Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 45 years, has promoted David Marsh to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing, Installed Sound & Broadcast. Marsh’s appointment was announced by Michael Edwards, Vice President Professional Markets. In his new role, David Marsh will be responsible for managing and directing all sales and marketing activities within the Installed Sound and Broadcast markets.

Marsh has been with Audio-Technica since 2000, when he joined the company in the position of Customer Support representative. Over the past decade with Audio-Technica, Marsh was promoted to A-T’s Assistant Regional Manager and then on to Territory Manager, a position he held until his latest promotion. Marsh will help to identify emerging market dynamics and trends, while continuing to address the needs of contractors, consultants and end users, concerning the increasingly intricate requirements of complex installations and challenging applications.

“David has done an outstanding job in his past positions with Audio-Technica,” said Michael Edwards. “I’m confident that he will continue to thrive in this new leadership role.”

Please visit www.audio-technica.com.

— RDM’s Kevin Hartmann says that A-T’s BP896 MicroPoint™ Subminiature Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Microphone is the smallest and the best-sounding lav he’s ever used—

— A-T’s dual-channel 1800 Series wireless system provides total redundancy on
remote shoots for celeb chef Rachel Ray’s regular forays into the field —

If high-definition broadcast video has made the offerings on The Food Network® look good enough to reach in and sample, Remote Digital Media (RDM) makes certain that the sound is equally enticing. RDM is an EMMY Award®- and Telly Award®-winning audio and video remote company based in Woodstock, New York, that handles audio for several of the network’s most popular programs, including Next Great Baker and Rachel Ray. To get great sound, RDM uses microphones and wireless systems from Audio-Technica on all of its shoots. For instance, RDM has used the Audio-Technica dual-receiver Artist Elite® 5000 Series frequency-agile True Diversity UHF wireless system all nine seasons of reality show Chopped. On Rachel Ray, RDM employs the A-T 1800 Series Camera-mount Dual-channel UHF wireless system as well as the ATR5200 Monophone/Dynamic Boom Microphone Combination Headset. Many shows will also benefit from the Audio-Technica BP4071 Line + Gradient Condenser shotgun microphone for audience and ambience capture, which allows RDM to create a “seamless transition” between onstage and offstage audio.

Kevin Hartmann, one of two owners of RDM, is also its Head of Audio. (Sandor Bondorowsky is Hartmann’s partner and oversees the company’s video operations.) “These shows are about food, but they are actually reality shows, and you have to approach the audio that way,” explains Hartmann, who also uses A-T microphones and wireless systems on other projects, including audio for numerous MTV music shoots and for Inside the Actors Studio, whose host, James Lipton, he says, is a huge fan of Audio-Technica’s BP896 MicroPoint lavalier. “The MicroPoint is the tiniest lav I’ve ever seen, and on reality shows, the key is the ability to be able to completely hide the microphone yet still get great sound and a reliable signal. The MicroPoint does all of that and does it better than any other lav out there,” Hartmann adds. Bakers’ white tunics, he notes, offer the perfect opportunity to keep lavaliers well hidden.

Hartmann says that A-T’s system designs are what put it out in front of the pack. “People think that RF performance is all about power, but the fact is that it’s really about tuning – the ability to understand the environment you’re working within in terrestrial TV and build your RF system around that. The A-T systems give me a high degree of control over my RF.”

Hartmann uses the 1800 Series camera-mount wireless system because it gives him ENG-quality audio when doing remotes for celebrity chef and host Rachel Ray. “I’ve been using that and the 5000 Series Wireless on her remotes since the show began six years ago,” he says. “The sound quality and reliability are the best. In fact, one of the main reasons I’m drawn to Audio-Technica equipment is that it’s so reasonably priced – nothing in its price point can touch its performance, and it actually sounds better than microphones costing far more money. It’s just very, very good, reliable equipment.”

Please visit www.audio-technica.com for more information.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 2011: Symetrix, manufacturers of high-end professional audio solutions, specializing in DSP hardware and software, announces the hire of industry veteran Jeff Sondermeyer as Director of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer. Sondermeyer brings almost twenty years of experience to his new role. He split the first decade between Peavey Electronics and Mackie Designs as the Digital Design Leader for pioneering products and he spent the most recent decade with integrated circuit manufacturer Analog Devices (ADI) as Senior Field Apps Engineer. During his tenure at ADI, Sondermeyer helped Symetrix integrate ADI’s Sharc and Blackfin chips into Symetrix products.

