FOH Engineer Chris Madden mixes global tour on JPJ Audio’s K1 system

SYDNEY, Australia — P!NK is currently out on a massive 10-month global arena tour in support of her sixth and most recent record, The Truth About Love. Currently trekking across Europe — following an initial U.S. leg that began in February — P!NK and her entourage will eventually head down to Australia for the summer months before making their way back to North America for a second sweep that will carry the pop superstar through the end of the year and possibly beyond.

Manning her FOH mix, as he has for the past five years, Chris Madden has specified the use of a full L-ACOUSTICS K1 system for the entire duration of the tour, which is being equipped by Sydney, Australia’s JPJ Audio — the merged operation of Jands Production Services, L-ACOUSTICS’ longtime Australian Rental Partner, and Johnston Audio.

Madden, who has also performed FOH duties for Joe Cocker, Sade and Jessie J in the past, originally fell in love with K1 on P!NK’s Funhouse Summer Carnival tour of Europe in 2010. “We did quite a lot of shows in Germany for that summer run, all of which were supported by Black Box and their then-new K1 system,” Madden recalls. “We achieved fantastic results with the rig and Roger Davies [manager for P!NK, Sade, Cher, Tina Turner and others] was very impressed, so it’s been our system of choice ever since.

“From the very first time I heard it, I just thought K1 was the best PA I was ever put in front of. The projection and detail were both immediately apparent. On other systems, certain elements of a mix will disappear off into a mush, but L-ACOUSTICS preserves so much detail across the full spectrum — and at distances that are truly remarkable.”

The main arrays for P!NK’s current arena tour are comprised of 14 K1 plus six KARA per side for downfill, with a small middle array of six KARA flown to cover the audience area between the main stage and curved thrust. An additional six KARA spread out under the front edge of the main stage helps pull the sound image down a bit further for the crowd at the front.

With 270 degrees of show seats completely selling out each night, JPJ is also deploying a total of 60 KUDO enclosures to deliver extreme left and right side coverage. Depending on each venue’s unique geometry, these are typically hung in either four arrays of 15 or dual arrays of 18 and 12 cabinets.

Low frequency reinforcement is primarily achieved via a combination of eight K1-SB per side flown adjacent to the K1/KARA hangs and a dozen SB28 in six stacks of two across the curved front edge of the stage thrust. Ground subs are set up in cardioid mode with the bottom cabinets rear-firing to minimize LF bleed on stage. Additional two-by-three stacks of SB28 are positioned under the ramps on either side of the stage and fire out toward the far left and right sides of the room, while 19 LA-RAK touring racks containing a total of 57 LA8 amplified controllers drive the entire system.

System Tech Ulf Oeckel, who has toured with Rammstein and Sade, maps out each upcoming venue with L-ACOUSTICS’ SOUNDVISION modeling software and keeps tabs on the system every night with LA NETWORK MANAGER, both of which he and Madden report to be “quite intuitive.”

For a detailed list of P!NK’s upcoming tour dates, visit http://thetruthaboutlovetour.com. JPJ Audio can similarly be found online at http://www.jps.com.au.

L-ACOUSTICS is a leading innovator and manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers, amplifiers and signal processing devices for touring and installed sound markets. Known around the globe for pioneering and championing the modern line array loudspeaker concept with V-DOSC, the company has received numerous accolades for its K1, KUDO, KARA, KIVA, ARCS, XT coaxial loudspeaker systems and SB line of subwoofer enclosures, all powered and processed with the LA4 and LA8 amplified controllers in fulfillment of a “total system approach.” Product distribution and customer service for the USA is handled by L-ACOUSTICS’ subsidiary in Oxnard, California.

Credit for all photos: Todd Kaplan

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Contact:
L-ACOUSTICS US
2201 Celsius Avenue, Unit E, Oxnard, CA 93030
Tel: 805.604.0577 / Fax: 805.604.0858
Email: info@l-acoustics-us.com / Web: www.l-acoustics.com

Nearly 10 years after its initial launch, Fishman’s Loudbox family continues to enjoy widespread acceptance and the leading position in acoustic guitar amp sales for 2012 based on an impressive feature set, superlative sound and exceptional value in terms of quality and build for the money.

