JBL Accepts TEC Hall of Fame Award on Behalf of Lansing Iconic, The World’s First Studio Monitor

Widely regarded as the world’s first studio monitor, the Lansing Iconic was inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame in ceremonies held at the 2011 NAMM show in Anaheim, January 15th. The Iconic was developed specifically to meet the needs of film and audio production control rooms, and was introduced in 1937 by James B. Lansing, the founder of JBL. Its 2-way configuration of a 15-inch woofer and compression driver/horn high-frequency section established the standard for studio monitor systems, still in use today.

Accepting the award for JBL was 35-year JBL veteran Mark Gander. Gander noted, "This is the fifth loudspeaker to be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame with components designed by Jim Lansing. His loudspeaker design innovations were seminal to virtually all aspects of recorded and reproduced sound, and we at JBL are proud to carry on his traditions and embody his spirit of innovation in our current products."

The TEC Awards Hall of Fame was created to recognize those individuals, living or deceased, whose careers have best exemplified the spirit of creative and technical excellence in professional audio.

Founded in 1985, the Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards is the foremost program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. Presented annually by the TEC Foundation for Excellence in Audio, the TEC Awards recognizes the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games, and other media. TEC Awards nominations are made by a panel of industry professionals and voted upon by members of various professional organizations and audio industry websites.

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.

The Conga Room at LA Live Turns Up the Beat With JBL Loudspeaker System

The Conga Room is Los Angeles’ number one Latin music venue, hosting top performers from around the world and offering a diverse range of Latin, world beat, urban, jazz, rock en Español and pop/rock. Located in the LA Live downtown entertainment district, The Conga Room recently upgraded its audio system with the installation of a complete JBL loudspeaker system comprised of VP (Venue Performance), VerTec and VRX Series loudspeakers.

Owned by celebrities including Jimmy Smits, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Rodriguez, will.i.am and others, The Conga Room combines musical excitement with style, sophistication and fine dining. When the owners decided to upgrade the audio system, they turned to Sound Image of Escondido, California for the audio system design and installation, in collaboration with AVS Production Group of the Bronx, NY. Both companies have 60 years combined experience in providing sound for stadiums, clubs, museums, houses of worship and other large venues.

“The Conga Room owners had very specific requirements,” noted Jason Schmidlapp of Sound Image. “Since the venue is owned by artists, they wanted the sound quality both on- and off-stage to satisfy their demanding standards. It had to be nothing less than exceptional. In addition, the system had to handle a wide range of music from quiet jazz to pounding, bass-heavy hip-hop, and accommodate live performers as well as DJs and pre-recorded music.”

Sound Image and AVS Production Group provided six JBL VerTec VT4887 compact line array elements (three per side) for the main left and right line arrays, along with 12 VP7212 powered loudspeakers and two VP7215 powered loudspeakers as monitors and two VP7210/95DP speakers for the delay channels. Rounding out the system are JBL VRX918S Constant Curvature arrayable subwoofers.

“Along with performance considerations, The Conga Room wanted the loudspeakers to be as inconspicuous as possible,” Schmidlapp said. “The VerTec line arrays were perfect for the task – their high continuous power rating and high directivity enabled them to provide more than enough volume and optimum coverage for the room, while maintaining a low visible profile.”

“The VP Series monitors deliver wide frequency response and don’t take up a lot of space, and their built-in amplification and digital signal processing enabled us to precisely dial in their sound while making installation easier, since we did not have to use them with outboard amplifiers,” Schmidlapp continued. “The VRX918S subwoofers provide articulate, extended bass response and blend seamlessly with the other speakers in the system.”

“Sound Image has a long-standing relationship with JBL, and JBL systems are in use at other venues at LA Live, so we had an immediate comfort level in using them,” Schmidlapp concluded. “The system sounds superb, and The Conga Room is becoming a ‘go-to’ destination for a growing number of artists across a broad range of genres.”

For more information on Sound Image, please visit http://www.sound-image.com.

For more information on AVS Production Group, please visit http://www.abevsystems.com

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.

For additional information, contact:

Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

Harman IDX Information Delivery System Provides Comprehensive Life Safety Solution Fronted By Best In Class Airport FIDS Software

Providing systems integrators in the European transportation and infrastructure markets with a robust, high-performing life safety paging system with airport Flight Information Display System (FIDS) software, Harman Professional’s IDX Information Delivery System today made its European debut at ISE 2011.  Capitalizing on the advanced design capabilities of Harman’s HiQnet™ System Architect™ and coupling that with paging specialist Com-Net Software’s ECLIPSX FIDS, the co-developed Harman IDX System features Crown CTs, and BSS London technologies.  The combined result is great sounding, highly reliable audio networks with application-engineered interfaces and control in a versatile, cost-efficient package.

According to Van Williamson, Sales & Marketing Manager Commercial Systems, Harman Professional, IDX provides European integration professionals with an array of attractive features and benefits that, essentially, deliver the best of both worlds. “IDX builds on the best-performing audio components and software and the transportation community’s justifiably-preferred interface and software.  We look forward to working with members of the European integration community at ISE and in the months ahead to provide this complete solution to a host of new customers in the transportation and infrastructure markets.”

Using System Architect’s unique, market-proven room design toolsets, paging and evacuation zones can be easily designed and stored as templates.  System Architect seamlessly and automatically issues the zone and associated amplifier channel information to Com-Net’s ECLIPSX system and the Com-Net ECLIPSX will in turn monitor and control the HiQnet system. Featuring these advanced system design and control capabilities and BSS London and Crown CTs audio networking and performance, the IDX System is a powerful, unified communication system: operators can monitor the status of every critical component of a system for status and full control over recording, playback, volume, and scheduling of audio and visual messages.

Chad Timms, Vice President, Product Development, Com-Net software said today, “Through its broad array of professional systems for the world’s leading artists and performance facilities, Harman raised the expectation level for professional grade audio systems.  Now with the IDX systems, Harman is bringing those same quality and design capabilities to the transportation market and partnering with our industry-leading information delivery system.  I am confident that our European channel partners and customers — and indeed the flying public— will appreciate this improvement in information quality and sound quality!”

In addition to showing IDX at ISE, Harman Professional will be showcasing its range of professional and commercial audio systems and HPAV family of elite brands including Mark Levinson, Revel, JBL Synthesis and Lexicon.  The Harman stand will include a demonstration area that will showcase how System Architect can be used to configure and control a typical House of Worship / Performing Arts system using AVB.  Harman will also be an active participant at the AVnu Alliance pavilion with a demonstration of an Avid Venue console with a Lab X Technologies card installed passing AVB audio over a Marvell switch to a Crown amplifier.

Harman HiQnet is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Signature Technologies, Inc. dba Com-Net Software is a leading provider of Audio-Visual Customer Communication Systems for the transportation, retail, hospitality, education and healthcare industries. Com-Net is a market leader in providing sophisticated turnkey solutions that include hardware, software, installation, maintenance and support throughout North America.

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.

Harman Professional Appoints Aaron Simon To Position Of Director of Licensed Products

Harman Professional has appointed Aaron Simon to the position of Director of Licensed Products. Simon will be responsible for spearheading an ongoing range of new and existing initiatives specifically designed as part of a strategic music artist endorsement program, providing top multimedia offerings within the Harman product and technology portfolio.  He will report to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Michael MacDonald.

Prior to joining Harman Professional, Simon led the strategic marketing, partnerships and promotions department at Disney Music Group. Simon was responsible for overseeing partnership and promotions for major artists including Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez.

A results-driven leader with over 16 years of marketing and partnership experience working in the music and entertainment industry, Simon also worked with record companies such as Jive Records (Sony/BMG), Atlantic Records (Warner Music Group) and Virgin Records (EMI), where he was responsible for marketing strategies for chart-topping artists such as Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Janet Jackson, and the Rolling Stones. Simon also handled artist management for major Latin music artists and produced the 2007 U.S. Latin tour of the year.

