POINT LEPREAU, New Brunswick — The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, a power plant located near New Brunswick, Canada, recently underwent a complete audio upgrade featuring HARMAN’s Crown CTs Series Amplifiers. Point Lepreau, which began operating in 1983, has been redesigned to meet all current nuclear facility standards including its public address and life safety systems.

“Since 9/11, much closer attention has been paid to life safety systems,� said Steve O’Rourke, Audio Division Manager of Backman Vidcom, the Halifax, Nova Scotia integrator responsible for installing the plant-wide public address system. “Along with security, fire protection and rescue systems, the PA system has an extremely important role in plant safety. People need to be able to hear announcements and alerts clearly – it can be a matter of life and death in an emergency situation.�

The Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station system includes 18 Crown CTs Series CTs 8200USP/CN power amplifiers with CobraNet™ networking cards and 32 Crown CTs 2000 amps with PIP3 card connectivity. “This gives us a total of 208 channels and 92,800 watts of power,� O’Rourke noted. “We needed the networking capability the Crown amps provide because we designed the installation to be a completely self-monitoring system.�

Since the previous PA was 30 years old it needed to be completely replaced. “This gave us the opportunity to take advantage of the latest advancements in amplifier and speaker design and system control. What the plant needed was a ‘Voice of God’ PA that could reliably deliver pages all day long and could be clearly heard for any alert and emergency situations that might occur. It had to be intelligible even over the adverse noise conditions that occur in a large industrial complex,� O’Rourke stated.

Equally important, the system absolutely had to keep functioning during emergency situations and had to be CSA (Canadian Standards Association) certified and assembled to nuclear-grade standards. For these reasons O’Rourke only used most reliable components and built in a level of redundancy so that the PA would keep working even if parts of it incurred physical damage.

“The Crown amplifiers proved ideal for this unique situation because of their networking, internal processing and status reporting capabilities. We also chose them for their reliability, limited current draw and small thermal footprint,� added O’Rourke. “The flexibility of the Crown amps was key for making this installation work. I can’t imagine having undertaken this project with any other amplifier.�

“Everything in this installation had to be the best possible – even the quality of the equipment racks had to be literally nuclear-grade – and that is why there was no question about us using anything but Crown amplifiers,� O’Rourke concluded.

For more information about Backman Vidcom, please visit www.bvci.ca.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom — HARMAN’s Studer and ENCO, an independent producer of audio playout and automation systems for radio and television broadcasting, have recently partnered in development on interfacing to each other’s systems, with the result being shown on both companies’ booths at NAB 2013 in Las Vegas.

Studer’s OnAir range of consoles can now link to ENCO’s DAD system via the Monitora protocol, providing bi-directional communication between the two systems over IP, with the added benefit of remote control playout via either the console or the automation system.

Both systems support the Axia Livewire AoIP system and USB audio, eliminating the need for traditional sound card interfaces.

“Studer offers a number of options for interfacing to automation and playout systems and the partnership with ENCO enhances both our product positions, while offering our customers a sophisticated yet simple to implement solution for workflow and control,� reported Ingo Hahn, Studer’s Product Manager for the OnAir Series.

“We have a tradition of working with the finest partners in the world of broadcast technology, and we jumped at the chance to continue that tradition with Studer,� stated Patrick Campion, ENCO’s General Manager. “This collaboration provides our customers with the features and flexibility they demand in a constantly evolving broadcast landscape.�

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

Fairlight PYXIS 4KSYDNEY, Australia – Fairlight will present at NAB 2013 an impressive line up of product innovations, re-claiming its leadership position in providing the post production industry with world-class solutions for advanced audio with video editing and networking technology.

“As a result of Fairlight’s investments and commitment to launching new products and technologies with tangible benefits for media content creators, visitors will witness the widest and most versatile range of Fairlight post production solutions ever on display�, commented Jean-Claude Kathriner, CEO of Fairlight.