According to MI SalesTrak, Loudbox, spurred by the popular Mini and Artist models, continued its No. 1 overall position in the acoustic guitar amp category by a wide margin with a 27.5% share of unit sales––nearly 20% more than the next brand. The Loudbox Mini also maintained its lead as top selling acoustic amp model with a 19% unit share while the Loudbox line led all category unit sales by price point as well. Loudbox Artist ranked #2 best selling amp at over 7%.

The Loudbox Mini and Artist amps are currently being used by Chris Traynor of Bush, Trampled by Turtles, Jerry Douglas, Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Wolf Marshall, The Decemberists, Monte Pittman and folk legend Happy Traum, to name a few.

Discussing Fishman’s leadership in the acoustic amplifier category, Chief Operating Officer Jason Cambra stated, “We are very pleased with the ongoing acceptance and popularity of Loudbox by artists and players at every level, reflected in the dominant sales figures for the line over the last few years.

“From the Loudbox Mini to the Artist and new Performer models, the line continues to evolve in terms of features and performance, all of which explains why it is the industry leader in acoustic guitar amps and a major component in the growth and success of the Fishman brand.”

For more information about Fishman, call 978.988.9199 or click to www.fishman.com

Digital Matrix Systems Provide Multibranch Theater with a Boost in Intercom Capabilities

STUTTGART, GERMANY, MAY 14, 2013 – Clear-Com® is proud to announce that Staatstheater Stuttgart, Germany’s largest theater, recently improved communications at its drama theater with two Eclipse HX-Omega Digital Matrix Systems. Part of Clear-Com’s newest digital matrix intercom line, the Eclipse HX-Omega uses revolutionary IP technology and can be easily upgraded, making it a future-proof investment for the theater. Other benefits of the system include exceptional system performance, intelligent integration abilities and simplified user operations.

The planning and installation of the Eclipse HX-Omega digital matrix system at Staatstheater Stuttgart was a joint venture between MCI, a Clear-Com Partner for Germany, and Zeiler, a systems integrator. The facility’s 50 Clear-Com FreeSpeak Beltpacks were seamlessly integrated with the Eclipse HX-Omega system via an E-QUE-HX card to enable wired and wireless coverage across the entire theater. All personnel, including the technical engineers, security staff and show producers, are able to remain in constant contact with each other with the Clear-Com intercoms. The Eclipse HX-Omega also gives the crew the option to conveniently run their V-Series intercom panels over IP using an IVC-32-HX card. In addition, all analogue audio inputs, such as the PA systems, audio monitors and microphones, are connected into the Eclipse HX system. This way, crew members can hear the program and be prepared for their cues.

“Because the theater is constantly evolving, the engineering team was determined to acquire a future-proof, IP-based intercom system,” explains Martin Geritz, Sales Manager for MCI. “Clear-Com’s Eclipse HX intercoms were an obvious choice for the crew because of their comprehensive features, IP technology, and easy upgrade capabilities.”

Previously, the crew communicated using walkie-talkies, third-party control panels and FreeSpeak wireless intercoms. Each of these systems operated independently from the rest. The Eclipse HX-Omega has simplified operations by integrating all the systems into a unified communications platform. Now, they have interconnection within and across each of their three stages. The Eclipse HX-Omega also allows the personnel to make fast and easy changes to the communications setup to meet the unique needs of any production. Clear-Com intercoms also offer higher audio quality than that of their previous system.

“We are extremely proud that Staatstheater Stuttgart has chosen Clear-Com’s intercoms for its theater,” says Vincent Beek, Clear-Com’s Regional Sales Manager for Northern Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia. “Staatstheater Stuttgart is continuing to develop a great deal, and its new Eclipse HX-Omega system is not only able to handle its current productions, but is suitable to meet the its future needs.”

The Staatstheater Stuttgart is anticipating a systems upgrade for its opera house in the coming months, with plans to employ Clear-Com there as well. When that installation has taken effect, the intercoms at the opera house system will be integrated with those at the drama theater to allow production crew members to communicate between both buildings.

About Clear-Com
Clear-Com, an HME company, is a global provider in professional voice communications systems since 1968. We develop and market proven intercom technologies such as Analog & Digital Partyline, Digital Matrix, Wireless and Intercom-over-IP systems for critical communication applications in broadcast, performance venues, military, government and enterprise markets. Recognized for our legacy of intercom innovations, production teams around the world have come to depend on Clear-Com for clear, reliable and scalable communications solutions. For more information, please visit www.clearcom.com.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—In 1999, singer Tony Bennett and his wife Susan Benedetto, then a public school teacher, were inspired to start a public high school for young artists and envisioned a school that would integrate the arts with rigorous academics, require a commitment to community service, and help students cultivate a lifelong love of, and dedication to, their artistic passions and crafts.