“I could not be more thrilled to be part of the Harman team,” stated Simon. “Working with so many legendary brands is such a unique and wonderful opportunity. Alongside our music artist strategic endorsement initiative, I’m eager to play my part in continuing Harman’s worldwide success in changing the way people experience superior audio.”
Simon holds a B.B. in Marketing and Finance from Hofstra University in New York.

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.

Ronco Transforms Sound At Niagara County Community College Theater With Soundcraft® Si3 Digital Console

Ronco Specialized Systems, Inc., recently installed and revamped the Niagara County Community College’s (NCCC) theater with a Harman-based audio system, leading with a Soundcraft Si3 digital console. The Si3 not only enables better-sounding performances, but also serves as a useful instructional tool for students interested in the field of live sound.

Along with the Si3, Ronco installed eight JBL VerTec VT4887A compact line array elements, four VT4881A arrayable subwoofers, a VRX918S subwoofer, eight 8340A surround speakers, two AC26 2-way loudspeakers, seven Control 26-DT ceiling speakers, two Control 25T-WH speakers and four SRX712M monitors.  Eight Crown I-Tech 9000HD, two CTS2000 and four CTS4200USP/CN amplifiers power the system, while BSS BLU-160 and 120 signal processors and two BLU-10 wall controllers are used in configuring for different events. The system is managed via Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™. 

“Our previous system in the theater was, for lack of a better word, horrid.  It was nearly 30 years old and made up of bits and pieces from new and used equipment, with zero sign of brand continuity,” stated Joe Schmidt, associate professor in technical theater and coordinator of audio recording production program, NCCC.  “The Si3 brings an entirely different sound to NCCC as we traveled from the 1980’s to present time in technology.”

The total sound renovation also gives students on live sound, production and theater tracks more opportunity to learn hands-on with the professional-grade, yet easy-to-use console.

“The theater really rocks now,” said Al Colucci of Ronco. “The Si3 was the perfect addition to NCCC’s theater department and Harman continues to provide us and our customers with great products and support.”

Demoing the Si3 in late 2010, NCCC’s engineers and professors found it simple to use and knew it would immediately improve the quality of sound in the theater.  Schmidt continued, “Everything from concerts to theater performances and classes has improved with the Si3 and corresponding system.  We’ve been waiting to upgrade this system for decades and the wait was well worth it.”

For more information on Ronco, please visit http://www.ronco.net.

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.



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For additional information, contact:

Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

AKG Voted Best Microphone and Headphones At SOS Awards During NAMM

Underscoring a commitment to provide the most reliable and highest performing products to the professional audio industry, AKG earned two 2011 SOS Awards during Winter NAMM.  Voted Best Microphone and Best Headphones by Sound on Sound readers, the AKG C414XLS and AKG K240, represent the continued versatility, quality and leading technology AKG offers professionals around the world.

“The SOS awards provide an opportunity for those in the audio trenches to honestly grade the equipment they use on a daily basis and AKG is proud to offer our customers the year’s Best Microphone and Best Headphones,” stated Alfred Reinprecht, VP marketing and product development, AKG. “Knowing Sound on Sound readers are using AKG microphones in real-world applications, as they were designed and the Best Microphone and Best Headphones awards support AKG’s constant pursuit of the best, most reliable equipment in the industry.”

The awards recognize the best recording technology products of the year.  AKG’s C414XLS has been utilized on thousands of hit records and continues to be a favorite in recording studios, on stage and in broadcast facilities around the world.   The K 240 studio headphones offer recording professionals higher sensitivity, wider dynamic range and higher sound levels, in addition to superior comfort. 

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.

DeeTown Scores Big With JBL LSR4300 Series Studio Monitors

Demonstrating the capabilities of JBL LSR4300 Series studio monitors to deliver pristine audio in any acoustical environment, Alana Da Fonseca installed a pair of LSR4328 8-inch monitors in her new production room at New York City-based DeeTown Entertainment.

Founded by producer/writer/performer Ali Dee Theodore, DeeTown's credit list could double as a guide to the most successful feature films of the past few years, including the soundtracks for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Iron Man, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Sex and the City, Transformers, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Hannah Montana.

As the main songwriter/producer at DeeTown, Alana Da Fonseca requires a reliable and powerful monitor that provides an accurate representation of her mixes. “When I play back a mix for a client I need speakers that can really bump,” she said. “I also need them to be accurate at lower levels so I can hear all the detail when I mix and produce a track. It’s great being able to rely on only one set of monitors for both purposes.”

With more than a dozen production rooms and a roster of artists that make up its production team, DeeTown takes a unique "songwriting by committee" approach. “We have a stable of highly proficient musicians and vocalists, each of whom brings something unique to the table,” Da Fonseca said. “Our approach allows us to produce a great amount of material without sacrificing quality for speed. We’ve developed a system that allows us to operate with extreme efficiency while continually inspiring each other.”

DeeTown opened the doors of its new studios on Park Avenue South in September 2010. Having purchased JBL LSR studio monitors prior to relocating, Da Fonseca said the transition to the new room was easy. “The advantage of the LSR monitors is that they tune to the room, and they sound amazing in every environment,” she said. “I tell everyone, no matter what room you’re in, these speakers will perform great.

For more information on DeeTown Entertainment, please visit http://www.deetown.com

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.



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For additional information, contact:

Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 24
Travis.Mcgee@definitionbam.com

Eddie Kramer Uses JBL LSR6300 Series Studio Monitors In Producing West Coast Seattle Boy – The Jimi Hendrix Anthology

Legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer has participated in some of rock music’s most important recordings, including the soundtrack to the original 1969 Woodstock festival and albums by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Traffic, Santana, Kiss, The Rolling Stones, Carly Simon and many more. Most recently, Kramer remastered the recordings for the new CD and DVD Hendrix box set, West Coast Seattle Boy – The Jimi Hendrix Anthology. The set spans Hendrix’s recording career from his first sides as a sideman for The Isley Brothers, King Curtis, Little Richard and others to more than forty never before released tracks and alternate versions of classic Hendrix songs.

Kramer used JBL LSR6300 Series studio monitors for the remastering of the box set, which took more than a year and a half to produce. “Hendrix was a workaholic who lived in the studio when he wasn’t touring, and in the four years I worked with him we recorded an enormous amount of material, some of which is being heard for the first time on West Coast Seattle Boy,” Kramer noted. “The four CDs on the anthology trace Jimi’s career from the very beginning to the very end. It’s just amazing hearing the progression of Jimi trying to burst through the early tracks, all the way to later recordings where Jimi’s absolute mastery of tone and technique enabled him to create sounds that were just nonexistent in anyone else’s mind.”

Kramer emphasized, “I was determined to present these recordings with the best possible sound quality.”

Kramer produced the recordings using a JBL LSR6328P Series studio monitor system. “With this project, the quality of the original recordings varied from hotel room demos that Jimi did using just his own personal tape recorder and microphone, to full-blown multitrack masters recorded at Electric Lady Studios. In order to get the most from a wide variety of source material, I needed equipment that let me hear every last detail that was on these recordings, and enable me to make accurate judgments about EQ, compression and dynamic range to bring out the most in the source material,” Kramer said.

“The JBL LSR6300 monitors reveal tremendous detail. I am very happy with these speakers, because they give me the resolution I need, particularly in the high end. I love the LSR6300 monitors because they’re so smooth, and the top end doesn’t take my head off! They’re not fatiguing to the ears, which was crucial for the extended listening sessions that were often involved in this project.”