Individual product demonstrations will showcase production system options ranging from mouse based (SOLO), tactile desktop (XSTREAM, XYNERGI) to fully featured and modular consoles (QUANTUM, EVO). Powered by Fairlight’s award-winning, hardware accelerated Crystal Core processing engine with new DREAM software, Fairlight systems deliver benchmark performance and workflow integration into existing facilities.

Some highlights at Fairlight’s NAB booth SU9507 in the Upper Level of the South Hall are:

New DREAM software version featuring ASIO® bridge

Fairlight’s latest release of software includes countless additional features, is easy to operate for new users, improves workflow, and delivers faster output. New features include mouse based editing, single screen interface with new mix panel choices, and as an option multi client ASIO® bridge to host third party audio products (e.g. Pro Tools®, Nuendo®).

iCAN – ultimate customization tool

iCAN (Integrated Control Across Network) is the ultimate customization tool for all common DAW’s or Video production tools. Fairlight’s Layout Editor empowers the operator to simply drag-and-drop functions from a menu onto the Fairlight controller buttons, and determines when they will appear. iCan is designed as an open platform and can connect a Fairlight controller to third party content creation applications such as Pro Tools®, Nuendo®, Pyramix® or Media Composer® and Edius®. User-defined key layouts of the Fairlight controller display the operators ideal set up for third party applications.

SOLO – mouse based Fairlight DAW

SOLO is a professional mouse-based DAW with integrated video, offering a high quality yet cost effective solution for demanding media productions. SOLO provides editing, video guide, mixing, plug-ins, file transfer and recording – in one tool. The processing power of Fairlight’s FPGA based Crystal Core processor guarantees highest performance, lowest latency and purest Audio quality.

Fairlight now also offers native, non hardware-accelerated software versions for preparation and evaluation purposes or for students/teachers to record, mix or edit – the Fairlight way. Find out at the Fairlight booth if you are eligible to receive a FREE software version.

XSTREAM – ultra compact desktop controller

XSTREAM is a powerful and compact desktop controller taking intuitive, fast tactile operation to the next level. Smaller than a 17� laptop footprint, XSTREAM’s picture keys on the control surface self-label instantly for easy navigation with fewer keystrokes, providing maximum efficiency. The control surface literally reinvents itself for each task one performs, presenting the commands at the right time. To enhance the mixing capabilities, XSTREAM can be specified with up to 24 touch sensitive motorized faders.

QUANTUM and QUANTUM.tm – versatile media production center

QUANTUM is a mid-size 12 or 24 fader media production console offering a very fast, mixing environment for most demanding Audio / Video productions using HD picture with up to 192 Audio tracks. QUANTUM provides the versatility to be either fitted into a free standing Fairlight designed chassis or alternatively be mounted into a high quality table from US manufacturer TBC or the client’s own table design (QUANTUM.tm).

PYXIS 4K – next generation professional video recorder

PYXIS 4K is a standalone or rack-mountable, turn-key video recorder delivering a cost effective and future- proof UHD Video recording and playback, with extensive Audio capabilities and workflow compatibility. PYXIS 4K records compressed or uncompressed Video formats from SD up to 4K, and delivers transparent playback in up to 4K or dual-channel 2K resolution. For demanding multi-screen Video wall presentations, multiple systems can be synchronized for playback in up to 8K resolution.

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About Fairlight:

Fairlight is a Sydney based leading manufacturer of professional video and audio recording, editing and mixing systems offering desktop, console and mouse based environments. Fairlight is at the forefront of digital audio technology, having received numerous Scientific and Technical Academy Awards. Pioneering 3D sound development and customized control surfaces acknowledged by industry leaders as being the fastest and most ergonomic available. www.fairlight.com.au

About FairlightUS:

FairlightUS is headquartered in New Jersey USA and is the exclusive distributor for Fairlight products in the North American market. Fairlight has been at the forefront of digital audio development since its inception in 1975. Fairlight designs and manufactures media creation tools including digital audio recording, editing and mixing systems for standard and high definition audio post, broadcast and music production applications. www.fairlightus.com

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei — Radio Televisyen Brunei (Radio Television Brunei or RTB), the state broadcaster of Brunei, runs five radio networks from its base at Bandar Seri Begawan—these are National FM, Pilihan FM, Pelangi FM, Harmoni FM and Nur Islam FM. Recently a HARMAN Studer OnAir 2500 fixed frame console, configured with 18 faders, became the de facto choice for its regional studio in the Tutong district. Previously the broadcasters had been using a Studer 916 for their on-air studio for the past 15 years, and according to the operators, superior sound quality, reliability and the user friendly interface were the main factors in continuing to specify Studer.

