New Mastering Suite at NY Masterdisk Adds Dangerous Music ‘Monitor’ to ‘Master’ Transfer Console

Edmeston, NY- December 2, 2008 - Mastering Engineer Dave McNair has a new suite at Masterdisk Studios in New York. Previously at Scott Hull’s studio, McNair made the jump recently when Hull purchased Masterdisk and expanded his business. In his new mastering suite McNair has paired his beloved Dangerous Master Transfer Console with the Dangerous Monitor, utilizing the Monitor’s pristine-sounding DAC for all his playback listening. The Dangerous Master is the latest generation in the evolution of the Chris Muth mastering transfer console, while the Dangerous Monitor is a companion monitor controller with features designed specifically for the mastering environment. more

WESTCHESTER, NY, DECEMBER 2, 2008 – Rock artist Sean Austin was recently able to maximize his sound and musical vision during the recording of his latest CD, Different Kind of Real, by using Aviom’s Pro16® monitor mixing system. more

Bon Harris made a name for himself in the early ‘80s/mid-90s as the founding member of the quintessential British industrial group Nitzer Ebb, programming the band’s signature sound. In the years since, the composer, producer, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has become an in-demand collaborator working with Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, Evanescence, AFI, Avril Lavigne, Bush, Marilyn Manson, Billy Corgan, and with his new band Maven. Propellerhead’s Reason has played an integral part in his production work since the software’s inception—from that of principal sound generator and mangler, to idea ‘sketch pad’ and sonic layering tool.

“Reason is a constant musical companion for me,” he explained. “It is so well put together, is very efficient, stable, and flexible. I can assemble any signal chain imaginable, without frustrating limitations, in a very quick, simple fashion. Reason is also very democratic. Everybody has it, or access to it. It’s become a common musical language, making it very easy to collaborate. And with ReWire connectivity, I can work on a musical sketch anywhere, and plug that into a host for expansion and refinement if needs be. As I’ve said often, Reason is like a Swiss Army Knife for music production… except it’s Swedish.”

The ability to have an onboard exhaustive library of sounds and sound banks provides Harris with an unlimited palette of tools at his immediate disposal. “I have a large library of sounds now at my disposal, so it’s very easy for me to call up a pre-assembled rack, or build one from scratch, using any style or combination that I can think of. I use the Factory and Orkester sound banks often. They are particularly handy if you find yourself in a situation where someone has Reason installed, but doesn’t use it often. You can always rely on that collection of sounds to be there, so it’s good to get to know them. I wonder how many computers in the world have those sounds installed. I don’t use presets much, but the Subtractor, Malström and Thor patches are excellent to have on hand if you need some ‘habit breakers’. Not to mention the Redrum patches, to kick things off quickly. The NN-XT is very quick to browse, audition and load sounds, too. Browsers are not generally considered to be the sexiest part of any software, but try working with a clumsy one and watch the hours and inspiration melt away. Reason’s browser is top notch. My hat goes off to The Browser Master(s)!”

But perhaps the most significant boon to his workflow is Reason’s flexibility, speed and portability. And for an artist that is constantly on the go, it’s easy to see why Reason has become an integral part of his workflow. “As soon as I can think up an idea, I can execute it, save variations, re-load alternatives, etc. Reason allows me to work very swiftly. I can also bicycle over to a studio with a complete, mixed arrangement in my backpack. That didn’t work so well with the System 100m’s, Moog Modulars, etc. The semi-modular nature is a dream for modular synth fans. It allows you to achieve sounds that would be difficult, if not impossible, using hardware. I still use software and hardware together, but the advantages of software are portability, total recall, and a small physical footprint. With software and a laptop, you can make an album at the kitchen table, on the bus, laying in bed, wherever. My favorite is at the library, actually. I take some sandwiches and make a day of it. Just keep the headphone level down! Whether you are using a laptop or a full-featured studio setup, Mac or PC, Reason is very consistent and allows you to get music written without imposing limitations.”

So, what’s in Bon Harris’ Reason rack?

“Depends on the situation. If I’m scoring for picture it’ll be stuffed with NN-XT’s, maybe a couple of Dr Rex’s, reverbs and delays. If it’s more band type stuff then Subtractors and lots of effects. The rack will change to suit the situation, and Reason proves flexible enough to handle it all very well.”

About Propellerhead Software

Propellerhead Software is a privately owned company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Formed in 1994, Propellerhead has created some of the most innovative new music software (ReBirth, ReCycle and Reason) and technology standards, including ReWire and the REX file format, which are used extensively in all kinds of music production. Propellerhead ReBirth program was the first virtual emulation of vintage analog gear—a trend that now dominates music software. www.propellerheads.se

Specialized Audio Product Marketing Firm Partners with Network Pro Marketing

to Sell Unique High-End Microphone Line

Audio Agent LLC has been appointed by Brauner Microphone’s distributor, Network Pro Marketing, as the brand’s sales representatives for the New York Tri-state area, California and Nevada. Audio Agent, which focuses on the high-end of the professional audio market, will support and expand Brauner’s dealer network in these key territories.