“One particularly important aspect is that I can easily tell where certain instruments are in the stereo image,” continued Kramer. “That to me is critical because I do a lot of very careful placement and a lot of panning.” The LSR6300 monitors also gave Kramer the ability to accurately monitor at low as well as high volumes. “I do a lot of my mixing at low volume. Anybody can turn a speaker up. But when the volume comes down and the relative quality and definition doesn’t change, that is a key element in what I’m doing. I want to hear all the detail that’s on the recording, and I can hear tremendous detail in these monitors. JBL is really doing it right these days.”

JBL LSR (Linear Spatial Reference) LSR6300 studio monitors combine advanced driver technologies with a design that ensures exceptional accuracy at the mix position in a broad range of rooms. Starting with patented JBL transducers in a bi-amplified system, JBL applies LSR design criteria for 72 off-axis measurements to provide a flatter off-axis response. This ensures that the reflected sound, as well as the direct sound, heard at the mix position is smooth and accurate.

The LSR6328P and LSR6312SP subwoofer are also equipped with JBL’s RMC™ Room Mode Correction feature system that compensates for low frequency inaccuracies typical in untreated rooms. A built-in 1/10th-octave parametric equalizer addresses frequency response irregularities below 100Hz. The supplied RMC calibration kit allows the user to identify problematic room modes and determine the degree of correction needed.

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.

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For additional information, contact:

Travis McGee
Definition Branding and Marketing
(212) 660-2555 x24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

Master Mixer, Producer and Engineer Duro Makes the Move to Lexicon’s PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle

Duro, CEO of Desert Storm Records (Def Jam), is a music mixer, producer and engineer based in New York and has worked with many of the top artists in urban and pop music including Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Will Smith, the Beastie Boys, T.I. and others. The five time Grammy winning master mixer, producer and engineer has relied on Lexicon® hardware reverb/effects processors from the beginning of his career – but lately, he’s made the switch to plug-ins, thanks to the Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle.

“I’m extremely particular about the quality of the reverbs I use on my productions,” said Duro. “I’ve used Lexicon since day one, going all the way back to classic units like the 224 and 480L to the 960L, PCM70, PCM81 and PCM91. I used different Lexicon units for the distinctive reverb sounds and effects I liked from each unit.”

Clearly, Duro didn’t make the switch to plug-ins overnight. He noted, “There is nothing else that compares to the sound of a Lexicon. Prior to using the PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle, I tried other brands, but none gave me what I wanted to hear.”

The PCM Native Plug-In Bundle finally gave Duro the level of sonic excellence he needed from a plug-in. “Competitors came out with reverbs with algorithms that supposedly were the same as Lexicon – but I could hear the difference. I can tell when the Lexicon plug-in is being used. No other reverb is as transparent.”

Duro has used the PCM Native Plug-In Bundle with artists including Fabolous, Jay Sean, Jay-Z and Big Time Rush, to name a few. He particularly likes the Medium Room and Percussion Plate settings. Duro concluded, “I’ve used Lexicon with every single artist I’ve worked with, on every single production. I’m still exploring and tweaking the sounds in the PCM plug-in bundle, and discovering many unique and intriguing new sounds that I look forward to using on future recordings.”

The Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle is designed to work with popular DAWs like Pro Tools and Logic, as well as with any other VST®, Audio Unit™ or RTAS®-compatible platform. Compatible with Windows® Vista, XP and 7 and Macintosh® computers, it offers seven unique Lexicon’s plug-ins including Vintage Plate, Plate, Hall, Room, Random Hall, Concert Hall and Chamber, along with hundreds of presets including classics from Lexicon’s extensive library of sounds.

Its intuitive user interface provides ready access to key parameters, with a graphical real-time full-color display that illustrates all key sonic parameters. Virtual input and output meters provide ready indication of audio levels, and presets can be stored in a DAW-independent format that can be transferred to a different DAW.

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.

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For additional information, contact:
Philip Weiss
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 23
Philip.Weiss@definitionbam.com

Sound Image Supports High-Energy Services At Mountain View Community Church With JBL VRX Constant Curvature Line Arrays

As part of an extensive renovation to the largest church in Ramona, California, Sound Image installed a JBL VRX Constant Curvature line array system in the Mountain View Community Church’s (MVCC) main chapel to support its highly attended Sunday services. With the new audio solution, MVCC not only upgraded its sound to a concert-like environment, but also now provides an extremely consistent sound level throughout the 600-person capacity space, despite challenging room acoustics.

Known for its upbeat musical services, entertaining a large and growing congregation, it was essential that MVCC provided sound that was evenly distributed throughout the venue, while also remaining at an appropriate decibel level for a house of worship. 

Hanging six JBL VRX932LA-1 Constant Curvature line array elements and two VRX918S powered subwoofers, with Crown XTi6000, I-Tech 8000 and XTi1000 amplifiers, Sound Image engineer Brandon Rinas addressed the acoustic problems plaguing the rectangle-shaped worship space with high ceilings and a glass back wall. After discussing the VRX system’s capabilities, MVCC decided to fully renovate the building supporting the intricate sound improvements.

“With the glass wall and other obstacles, we needed a system that would compliment the high-energy music, while offering a solemn worship setting when necessary,” Rinas said. “The VRX system provided a perfect solution for the sound and budget of the church. The Crown and JBL equipment works very well together and sounds great. It gives us even fill throughout the entire sanctuary.”

Consisting of four JBL AC25 full-range 2-way speakers and a Crown CDi 1000 amplifier, an additional delay system was installed to provide a consistent 96 dB level across the room. Rinas also moved the mixing/FOH area to the center of the room for superior mixing. “From front to back, we keep that 96 dB level, with only a .5 dB differential, at most,” Rinas continued.

For more information on Sound Image, please visit http://www.sound-image.com.

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.

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 For additional information, contact:

Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 x24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

Soundcraft Extends Digital Console Range with Si Compact 16 at NAMM

Positioned as the digital mixing solution for all sizes of sound company or user, the new Soundcraft Si Compact Series is a power-packed range of digital consoles that brings all the experience of Soundcraft’s digital mixing platforms to a very affordable price level for tour sound, corporate event, house of worship and theatre applications, amongst others.

At the NAMM show Keith Watson, Harman’s Marketing Director for Mixers said, “We’ve had a fantastic reaction to the 24 fader model launched at PLASA in September. Being 19” rack mounted, the 16 is our response to massive demand from our clients in live sound including Houses of Worship, installed systems, theatres and corporate events.”

With full DSP functionality built-in to a small-footprint chassis, the Si Compact range provides up to 40 inputs to mix in 3 frame sizes. Motorized faders with patented Soundcraft FaderGlow™ operate on two layers, but the main difference from similarly priced mixers is the provision of a full encoder set for all the functions on a channel, from input gain through EQ and dynamics to bus controls.

Drawing on its bigger brothers; Soundcraft’s acclaimed Si Series, the new Si Compact packs powerful digital mixing facilities along with stunning Lexicon® effects into a trio of small footprint consoles available in 16, 24 or 32 mic/line input formats, with 4 stereo returns.

And for once, compact doesn’t mean compromise. No layering of the audio controls makes operation fast and simple, and with 4 separate Lexicon FX processors with dedicated FX busses in addition to the main mixes, and BSS Graphic EQ for every bus, you’ll never find yourself wishing you had more processing power.

Speaking of the launch, Andy Trott, Harman’s Vice President and General Manager for Mixing, Microphones & Headphones said, “Whilst over the past two years we’ve expanded our digital range with high- and mid-range extensions to the Vista, OnAir, Vi and Si Series, we’ve been determined to drive our product portfolio down into the sub $10,000 price points. Our strategy has always been to integrate no-compromise audio quality together with innovative, feature-rich specifications and an easy-to-use-and-learn, highly intuitive user interface. Si Compact is the result of 18 months of extremely focused and creative development and is particularly exciting as it’s so unique; it brings together so many professional features and technologies from across Harman Professional brands into a highly specified but yet super compact mixing platform at an unbelievably low price point.” 

