Miami, FL – May 2008… In its ongoing effort to help today’s youth “face and defeat the everyday ‘giants’ they encounter,” Christian organization Dare 2 Share is sponsoring the Survive tour—a nine city circuit spanning the continental US, with stops in Denver, Washington DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Columbus, Phoenix, Lincoln, and St Louis. With a combination of motivational speakers, skits, and musical performances by Christian artists including Lincoln Brewster, Hawk Nelson, Stellar Kart, and Sanctus Real, these two-day youth conferences draw massive crowds. The recent stop in St. Louis at the Scottstrade Center, for example, drew a crowd of 9000 high school students. Providing sound for these events is a task that requires serious know how and equally serious equipment—precisely the reason why loudspeakers systems from D.A.S. Audio were on the job.

According to Jesse Ralph, owner of Castle Rock, CO-based Legacy Sound Productions, the firm contracted to provide sound reinforcement and lighting for the tour, “Configuring a system that was capable of delivering a high level of intelligibility for the teachers and actors while also being able handle the sound pressure levels characteristic of a rock concert was no small challenge. Dare 2 Share’s program is very diverse and we needed to assemble a system that was adept at a number of very different applications.” To address those conditions, Ralph assembled a system consisting of D.A.S. Audio Aero 38A and 28A line array elements, Aero 182A 2K subwoofers, Compact 115 enclosures, and SML-12A stage monitors.

At the Scottstrade Center, Ralph flew 36 D.A.S. Audio Aero enclosures. There were 10 Aero 38A 3-way, self-powered medium format line array elements per side—stage left and right—coupled with 8 Aero 28A 2-way, self-powered line array elements flown underneath the 38A’s, which served as front fills. These two massive flying arrays were augmented by 10 D.A.S. Audio Aero 182A 2k self-powered subwoofers—ground stacked five enclosures per side, along with a pair of D.A.S. Audio Compact 115 self-powered, 3-way enclosures for side fills. Additionally, Legacy Sound deployed a pair of D.A.S. Audio SML-12A stage monitors for the performers. Augmenting his loudspeakers enclosures, Ralph used D.A.S. Audio’s DSP-26 loudspeaker system management processor for control and processing of the system.

Legacy Sound is a one-truck operation, so all equipment has to fit into a single vehicle. “With the Aero systems,” notes Ralph, “I’m able to eliminate a bunch of amp racks and processing equipment, because that’s all built onto the back of the enclosure. Further, the Aero’s rigging hardware is right there on the box, so there’s no need for a rigging case. Two guys can put this system up in fifteen minutes and break it down in ten. For a small company like ours, that’s a big plus.”

Reflecting on his choice of D.A.S. Audio loudspeakers, Ralph noted, “I spent almost a year looking at systems, and while price was important, I was really looking for a system that worked well for rock & roll, as we do quite a bit of this type of work. We’ve begun doing more and more arena jobs, so I wanted a good-sized enclosure such as the Aero 38A, but I also wanted the flexibility that the Aero 28A provides for smaller projects. The combination of the two models is terrific, as it affords the versatility to handle a wide range of venues. Equally important, when we’re really crankin’, these boxes don’t hurt. The Aero’s intelligibility and clarity is everything I had hoped for.”

Reflecting on the performance of his system for the Dare 2 Share tour, Ralph said, “It’s been a great tour. All of the bands made very positive comments about the loudspeaker system. The students and organizers, alike, were extremely happy with the SPL and the clarity of the boxes. They were very impressed. We also did an event last summer in the Edward Jones Dome in St Louis, MO for 11,000 students. Just like all the events I’ve used my D.A.S. Audio system on, the performance of this equipment was incredible.”

Ralph is equally impressed with D.A.S. Audio customer and technical support services. “D.A.S. Audio has excellent support,” says Ralph. “We work our gear pretty hard, and in my three years of ownership, I’ve only required minor servicing of the equipment. In every case, D.A.S. has taken care of me right away. Every single show I do, I am just more and more pleased with the loudspeakers—both in terms of their sound quality and their durability. This is first-rate equipment that delivers excellent return on my investment.”

About D.A.S. Audio

Headquartered in Valencia, Spain and having additional offices in Miami, FL, Frankfurt, Germany and Singapore, D.A.S. Audio is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of loudspeaker systems, power amplification, signal processing, and related components. For better than thirty years, D.A.S. Audio products have been found on tour with the world’s greatest performing artists and installed in many of the most prestigious facilities. For additional information about the company, visit them online at www.dasaudio.com.