“While so many microphone brands seek to imitate the sound of one classic design or another, Brauner distinguishes itself by creating mics with truly unique sonic and aesthetic qualities,“ explained Audio Agent’s Jeremy Stappard. “The company has a simple design philosophy; they make products to meet their own exacting standards and requirements. This gives their mics a unique voice and an important niche in the recording world.”

“Brauner has a loyal following among the ‘audio elite’ worldwide, so I’m thrilled to be working with Audio Agent to widen awareness and expand availability of the products in this country,” commented Marty Druckman of Network Pro Marketing. “The specialized nature of Brauner’s 10 unique designs allows them to complement the microphone locker in any serious studio. For example, the new VALVET X is perfect for delicate vocal and solo recordings while the PHANTHERA V captures a lively and intense sound quality in cardiod, bidirectional or omnidirectional patterns. These mics simply need to be heard to be believed.”

About Brauner Microphones

Founded in 1993 to produce the design concepts of Dirk Brauner, a relentless pursuit of perfection has made Bruaner Microphones one of the leading German companies in the professional audio field. The company has set new benchmarks in microphone technology and customer care. For more information, see www.brauner-microphones.de/en

About Network Pro Marketing

In January of 1997, Network Pro Marketing (NPM) was established In Los Angeles, California. The mission of NPM is to effectively represent the highest quality manufacturers of professional audio products. Under the direction of Marty Druckman, the company has earned a reputation of standing behind its products and working with manufacturers to provide very best customer service in the industry. For more information, see www.networkpromktg.com

About Audio Agent

Since its formation in 2006, Audio Agent LLC has fast become one of the audio and music products industry’s leading sales and marketing firms. The company—headquartered near Seattle, Wash., with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville—is comprised of a team of industry veterans including David Christenson, Erik Hanson, Jeremy Stappard, Justin Marx, Blue Wilding and Pepper Denny. Audio Agent is a manufacturer’s representative concentrating on boutique, premium professional audio brands such as Antelope Audio, Blue Sky studio monitors, Brauner microphones, Brent Averill Enterprises (BAE), Joe Meek, Lucid, Mojave Audio, Royer Labs, Symetrix and Toft Audio Designs in select territories throughout North and South America. Additionally, Audio Agent’s Creative Services division, 3dB Creative, serves as advertising and marketing consultants for companies including Ampeg, BOSS, Mackie, Native Instruments, N-Tune, iPerform3D, Stanton, Roland Corporation, and more. Visit

www.audio-agent.com and www.3dBCreative.com to learn more.

Accompanying image:

Audio Agent’s Jeremy Stappard (left) and Dave Christenson (right)

back-up Marty Druckman of Network Pro Marketing





Tired of sacrificing productivity from having to copy files from one editing suite to another, FOX Sports Florida located in Sunrise, Florida recently installed a cost-effective shared storage solution from Small Tree Communications to improve workflow among the four editing suites used by its in-house creative services department.  Designer and manufacturer of simple-to-install, inexpensive networking and shared storage products for professional video and audio editors using MAC OS X, Small Tree provided FOX Sports Florida with a bundled Ethernet solution reaching Fibre Channel performance. The installation was completed by Bob Zelin, a well-respected independent video engineer with more than 30 years experience in the television industry.  “Increasingly, small- to mid-size post-production facilities are beginning to realize the cost and performance value in installing Small Tree’s shared storage solution as opposed to traditional SAN technology,” states Zelin. “FOX Sports Florida is one of many facilities I am currently working with that has been pleased with Small Tree’s equipment.”        Utilizing the facility’s existing MAC Pro, Zelin installed Small Tree’s Edge-corE ES4524D, a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, along with its PEG4, a 4-port Ethernet card. This solution easily handles the bandwidth requirements of Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects and Autodesk Maya running simultaneously across the four editing suites at FOX Sports Florida.   “As a small post-production department with four systems, Small Tree offered us an affordable and ideal shared storage solution for sharing media,” states David Piccolo, head of the creative services team at FOX Sports Florida. “The Small Tree system allows us to access any program at each of our workstations. This eliminates confusion surrounding multiple versions of the same project being created. To date, we’re very pleased with the system’s performance.”  

LONG BEACH, CA – Recording and engineering students in the Department of Music, TV and Radio at Long Beach City College (LBCC) get first-hand lessons in soldering and audio cable construction from Neutrik USA, designer and manufacturer of the X and XX series XLR cable connectors. The company has supplied several of its NC3MX and NC3FX connectors to the school for use in its ongoing Studio Maintenance course, included in the two-year program curriculum. more

Christian Rocker Finishes 32 Tracks

Pictured in Studio C at Ardent Studios in Memphis are (L-R) recording artist Todd Agnew, drummer Kim Trammell, engineer Curry Weber, assistant engineer Adam Hill, and bassist Dave Smith.