According to Mahajak Trio Senior Manager, Sales and Project, Lee Chin Kah, the station had been looking for a reliable, fully flexible and cost-effective solution. The tender was awarded to AFS Engineering Kuala Lumpur for the complete integration and the console was supplied by the HARMAN Malaysia distributor, Mahajak Trio Electronic Sdn Bhd.

A spokesman for the RTB engineering team was equally positive. “We needed a console that was reliable, well supported from the supplier and the manufacturer, fully featured and sufficiently flexible to meet our workflow needs. Furthermore, no advance programming skills are required.

“The OnAir 2500 has all the features available in Studer’s complete range of OnAir consoles and provides a fully scalable platform of solutions to broadcasters.�

All Studer OnAir consoles are fully customisable in workflow requirements, and although stand-alone in configuration, the OA2500 can be fully integrated into a Studer ‘Relink’ control and audio networking environment, as required.

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

CHULA VISTA, California, March 21, 2013 — Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group today introduced its CP-X3030WN, CP-X2530WN 3LCD projectors, which offer superior image quality, connectivity and ease of use including iPad compatibility, making them ideal for a wide range of business, educational and commercial applications.

The CP-X3030WN delivers 3,200 lumens and the CP-X2530WN provides 2,700 lumens, while both incorporate Hitachi’s exclusive Intelligent Eco ImageCare energy-saving technology that actively controls lamp power between 36 and 100 percent, delivering less power to the lamp during darker scenes and more during brighter scenes to conserve energy use and extend lamp life. The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN deliver up to a 4000:1 contrast ratio for bright, vivid colors and sharp images.

Both projectors provide a full array of A/V connectivity options including HDMI, component, composite and S-video inputs, with RGB inputs and outputs, audio connections, and an RS-232C port for integrated A/V system control. Both projectors also feature a microphone input.

The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN feature iPad compatibility – both can display images directly from an iPad via Hitachi’s Projector Quick connection. Both models also offer network compatibility via wired or optional wireless connection (via a USB wireless card) and can be remotely controlled via a local area network (LAN). A Moderator Control Mode lets a moderator control the output of up to 50 computers through the network into the projector.

Both of these projectors also feature Hitachi’s PC-Less Presentation feature that enables users to project images directly from a USB drive or other USB storage device, eliminating the need to connect a laptop or desktop computer.

The CP-X3030WN and CP-X2530WN are designed for total ease of use, thanks to an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that can be displayed in 33 languages. Both models provide comprehensive picture adjustment functions and a host of performance and convenience features including an upgraded Template function displays white or black lines to make writing on a whiteboard or blackboard easier; improved Zoom functions; an Input Source Naming function lets the user customize the names of input sources and more. Both projectors come with a remote that provides MyMemory, MyText, MySource and MyScreen buttons for fast access to frequently used functions and sources.

For more information on Hitachi visit www.hitachi-america.us/digitalmedia

Follow Hitachi on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hitachi-Projectors/131067323636829

Follow Hitachi on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/HALProjectors

About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi America, Ltd., headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and its subsidiary companies offer a broad range of electronics, power and industrial equipment and services, automotive products and consumer electronics with operations throughout the Americas. For more information, visit www.hitachi-america.us. For information on other Hitachi Group companies in the United States, please visit www.hitachi.us.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2011 (ended March 31, 2012) consolidated revenues totaled 9,665 billion yen ($117.8 billion). Hitachi will focus more than ever on the Social Innovation Business, which includes information and telecommunication systems, power systems, environmental, industrial and transportation systems, and social and urban systems, as well as the sophisticated materials and key devices that support them. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi.com.