With assistance from the New York City Department of Education and the not-for-profit Exploring the Arts (ETA) who assisted in raising the necessary funds required, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (named for Bennett’s long-time friend) opened in 2001 at a temporary space. In 2009, the school moved to its permanent home on the Kaufman Astoria Studios complex, in Astoria, Queens. Ennead Architects LLP (New York City, formerly Polshek Architects) designed the school, under lead architect Susan Rodriguez.

The Tony Bennett Concert Hall is a state-of-the-art performance 800-seat venue built specifically for use by the students. Tom Young, long-time front of house engineer for Mr. Bennett, was brought in at his bequest to specify the theatre’s sound system. “The original audio design by David Harvey (Harvey, Marshall, Berling Associates) and myself was initially a typical value-engineered system required by any New York City school but with our added mission of creating a good sounding space,” says Young. After Young took the Bennett’s to hear a demo of the Yamaha Active Field Control (AFC) system, they all agreed, that AFC would be a key component of the concert hall. Active Field Control is a reverberation enhancement system that adjusts and enhances the acoustic characteristics of a facility while preserving natural characteristics.

The theatre’s AFC system is a hybrid AFC3/LAP3 system with both the standard AFC3 system utilizing a new AFC-FIR card for processing and the enhanced option of using a dedicated FIR processing computer with the LAP3 external computer. System 1 is used for reverberation enhancement in the house and under balcony areas. System 2 is designed for reverberation enhancement/energy exchange on the stage adding a sense of spaciousness to the normally “dead” sounding stage area, aiding performers to hear others on the stage.

The main loudspeaker system in the concert hall is based around a NEXO GEO S12 line array, NXAMP4X4 amplifiers equipped with EtherSound cards connected to the existing EtherSound network; four Yamaha DSR115 self-powered Yamaha speakers for stage fills/monitors, and a Yamaha M7CL-48ES digital audio console.

In a joint statement the Bennett’s said: “Putting the finest sound system in the Tony Bennett Concert Hall at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts has turned it into one of the best sounding halls in the United States. How fortunate we are that both Tom’s team and Yamaha were able to create this for the public school children of New York City.”

For more information on Yamaha and NEXO products, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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Photo ID: Cheri Walsh, Director of Exploring the Arts, Larry Italia, VP/GM Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Tony Bennett and his wife Susan, and Tom Young

About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Tegan and Sara’s 13-year career has seen them build an avid global following of fans and fellow musicians alike. Born in Calgary, Alberta, the Quinn sisters’ unique ability to bridge the pop and indie worlds has allowed their music to cross all traditional boundaries of genres, from being covered by The White Stripes to collaborating with superstar DJs such as Tiesto and David Guetta. Having sold nearly 1 million albums and touring with acts from The Killers to Neil Young, Tegan and Sara are on the road in support of their 7th studio album – “Heartthrob”.

A Yamaha CL3 digital audio console with two Rio3224-D racks has been provided by Gearforce of Coquitlam, BC, Canada for front of house mixing by Scottie Baldwin. Robert Nevalainen, President of Gearforce said that it became obvious early on that the CL line represented a leap forward in audio quality. “Yamaha managed to retain the Centralogic interface that so many engineers love, and the company has such market penetration, that it just made sense.”

“The CL Series sounds amazing; a perfect blend of the sonic purity and coloration add up to the most musical console on the market,” states Baldwin. “I’ve found the Dante networking to be not only simple to set up, but incredibly reliable as well. The simple setup of the Dante network gets me where I need to be: into the music. Baldwin says he makes extensive use of the console’s Premium Rack; specifically, the Neve compressors and EQ’s as well as the multi-band compressors.

Baldwin has been a Yamaha end user engineer from the first days of Yamaha digital consoles. In 2002, the Yamaha PM1D was the first large-scale digital console he used for a Prince tour. He’s used Yamaha consoles exclusively since. “The thought behind where an engineer’s hands and eyes will be during a show are most impressive, Baldwin adds, completely intuitive to live mixing, that allows maximum capability to focus on the most important element of all: the music.”

