Anyone who has ever witnessed or participated in an indoor swimming competition knows that acoustics play a significant part in the experience. Too reverberant and announcements become unintelligible; too sterile and the excitement and sense of place is diminished. JBL Professional Precision Directivityâ„¢ (PD) Series and Application Engineeredâ„¢ (AE) Series loudspeakers are on the job at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in the National Aquatic Centre in Beijing, to make certain that the sound will be exactly what it needs to be for the array of Olympic games taking place there August 8-24 this summer.

The National Aquatic Centre, also known as the “Water Cube,â€? features 52 PD5212/64 12-inch 2-way full-range loudspeakers, eight PD5122 dual 12-inch low-frequency loudspeakers, 12 AC2212/95, and 12 each 2380A 90- x 40-degree horns matched with 2446J 2-inch exit (4-inch voice coil) compression drivers. JBL’s PD Series uses a full range, full bandwidth total system approach that allows contractors and consultants to design a fully integrated sound system that solves the audio challenges inherent to large installations. The AE Series loudspeakers provide a wide variety of building blocks for system design, stair-stepped to give the right solution for any installation. The “ACâ€? models are compact loudspeakers that fit in areas where a smaller profile is required.

Designed by the China State Construction Engineering Corporation with a steel space frame clad with ETFE pillows, the National Aquatic Centre was purpose-built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and is one of the best-designed examples of an aquatic competition venue, with its acoustics specially tempered for the occasion. But with literally hundreds of microphones from scores of broadcasters globally relying on the sound system for both information and background sound, the performance of the venue’s PA system is critical. The JBL loudspeakers are joined at the National Aquatic Centre by other industry-leading products from Harman including Crown CTs600, CTs1200, CTs2000, and CTs3000 amplifiers, Soundcraft consoles and BSS DSP utilizing HiQnet™ London Architect™ platform for control.

“The National Aquatic Centre is among the most impressive architectural projects of the decade: it is a true monument to the Olympic spirit and the imagination of China,� said Jon Sager, Director of Market Development, Installed Sound, JBL Professional. “At JBL Professional, we’re naturally honored that our audio systems enable the designers to marry form with function and that, with the help of our technologies, the stunning design in no way limits the
spectacular sound!�

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

Harman HiQnetâ„¢ 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.

To read more or to download images please click here.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY, AUGUST 8, 2008—Last year, the German rental company Veranstaltungstechnik Linke e.K. from Leipzig utilized an Aviom Pro64® digital multicore system in its “Classic Open� event as a replacement for their analog multicore system. This year, Aviom will make a repeat performance. more

Tim McGraw’s Live Your Voice Tour has chosen the ribbon-loaded Peavey Versarray line-array system for two stages on the country-music superstar’s 2008 North American dates.

Dave Albro—a veteran live-sound engineer whose mixing credits include Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Roy Clark—and A2 Devan Skaggs are running two separate Peavey Versarray systems for Road Dog Touring, one configured for the Frito’s® Style Sonic Stage and a second system on McGraw’s VIP Stage.

Designed to entertain audiences during pre-show festivities on the midway, the Style Sonic Stage features twin hangs of six Peavey Versarray VR112™ line-array enclosures, paired with three Versarray VR218™ subwoofers and powered by a quintet of Crest Audio® Pro 5200™ and Pro 8200™ power amps. more

Underscoring the continued adoption of JBL VERTEC® line arrays by leading regional rental and touring sound firms, Proshow Systems recently added a large VERTEC system to its inventory. Proshow Systems has already provided VERTEC for numerous events throughout the southeast United States during the summer festival season.

With locations in Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama, Proshow Systems is a full-service, live entertainment production company that has served the entertainment industry since 1989. The company specializes in complete technical productions including audio, lighting, backline and crew service. “We strive to ensure that every event runs smoothly and on schedule, while providing a flawless show for each and every audience member,� said Michael Faber, Director of Purchasing for Proshow Systems.

A large part of Proshow’s company philosophy is to maintain an inventory that is built around industry-standard equipment. “Our years of experience serving the corporate and entertainment industries enables us to select the right equipment for a given system,� Faber added. “Our systems are easily adapted to fit every event or requirement, from the largest venues down to the smallest meeting.�

With this in mind, for 2008 Proshow bolstered its inventory with VERTEC, purchasing 32 VT4888 midsize line array elements and 16 VT4880A arrayable subwoofers. Proshow also purchased 22 VRX915M portable stage monitors. The entire VERTEC system was recently put to the test at the 2008 Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil in downtown Birmingham. The 2-day outdoor event featured performances by 3 Doors Down, Fergie, Gavin DeGraw and Seether. Proshow’s onsite team included Brendan Hines (Crew Chief and House Engineer), Jason Baker (Monitor Engineer) and Adam Edmonds (Stage Tech).