POWAI, India — The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) recently completed a major renovation of its 1,500-seat Convocation Hall. The venue’s new interior spaces were designed by Mumbai architects Sandeep Shikre and Associates. Mumbai- based systems integrator ADJM Technologies was contracted to provide expert consultancy on the A/V system upgrade, which included HARMAN’s AKG microphones, BSS signal processing, Crown power amplifiers, JBL loudspeakers and a Soundcraft console.

The IIT-B is recognized as a worldwide leader in the field of engineering education and research, and is known for the quality of its faculty and the outstanding caliber of students and alumni who are successful entrepreneurs, scientists and leaders in multi-national companies. The IIT-B campus is situated in picturesque surroundings at Powai, Mumbai and extends over 200 hectares. In the recent past, the IITB has expanded to now include more than 584 major buildings, including a Convocation Hall, which recently had the honor of being inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.

The primary use of the Convocation Hall is for graduations and convocation, and the hall also hosts audiences on a regular basis for presentations, training programs. It can also be configured for use as a theater for viewing movies, and serves as a focal point of faculty and student activity.

“As an institution that has been the hallmark of technology and innovation, our mandate for the A/V systems upgrade at the auditorium was to achieve crystal-clear, high-quality sound with ease of operation and maintenance,� said Prof. N. Venkataramani, Dean (IPS), Infrastructure, Planning & Support, IIT-B. “After a thorough study of the market, we were convinced that a Harman high quality audio system, as a first choice among other brands, supported by expert consultancy from ADJM Technologies, was the right choice, thus fulfilling our audio requirements in an integrated manner that is befitting of the institution’s reputation and infrastructure�.

“IIT–B management was very clear on the requirement for Convocation Hall to have an audio and video system that was world-class,� said Anand D. Mistry, CEO of ADJM Technologies. “After evaluating the needs with the technical support of our local HARMAN dealer, those involved in the decision agreed that an all-HARMAN system would best meet the requirements and provide the highest levels of performance and flexibility. The project needed not just individual products, but an integrated system design to ensure that the system’s output would be optimal for all applications – be it presentations, theatre or training programs.�

Mistry continued, “We didn’t just want to upgrade the Convocation Hall A/V system – we wanted it to be future-proof for at least 10 years. In addition to using high-end audio components from HARMAN, we designed the video and control systems using the very latest digital technologies. The system’s infrastructure design is so elegant that a single Cat-6 cable was specified for distribution of video and control signals throughout the entire hall.�

Once system design parameters were established by ADJM Technologies, the entire renovation including installation of the audio and video components, switching, control systems and wiring, took the project 60 days to complete, from start to finish,� Mistry noted. “Since everything in the system is so well-designed and works so well together, the installation itself went quite smoothly and we did not encounter any loopholes or difficulties, ensuring the project was complete well within the stipulated time.�

The Convocation Hall system includes six JBL SRX725 loudspeakers, four SRX712M stage monitors and two SRX728S subwoofers, selected on the basis of high performance and simplicity in installation and for their ability to deliver powerful bass for both cinema sound and live sound applications in the auditorium. The speakers are driven by Crown CDi 1000, XLS 2000 and Crown XTi 6002 power amplifiers. The multipurpose auditorium’s complex audio matrix requirements are managed by a BSS Soundweb London BLU-100 signal processor. Two AKG PCC-160 boundary layer mics and a Soundcraft FX16ii 16-channel mixing console complete the installation.

Mistry also explained that support from the HARMAN team throughout the design, specification and installation phase was excellent. “They came immediately to the site when we informed them that we had the go-ahead for the project, even though we let them know at the last moment! Ultimately, the staff at IIT-B is very impressed by the overall performance of the system,� Mistry concluded.