For more information on Gearforce, visit www.gearforce.com.

For more information on the Yamaha CL, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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PHOTO ID: Scottie Baldwin at Yamaha CL3

About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.

GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA – MAY 2013: Danley Sound Labs brings its revolutionary Synergy Horn technology to the great outdoors with the Danley OS80. Like its Synergy Horn siblings, the OS80 delivers tremendous output, both in terms of sound pressure level and transparency, as well as precise pattern control. Unlike its Synergy Horn siblings, however, the OS80 is housed in an enclosure that is utterly impervious to weather, making it the ideal loudspeaker for outdoor installations at sports venues, arenas, athletic fields and complexes, theme and recreational parks, public gatherings, race tracks, community centers, cruise ships, hockey rinks, water parks, swimming areas, and more.

“The Danley OS80 brings high fidelity to outdoor loudspeakers,” asserted Mike Hedden, president of Danley Sound Labs. “Until now, installing a fully-weatherized loudspeaker meant significant compromises in fidelity and impact. But like all Danley products, the OS80 doesn’t play by those rules. The OS80 not only delivers the kind of clarity and power that characterizes our flagship SH-50 loudspeaker, but it can do it in a driving rain or after a winter spent buried under snow. In addition, the OS80’s precise pattern control created by the large horn makes it possible for outdoor sound reinforcement systems to deliver superior Synergy Horn fidelity to every seat.”

The Danley OS80’s coverage pattern is 80 deg conical with an operating frequency range that spans 113 Hz to 18 kHz (+/- 3 dB). It has 101 dB SPL sensitivity and a maximum output that rates 127 dB SPL continuous and 133 dB SPL program. A single high performance 12-inch driver and a single 1.4-inch driver energize the Synergy Horn and are hidden away inside a thermal molded poly-composite exterior measuring 32.25 inches high by 26-inches wide by 14.5 inches deep. Total weight is 51 pounds, and a U bracket is included as are other flexible mounting options which allow the Danley OS80 to make itself at home in any circumstance.

ABOUT DANLEY SOUND LABS Danley Sound Labs is the exclusive home of Tom Danley, one of the most innovative loudspeaker designers in the industry today and recognized worldwide as a pioneer for “outside the box” thinking in professional audio technology. www.danleysoundlabs.com

SEE US AT INFOCOMM BOOTH #143 – COME TO HEAR THE OS80 IN DEMO ROOM W203B

SAFETY HARBOR, FLORIDA – MAY 2013: Marko Hunt is closing in on four decades behind the mixing console, and he has spent the last thirty-two of them with The Oak Ridge Boys – first at monitors and then later at FOH. Before securing that enduring gig, Hunt cut his teeth touring with the Little River Band in its heyday. He also spent several years touring with Johnny Cash. Suffice it to say, Hunt is no newbie! And after all those countless gigs in the innumerable venues of the nation and the world, he can hear things with awe-inspiring precision and objectivity, although he’s too modest and soft-spoken to admit it. Perhaps because of that ability, Hunt is also keenly aware of the multiple advantages of regularly “calibrating” his ears with the analysis software that has been his constant companion for the last decade: SpectraFoo by Metric Halo.

“As good as my ears may or may not be (that’s an opinion!) it’s still a good idea to use a measurement tool to maintain accuracy,” Hunt said. “Anybody who does what I do knows that there are so many things in a room that can throw you off. I can hear a frequency and call it. By now, I’m good at that. But I can still get fooled; it’s not uncommon to mistake a frequency for one that’s an octave higher or lower. Moreover, I’m used to calling frequencies in the standard 1/3 octave bands. But with SpectraFoo, I can objectively see what’s going on with much greater resolution, switching to 1/6 or even 1/12 octave, which allows me to pinpoint a frequency on my parametric EQ. Very often, that center point may sit between the 1/3 octave bands.”

In addition to the tricks and phantoms that acoustical spaces and PA systems love to conjure, there are often physiological reasons why the objectivity afforded by SpectraFoo and Hunt’s Earthworks M30 omni-directional measurement microphone can be a life saver. “Because of the timing of things, there are some days when I go over the mountains flat on my back in a bunk,” he said. “God never meant for you and your ears to go over the mountains on your back! Or I may fly, and the pressure change may leave my ears completely whacked. But my computer doesn’t care. My mic doesn’t care. And SpectraFoo doesn’t care. I can still tune a room – close to perfectly – even if my ears are still recovering.”