The main PA system at the Schaeffer Crawfish Boil featured a L/R hang with 16 VT4888 line array elements per side, over eight VT4880A subwoofers per side stacked on stage. Crown IT8000 amplifiers powered the main PA system, while Crown IT6000 amplifiers powered the VRX915M monitors.

“The VERTEC line arrays have performed flawlessly for us so far and the JBL name guarantees high-quality audio. And, it’s very rider-friendly,� Faber said. “We’ve only had them for a few months, and we’re already getting calls from clients asking us to use VERTEC for their events.�

“JBL loudspeakers have been a great addition to our company,� said Jody Bear, President, Proshow Systems. “From the user list on the website [which we use for extra sub-rentals] to the outstanding service from reps to accounting, everything has been stellar.�

For more information on Proshow Systems, please visit www.proshowsystems.com or call 901.372.0550.

To read more or to download images, please click here.

Teatro Regio di Torino (Turin Royal Theatre), one of Italy’s most famous and prominent opera houses, recently installed a Soundcraft Vi6™ digital console as part of an equipment upgrade.

The theatre dates back to the 1740’s when the Nuovo Teatro Regio (New Royal Theatre) was inaugurated. It went through several changes of use before being restored to its original name, and after a period of financial crisis it was taken over by the municipality in 1870.

After the destruction by fire of the Teatro Regio in 1936, it was intended that the Teatro Carignano would serve as the main opera venue for the city until the new L-shaped theatre, with its striking interior, reopened in 1973 with a production of Verdi’s Vespri Siciliani, directed by Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano.

With a new acoustic shell designed to improve the sound, the main theatre seats 1,750 (including 37 boxes around the perimeter) while the smaller Piccolo Teatro Regio takes a further 600 people.

The theatre has a long association with Soundcraft (a Series 1600 24-channel desk dates back to 1981, while in the control room of the Piccolo there’s an old Series 600). Two years ago the theatre purchased a 32-channel Soundcraft MH3 analogue desk from distributors Audio Equipment, which continues to mix monitors.

Audio Equipment have maintained continuity with the brand, recommending the Vi6 for the main FOH position because the three house technicians are from the analogue school, and only one day’s training was required. The console can also be used for recording the operatic performances and classical music using an RME MADI interface and Pro Tools.

The Vi6 also met the venue’s requirements for a large number of inputs, said Audio Equipment’s Danilo Meroni. “Normally 40 or 48 channels would be plenty but here they have 64.�

The local rack is situated in the control room where there is a full analogue system with a large matrix linked with a short Cat5 under-floor cable run.

Turin Royal Theatre is particularly pleased with the flexibility offered by the Vi6’s internal matrix — and the possibility to configure and store many shows (eg Rigoletto) and then recall the set-up (by plugging in the USB key) when the production returns the following year.

Aside from the Recall facility, the quality of the mic pre-amp section was vital in view of the condenser mic set up with operatic performances.

“But beyond that they really love the Vistonics interface — you can see 32 strip icons at all times — and the compact size and the colour co-ordination of the knobs; the possibility of being able to use two people on the interface is great.�

The five icons per channel offer essential information for 32 channels at all times. One icon per bank of eight channels can be adjusted at any time by simply touching the icon.

For Audio Equipment the next step now will be to replace the entire analogue matrix system with fibre.

To read more or to download images, please click here.

Three orders totaling seven digital audio broadcast consoles have put Studer at the heart of the ongoing program to upgrade TV facilities for the state-run SAUDI TV in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Studer has supplied seven Vista 5 consoles to the Ministry of Culture and Information, which takes responsibility for the Kingdom’s television broadcasting, and operates the four networks of Saudi TV.

These are hugely prestigious orders for Studer. Although the company has supplied numerous on-air consoles and radio automation systems to radio stations in the country, these are the first digital desks to be deployed by Saudi Arabian government-owned TV stations. The Vista consoles are being delivered by Riyadh-based systems integrators First Gulf Company (FGC), nominated by the Ministry of Culture and Information, which is collaborating with Studer for the first time.

The first three Vista 5 consoles have already been installed in the Riyadh TV Centre, which houses the facilities for the Saudi Sport and Saudi News channels, the latter known as al-Ikhbariya, with the third console going into Production Studio D. Another two Vista 5 desks are due to be installed in the new TV centre in Dammam, where they will be used in the Saudi TV Production studio and in the Saudi TV News studio. Two consoles are destined for on-site HD TV studios at the Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina. All audio installations are taking place as part of an ongoing programme to upgrade the state-run TV facilities to high-definition capability.

Having seven digital consoles operational in the TV networks of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia completes the regional picture for Studer, which has been consolidating its reputation and user base in the Middle East for the last ten years. This summer, in Abu Dhabi, the government-owned Emirates Media Inc. is taking delivery of four Outside Broadcast vehicles, equipped with Vista 8 and Vista 5 audio consoles, which have been built by Thomson in France.

To read more or to download images, please click here.