Legendary Soundcraft audio quality comes courtesy of EMMA Lite, the same DSP platform that has helped propel the larger Si Series to industry standard status and riders on events all around the world. Features like dedicated FX busses, 16 line outputs plus AES, an option card slot for MADI or other connectivity, a Global Mode for instant access to Pan, Gain and Filters, a colour touchscreen interface and FaderGlow™ equip Si Compact to easily handle a range of live sound mixing applications including bands, theatres and houses of worship.


Key Features:

• Frames with 16, 24 or 32 mono inputs and 4 stereo channels to mix
• 14 mono aux busses
• 4 FX busses
• 4 Matrix busses   
• LRC Mix busses
• 4 Stereo Lexicon Effects engines
• 4 Mute Groups
• 4 assignable insert send/returns (24 and 32 models)
• Harman HiQnet integration

Trott adds, “I’m confident that the user community will be delighted with the Si Compact and the wide choice we now provide with Soundcraft and Studer mixing consoles. We now have the widest price-range of digital consoles in our history – that’s got to be good for engineers and audio companies!”

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.

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For additional information, contact:
Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 x24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

JBL Professional To Present Line Array Workshop At Tour Link Conference

JBL Professional has announced support of and participation in the upcoming 2011 Tour Link Conference, being held at the Marriott in McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, AZ January 27-30.  Primary sponsors for the event include Prevost, Brown-United, AAA Communications, Shockwave Cargo and Entertainment Transport.

Three days of conference sessions, workshops and social events preceded by a golf tournament, Tour Link also includes the Top Dog Awards, a gala event to bestow awards for the “best of the best” in the touring community as voted by their peers each year. The numerous award categories include sound and lighting company of the year, best house and monitor engineers, best tour manager and more.

“Tour Link is a special event for everyone involved, and we’re very pleased to have JBL’s support,” offered Larry Smith, Publisher and Owner of Tour Guide Magazines (Anvil Productions, LLC), Mobile Production Monthly and executive producer of Tour Link. “It’s simply not possible to capture the community spirit at this event without being in attendance. The warmth and camaraderie is something that everyone who’s involved in the touring industry – and those interested in finding out more about how to get involved in it – should experience at least once.”

JBL will be sponsoring and presenting a workshop session at Tour Link on the impact of line array speaker systems on the concert touring industry. “At Tour Link I can always rely on meeting up with old friends and making some new ones while keeping up to date on new technology trends and business developments that affect all of us who work in the industry,” noted David Scheirman, responsible for Tour Sound at JBL Professional. “Anyone who works with entertainment events and wants a highly focused chance to network with their peers in this industry shouldn't miss it.”

Tour Link is open to persons working in the concert and special events industry, and many of the nation’s top-tier rental sound companies will be in attendance. A ‘road warrior’ discount is available for touring personnel.  Limited registration space is still available for interested attendees. To register for Tour Link 2011, go to:
http://tourlinkconference.com/register.php

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.

Crown Audio Bolsters Senior Management Team With New Leadership For Sales, Operations, General Management

In a series of appointments to improve its organization and its end-product, Crown Audio today announced decisive steps to reinforce its senior management team.  New leaders have been added as the company implements continual improvement initiatives in fundamental disciplines including sales, operations and general management.  John Fitzgerald, Vice President of Program Management at Harman Professional, will take the additional position of General Manager for Harman's Elkhart, IN based Amplifier Business Unit and will be responsible for all aspects of Crown Audio’s business.  John Batliner, Vice President of Sales for Harman’s High Performance Audio Video group, will assume additional responsibilities as Vice President of Sales for Crown Audio and Matt Bush, previously Director of Sales for Crown Audio is appointed Senior Director of Operations for Crown Audio.  According to Rob Urry, Vice President of Harman Professional’s Amplifier and Processing Business Unit, today’s appointments will position Crown Audio for consistent development and growth and will improve the quality, performance and innovation of the products.

“With John Fitzgerald, John Batliner and Matt Bush, Crown Audio is placing proven leaders in positions of critical importance to our development and also Harman Professional’s development.” Urry said today.  “Harman Professional is determined to strengthen its leadership position in professional-grade audio systems.  Providing the world’s best sounding, most reliable, most versatile amplifiers is central to our ambitions and is similarly important to our customers around the world. Our determination to grow is matched only by our commitment to improve and I am confident that these three leaders will back up that commitment".

As Vice President of Program Management for Harman International in Farmington Hills, MI, Fitzgerald developed and managed a portfolio of corporate programs to improve quality, streamline base cost, and integrate newly acquired companies.  As Director, Product Engineering, Fitzgerald held leadership responsibilities for product development activities for the North American and Far East regions of the OEM division of Harman International. Fitzgerald also has international experience as Director, Product Planning, Senior Manager Asian Operations based in Nagoya, Japan where he managed all Japan operations and developed the product planning process to establish long term product strategies for all Asian customers.   Prior to joining Harman, John Fitzgerald was Process/Quality Engineering Manager at TRW Automotive Electronics and before that Process Engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation.  John Fitzgerald holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maine and an MBA from the University of Illinois, Champaign.

John Batliner is a sales leader with extensive experience and success in the professional audio and custom home markets. This includes five years as Asia Pacific Sales Manager with Shure Incorporated followed by seven years as Vice President of International Sales at dbx in Salt Lake City.  He has been an influential and effective leader in Harman’s High Performance AV group since 1996 and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the group’s channel strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an MBA from Purdue University.

Matt Bush joined Crown Audio in October 2008 after establishing a world-class operations team at Harman's Sandy, UT Signal Processing Business Unit, and was the architect of HMG’s hybrid manufacturing and global supply chain strategies, directing all supply chain functions including a US manufacturing facility, off-shore manufacturing, customer service, and distribution centers in the US, Asia and Europe. He has also led group-wide programs in European logistics and key supplier negotiations, and has presented numerous times at Harman best-practice sessions. Matt is a Six-Sigma Greenbelt and coach, has completed Executive Programs in Supply Chain Management and Factory Physics at the Kellogg School of Management and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the University of Utah.

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.

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Hardwire® By DigiTech Expands Lineup With HT-6 Polyphonic Tuner

HardWire®, a leading manufacturer of guitar pedals, is introducing the new HT-6 Polyphonic Tuner at the 2011 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. The HT-6 is a tuner for guitarists and bassists that can be used to tune all 6 strings of an instrument simultaneously.  Based on technology from 3dB Research, the HT-6 makes tuning instruments faster and easier easy by simply strumming all strings and viewing the ‘string’ display readout as to which string is in or out of tune.

The HT-6 Polyphonic Tuner pedal interface is similar to chromatic tuning pedals but features standard effects pedal.  6-rows of LED lights, one for each string.  LED display matrix that represents the six strings of a guitar or bass.  Two buttons on the HT-6 Tuner’s top display panel are used for selecting display modes (Mode) and tuning references (Tuning).

The HT-6 also features individual guitar and bass LEDs to indicate whether guitar or bass display modes are being used.  The Custom LED will light when Drop D tuning reference is selected. There is a cluster of LEDs below the matrix that is used to display the note as individual strings are tuned. 

The HT-6 can also be used as a standard single string tuner. The HT-6 runs off of a 9VDC battery, or an optional external Harman PS200R DC power adapter.  The HT-6 can also power up to six other 9VDC powered pedals on your pedal board when used with an optional DC power adapter and a power chain cable.

“The already impressive lineup of HardWire pedals just got even better with the introduction of the HT-6 Polyphonic Tuner. The tuning capability of the HT-6 is a great addition to a tour-worthy package of the HardWire pedals,” stated Rob Urry, president, Harman Music Group.

