HARMAN International: August 2012

Benedum Center for the Performing Arts Upgrades to Digital with HARMAN Studer Vista 5 Console

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — The Benedum Center, a project of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and a renowned performing arts venue in the heart of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's cultural district, recently added a HARMAN Studer Vista 5 digital audio mixing console with 42 faders to support a variety of theatrical productions and live music performances. The console was purchased through New York-based Sound Associates (www.soundassociates.com).

Chris Evans, House Sound Engineer for the Benedum Center, first saw the Vista series of consoles at the AES Convention in San Francisco in 2010. Evans, who has been with the Center since its renovation and re-branding in 1987, ultimately chose the Vista 5 because he believed no other board felt closest to analog.

“The relationship I have with HARMAN also helped,” Evans said. “After a valuable discussion with Studer, who were very helpful in navigating the system, it felt like the right choice."

During the summer, the Benedum Center hosts at least one performance per day—a very busy schedule with little time to adjust to a new console. “The Vista 5 was easy to install and is even easier to use. More importantly, it sounds great,” Evans noted. “The transition to the Vista 5 has been seamless and it’s given me greater flexibility with far less hassle than our previous analog board.”

With a variety of performances and acts hosted by the Center including Blue Man Group, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line and more (including a recent performance by The Beach Boys), the ability to move audio around the building is something that Evans relies on constantly. "I can patch something downstage right to FOH and go through the system without having to touch the console,” Evans stated. “It can operate as a mixing console and routing matrix. The Vistonics™ surface is so easy to navigate. I also use all the built-in features, from compressors to EQ to delay."

Evans also noted the console’s Snapshot function as a key asset during live events. "I've done a number of shows where there are two or three different bands, so I am able to save a snapshot of each band’s settings and be ready to go with my input list,” he said. “It's always set up as either I or the touring engineer left it."

During the Center's own theater and opera productions, the Vista 5’s cue list has been another great asset for Evans. “It's easy to program and I use it extensively,” Evans noted. “We included two racks of 48 channels of DSP which I can put anywhere with additional fibers if needed. This is a real flexible solution for what we are doing."

Since the purchase of the Vista 5, everyone at the Benedum Center has been pleased with the console. "Studer's support is on a whole other level, it's easy for me to do my work and count on the performance of their products," Evans concluded. "The value of the Vista 5 was apparent immediately and the whole team here adapted to it right away.”

For more information on the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, please visit www.trustarts.org

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 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

Scouting for Victory with HARMAN’s JBL VTX Line Arrays

Victory Tour Production deployed a massive
JBL VTX line array system for Jamboree Denmark 2012.

NORTHRIDGE, California – Billed as the largest scout and guide event ever held in Denmark, more than 37,000 gathered in a field just outside the city of Holstebro in northwest Jutland recently for the first-ever Jamboree Denmark 2012. Premier rental company Victory Tour Production took the opportunity to evaluate HARMAN’S newly-released JBL VTX line array system over the 8-day festival, which was organized by the five internationally-recognized guide and scout associations in Denmark. Looking to upgrade its inventory, Victory Tour Production hired a large system from AED Rent.

The company had first worked with VTX several months earlier at a 1-day festival called Herning Rocker at Teglparken Stadion, Herning. Victory’s Jesper Sørensen confirmed that the company was eager to put it to the test again. “When it came to the Jamboree we wanted a system that could be used to cover the entire venue with the same boxes,” he said. “We wanted it to be easy to run over minimum distances of 100 meters with a single CAT5 cable to feed input and processing—and without needing to install subs at delay positions. That was the main challenge and the VTX was extremely good at that, providing nice low-end coverage across the entire coverage area.”

In total the company installed 84 V25 fullsize line array elements and 24 S28 arrayable subwoofers. The V25’s were configured in two hangs of 12 per side, with 12 S28 subs per side configured as a cardioid array for improved rear rejection. In addition, there were six delay towers with 12 V25’s per position for the first delay ring and a further three masts with eight V25 elements for the second delay ring.