When working with The Oak Ridge Boys, a well-tuned room is essential. With four vocalists, four soloists, and percussion, there is a lot going on and a lot of open mics. Indeed, the high pass for bass vocalist Richard Sterban (think “oom-pa-pa-oom-pa-pa-mau-mau” from “Elvira”) is often as low as 80Hz, and he’s a fairly quiet singer. If Hunt doesn’t take care of the 200 to 300Hz especially, his mix will invariably turn to mud. “Although I travel with my own console, every night I’m faced with a different room and a different PA,” he said. “SpectraFoo helps me to maintain consistency from night to night.” Of course, Hunt also relies on his ears – you can often find him walking around a venue before a show listening to Steely Dan, Diana Krall, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and other “clean recordings” that he’s very familiar with.

Apart from helping Hunt to objectify his experience, SpectraFoo can also make it easier to communicate with others about sound, which can otherwise be a very subjective topic of conversation – or of disagreement. “I remember one time when I was setting up, and the left side of the PA sounded funny,” he said. “I talked with the venue technicians, who insisted that they had just had someone out to tune things up and that the problem must therefore reside with our gear. So I showed them with SpectraFoo: first the right side where everything looked good, then the left side, where things were obviously messed up. Then they said, ‘it has to be your console!’ So I hooked up the console output to SpectraFoo and it was obvious that both channels were fine. They couldn’t fix it that day, but they did call me later to say thanks and that, yes, a few of the components had been wired out of phase.”

Although he doesn’t use them all, Hunt appreciates the huge diversity of tools available in SpectraFoo, and he uses a fair number of them – both on the road and in the studio. “The main tools that I use for tuning a room and for the actual performance are the Spectragraph (volume versus frequency) and the Spectragram (volume versus frequency versus time),” said Hunt. “I’ll usually compare the output from the console with the output from my Earthworks mic using the Transfer Function (source versus mic). If I hear a frequency poke up, I can turn to the time-based Spectragram, and that lets me know where it is and whether it’s in the console or only in the room.” He uses many of the additional tools, such as the oscilloscope, the Lissajous phase scope, THD Distortion Analyzer and the Phase Torch to confirm the operation of his equipment and to help out in the studio. “I also can route my monitor buss to the source input and compare any channel on the console to what’s coming out of the P.A. or using separate busses compare any two channels on the console, i.e. kick and bass guitar. Once you’re set up it’s as simple as switching window sets.”

ABOUT METRIC HALO Now based in the sunny city of Safety Harbor, Florida, Metric Halo provides the world with high-resolution metering, analysis, recording and processing solutions with award-winning software and future-proof hardware.

www.mhlabs.com

WEBSTER, NEW YORK – MAY 2013: With founder Billy Thompson’s invention of the “Loud Amp” in the early 1970s and the introduction of its path-breaking MOS-FET amplifier technology in the early 1980s, Ashly Audio established itself as a company that would lead the industry in technological innovations. It continues that tradition with the new Ashly nX family of Class D amplifiers, which deliver up to 12,000W of clean power while drawing less than 1W in sleep mode. nX amplifiers are offered in four- or two-channel versions with selectable high-Z (70/100V) or low-Z output on each channel. nX model variants include the addition of Ethernet control, and onboard Protea™ DSP with load monitoring, to meet the many and varied requirements of modern fixed installation and live sound applications. True to the craftsmanship that launched the company, Ashly hand-builds nX amplifiers in the United States and backs their performance with a five-year warranty.

“nX amplifiers are lightweight and efficient, yet pack a tremendous amount of power and flexibility into a 2U chassis” said Anthony Errigo, director of communications for Ashly. “We have designed them to meet the demanding requirements of stadiums, arenas, performance venues, worship spaces, and convention centers – anywhere big sound and modern performance requirements are needed. nX amplifiers are especially appealing for value-engineered installs because they offer features, performance, and reliability that Ashly is known to deliver.”

Ashly is offering three series of nX amps with feature sets that build upon each other. The base nX amplifiers are available in four- or two-channel models at 3000W or 1500W per channel (@ 2 Ohms) and feature a defeatable automatic sleep mode. nXe series amps add Ethernet control, serial data control, aux preamp outputs, programmable standby mode, preset recall, fault condition logic outputs, event scheduling, and optional network audio and digital audio capability (CobraNet® or AES3). Finally, nXp series amps feature everything in nXe plus onboard 32-bit SHARC Protea DSP processing (48 or 96kHz sampling rate) and precision swept load-impedance monitoring.