Popular Christian rocker Todd Agnew has returned to Memphis’ renowned Ardent Studios to track new songs and finish off previously recorded material for his forthcoming album, working with staff engineers Curry Weber and Adam Hill. Agnew tracked the new material with Weber, while Hill engineered overdub sessions. A total of 32 songs are being finished, the majority of which were recorded with Kim Trammel on drums and Dave Smith on bass. Additional tunes were tracked while touring with Agnew’s road band, featuring Cody Spriggs on bass and Brian Wilson on drums.

Dallas native Agnew released his first album, “Grace Like Rain,” in 2003, followed by “Reflection of Something” in 2005. In 2006, he crafted the epic retelling of the Christmas story for the album “Do You See What I See?” “Better Questions” was released in 2007, and featured the hit single, “Our Great God,” a duet with Rebecca St. James. Agnew has sold more than 700,000 albums and his signature song, “Grace Like Rain,” has sold nearly 2 million on his own albums and various compilations.

Agnew cites studio owner John Fry and engineers Curry Weber and Adam Hill as central in his career as a recording artist. The new album is expected as a Spring 2009 release on Ardent Records. Bonus material will be available as downloads.

For more info, visit www.ardentstudios.com

~ StudioFoam Installed in Mobile Production Studio ~

LOS ANGELES, CA – Film education is best learned in the field, in real-world settings. This is why the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education, a non-profit organization dedicated to educational initiatives involving film, video and digital media, created a Mobile Film Classroom (MFC) as a revolutionary way of teaching in the digital age. Inside, along with a long list of high-end audio and video gear, is Auralex Acoustics 4” StudioFoam Wedges, cast to balance the sound quality in MFC’s sound recording booth which is used for voiceovers, dialog and musical/soundtrack recording. more

STAMFORD, CT. - Harman International Industries (NYSE: HAR), a leading provider of branded audio and infotainment electronics for the home, the car, and sound professionals, said today that its professional audio products will play a key role in the new GRAMMY MuseumSM which opened in Los Angeles this week. The new museum is a collaboration between The Recording Academy®, the membership organization responsible for the GRAMMY® Awards, and Anshutz Entertainment Group, and was founded to celebrate the enduring legacies of music and its premier recognition through the legendary GRAMMY Award.

The museum, located in the downtown Los Angeles sports, entertainment and residential district L.A. LIVE, features some 30,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and dynamic multimedia presentations. To showcase this breadth of musical achievement, The GRAMMY Museum elected to feature professional audio technologies from several Harman International units including loudspeakers from JBL, microphones from AKG, processing technologies from BSS Audio, amplifiers by Crown Audio and mixing systems from Soundcraft.

“Our long legacy of technologies for the music business is a natural fit with the museum’s goals,” said Dinesh Paliwal, Harman’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “From legendary artists and the facilities where they perform to premium sound systems for homes and automobiles, our products help to realize the passion that is literally defined by music. We are honored to join The GRAMMY Museum in celebrating this rich heritage.”

“For years, the JBL brand has been linked to the history of music production,” said Robert Santelli, Executive Director of The GRAMMY Museum. “It is fitting that the products of this brand are featured in The GRAMMY Museum. Harman International has long been a supporter of The Recording Academy and we’re pleased to have such a valued partner join us in this exciting new venture.”

October 2008 saw the United States’ first eco-friendly lounge open its doors to the public of Hollywood, California. Dubbed Ecco Ultra Lounge, it sets new standards for a greener nightlife by minimizing and neutralizing its impact on the environment. Part of this commitment to conserving resources is seen in its choice of loudspeaker, which comes from UK-based manufacturer, Turbosound.

Every material used in the construction of Ecco - which is owned and operated by Danny B, David Stratton, Sean Muniz and Matthew Portnoff - has been carefully selected, from its state-of-the-art LED lighting system, through to its power supply from the LA Department of Water and Power’s Green Power resources. In fact, such is Ecco’s pioneering status that its transformation has even featured on the Discovery Channel (Planet Green) on its show, Alter Eco.

So why Turbosound?

“Everything that Turbosound produces is ROHS compliant and therefore produced within a ‘green’ process,” explains Joe Lodi owner and chief designer from Ecco’s audio installer and 2008 Club World Award winner for Best Sound Worldwide Advanced Audio Technology. “It is also WEEE compliant, which means that it is recyclable. The wood is bought from sustainable sources; the cabinets are painted with water-based paint, so there are no harmful chemicals involved; they are high efficiency - so power consumed to play them loud is reduced! Finally, all suppliers are within the EU, so the carbon footprint is reduced and they are shipped by sea from the UK factory to minimise the impact on the environment.”

The system comprises four TA-500H Aspect Wide, which are positioned adjacent to the dance floor, two per side on the short sides of the floor, plus four TSW-218 subs and the choice has provided far more than green credentials alone.

“The TA-500Hs make up a perfect dispersion pattern and have absolutely no comb filtering or cancellation,” continues Lodi. “The most incredible quality of this system is that there is virtually no sound escaping the dance floor at any frequency. That seems hard to believe but with the characteristics of the TA-500H, they are completely focused on the dance floor and do not escape.

“I still have never heard anything like this system to date. It’s the clearest, tightest and most accurate sound I have ever heard. It’s simply fantastic!”