According to Jakup Andrias Knudsen, LydRommet Denmark’s Pro Audio Sales & Technical Support Specialist who provided system engineering support for the event, all delay towers were run with the X preset and the main system had a crossover at 80 Hz. “We tried different sub configurations until we found the one that worked best,” he said. “Since the opening and closing ceremonies were broadcast live, there was a major concern as to how much onstage spillage would occur and we found that the S28 works extremely well in cardioid mode, offering very good front-to-rear rejection.”

To get the best performance possible out of the VTX line arrays, the entire system was powered and processed using Crown I-Tech HD amps—with 42 I-Tech 4x3500HD amplifiers powering the V25’s and 24 I-Tech 12000 HD amps running the subs. JBL HiQnet Performance Manager™ was used for system optimization and was highly effective in controlling the massive setup. “Thanks to Performance Manager I only needed to confirm the system response using Smaart V7,” Knudsen said. “After some sub alignment, delay time measurements and overall response testing, we were ready to run.”

Environmental impact on surrounding neighborhoods was also an important concern for the event, according to Knudsen. “We were not specifically asked to steer the sound away, since local residents had been warned of the event 18 months in advance. However, we made some last-minute changes to the outer delay hangs to minimize spillage and ended up with an 18dB drop in SPL at the perimeter, which kept everyone happy.”

The VTX system successfully demonstrated its versatility while handling many different types of program material over the eight days—with the opening and closing ceremony including speech, video feeds and live music, and daily performances from DJ’s and live bands. Outstanding performance of the new D2 compression driver, in particular, showed just how revolutionary VTX is and Jesper Sørensen stated that the D2 technology had made quite an impact. “The D2 dual drivers are extremely powerful and provide a new means of listening to high frequencies. Some of the visiting engineers came with mixer setups and immediately noticed a difference in the high frequencies, discovering that they needed to mix in a new way to get the best out of VTX. All of them confirmed that the experience with the new JBL system was an excellent one.”

HARMAN’s Soundcraft® Vi1 Provides Kzionska With Versatility

MAINZ, Germany — Many years ago German musician Maurice Kzionska found his love for music expanding into love for good sound. So he migrated to sound engineering—firstly in a small club nearly two decades ago but more recently as an in-demand freelance and house engineer at Theatre of Rüsselsheim, near Mainz. To support his increasing workload he has invested in a new HARMAN Soundcraft Vi1 digital console, supplied by Cologne-based Toneheads, after being introduced to them by Jörg ter Veer of HARMAN’s German distributor Audio Pro Heilbronn.

Maurice Kzionska, who also runs his own well-equipped post-production studio (under the name Moties), was clear about what he wanted, since a year ago he purchased a Riedel RockNet system for his portable rig—and the new sound desk needed to be compatible.

Having explored which RockNet-supporting digital desks local rental companies were favouring, he narrowed his choice further. “The brand I already knew well was Soundcraft,” he said. “I worked with the Si Compact for two weeks and loved both the sound and the handling. So when I attended the Prolight+Sound Show in Frankfurt, Jörg showed me the Vi1 and I was immediately enthusiastic about the features.”

The purchasing decision was taken after carefully evaluating the desk and its facilities.

Kzionska’s first experience was at the Theatre of Rüsselsheim which was operating in cinema mode, with two different types of PA (one for speech, one for cinema sound). This required a number of sends and returns, picking up signals from the video players and sending to the amps on stage as well as to the video crew for pre-listening to the signals. There were also three wireless microphones on stage for a Q/A session. “I was very happy with the routing features of the desk—without it the show would have crashed,” he stated. “I was using many analogue inputs and two RockNet stageboxes at different locations—but what really impressed me was the quality of the limiters.”

Add to this the perfect channel EQ’s and preamps, sensible desk ergonomics, easy learning curve and compact footprint, and he knew he had made the right decision.

But the Vi1 also needed to prove its flexibility in other modes. Apart from a wide and versatile programme in the theatre—including classic theatre, musicals, dance shows, comedy, and jazz—it has also been on duty at open air events such as the Phono Pop Festival. “I have been using 30 channels at the open air shows and around 20 in house,” he continued. “But we bought the console just before the theatre’s summer break; it will really come into its own at the start of the new season.”