Additional features include multiple independent power supplies for increased channel separation and reliability; front panel power switch and level controls (defeatable in nXe and nXp models); front panel LEDs for temperature, current, signal, clip, mute, bridge mode, protect, sleep, and more; Neutrik® Combo XLR – 1/4” TRS jack plus Euroblock input connectors; Neutrik speakON® twist locking loudspeaker connectors for security, safety, and reliability; rear panel DIP switches per channel for selection of high pass filter, limiter, input gain, and High-Z or Low-Z speaker output configuration; remote DC level control on each input channel; switch mode power supply automatically detects 120V or 240V AC operation; and extensive protection circuitry, including continuously variable cooling fans.

ABOUT ASHLY AUDIO Ashly Audio Inc. is recognized as a world leader in the design and manufacturing of high quality & high performance signal processing equipment and power amplification for use in the commercial sound contracting and professional audio markets. The 37-year old company is headquartered in Webster, New York U.S.A. www.ashly.com

PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE US AT INFOCOMM BOOTH #335

The sound team at the Parco Della Musica Auditorium in Rome recently turned to DPA Microphones’ Reference Standard 4017 Shotgun Microphones to record the audio for a specially commissioned double DVD of two operas that were being performed as part of the Santa Cecilia Opera Studio, a master programme devoted to Bel Canto.

With high quality audio a prerequisite – and with strict instructions from the director that no microphones were to be seen anywhere in the video footage – sound engineer Giacomo De Caterini was initially struggling to work out how he could comply with the director’s brief.

“The director wanted to avoid any microphones that could be visible because he was determined to maintain strict focus on the performers,” De Caterini explains. “Due to bad experiences in the past, especially on video productions where close-up shots revealed poorly concealed microphones dangling from the singers’ wigs, he was very keen not to have any microphones on the singers’ heads. This ruled out the use of miniature microphones such as the DPA 4061s, which we had initially been considering.”

To add to De Caterini’s difficulties, some of the backgrounds were being video projected, which meant that microphones hanging from the ceiling were also out of the question.

“I was quite worried as the only option left was to use shotgun microphones positioned on the edge of the proscenium,” De Caterini says. “I realized this would only be OK if we had a sufficient quantity and if they were strategically placed to capture the audio properly.”

Luckily, Salvatore Zocco, product manager at DPA’s Italian distributor M. Casale Bauer, was able to come up with a solution. He gave Giacomo De Caterini some DPA Reference Standard 4017 Shotgun Microphones and suggested he tried them out as an option.

“Although I expected the high quality sound and trustworthiness that invariably comes with DPA microphones, what I did not expect was the ability of these microphones to deliver a sound unlike any other shotgun I have ever tried,” De Caterini explains. “They were much more akin to a pair of traditional cardioids, and with the amazing ability to behave more like ‘wide cannons’ than strict shotguns. In other words, instead of the typically coloured audio that becomes almost unusable as soon as the pickup is slightly off-axis, these microphones delivered great audio that required minimal tweaks and remained readable and clean even when picking up vocalists who were right as the back of the stage. Thanks to their new, dedicated preamps, they also delivered lower noise than any other shotgun microphone I have tried. Ultimately, what set them apart was something you certainly don’t expect from shotguns: sheer musicality.”

The two operas being recorded for this DVD project were Ravel’s “L’Heure Espagnole” and Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”. Both were performed in the Petrassi Hall, which has roughly 700 seats and is the smallest of the three halls that form the Parco Della Musica Auditorium complex. The double DVD production was co-produced by the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Infocamere, the IT company for the Italian Chamber of Commerce, and distributed as a special gift to major Chambers of Commerce clients.

After completing the recordings for the DVDs, Giacomo De Caterini was so impressed with the performance of the DPA 4017 Shotgun Microphones that he refused to return them to M. Casale Bauer.

“They were definitely a keeper,” he says, “and they have now joined the Auditorium’s stock of DPAs. I’ve used a lot of DPA in the past – and B&K before them. I love all the classics like the 4006, 4015, 4011 etc., and I also use the DPA miniature microphones for live work, especially the brilliant d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphones and the compact cardioid 4021 microphones, which I consider to be the most treasured tools of my trade.”