“For a number of years, Jeff has been a major player in the pro audio industry, from his design-side engineering management experience with Peavey and Mackie to his applications engineering work for ADI,” said Symetrix founder and CEO, Dane Butcher. “As always, Symetrix maintains an aggressive product development roadmap. We feel very fortunate at this time to have Jeff on board to manage the execution of our strategic product initiatives.”

“Having supported Symetrix for the past ten years, I have an appreciation for how the company works,” said Sondermeyer. “Dane has created a tight-knit team of dedicated people with the same passion – making superior products. It runs more like a family than a business and I really like that! My short-term goal is to join the excellent engineering team, fill in holes, and increase productivity. My long-term goal is to continue fostering the culture at Symetrix that wins loyalty from contractors and other industry clients: superior sound, superior service, superior sales – just superior! No hacks, no workarounds, no excuses – just excellence!”

ABOUT SYMETRIX Sound professionals rely upon the performance, value and reliability of audio mixing, routing and processing products from Symetrix. For more information on Symetrix professional audio products, please visit www.symetrix.co or call +1.425.778.7728.

— 50-Watt head is available alone or with matching 4 x 12 HTV-412A cabinet —

Blackstar Amplification is expanding its popular HT Venue Series of combo tube amplifiers to include the HT Club 50H head, available alone or with the matching HTV-412A cabinet as a specially priced, limited-run bundle (HT50STACK) in the U.S. The HT Club 50H provides 50 Watts of power, and is based on the features of Blackstar’s popular HT Club 40 Combo amp.

Offering two channels and four modes, the HT Club 50 Head is ideal for creating a full or half stack for club-sized venues. The preamp stage offers 2 x ECC83/12AX7 vacuum tubes. The 50-Watt EL34-driven power amp has amazing punch and dynamics that easily cut through in any band situation. The matching HTV-412A cabinet features four Celestion 12” speakers.

Each channel features an independent Voice switch that greatly enhances the tonal versatility. The Clean channel provides Boutique or Modern voicings; the Overdrive channel offers a choice between Classic and Modern. The three-band EQ is augmented by the Infinite Shape Feature (ISF), which works with the EQ to provide infinite new tone-shaping control. Equipped with digital reverb (including a Dark/Bright switch), emulated output and an effects loop, the HT Club 50H is designed to be a solid and flexible tube head for nearly any gigging situation. A 2-way footswitch is included.

Pricing is as follows:

HTCLUB50H 50 Watt Venue Series Head U.S. MSRP $879.99
HTV-412A 4×12 angled Cabinet U.S. MSRP $749.99

Authorized Blackstar Dealers in the U.S. will be offering the HT50STACK at a special introductory price of $999.99 for a limited time.

For more information, please visit www.blackstaramps.com.

Stanton’s new SCS.4DJ Digital DJ MixStation has taken the industry by storm, and Stanton DJ is putting its users to the test with the exclusive “My Perfect Mix” Facebook Sweepstakes. From November 1, 2011 through December 1, 2011, Stanton DJ is encouraging fans to visit the Stanton DJ Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/StantonDJ?v=app_23057609700353 ) page to submit videos or audio files of their ultimate mix created with the SCS.4DJ! Stanton DJ will choose one winner, who will receive a pair of KRK Rokit 6 monitors — the perfect way to listen to your mix. more

High power, pristine clarity and light weight come together in the Peavey® Impulse® 12D, a portable, powered loudspeaker enclosure that combines Peavey’s revolutionary IPR™ amplifier technology with a true ribbon driver. Pro Audio Review magazine put the groundbreaking Impulse 12D to the test for its October 2011 issue.

“In the [Impulse] 12D, Peavey has done a fantastic job combining legendary Peavey durability; classic touches such as the Black Widow woofer; cutting-edge IPR amp technology, and the uniqueness of the ribbon driver,” wrote Joshua D. Garber. more

San Antonio, TX – November 2011… The ability to project the talent’s voice is a critical consideration for any theatrical endeavor. Without clearly intelligible speech and vocal reproduction, there really isn’t much of a show! This is precisely why the San Pedro Playhouse—delivering stage productions for the past 85 years to the people of San Antonio from its location in San Pedro Park—relies on microphones from Menlo Park, CA-based Countryman Associates. more