Commenting on the continuing success of key audio installations in the institutional segment, Prashant Govindan, Sales Director, Harman Professional India, said, “ It is a matter of great pride for HARMAN to be able to meet the audio requirements of a prestigious institution like IIT–Bombay. The requirements of the institute and the short timelines were seamlessly met by our Harman Professional team led by Karan Kathuria, National Sales Manager (Installed sound), working directly with ADJM. The proof is the crystal-clear audio now being enjoyed by the students and the entire campus community in the auditorium. Harman’s high-definition product range and technical capabilities, coupled with ADJM’s expert support, have proven to be a winning combination.�

Other similar projects recently undertaken in India by the HARMAN team include the Guwahati Medical College Auditorium and Chettinad Medical College Auditorium in Chennai. Worldwide, HARMAN has a rich heritage as the sound solutions partner for numerous, prominent auditorium, theatre and performance venues, including 10 stadiums at India’s 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 55th annual GRAMMY® Awards in Hollywood, CA.

HARMAN (www.HARMAN.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

VIENNA, Austria – Hanan, an Israel-born guitarist, who moved to New York with his family at 12, has built his music career from the ground up, sharing the stage and studio with world-renowned acts, such as Jennifer Hudson, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Jordan, Keyshia Cole, Anthony Hamilton, Gladys Knight, Kanye West, Nas, BB King, and Roy Hargrove, among many others. The multi-talented musician can wow a crowd on the guitar, bass, keys, drums and nearly any other instrument he can get his hands on. Currently on tour around the globe playing in Alicia Keys’ band, Hanan relies on HARMAN’s AKG WMS4500 wireless system to showcase his true, natural guitar sound.

“Until I tried the AKG WMS4500, I was fed up with other unreliable wireless systems in the industry and was seriously considering using a very long cable during shows,� stated Hanan. “Most wireless systems I’ve played with affect my sound negatively, especially the high end. The shimmer of the guitar and tone depth are lost. With the WMS4500, it’s not about what the system is providing, but what it’s NOT taking away.�

Hanan plays lead guitar on Alicia Keys’ international “Set The World On Fire� Tour. With more than 100 scheduled performances, the show is traveling through North America and Europe in 2013 and boasts a tremendous stage and set.
During the performances, the wireless solution allows Hanan to participate freely – walking, running and dancing around stage with the multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning Keys.

“The WMS4500 Is significantly better than everything I’ve ever used,� Hanan continued. “AKG is off the chain! It facilitates my movements around the stage and I can put on the best show fans expect from Alicia Keys.�

For more information about AKG, please visit http://www.akg.com and http://www.youtube.com/AKGacoustics. For more information on Hanan and his career, please visit http://www.hananonline.com.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for year ended June 30, 2012.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – HARMAN’s dbx today introduced its PS6 power supply for the dbx PMC16 Personal Monitor Controller. The PS6 is a road-worthy power supply that can supply AC power for up to six separate PMC16 units. The PMC16 is ideal for everything from house of worship systems with a single compact mixing console to large-scale orchestra installations of up to 60 PMC16 units.
The dbx PMC16 Personal Monitor Controller is remote control designed to give performers the ability to set up and control their own personal mixes of up to 16 channels of audio. Each channel can be tweaked with EQ, panning, Stereo Width control and effects, including a choice of built-in Lexicon reverbs. The PMC16 can be used with traditional on-stage monitor systems, powered personal monitors, in-ear monitors, digital snakes and headphones.

“Since it began shipping our PMC16 has been met with wide acclaim from users from a variety of backgrounds. We designed a high-quality multi-power supply that provides users with a functional and flexible option that will allow them the ability to have a highly scalable setup as they add additional PMC16s,� stated Noel Larson, Market Manager for Portable PA, Tour and Recording at HARMAN Signal Processing.

The dbx PS6 connects to a PMC16 Personal Monitor Controller via a standard 12-volt DC center-negative cable. XX cables are included with the PS6. The PMC can be configured to operate with either 48kHz or 96kHz D/A conversion. Its built-in dbx PeakStopâ„¢ limiting prevents the possibility of signal overload. The PMC16 is future-ready, thanks to its USB port, DSC and Ethernet port for future updates.

The dbx PS6 power supply will be available in April 2013 at a price of $299.95.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.