Each HardWire pedal also features an assortment of tour-worthy accessories, including green gaffer tape common to pro pedalboards, and a precut hook and loop pad to mount the pedal to a pedalboard.

Hardwire® Introduces the SP-7 Stereo Phaser Effects Pedal for Guitarists

HardWire®, a leading manufacturer of guitar pedals, today introduced the SP-7 Stereo Phaser Effects Pedal.  The SP-7 is an advanced Phaser effects pedal offering seven Phaser types based on popular new and vintage effects pedals including 2 stage, 4 stage, modern, boutique, 10 stage, envelope, and dynamic.

Leveraging DSP originally developed for the DigiTech RP Series of products, the new pedal also features controls for speed, depth, modify, and phaser type, as well as an indicator LED and tap tempo switch for setting the phaser’s effects modulation speed time during a live performance.

The SP-7 also includes HardWire’s trademark extreme performance features like true bypass and high-voltage rails. It also features true stereo I/O, allowing for complex connections and sounds with extreme flexibility.

“We are committed to expanding the HardWire line of pedals to provide guitarists with the most comprehensive set of effects available anywhere. The SP-7 Stereo Phaser offers the ultimate combination of new and vintage phaser effects at lowest price,” stated Rob Urry, president, Harman Music Group.

Each HardWire pedal also features an assortment of tour-worthy accessories, including green gaffer tape common to pro pedalboards, Stomplock™ knob guards to maintain pedal settings and a hook and loop pad to fasten the pedal to a pedalboard.

The SP-7 will be available in February 2011 with an MSRP of $189.95.

DigiTech® Now Offers Free Switching System Kit With the Purchase of An RP1000 Multi-Effects Switching System

DigiTech today announced that effective immediately, purchasers of an RP1000
Multi-Effects Switching System will receive a free Switching System Kit. The kit includes cables to connect the RP1000’s dedicated amp loop, cables to create a stompbox loop and an easy-to-follow Quick Start Guide.

The DigiTech RP1000 is a versatile guitar multi-effects processor that offers more than 160 popular effects, amp and cabinet models, including overdrive, distortion, delay, flanger, chorus and many others. Its built-in expression pedal provides complete control of volume, wah and other parameters, and the RP1000 provides 100 factory and 100 user presets. The RP1000 offers a wealth of additional features including USB computer connectivity, Cubase LE4 music production software, a phrase looper, a built-in chromatic tuner and much more. The RP1000 is built to last, with all-metal construction designed to stand up to the rigors of the road.

The Switching System Kit adds even greater versatility to the RP1000’s already formidable capabilities. The four 15-foot, 1/4-inch cables enable the user to connect a dedicated amp loop, so players can connect to an external amplifier or preamp and use the tone from these components instead of the internal amplifiers of the RP1000.

The two 2-foot, 1/4-inch cables facilitate the use of a stompbox loop, which allows the player to patch in an external stomp box effects pedal to one of two different positions in the RP1000’s effects path.

The DigiTech RP1000 Switching System Kit comes packaged inside current RP1000 units. No separate purchase is required. The kit will be available at authorized DigiTech retailers and online sellers while supplies last.

Vocalist® by DigiTech Introduces Live 5 Vocal Harmony and Effects Processor

DigiTech®, a leading manufacturer of vocal processors, and a Harman International company (NYSE-HAR), has introduced the newest addition to the Vocalist® product line, the Live 5 processor. The Live 5 is designed to provide guitarists with the most intuitive, user-friendly, vocal effects and harmony processor available. The pedal will give artists the ability to effortlessly create full, natural sounding 5 part vocal harmonies.

The Live 5 combines studio-quality audio performance, state-of-the-art vocal processing, and an easy-to-use control interface to add up to four independent voices of harmony to a lead vocal to create a full five-part harmony.. The Live 5 has Gender Control that gives each harmonizing voice a masculine or feminine sound. Users can customize the natural sound of the harmonizing voices from loose to tight by adjusting the Humanize setting.

The new Vocalist Live 5 makes it easier than ever to set up and personalize multi-part vocal harmony by automatically following your vocals and chord progression using patented musIQ® technology.  MusIQ eliminates the need to pre-program the songs’ key or key changes to create accurate harmonies, making the Live 5 much easier to use.

The built-in chromatic pitch correction in the Live 5 has the most natural sound available on the market. There are different vocal effects available to help give the vocals a high-quality, professional-grade studio sound. These effects include preamp, compressor/gate, lead effects, harmony, reverb, level effects, and echo/delay. There are three different room settings for reverb and five separate delay settings for vocals. The Live 5 also has guitar effects, reverb, chorus and flange as well as 100 presets to save vocal effects and harmony setting, each with an A and B parts for quick, easy changes on-stage.

Music Legend Quincy Jones Partners With HARMAN, Unveils Signature Line Of AKG Headphones

HARMAN International Industries Incorporated (NYSE: HAR), today announced the arrival of the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG. The premium headphone collection represents a momentous partnership between AKG and one of the most accomplished musicians of the 20th century – Quincy Jones.

Musician, artist, humanitarian – Quincy Jones is an American icon. His productions, which include the best-selling album (Thriller) and single (“We Are the World”) of all time, have garnered him an unprecedented 79 GRAMMY® nominations and 27 GRAMMY awards, more than any other living artist. His list of notable achievements is unrivaled in the music industry. The list of legendary and contemporary artists with whom he has worked includes Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Michael Jackson, Ludacris, Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and Usher, among many others.

“Music is so much more than notes on a sheet of paper,” Jones said. “When it’s created with passion, with soul, we get something that is greater than ourselves – and it can move us deeply. Throughout my entire career, I have trusted only AKG to deliver the highest standard of sound – the same standard I hold myself to when I make my music.”

The Quincy Jones Signature Line includes three models: the Q701 reference-class premium over-ears, the Q460 high-performance portable on-ear mini headphones and the Q350 in-ear headphones that will boast distinctive AKG®-built quality and unrivaled audio engineering in an elegant, portable design, so music lovers everywhere can experience sound the way every artist intended for their music to be heard.

“Quincy Jones and AKG have shared a long-running passion for quality sound and the infinite power music has to connect people and touch lives,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, chairman, president and CEO, HARMAN International. “We have partnered to introduce products into the marketplace that shine a light on how important sound quality is when you’re experiencing music in all aspects of your life.”

A share of the proceeds from every set of headphones sold in the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG will go toward the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, a foundation dedicated to making music education an ongoing part of the lives of American children.

The Q701, Q460 and Q350 headphones are listed at prices ranging from $149.99 to $479.99. To experience the Quincy Jones Signature Line by AKG or for more specific product information, please visit http://www.akg.com/Quincy.

Winter NAMM Booth # 7800

For additional information, contact:

Seth Buchwalter
Definition Branding & Marketing
seth.buchwalter@definitionbam.com
212-660-2555 x 20

JBL Professional Debuts VERTEC Subcompact Suspension Accessories At Winter NAMM

At Winter NAMM, JBL Professional is introducing the latest suspension hardware accessories for its VERTEC® subcompact line arrays.  The VERTEC hardware enables quick assembly of variable curvature vertical or modular constant-curvature horizontal line arrays. In addition to the standard VT4886-AF array frame for suspending up to 24 boxes, along with the VT4886-UB and –UB1 for supporting smaller groups of speakers, the line of equipment now includes the VT4886-SF Short Frame, the VT4886-HB Horizontal Bar, and VT4886-DF88 and VT4886-DF89 Downfill Frames.

The VERTEC Subcompact System is specifically designed to be one of the most versatile tools in a portable sound rental company’s inventory. Application flexibility also ensures VT4886 and VT4883 elements provide effective sound design tools for performance audio facility system designers.