For Maurice Kzionska this is the latest leg of a long journey with Soundcraft technology, which has included the Delta, Series 2, K2, K3, MH2, Sapphyre, and several others. Thus he is entirely comfortable with the Soundcraft architecture, and looks forward to a further upgrade path which will also enable him to multi-track his shows. “I knew we needed a high quality console and the Vi1 is certainly delivering,” he concluded.

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Video Equipment Rentals Continues to Deliver World-Class Audio With Purchase of HARMAN’s JBL VTX Series Line Arrays

NORTHRIDGE, California – VER (Video Equipment Rentals), one of the largest AV/audio/broadcast equipment rental companies providing AV/tour solutions, recently added HARMAN’S JBL VTX Series line arrays to its world-class inventory of products for the rental, staging and broadcast industries. The purchase of VTX line arrays builds on VER’s existing inventory of JBL VERTEC® line array systems.

VER is one of the world’s leading “dry-hire” equipment rental providers, with more than 25 locations across the United States, Canada and Europe. “VER began in 2000, specializing in video rentals for the broadcast industry and corporate AV applications,” said Joe Casanova, National Audio Sales/Product Manager for VER (East). “Around 2002, we discovered there was a huge opportunity to supply audio equipment as well, so from that point on we have been a complete gear resource for all facets of production.”

VER’s purchase of JBL VTX line array loudspeakers includes 96 of the flagship V25 loudspeaker and 64 S28 subwoofers, along with 32 Crown Audio VRack complete amplification systems.

“We bought our first VERTEC system in 2005, with VT4888 and VT4889 loudspeakers and VT4880 subwoofers, so this was a natural migration to VTX,” Casanova said. “We’re a client-driven company, so our initial decision to purchase VERTEC was a result of the demands of our clients. We’re already seeing a similar demand for VTX.”

Casanova first heard the VTX system at the HARMAN Business and Technology Conference in January 2012, where he listened to a shootout between VTX and some competitive loudspeaker models. “We really liked the way the VTX system sounded and knew we needed to add VTX to our inventory when they became available,” Casanova said.

“It makes sense that VTX sounds so good because Paul Bauman [Senior Manager, Tour Sound for JBL Professional] was the brainchild behind this product, and his work with the VERTEC V5 DSP tunings marked such a dramatic improvement to the VERTEC sound that we knew he was onto something good with VTX,” said Brady Belavek, National Audio Sales/Product Manager for VER (West).

“Really, between VTX and the V5 tunings for our VERTEC system, it’s almost like we have two new PA systems!” Casanova added.

“It has great high end and the design is terrific,” Belavek said. “When you consider the power behind the speakers and the smoothness of the new D2 drivers, we expect VTX to be on the majority of riders of the biggest touring acts in the world.”

“We have worked really closely with Paul and [Field Engineer, JBL Professional] Raul Gonzalez in purchasing this system, and they have been tremendous in getting us what we need and making sure our product worked well out of the gate,” Casanova said.

“Our VTX products have been in use every day since we purchased them, so it’s staying extremely busy and being used constantly,” Casanova noted. “We have had a lot of success with it right off the bat.”

For more information on Video Equipment Rentals, please visit www.verrents.com

Edens Edge Tours The U.S. With Rascal Flatts and HARMAN’s AKG C520 L Head-worn Microphones

VIENNA, Austria – With deep country roots, all connected through similar upbringings in Arkansas, Edens Edge is an up-and-coming modern country trio currently touring as the opening act on the Farmers Insurance “Changed Tour,” headlined by Rascal Flatts. With an active set, intricate instrumental backings and an extremely high energy level, Edens Edge relies on HARMAN’s AKG C520 L head-worn microphone for quality, clear and reliable sound.

Known for its acoustic sounds, the trio recently added a complete band to its set for larger, more in-depth performances. FOH Engineer and Production Manager Todd Wines began the search for a lavalier microphone that would minimize the potential for sound bleeding during performances due to the band expansion. The trio’s previous headset mics were not capable of adapting to the increased stage volume, especially with the cymbals and snare drum, nor did they provide the quality Wines desired.

