MELVILLE, NY, March 29, 2011 — Tsutomu Katoh was born in Showa-ward, Nagoya City in Japan on August 28, 1926. After advanced graduation from Nagoya Shogyo commercial high school in 1943, He enrolled in the navy, where he was among the crew of the submarine “Koryu� (meaning dragon) during WWII.

After the war, he held a position at a trading company, and eventually went on to become the proprietor of a nightclub in the early 1960s. Tadashi Osanai, a noted Japanese accordionist, performed regularly at Katoh’s club. Katoh told Osanai, who was also an engineering graduate from Japan’s prestigious Tokyo Imperial University, that it would be nice to have a rhythm machine to keep the beat.

Katoh and Osanai teamed up to create and market the world’s first disk rotary rhythm machine. While working on the project, Mr. Katoh founded Keio Electronic Laboratories. more

MELVILLE, NY, March 30, 2011 — Korg USA is giving fans a chance to win its new flagship Kronos Music Workstation. The “What Would You Do for a Kronos?� video contest offers the opportunity for players to get their hands on one of the most talked-about and most anticipated music workstations, absolutely free. The contest runs April 1, 2011, through May 31, 2011.

Entrants must simply create an original YouTube video explaining or demonstrating what they would do for a free Kronos*. Each entry will be judged on its originality, creativity, entertainment value and number of views. All video files should be titled “What I Would Do for a Korg Kronos� and posted to YouTube. Then, entrants can submit the completed online entry form at www.korg.com/kronosvideocontest. Korg will select five finalists, and a panel of special Korg artists and staff more

The OSD MTR-500 converts an 8-ohm amplifier output to 70V/100V, making it ideal for situations that require running multiple pairs of 70V speakers to a single 8-ohm amplifier.

Brea, Calif., March 31, 2011— OSD Audio, a Southern California-based manufacturer of whole-house audio products, announced the release of MTR-500 70V/100V Amplifier/Transformer. A unique problem-solver for consumer and commercial applications, the MTR-500 coverts an 8-ohm amplifier to a 70V/100V amp, thus allowing multiple pairs of 70V speakers to be run to a single amplifier.

“A lot of folks don’t know about the OSD Audio MTR-500 Amp/Transformer but it’s a great product,� notes Dustin Hodges of OSD Audio. “Its main application is to take a typical 8 ohm amplifier and turn it into a 70V amplifier, which could be vey useful for commercial, residential and even pro audio installations.�

Hodges points our different scenarios where the MTR-500 would be helpful, for example expanding a business or retail establishment where more speakers must be added to the existing audio system. By connecting the MTR-500 amp transformer to the inputs of more

— Popular German-based Pro Audio company brings its modular line array technology to the U.S.—

MELVILLE, NY, March 30, 2011 — Now shipping for the first time in the U.S., HK Audio offers its Elements modular sound reinforcement, which merges the benefits of modern line array technology with the portability and easy handling of ultra-compact P.A. systems. Elements enables users to easily put together a system suitable for every situation using just six easy-to-combine components. The system can be configured to support anything from an intimate speaking engagement to a multi-instrumental concert with a full 3600 Watts of Front of House power. Elements is based on line array technology for superb sonic performance, consistent with other product offerings from HK Audio.

Setting up the Elements system and tearing it down again is quick and easy. With E-Connect, HK’s proprietary integrated signal routing system, more

— New plugin series features seven different processors, each with its own dedicated effect controlled by a single dial —

KNOXVILLE, TN, March 29, 2011 — Waves Audio announces the new OneKnob series, a set of seven plugins, each of which provides a particular effect controlled by a single knob. Great sounding and easy to use, OneKnob plugins feature the best of Waves’ award-winning audio processes, coupled with their simplest, most intuitive interfaces ever. For everyone from home recording enthusiasts to audio industry professionals, OneKnob plugins deliver high-quality, quick results, providing outstanding go-to solutions for studio and live sound work alike.