“Since its launch a year ago, the VT4886 has quickly become known as an all-purpose type of loudspeaker with many different uses, from single standalone fill speakers to complex, mixed full-range and subwoofer arrays,” said Paul Bauman, Director of Tour Sound Product and Application Engineering, JBL Professional. “The introduction of these new suspension accessories will complement this speaker’s flexibility by opening up a world of new application possibilities from a sound design perspective. In many ways, the accessories ‘make the product’ for a loudspeaker as versatile as the VT4886.”

The VT4886-SF Short Frame suspends VT4886 arrays by coupling to existing integrated hardware on the VERTEC enclosures, and works well when limited space is available above or behind the array due to wall surfaces or venue obstructions. Weighing just 5.6 kg (12.8 lb), the machined- aluminum frame with receiver blocks is fitted with steel quick-release pins and restraining lanyards. A pullback point enables attachment to the bottom of an array to enable radical downward angles. The VT4886-HB Horizontal Bar can suspend up to six horizontally-oriented VT4886 line array elements, enabling the assembly of constant-coverage arrays that are useful for center fill and other applications.

The VT4886-DF88 and VT4886-DF89 Downfill Frames each support up to eight VT4886 subcompact line array elements. The VT4886-DF88 connects the elements beneath midsize VT4888 full-range or VT4882 subwoofer arrays, while the VT4886-DF89 suspends the elements beneath full-size VT4889/VT4889-1 full-range or VT4880/VT4880A subwoofer arrays.  The two strong, lightweight downfill frames weigh in at 11.3 kg (25 lb) and 13.4 kg (29.5 lb), respectively.

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.

Winter NAMM Booth #7800

For additional information, contact:
Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

Crown Audio Enhances Class-Leading Value and Performance, With XTi 2 Series Amplifiers For Portable PA

Resetting the standards for portable sound amplification, Crown Audio today introduced the XTi 2 Series of amplifiers. Offering increased control, an enhanced feature set and a sleeker design, the XTi 2 Series amplifiers bring together features and performance never before available in an amplifier designed for portable PA applications. Providing a complete suite of integrated speaker processing, the new XTi amplifiers eliminate the need for external crossovers, limiters, and EQs, immediately saving rack space and money.

The XTi 2 features enhanced control with Crown’s revolutionary PeakX Plus™ limiters. The limiters are derived from the same framework as those found in I-Tech HD and the new XLS DriveCore Series amplifiers allowing users to manipulate threshold, attack and release times. A new and improved subharmonic synthesizer offers more accurate control over which frequencies are targeted and can be tailored for a specific system or room setup.

Offering increased amplifier functionality, users now have Advanced Thermal Control giving them the ability to tailor the fan performance to their specific application. XTi 2 also increases the amount of presets a user can save and recall from 20 to 30. Enhancing power management, a new status section on the amplifier allows for the monitoring of power supply temperature and AC line voltage making troubleshooting even easier

“Crown’s proven reputation in the portable sound market for building amplifiers that provide the highest level of value and performance is unparalled. The new XTi 2 series pushes the industry threshold and redefines the feature set that users can and should come to expect from portable PA amplifiers,” stated Andy Flint, Marketing Manager for Crown.

XTi 2 amplifiers are also fully compatible with HiQnet™ Band Manager™ software.  The free-of-charge application provides a sleek redesigned function-driven interface, which has been re-skinned to simplify system setup and management while enabling audio professionals, musicians, and engineers to configure and control a rack of Crown XTi and now XTi 2 series amplifiers. 

The amplifiers now feature integrated rack handles and an enhanced cast front panel that is more durable. The XTi 2 1002, 2002, and 4002 weigh 18.5lbs and the XTi6002 weighs in at 24lbs with MAP prices ranging from $499-$1999.

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across the Harman Pro Group and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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.

Winter NAMM Booth #7800

For additional information, contact:

Philip Weiss
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 23
Philip.weiss@definitionbam.com

AKG’s Perception iPad App Opens Product Line To Intricate, Interactive And Informative Demonstrations

Building on the success of AKG’s highly acclaimed Perception series, the Vienna, Austria-based company is introducing its first application exclusively for the Apple iPad, at Winter NAMM.  The AKG Perception iPad App is the ultimate guide for all musicians, producers and engineers interested in the technical prowess that is AKG Perception, which includes a full range of headphones and microphones for live stage and studio, as well as wireless microphone applications.

Fully integrated with Facebook and Twitter, the iPad application offers a comprehensive and interactive guide for musicians, performers and producers, answering all questions concerning the Perception line.  A visual tour through the entire line provides detailed descriptions and specifications, including a function to match the optimal audio equipment for any live sound or recording setting.

A thorough magazine-style database showcases the entire range of AKG Perception, with complete information on product descriptions, applications and accessories, with high-resolution photos.  A history of AKG and new and old products are available, ranging from the start of the company in 1947 to the present in 360-degree visuals. 

“AKG’s launch of the Perception iPad App goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to provide the most effective solutions to the ever-evolving demands of the industry,” stated Alfred Reinprecht, Marketing Manager, AKG.  “Perception continues to lead in recording and on-stage presence and we hope to offer our dedicated users an opportunity to understand the equipment and provide their own customers with an even greater audio experience.”

Users can copy and paste any section of the application to their Facebook or Twitter accounts or e-mail a section directly from the Perception app.  Video demonstrations featuring the Perception series in use on stage, in the studio and how to properly care for the line are all available via the application.

The AKG iPad Perception App is available at the Apple iTunes Store. For more information, please visit http://www.akg.com.

Winter NAMM Booth #7800

For additional information, contact:

Seth Buchwalter
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 x 20
seth.buchwalter@definitionbam.com

DigiTech Introduces Limited Edition Eternal Descent Lyra Multi-Effects Pedal

-- DigiTech and the Creators of the Popular Comic Book/Music Series Team Up to Bring the Sounds of Eternal Descent Main Character Lyra to Life --

Eternal Descent is a comic book and music series unlike any other – and so is the new Eternal Descent Lyra, a limited edition multi-effects pedal that brings the sound of the globally popular series to guitarists everywhere.

Eternal Descent is a cross-genre story that blends elements of fantasy, action, music, superhero, gothic, science fiction, supernatural and other elements into an ongoing saga featuring Lyra, the series’ heroine. Lyra is a rock singer who is quick-witted, beautiful, talented, has attitude to spare – and is immersed in a battle with demons both internal and awaiting her at every turn.

Music is integral to Eternal Descent. Created by writer Llexi Leon, the comics revolve around the exploits of Lyra and her band, Constellation Nine, and rock and metal bands like Static X, Atreyu, Firewind, Shadows Fall and others have made guest appearances. A series of albums have been released that bring the comic to life with music created specifically for the series.

Featuring the Eternal Descent logo, distinctive Lyra graphic and a dark metallic purple finish, the DigiTech Lyra delivers the signature tones, sounds and effects that legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss and others) and his team used to record the Eternal Descent albums. Seven preset tones, from clean to moderate overdrive to crushing distortion are available that match seven songs from the albums.

Each preset tone can be further modified by the Lyra’s Gain and FX Mix knobs. When the knobs are in the 12 o’clock position, the sound matches the sound of the actual song. Turning the Gain knob left or right increases or decreases the amount of amp/distortion gain, while turning the FX Mix knob left or right increases or decreases the amount of the modulation, delay and reverb effects for each of the seven presets. A Level knob controls the output volume. The pedal has mono and stereo outputs and can be powered by a 9V battery or the included AC power supply.

HardWire® Adds To Lineup With New TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary Extreme Performance Pedal

HardWire®, a leading manufacturer of guitar pedals, is introducing the new TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary Pedal at the 2011 Winter NAMM® Show in Anaheim, California. The TR-7 is a true stereo tremolo, rotary, and vibrato pedal, which offers effects ranging from traditional tremolo to a highly detailed rotary cabinet simulator. It also features true stereo I/O, allowing for complex connections and sounds with extreme flexibility.