Wines approached AKG for a solution and was introduced to the C520 L. With an external shock mount for high mechanical noise rejection, miniature gooseneck for precise vocal positioning and the ability for left or right side address, the C520 L provided the ideal solution for Wines and Edens Edge.

“The AKG C520 L has improved the band’s performance on multiple levels,” stated Wines. “Sonically, the vocals are much clearer, even with the increase of instruments and stage noise on tour. We can play anywhere from a small theater with a compact stage, to a large stadium and the background pickup is minimal at all levels. There is also less work required to achieve their sound through the mics; less work to overcome any technical issues that arise as well.”

The band finds the C520 L to provide much more comfort than its previous head-worn mics. “Hannah [Blaylock], Cherrill [Green] and Dean [Berner] put on a great, very active show,” continued Wines. “The durability of the AKG mic combined with the comfort aspect helps the performers concentrate on the music, rather than worrying about the possibility of a technical issue.”

Edens Edge self-titled debut album was released on June 12, 2012. The band’s tour schedule can be viewed at http://www.edensedge.com.

For more information about AKG, please visit http://www.akg.com and http://www.youtube.com/AKGacoustics.

HARMAN’s Soundcraft Launches Si Performer Digital Console Range, The Only Audio Console With Integrated DMX

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom — It takes something completely different to make a digital audio console stand out from the crowd these days, but Harman’s Soundcraft has done exactly that with the launch of the Soundcraft^® Si Performer range of mixers, which, thanks to the integrated DMX functionality, adds lighting control options to an already impressive and powerful audio feature set.

The Si Performer builds upon the successful Si Compact range to which it bears a likeness, providing almost twice as much DSP power and increased functionality, with an input capacity of 80 inputs to mix on all models. The built-in I/O does not disappoint: Si Performer 2 with 24 mic and eight line inputs, and the Si Performer 3 with 32 mic and eight line inputs, plus the four FX return channels. The provision of two option card slots allows I/O expansion via any of the Soundcraft stageboxes and option cards from the Soundcraft^® ViSi Connect range, giving the possibility of patching up to 80 inputs to mix, or from CobraNet, AVIOM or AES inputs via the appropriate cards.

The unique integration of a DMX512 port offers core lighting control. The first release of software provides four scene masters (A-D) with associated slave channels on the ALT fader layers, individual colour intensities or parameters are set on the slave faders with an overall master level fader, which itself may be assigned to any of the main fader layers for simultaneous access to audio and lighting levels. To automate the process, DMX settings may be stored alongside audio settings in the snapshot system, so both may be recalled automatically by a single button press or via an external MIDI command. With selective isolation, snapshots with just audio or lighting parameter changes may be recalled.

A feature-packed audio console with fully-parametric 4-band EQ as standard on all input channels, and as usual on Soundcraft’s digital range, BSS graphic EQs on all bus outputs. This is in addition to the already standard filters, gates, compressors and delays on all inputs, compressors and delays on all outputs, which when calculated delivers the equivalent of over 220 rack units of processing in a tiny footprint. Unlike many other digital consoles at this price point, all this processing is fully available all of the time, there are no compromises on the amount of DSP in use.

Fourteen mixes may be configured in various combinations of mono and stereo to a total of 20 mix busses; great for mixing in-ears and wedges in a monitor situation. These busses are supplemented by four stereo matrix mixes, four dedicated FX busses, and three master Mix busses which offer true LCR mode mixing make the buss structure immensely powerful.

Users will be delighted by the addition of eight VCA Groups and eight mute groups, which now start to show the absolute power of this new console from the Soundcraft stable.

Each channel features a custom LCD screen to show identifications such as channel name, assignments, graphic EQ frequencies and DMX data, plus signal metering.

The Si Performer will be controllable from the Soundcraft ViSi Remote iPad^® app along with the Soundcraft Vi Series, Vi1 and Si Compact consoles.