In the control room, in the DJ booth, or when mixing a live show — when users don’t feel like tweaking loads of parameters, and when they want to stay focused on the music and simply dial up some great-sounding effects — more

— Mystic Black finish is a bold new look for the award-winning 6010A and 5040A —

— The 6010A and 5040A provide the perfect solution for both stereo and surround sound applications in compact listening areas or on desktops —

NATICK, MA, March 29, 2011 — Genelec, the world’s longstanding leader in active monitoring, is shipping its 6010A Bi-Amplified Loudspeaker System and matching 5040A Active Subwoofer in a striking new finish, dark “Mysticâ€? black. The 6010A is Genelec’s smallest speaker system to date, measuring 7 1/8″ x 4 3/4″ x 4 1/2″ (height with Iso-Podâ„¢ 7 11/16″). The system has been designed for computer sound systems, workstations, Master Control Rooms, and other close proximity listening applications requiring a low-profile monitoring solution. It can even be plugged directly into personal music players for more

KFDA Is First Station in Group to Launch Local HD Newscast

WAYNE, NJ – JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., today announced that Lawton, Okla.-based Drewry Communications Group has standardized on JVC ProHD cameras for electronic newsgathering (ENG) for all five of its television stations.

On Feb. 23, KFDA-TV, the Drewry CBS affiliate serving Amarillo, Texas (DMA #131), was the first station in the group to launch its local newscast in HD. Brent McClure, KFDA general manager, said the station is using seven GY-HM790U cameras in the field for local news and sports coverage.

Last month, KFDA’s new JVC camcorders literally had a trial by fire, covering range fires that blanketed some of the new ENG cameras in dirt and soot. McClure said he was very satisfied how the cameras performed in the adverse more

Bergen, Norway, Vizrt Ltd. (Oslo Main List: VIZ)

In the same way that sports was the “killer app� that fueled early interest in HDTV, many sports networks such as ESPN 3D and Sky 3D are betting that live sports will drive the fledgling 3DTV medium. With many sports aficionados among the early adopters of 3DTV, broadcasters are hustling to produce as much live 3DTV sports as possible, and they need stereo 3D production tools that make the job faster, easier, and more cost-effective.

To answer that need, Stergen, a strategic partner of Vizrt, will show its new and groundbreaking Stergen Live software for live 2D to stereoscopic 3D conversion at Vizrt’s booth (#SL5408) at the 2011 NAB show, to be held from April 11-14 in Las Vegas, Nev. Unlike many of its rivaling options in the market, the more

(L) Jim Bowie, President of Electrosonic Group and (R) Robert Menell, Founder and Owner of Excel Media Systems

Electrosonic is pleased to announce its acquisition of systems integrator Excel Media Systems Inc. The company will become part of Electrosonic’s corporate solutions business, offering meeting room and video conferencing systems with full after-sales services from offices in New York City.

The acquisition expands Electrosonic’s corporate solutions business in the New York tri-state area and allows the company to better serve its international clients with local offices. Electrosonic’s breadth of AV systems knowledge and project management expertise will ensure that Excel Media’s customers will continue to receive the highest level of service and support.

“We are excited to bring Excel more

Almo Professional A/V Now Offers Expanded AMX Line

Almo Carries AMX Integrated Controllers, Touch Panel / DVX Bundles, Switchers, Amplifiers and HydraPort Systems; Shown on E4 AV Tour In April

Philadelphia, PA — March 30, 2011 — Almo Professional A/V, the nation’s fastest growing audiovisual distributor, today revealed it is offering an expanded line of AMX products, including AMX’s Integrated Controllers, Modero Touch Panel / DVX bundles, switchers, amplifiers and a modular port system. The new additions to Almo Professional A/V’s initial offering of the AMX Inspired Xpress product gives partners more choices to customize and complete their digital signage and other general professional AV projects.

AMX will exhibit these products during Almo’s 2011 E4 AV Tour, which begins in San Francisco on April 6 and continues on to Dallas on April 21. AMX will also host a training session on “Emerging Trends in Configurable Control more