The TR-7 features seven effects including; Tremolo, Opto-Tremolo, Bias Tremolo, Duo Tremolo, Rotary, Vibrato, and VibroPan. The TR-7 also includes HardWire’s standard extreme performance features like true bypass and high-voltage rails.

“We improved on an already impressive lineup of HardWire pedals with the introduction of the technologically superior tremolo and rotary pedal. The highly advanced processing in the TR-7 is an exciting addition to a tour-worthy package of the HardWire pedals,” stated Rob Urry, president, Harman Music Group.

Each HardWire pedal also features an assortment of tour-worthy accessories, including green gaffer tape common to pro pedalboards, Stomplock™ knob guards to maintain pedal settings and a hook & loop pad to fasten the pedal to a pedalboard.

DigiTech is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
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. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Lexicon® Showcases LXP Bundle That Combines Four Legendary Reverbs

Lexicon®, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), has again rocked the foundations of the audio industry with the LXP Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle. This powerful reverb bundle is a collection of Lexicon’s four most popular reverbs that are now available as efficient, multi-platform native software plug-ins. The LXP Bundle was specifically developed for project and professional recording engineers, as well as artists that want to envelope their mix with that magical “Lexicon sound” that delivers the clarity, depth and fullness that can only be created when recording in a major studio.

The LXP Native Reverb Bundle delivers four legendary Lexicon reverb plug-ins including Chamber, Hall, Plate, and Room with over 200 of the most versatile and finely-crafted studio presets from Lexicon’s immense library of sounds. These pristine algorithms represent Lexicon’s state-of-the-art technology and have been designed to create professional, inspirational mixes within popular DAWs like Pro Tools, Logic, and Cubase as well as with any other VST, Audio Unit, or RTAS compatible host.

Each plug-in can be run in mono, stereo or mono in/stereo out and the Input and Output Meters makes it easy to quickly verify signal levels at a glance. The striking user-interface is extremely intuitive and enables the user to easily access the most logical parameters for customization, but also provides the ability to transition deeper into the algorithm to edit a full matrix of parameters. Presets can be saved in a DAW independent format which makes it straightforward for a user to take their personalized presets with them to any studio. To help the user shape their individual sound, a multi-dimensional real-time display offers three different views to provide additional information into the reverb tail, frequency content, or impulse response.

Lexicon processors have become staples in the studio, on stage productions, as well as in every top post-production facility. Now the most trusted name in reverb has complemented the best hardware processors with the best software plug-ins available. The LXP Native Reverb Bundle offers four extraordinary reverb plug-ins that are sure to change the way you color your mix.

The LXP Native Reverb Bundle is ideal for those in professional and project studios looking for unsurpassed quality. It is a fully functional cross-platform plug-in that is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and 7 along with MAC OSX 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, Power PC and Intel based. The Bundle is Native only, and requires iLok authorization.

The Lexicon LXP Native Reverb Bundle feature set includes:
• Four legendary Lexicon reverb plug-ins
• Over 200 brilliantly-crafted studio presets
• Multi-platform compatibility (Windows XP, Vista, and 7; Mac OSX 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, PowerPC and Intel)
• Formats that work seamlessly in any VST, Audio Unit or RTAS compatible DAW
• Graphical real-time display illustrating the frequency stages of each algorithm
• Presets can be stored in a DAW-independent format and easily transferred to a different DAW
• Full parameter control and automation 
• Input and output meters for quick assessment of audio levels
• iLok authorized

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.

JBL Professional Introduces Its Best EON Loudspeaker Ever At NAMM 2011: The New EON515XT

JBL Professional today introduced its EON515XT active loudspeaker. As the flagship of the iconic JBL powered portable speaker collection, the EON515XT was engineered for durability, high performance and ease of use. JBL has extended the reach of the current EON technology by improving input sensitivity, lowering the noise floor, adding user selectable EQ control and re-voicing the system for peak performance and enhanced audio precision.

“In the development of our PRX600 Series we’ve learned and implemented quite a few things that enhanced system performance,” said Richard Ruse, JBL Director of Marketing for Portable PA. “We knew we could do the same for the EON515XT and quite frankly, we couldn’t wait to do it. Through amplifier optimization and restructuring of the gain stages, we’ve increased the maximum SPL from 129 dB to 132 dB. We’ve made the system quieter when idling and re-voiced the system for a more even spectral balance. I think it’s the most musical EON we have ever built.”

The 2-way EON515XT incorporates a JBL 2414H high-frequency neodymium compression driver and a 15-inch JBL 265F-1 Differential Drive® dual-voice-coil woofer perfectly matched to a proprietary Crown® Class D amplifier. The system has been re-voiced from previous models for better clarity and frequency balance and now delivers a stout 132dB maximum SPL. “We’ve raised the bar dramatically,” noted Ruse.

The input sensitivity has been increased by 10dB to accommodate keyboards, musical instruments, drum machines and lower output sound reinforcement and DJ mixers. The EON15XT now offers user-adjustable EQ with individual bass and treble controls and a simplified 3-channel mixer configuration—an especially beneficial live performance feature that allows users to plug in multiple instruments and microphones.

Built to take the rigors of the road, the JBL EON515XT has been restyled for discretion with a tough, molded black enclosure, black metal grille, black JBL badge, and charcoal EON grille logo. The EON515XT can be pole-mounted on a subwoofer or tripod stand using its 36 mm pole-mount socket, used in a floor monitor position or flown using its integrated M10 suspension points. It offers two 1/4-inch TRS inputs, one combination XLR/TRS input and an XLR loop-through output for connecting another EON speaker, recording device or for routing to an external devices. Weighing just 32.5 pounds, the EON515XT features multiple grip points designed for comfort, safety and balance.

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.

Winter NAMM Booth #7800

For additional information, contact:
Travis McGee
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 ext. 24
Travis.mcgee@definitionbam.com

Crown Redefines Category Performance and Price With Groundbreaking XLS Series Amplifiers

Redefining the category of affordable and high-quality power amplifiers, Crown is showcasing the next generation line of XLS Series amplifiers, The line – consisting of four models and offering an unprecedented level of performance and configuration flexibility ushers in a new era of power amplification at the entry level.

The XLS series amplifiers implement a flexible PureBand™ Crossover System.  A user can select crossover points from 50 Hz to 3 kHz, allowing for precise matching of specified crossover points on most bi-amplified loud speakers. Increased Control is also highlighted by the three selectable channel modes and clip limiters designed to protect loudspeakers that can be turned on and off by channel.

PeakX™ limiters allow higher output levels than conventional analog limiting while providing assured driver protection, and deploy algorithms derived from the extensive research and development of the OmniDrive HD loudspeaker processing in Crown’s flagship I-Tech HD Series.

In another major advance, the XLS series amplifiers feature Integrated DriveCore™ Technology Regardless of AC Line sag or distortion due to other equipment such as backline or lighting gear, the user will consistently have the highest level of performance as though there is a power conditioner built directly into the amplifier.  It also provides fast recovery on peaks, accurate reproduction of low-level detail, and precise tracking of low-frequencies at high power levels for maximum subwoofer output.

Further simplifying ease of use, an intuitive front panel work surface with LCD display provides fast and easy menu-based system setup and full amplifier diagnostics.

“We designed the XLS series amplifier from the ground-up to be a category-defining amplifier.  We are bringing features and technology to a price point that no one else is close to offering.  We set out to provide users with an amplifier that would reset the standard for power, performance, flexibility and value. Quite simply, this amplifier is a game changer,” stated Andy Flint, marketing manager for Crown.