Sydney, Australia – Fairlight announces today that their Audio Post Production systems XYNERGI and EVO now come with the new Dream Version 4 Software. The software includes countless new features and options with the aim to make it easier to use for new users, improve workflow, and deliver faster output.

New features of the Dream Version 4 Software include:

- Mouse based editing enhancements
- Single Screen Interface with comprehensive per-track controls and new Mix Panel choices
- Improved dynamics, side-chain and MaxLinking across groups
- Multi Client ASIO bridge for EVO to host other audio products (e.g. Protools, Nuendo)
- Clip Bin and Clip Store functions to store projects
- Speed increase and new features for the Audiobase sound FX database

To ensure continued software improvements, Fairlight also introduced a 12 month software license subscriptions scheme. The license subscription provides access to software releases and updates during a 12 month subscription period. Customers who purchased a XYNERGI or EVO in 2012, will get a 12 month Dream Version 4 software license subscription for free.

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About FairlightUS:
FairlightUS is headquartered in New Jersey USA and is the exclusive distributor for Fairlight products in the North American market. Fairlight has been at the forefront of digital audio development since its inception in 1975. Fairlight designs and manufactures media creation tools including digital audio recording, editing and mixing systems for standard and high definition audio post, broadcast and music production applications. www.fairlightus.com

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (CRAS) is a technical school specializing in audio recording, engineering and production education. Its Tempe, Arizona and Gilbert, Arizona facilities train students for entry-level jobs in the recording industry. Students are immersed in learning how to use a wide range of professional gear, including HARMAN’s Lexicon PCM92 Reverb and Effects Processor and MX400 4-In/4-Out Reverb/Effects Processor with USB “Hardware Plug-In� capability.

Four Lexicon MX400 processors are integrated into the school’s analog and digital Pro Tools-based Studio A, B and C facilities, and two PCM92 processors are in the main Studio A rooms on each campus. In addition to being part of each studio’s gear, they’re a fundamental part of the students’ education.

“Our students get exposed to Lexicon early on,� said Tony Nunes, audio recording and production instructor at CRAS. “They start by learning basic chops and how to integrate outboard gear into the total recording setup. Our focus is very much hands-on, and we want students to be familiar with Lexicon as it’s what they’ll be running into in professional record production studios.� In addition to the MX400 and PCM92, CRAS is equipped with legacy Lexicon PCM 80 and PCM 70 reverb and effects processors.

The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences curriculum is organized in cycles, with Lexicon used in a number of programs and clinics in the cycles. Nunes begins by teaching students the basics of time-based processing including getting familiar with the MX400 and PCM92’s effects and parameters, choosing the best reverb for a vocalist or particular instrument, learning proper signal routing, when to use mono or stereo ins and outs and getting familiar with using multiple effects on different tracks.

Students progress to working on getting the best sounds from drums, vocalists, a three-piece band, electric and acoustic guitars and other instruments, using mics, the MX400 and PCM92 and other studio tools. For the eighth cycle, students must engineer a drum clinic where they choose the mics, put up a previously recorded session and overdub new tracks with a live drummer. Part of the assignment is to choose the Lexicon plate reverb that sounds best with the snare and sits well in the mix.

“We are very excited to be a small part of the wonderful work being done at CRAS,� said Noel Larson, Market Manager for Portable PA, Tour and Recording at HARMAN Signal Processing. “Lexicon defines reverb for modern recording and we want to make sure the next generation of top performers, engineers and producers feel the same way the current generation does.�

“Teaching our students how to mix is very much integrated into the curriculum at every step,� Nunes noted, “but we really start getting into time-based processing and advanced techniques for using the MX400 and PCM92 during the last three cycles.� Here, students learn to fine-tune every aspect of their mix, dig deep into Lexicon’s choice of mono and stereo reverbs, filters and modulation effects and discover how they can be used to enhance the acoustic ambience of a track and add the finishing touches to a recording.

Nunes concluded, “In these sessions the Lexicon 80, 70, MX400 and PCM92 are always on and are always providing a contribution to the mixes.�

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG, Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson. The company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,400 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $4.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012.