Recently, De Caterini had the opportunity to use a pair of DPA 4041s (running at 130V with the dedicated preamp) and was completely blown away by their performance.

“They combine the best features of DPA’s classic omnis with the low/mid ability that has previously been the trademark of DPA’s competitors. Using them for the first time provided me with a rare moment of illumination – not to mention an almost irrepressible urge to reach for my wallet!”

Since completing the opera DVD project, Giacomo De Caterini has been working on a number of other high profile recordings including engineering and post-producing a CD of Verdi’s music for EMI Classics, which features the Orchestra di Santa Cecilia with Sir Antonio Pappano.

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Editors’ information:
DPA Microphones is the leading Danish Professional Audio manufacturer of high quality condenser microphones and microphone solutions for professional applications in studio, broadcast, theatre, video/film and sound reinforcement environments. All DPA microphones and components are manufactured at the company’s purpose-built factory in Denmark.
For more information on DPA Microphones, please visit www.dpamicrophones.com

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Held the last weekend of April in Wilkesboro, N.C., this year’s MerleFest included a roster of longtime roots artists like Leon Russell, The Charlie Daniels Band, Avett Brothers, Del McCoury Band, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, Michael Martin Murphey, Peter Rowan, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. As locals know, the festival is named for famed guitarist Doc Watson’s late son, Merle, a gifted musician in his own right. Doc passed away in May 2012, so this is the first year he hasn’t graced the stage himself.

For the past 26 years, SE Systems of Greensboro, N.C. has provided audio production for MerleFest, and this year included a new NEXO STM rig shared and alternating between the main Watson Stage and the side Cabin Stage. The system consisted of 15 M46/B112 per side for mains, 16 S118 subs in cardioid mode per side, two M46 for front fills, and a three-stack of M46/B112s were used for out fills in the VIP area. A Yamaha DME64 digital mixing engine functioned as a converter from analog to Dante that was networked to all NXAMPs. 20 NEXO 45 N-12 line monitors were also used on the main stage.

“The NEXO STM system was very musical and even horizontally and vertically, states Chris West, front of house engineer at the Watson Stage. “The mix sounded the same on the ground and at FOH. The throw was incredible; we hardly used the delays.”

“The NEXO STM system sounded natural, even at high volume,” states Haley Miller, monitor engineer at the Watson Stage. “When dealing with acoustic music, the environment plays a large part, so a natural sounding system is always a plus. On stage it was quiet, and sometimes we couldn’t tell if the PA was on; the system allowed great isolation from stage to FOH with no bleed.

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Four new Yamaha CL5 digital audio consoles with Rio 3224 input/output boxes all connected with Dante were used on the Americana Stage for mains and monitors and at the Dance Stage for mains and monitors. “The overall impression was they sounded great,” states Myron Surber, Sales Associate, SE Systems. “The preamps were warm and the Premium Rack was a real plus with delays on the input channels and the additional 1/3 octave EQs.”

“The Yamaha CL5 is a great improvement on previous Yamaha consoles having mixed on both the PM5D and M7CL in festival situations,” states Josh Berneking, who mixed front of house for all the acts on the Americana Stage. “The CL5 is much better in that situation. The new premium rack plug-ins, especially the Rupert Neve EQ and Compressor, sound great. I also like the increased naming and labeling capabilities; and color-coding my channels was a huge help at the festival. I also found that it was similar enough in navigation to the M7s that guest engineers walking up to the consoles having no experience were able to jump right in on the desk and mix on the fly with very little help from me. The Dante network and stage boxes worked great; they were very easy to patch on, and setup. We were also able to connect my talkback mic to the monitor console through Dante.” Jeff Neubauer mixed monitors on the Americana Stage.

“The console sounded great and was sonically very clean,” states Todd Dupree who mixed monitors on the Dance Stage. “We had two Rio boxes on our stage; they are great devices, well made, and solid. The indicator lights for signal, peaking, 48v, and the Ping feature worked great in the frantic festival setting.” John Adair mixed front of house at Dance Stage.

For more information on SE Systems, visit www.sesystems.com.

For more information on NEXO and Yamaha products, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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Photo ID: L to R SE Systems Chris West, Yamaha’s Joe Rimstidt, Doug Staab and Mark Rush, and SE Systems Thomas Dameron. Avett Brothers are on stage.

About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.