  With a lineup of opening acts worthy of the headliner title themselves, the “Out My Mind, Just In Time Tour 2010 AD” required the most reliable audio equipment on the market to ensure fans are completely immersed in “Badu World.”

At the heart of the audio system is the Soundcraft Vi6 console, along with JBL VERTEC® line arrays. After a demonstration more than three years ago, Kenneth H. Williams, Badu’s production manager and front of house engineer, knew this tour would be the opportunity to bring the board in.  “I was totally impressed with the sound quality and the fact that you had so much versatility with the Vi6 console,” said Williams.

When given the opportunity to help design the tour, Williams called upon Gary Sanguinet, touring manager for Sound Image. “I took the Vi6 right off the shelf and everything sounded amazing almost immediately,” said Sanguinet.  “Ken was adamant that the Vi6 be used on this tour as it allows us to properly manage all of Erykah’s wide range of instrumentation and vocals.  Our ‘Master Patch Dude,’ Fumi Okazaki, couldn’t be happier.”

With the deep sounds the band constructs through its variety of instruments, Williams and Sanguinet use a disparity of musical styles to find the subtle impurities that would drive a soundman wild in the middle of a show. For example, the duo uses country music for the majority of its sound checks to get a broad view of the audio spectrum.

“Erykah always says, ‘stay in the moment,’ and we have to be really flexible to convey these moments to her fans,” continued Williams.  “For each 2-hour set, my goal is to bring her vision to the audience, immerse them in her vision without pummeling them in sound.  Every aspect of the system, from the Vi6 board to the JBL VERTEC line arrays, allows me to do so.”

“Soundcraft is synonymous with crystal-clear, perfect sound,” Williams concluded.

For more information on Sound Image, please visit www.sound-image.com and for information related to Erykah Badu’s Out My Mind, Just In Time Tour 2010 AD, visit http://www.erykahbadu.com/tour/.

JBL VERTEC Line Arrays from Grupo Zonico Power Aerosmith’s First Venezuelan Concert

Called upon to ensure that rock legends Aerosmith’s first concert in Venezuela was a resounding success, regional concert sound rental provider, Grupo Zonico deployed JBL VERTEC® line arrays to support the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in Caracas. Based in Edo Miranda, Venezuela, Grupo Zonico has supplied the nation’s top venues and highest-attended concerts with JBL loudspeaker systems since 2006.

To deliver the powerful, widely-known music of Aerosmith to a massive outdoor audience, Grupo Zonico supplied 30 VERTEC VT4889-1 full-size line array elements for the main left/right system, supported by 24 VT4880A Ultra Long Excursion 2x18-inch arrayable subwoofers. Twelve VT4888DP powered mid-size elements with DrivePack® technology, developed in cooperation with Crown, were used for out fill arrays. In addition, four auxiliary towers each contained three VT4887ADP powered compact line array elements, in coordination with a fifth array of four VT4888DP powered midsize line array elements. Twenty-four VT4888DP’s provided the primary delay system in two towers of 12 each. The system was configured with Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ software for remote control and monitoring.

“For such a momentous concert, it was important for even the farthest, deepest rows of fans to be completely dialed in with the band,” said Hugo Morillo, Director, Grupo Zonico. “The JBL VERTEC system has proven time after time, that it is 100 percent reliable and provides a great sound quality that is appreciated by the fans and, most importantly, the band. Aerosmith’s top-quality performance through the VERTEC line arrays gives us another successful credit to provide our customers with this outstanding technology.”

“I was impressed with the service and standard of equipment from Grupo Zonico,” said Jim Ebdon, FOH mix engineer for Aerosmith. “The JBL VERTEC system sounded very smooth and accurate, the coverage was excellent and the thump from the subs was phenomenal.”

For more information on Grupo Zonico, please visit www.groupozonico.com.

Pick Of the Hits - July SCN - Large Stadium Feature Story

  

AKG USA Extends 700 MHz Rebate Program Through September 2010

In a move that provides end users with greater access to its wide range of wireless products and allows the company to improve service to its existing customers, AKG has extended its 700 MHz rebate program an additional three months to end on September 30, 2010. The program - which went into effect on March 1, 2010 - allows owners of any old 700 MHz system to trade it in and receive a cash rebate following the purchase of a new AKG non-700 MHz band, FCC compliant wireless system, or components that comprise a system.

The program extends to any level of any manufacturer’s 700 MHz wireless product as a trade-in against the rebate amount of a new AKG wireless system, and users can group components together to assemble their own eligible wireless system. Along with the WMS40 Pro, WMS40 Pro Dual, WMS40 Pro Flexx, and WMS450 systems, users can group either the SR4500 single channel receiver or DSR 700 2-Channel digital receivers with the PT4500, HT4500, DPT700, or DHT700 transmitters, but the purchase must include at least one receiver and at least one transmitter. Additional transmitter rebates may be offered if the transmitter purchases were made in connection with the receiver purchase, and there is a corresponding trade in transmitter for every transmitter-rebate request.

“After seeing the positive effect that our rebate program has had on our customer’s ability to upgrade their systems, we decided that everyone would be better served if it was extended,” commented Joseph Wagoner, Product Manager, Wireless/Tour/Install, AKG. “We’re dedicated to ensuring that our customers receive the best possible service, even after they have purchased our equipment, and extending this program allows us to provide them with exactly that.”

The program is accessed by logging onto AKG’s website, clicking on the USA logo, and following the links to the rebate documents. Once accessed, users must fill out the documents according to the products they are trading in and submit them along with the trade-in unit, the original UPC label from the new product and a copy of the purchase receipt. The program allows users to receive a rebate of up to $500 on the purchase of a new system, and up to $750 on purchase of a combo system. 

For more information on AKG USA’s wireless rebate, download the PDF Mail-in Rebate Form, or contact a participating AKG dealer.

AKG is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
Harman International designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products
for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, and maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, employing more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

Pick of the Hits - Pro Audio Asia