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Nashville, TN – May 1, 2008… When it comes to state-of-the-art audio capabilities, you’d be hard pressed to find a more advanced mobile audio production facility than MTV Networks’ Remote Unit 8. Equipped with a 56-fader Lawo mc²66 console that serves as the truck’s primary mix station—coupled with a second, smaller mc²66—Remote Unit 8 handles televised music shows, large scale concerts, and a wide assortment of other high profile projects. MTV Networks (MTVN) recently completed installation of Lawo’s new Plug-in Server, which adds dramatically more signal processing capability. The system was first placed into service for the 2008 CMT (Country Music Television) Music Awards on April 14th. more

Buena Park, CA – May 2008… Hosa Technology, the leading innovator of analog and digital connectivity solutions for the modern musician and audio/video professional and distributor of Da-Cappo Micro Microphones throughout the Americas, is pleased to announce that the Da-Cappo DA12 Single-ear microphone, the DA04 Lavaliere microphone, and the DA11 “The Stick” microphone are now shipping. more

HOLLYWOOD, CA, MAY 1, 2008—When ATK Audiotek of Valencia, CA, was called upon to design an audio network for “American Idol,” it relied on Aviom and the company’s A-16II Personal Mixer to help with its communication needs.

The task at hand required a system that would be capable of handling amateur singers accompanied by a professional band and judges exchanging dialogue and interacting with a host, all within a noisy, live performance environment. Drawing from its own experiences in designing audio networks for large venues hosting high-profile events such as the Academy Awards, which like “American Idol” also took place at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, the engineers knew that communication was key in this type of environment.

This year, “American Idol” has a brand new, larger, multi-level set and, for the first time, conductor Rickey Minor, also the bass payer, is separated from the other musicians in a second-story balcony across from the band. This new configuration made its communication network even more vital to the production. For years, ATK Audiotek had been using an Orchestra Conductor System built for the company from a manufacturer that no longer makes or supports the product. Due to age and extensive use, the system began having technical difficulties. Making use of proven intercom technology along with innovative audio networking and monitor mixing equipment from Aviom, engineers were able to replicate the system, which allows for seamless bi-directional communication between Minor, the director and the mixing engineer as well as cues to the band.

“This system had long worked for us for events such as the Grammys and the Oscars,” Arango says. “Using control boxes and headsets, it creates a perfect communication network for large orchestras as well as for a band such as the one in ‘American Idol.’ We knew we had to make it work, and the Aviom mixers made it possible. It also has the added benefit of allowing the musicians to have increased control over their own audio monitor levels, including the verbal cues.”

The system is arranged into two individual zones—one for the band and one for the drummer—to which Minor and the director can speak using Clear-Com® Party-line AB-100 and Studio Technologies 233 announcer consoles as the main interfaces. The band zone is equipped with an A-16R rack mountable mixer controlled by the monitor engineer while the drummer uses a standalone Aviom A-16II mixer, which he can control himself. Tweecomm OB-1 headset box with headphones are powered by Clear-Com’s PS-464, a four-channel intercom power supply that features a fail-safe design for maximum reliability and delivers 2.5 amps at 30 volts.

For the first time, several other band members are using the A-16II for monitor control. “The players have embraced the mixer and are enjoying the increased control it offers,” Arango says. In addition, the system was flexible enough to move from the small set during the earlier rounds of the show to the new, big stage being used for the semi-final rounds with simple wiring adjustments and the addition of several boxes.

“All we needed to do was add some more OB-1 boxes and lengthen our XLR cable to the units,” Arango explains. “It was that easy.”

Founded in 1983, ATK Audiotek is the foremost sound reinforcement provider in the professional audio industry. ATK Audiotek provides unparalleled quality and reliable service to all of its clients. ATK Audiotek’s client roster includes hundreds of television productions, special events, industrial conventions, permanent installations and concert tours. ATK Audiotek has received many awards including four nominations and two wins of the prestigious TEC Award for outstanding technical achievement.

Aviom is the world leader and pioneer of personal monitor mixing technology with the popular Pro16™ Series, as well as the exclusive developer of the revolutionary Pro64® Series of audio networking products. All Aviom products are powered by A-Net®, the company’s groundbreaking high-speed digital audio transmission protocol. Aviom products solve problems in a variety of different environments, including live sound reinforcement, audio recording studios, houses of worship, theater, broadcasting and post-production facilities and a host of commercial installations. Aviom’s entire line of high-quality professional audio products are designed and manufactured in the USA..

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LAS VEGAS, NV, May 1, 2008 ― The RapcoHorizon Company (InfoComm, Booth C4009), a leading manufacturer of audio/video interfacing and cable equipment, has been designated a Certified AudioVisual Provider (CAVSP) by InfoComm International. more

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — With the success of its FREE Personalized Room Analysis Form, providing one-on-one expert acoustical advice, Auralex Acoustics is taking its solution one step further by now offering a FREE Large Room Analysis Form. As the industry leader in innovative sound control solutions, Auralex can now offer the same free acoustical analysis, which includes product recommendations and placement, to customers facing the challenges of larger spaces, such as churches and gymnasiums.

Customers can download both the original Personalized Room Analysis and new FREE Large Room Analysis forms as PDFs from Auralex’s home page (www.auralex.com) or can call Auralex directly to have a copy of either form faxed. Once the form is downloaded, customers must print it out and fill out all sections. The more information included, the more accurate the recommendations from Auralex’s expert engineers. Info required includes room type, use and dimensions, to name a few. more