App Store, Apple, iPad, iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc.

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Studio Berar Relies on HARMAN’s JBL Professional VERTEC® Line Arrays and Soundcraft Digital Mixing Consoles For 13th EXIT Festival in Serbia

NOVI SAD, Serbia – Serbian pro audio distributor, Studio Berar, has maintained its long-standing relationship with the EXIT Festival in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia, equipping the three leading stages again this year with premium equipment from HARMAN’s JBL and Soundcraft brands. The 13^th edition of the EXIT Festival saw around 100,000 people attending over four days from July 12-15. In total there were 20 stages with over 500 bands appearing, and 1,600 volunteers from 60 countries making the whole event tick.

Studio Berar had an all-star lineup to support, including Guns n’ Roses, Duran Duran, New Order, Eryka Badu and Plan B on the Main Stage, with Avicii, Luciano, Richie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier gracing the Dance Arena and The Toy Dolls, Eyesburn, Zemlja Gruva, Elektricni Orgazam on the third, Fusion Stage. All were under Studio Berar’s charge.

The principal stage was fitted out with 32 elements of JBL VERTEC® VT4889ADP-DA powered fullsize line array elements, with 40 VERTEC VT4880 fullsize arrayable subwoofers, and 12 VT48888ADP-DA midsize powered line array elements providing delay reinforcement. In addition, Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing consoles were deployed to perform both FOH and monitor duties for the visiting engineers who were assisted by Studio Berar’s technical personnel. The desks were again equipped with optical MADI link for recording purposes.

In the Dance Arena, Studio Berar fielded 24 VT4889ADP-DA elements, with 10 VT4888ADP providing outfills on each flank, and 20 VT4880 subwoofers providing the LF extension. A further four JBL VRX932LA Constant Curvature loudspeakers added infill where necessary, with Crown I-Tech and Macro-Tech amps assigned to the passive elements of the system. Mixing duties were performed on a Soundcraft Vi1—an addition to Studio Berar’s inventory since last year—and Soundcraft’s classic analog MH2 console.

Finally, Studio Berar dipped further into its VERTEC inventory to equip the Fusion Stage with 24 VERTEC VT4888ADP, and eight VT4880 subwoofers per side. Another vintage Soundcraft console, the 48-channel Series FIVE, gave sound engineers a first-class analog experience at front-of-house while a Soundcraft Si3 was provided for monitors.

Held again at the picturesque Petrovaradin Fortress location on the River Danube, Studio Berar’s marketing manager Lazar Josanov explained that although the fundamental coverage requirement was similar to previous years, this year the delivery took a great leap forward. “As we are constantly looking to improve each segment of our business, we recently reinforced and upgraded our JBL VERTEC line array system with Crown DPDA processing modules for VERTEC V5 settings, so now it’s a fully active sound reinforcement system,” he said.

The company tested the V5 settings on several events prior to EXIT, so that by the time it arrived at Petrovaradin Fortress, Lazar reported, “Everybody was thrilled with the quality and strength of the sound.”

Momcilo and Emil Berar again project-managed the event for Studio Berar, leading a team that included Aleksandar Pejin, the main sound engineer at the Dance Arena stage, with Ivan Paplacko and Zoran Matic taking care of Main Stage and Fusion Stage respectively.

HARMAN’s JBL Professional Goes Universal in Sri Lanka

NORTHRIDGE, California – The island of Sri Lanka is probably one of the last places one would expect to find global stars as diverse as Billy Ocean and Olivia Newton John performing—and local production company, Universal Sound fielding a top-spec HARMAN’s JBL VERTEC® line array system.

But that’s precisely what Malinda Lowe’s company has been doing since setting up in 2009. The company recently rigged a JBL VERTEC line array system at the 5,000-capacity Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Center for R&B singer Ocean’s sold-out show, and later supported two sell-out concerts by the UK/Australian songstress (and Grease star) Olivia Newton-John at the 1,800-capacity Musaeus Auditorium in Colombo.