The XLS Series amplifiers are housed in a premium industrial design chassis, featuring a cast front panel for durability.  They also feature integrated rack handles and weigh under 11lbs making the XLS Series the ultimate portable amplifier.

XLS Series amplifiers conform to Harman Professional’s Green Edge™ environmental initiative. Crown’s advanced circuit components use fewer resources in manufacturing, but have also contributed to significant weight reduction in the amplifiers that result in less energy consumption.  The XLS amplifier’s high operating efficiency translates into greater efficiency for each watt of output and a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

Winter NAMM Booth #7800

For additional information, contact:

Philip Weiss 
Definition Branding & Marketing
(212) 660-2555 Ext. 23
Philip.weiss@definitionbam.com

AKG Couples Convenience, Performance And Value With Drumset GROOVE PACK

Combining the dynamic sound quality of the popular P2 and P4 Microphones with a rugged P 17 Condenser microphone, three mounting clamps and two stand adapters, AKG’s comprehensive Drumset GROOVE PACK offers drummers and percussionists an all-inclusive solution for live and recorded sound. The Drumset GROOVE PACK comes in an all-metal carrying case with six total microphones for bass, drum and overhead positioning.

The two overhead P 17 condenser cardiod microphones with the Drumset GROOVE PACK offer a level of precision that is normally found in a higher cost, small-diaphragm condenser. With an all-metal construction and a switchable 20 dB attenuation pad, the P 17 is a ½ - inch small diaphragm instrumental microphone, perfectly suited for overhead positioning.

“The Drumset GROOVE PACK offers percussionists the most comprehensive set of extremely rugged, highly versatile microphones,” said Thomas Umbauer, Product Manager for the Drumset GROOVE PACK. “They are the perfect solution for any drummer or percussionist looking for powerful, dynamic sound quality.”

Also included in the package are the P2 bass and P4 drum microphones from AKG’s Perception Live series. The P2 is a dynamic mic designed to provide low-frequency instruments with a powerful sound and a wide, dynamic range, while the P4 is designed to handle the highest sound pressure levels with a response specifically tailored for neutral reproduction of instrument sounds. Both of the mics come with a rugged, all-metal body to withstand the typical tough stage use, an intergraded stand adapter and external bracket, and a hum compensation coil that rejects EMC noises.

In addition to the microphones, the Drumset GROOVE PACK includes three H440 mounting clamps and two SA60 stand adapters, packaged together in a highly resistant metal carrying case.

“GROOVE PACK his new package unites some of the most high-performing AKG microphones in a versatile, affordable group,” continued Umbauer.  “AKG is proud to showcase this technology at the NAMM show.”

Winter NAMM Booth # 7800

For additional information, contact:

Seth Buchwalter
Definition Branding & Marketing
seth.buchwalter@definitionbam.com
212-660-2555 x 20

DigiTech Introduces Its First-Ever Guitar and Bass Amplifiers at NAMM 2011

Expanding into an entirely new product category, DigiTech today announced the introduction of its first-ever guitar and bass amplifiers at NAMM 2011. Combining renowned DigiTech sound quality and tonal flexibility with outstanding value, the new DigiTech amplifier lineup includes five combo guitar amps, a combo bass amp and a 150-Watt tube head with 4 x 12 cabinet half-stack.

The DigiTech amplifier line includes the following:

•    TH-150 150 Watt all tube head and 4 x 12-inch speaker cabinet (MAP: head, $2399.95; cabinet, $599.95)

•    Classic-15GR 15 Watt, 2-channel combo guitar amp with reverb (8-inch speaker, MAP: $99.95)

•    Classic-15G 15 Watt, 2-channel combo guitar amp (8-inch speaker, MAP: $79.95)

•    Classic-15B 15 Watt combo bass amp (8-inch speaker, MAP: $79.95)

•    Fusion 30XD 30 Watt, modeling combo guitar amp (12-inch speaker, MAP: $199.95)

•    Fusion 75XD 75 Watt, modeling combo guitar amp (12-inch speaker, MAP: $299.95)

•    Fusion 150XD 150 Watt, stereo modeling combo guitar amp (two 12-inch speakers, MAP: $499.95)

“In creating our DigiTech amplifiers, we knew we had to offer something more than a ‘me too’ product line in a market already filled with amps,” stated, Rob Urry, President, Harman Music Group. “DigiTech has the unique advantage of decades of experience in creating many of the world’s most recognizable sounds, effects pedals and products, and we put all of that expertise into designing a full line of amplifiers that provide an exceptional range of tones.”

The TH-150 2-channel amp head is an all-out rock powerhouse that can deliver everything from warm clean tones to tight rhythm crunch and singing high-gain leads. Featuring an all tube prepamp and power amp section using five ECC33S’s tubes for the preamp and four KT88’s for the power amp, the TH-150 features switchable Normal and Overdrive preamp volume, Normal and Overdrive master volume, and Bass, Middle, Treble and Presence controls. The rear panel offers an effects loop, dual speaker outputs, a line output and a jack for the
channel-select footswitch.

The matching 4 x 12 cabinet features four 12-inch specially voiced Selenium® speakers to deliver maximum projection and punch with 400-watts power handling capability. The all-wood reinforced cabinet has a metal check mesh speaker grill, metal corners, recessed handles and removable casters.

The DigiTech Fusion 150XD Stereo, Fusion 75XD and Fusion 30XD combo amplifiers incorporate the company’s industry-standard modeling technology and effects including overdrive, distortion, reverb, delay, chorus and other mod-effects, Ideal for any musical style, the Fusion 150XD Stereo and 75XD offer 24 amp models, 37 total effects, a built-in 30-second looper and 20 presets (100 with optional Control 2 foot controller), while the Fusion 30XD includes 12 amp models, 12 effects and five presets (100 with optional Control 2 foot controller). All Fusion models feature a built-in chromatic tuner, an MP3/Aux input and a 1/4-inch headphones jack.  The 75XD and 150XD also add a USB port that lets users connect to a computer and edit the amp’s presets.

DigiTech’s Classic-15GR, 15G and 15B combo amps offer an outstanding combination of light weight, easy portability and superb sound, from rich clean tones to roaring distortion and everything in between. The Classic-15GR and 15G include Gain, Volume, Treble, Middle and Bass controls and a Clean/Overdrive switch, and the Classic-15B bass amp offers Volume, Treble, Middle and Bass, making it easy for players to create their favorite sounds. The Clssic-15GR also features a Spring Reverb that adds lush, ambient reverb. All Classic models also feature a 1/4” stereo headphones output for private listening.

The DigiTech guitar and bass amplifiers will begin shipping in Spring 2011.

Lexicon® PCM Hardware Now Supported In Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ Version 2.3

Lexicon Pro today announced that its PCM Hardware processors are now supported in Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ 2.3.  The new version optimizes Lexicon’s hardware and provides more enhanced control and functionality to live sound and studio users.

The new version of System Architect allows for more seamless control through real-time input and output meters, control of all parameters and the ability to change machine configurations, clock rates, and audio source.  PCM hardware users can now also store and recall device files, create custom control panels and transfer presets.

The Lexicon PCM92, PCM96 and PCM96 Surround reverb/effects processors are designed to provide the ultimate in performance and flexibility. They offer industry-leading features including hundreds of factory presets that deliver classic Lexicon audio quality as well as extensive digital and analog connection options.

HiQnet System Architect version 2.3 includes an improved Custom Panel Designer and as a result, makes it easier for integration professionals to create customized control interfaces that reflect system functionality and usage requirements in system setup and operation.  Improvements to the underlying design engine mean that System Architect version 2.3 doesn’t just look better – it’s also faster.  Performance for meter controls is also improved so panel designers have greater versatility to monitor larger numbers of devices simultaneously.

HiQnet System Architect version 2.3 can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.hiqnet.harmanpro.com.

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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.