With a large inventory of JBL VERTEC, VRX and SRX components (powered by a combination of Crown Macro-Tech MA12000i, MA90001 and MA5000i), Lowe’s company is perfectly positioned to handle the sound production for all ABC Radio Network’s international concert promotions (including Billy Ocean) as well as Wizard Entertainment, who promoted Olivia Newton-John.

A HARMAN Professional customer since setting up the company in 2009, Malinda Lowe is used to meeting production companies’ demands based on venue dimensions. “With Billy Ocean they wanted a minimum of six VT4888 each side—but the ceiling height in both cases was extremely low. So I used the VERTEC Line Array Calculator to predict coverage and SPL results for the large audience area and for the selection of correct locations for main hangs and side PA placements and system configuration.”

Instead, he used eight VT4888 midsize line array elements, configured in two main arrays of four per side, with six VT4882 ground-stacked subwoofers processed as an aux-fed mono sub configuration. The system was powered with Crown Macro-Tech amplifiers, processed via a dbx DriveRack 4800.

For the side PA, Universal Sound used four SRX 725/728 loudspeakers with dbx 260 processing and Crown XTi amplification for each side to cover the wide audience area, and for front fills the company used four VT4888’s with dedicated DriveRack 4800 processing and Crown MAi amplification.

For the Olivia Newton-John show, aimed at Colombo’s upmarket set, Universal had to work around the installed system and did not have hanging points or sufficient truss space to fly the VERTEC line arrays. The challenge was that the auditorium comprised a balcony with seating capacity for 700 and ground seating area for a further 1,100.

Since the production team wanted to fly the system to achieve an even coverage, the Line Array Calculator again provided accurate measurements. “We achieved even coverage, obtaining better frequency response and SPL with the VERTEC rig in a ground-stack configuration,” Lowe said. “The Calculator provided the accurate splay angle option for the maximum performance, with six VT4888 for each side ground stacked on a VT Array Frame and two VT4882 ground-stacked subs with aux-fed sub configuration.”

The system was powered by Crown MAi Series 5000, 9000, 12000 and processed using the dbx DriveRack 4800. Front fills comprised four JBL SRX712M’s with dedicated speaker processing on the DriveRack 260, accurately aligned to the main PA.

All amplification used for both productions was configured and monitored via HARMAN HiQnet System Architect™, with remote control.

The result was that both acts’ management, mixing engineers and musicians complimented the production company on the overall system performance, stating how well the VERTEC line arrays covered the rooms with its superior output power.

Said Olivia Newton-John’s FOH engineer, Jonathan Loeser, “I couldn't have done any of this without the system being top notch and accurate. That is very valuable to a touring engineer or production manager.”

All JBL product and local support, is provided by HARMAN Professional dealer Hi Fi Center Colombo.

HARMAN’s Studer Appoints Rob Hughes to Position of Market Sales Manager

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom — In a move that strengthens the company’s sales presence in the live sound for broadcast and theatre communities, HARMAN’s Studer has appointed Rob Hughes to the position of Market Sales Manager. In this position, Hughes will be responsible for sales of Studer products throughout the EMEA sales region.

Hughes began his career in pro audio as a freelance touring engineer, spending 15 years touring the world as a sound engineer and system tech. He also spent many of those years in charge of the audio of major UK festivals including the Reading Festival, V Festival, T in the Park and Download.

After retiring from touring, Hughes joined SSE Audio Group as Project Manager, where his responsibilities also included managing the company’s stock of digital mixing consoles. In this position, Hughes kept the console inventory’s software and firmware up to date across all platforms and played a large role in training freelance engineers on the operation of the consoles. As part of this training responsibility, Hughes also worked with Andy Brown of Soundcraft, assisting with Vi6 training courses.

After his time with SSE, Hughes moved on to working for Midas, looking after the UK market, and was responsible for selling Midas consoles and Klark Teknik products into the UK.

“Now that I have joined Studer, I am very much looking forward to working with such a well respected brand, within a very strong group of companies that HARMAN comprises,” Hughes said. “In addition to serving the live sound for theatre, I am looking forward to the challenges of working within the broadcast world and learning the customer base and needs of that market.”

HARMAN International