Waves Audio announces the availability of the Manny Marroquin Signature Series Collection, custom plugins developed in collaboration with renowned mixing engineer Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Maroon 5, Shakira). Five-time GRAMMY® award-winner Marroquin takes the Waves Signature Series to a new level with six hybrid plugins that bring his unique workflow to users’ studios. Alongside his personalized versions of tried-and-true favorites like EQ, reverb, delay and distortion, Manny introduces the innovative new Tone Shaper and Triple D plugins, which are destined to become mixing essentials as well. Combining inspiration from his impressive collection of unique and boutique hardware, together with the fruits of his imagination, the Manny Marroquin Signature Series gives users direct access to the same tools Manny uses to mix hit after hit after hit.

“For my Signature Series, our goal was to create a set of high-quality professional plugins that were innovative, effective and easy to use,� said Manny Marroquin.

About the Waves Signature Series
The only tools of their kind, the Waves Signature Series is an exclusive line of customized plugins, created in collaboration with the world’s top producers and mixing engineers. Each and every Signature Series plugin has been precision-crafted to capture the artist’s distinct sound and production style, using custom multi-effect processing chains designed by the artists themselves. For experienced and aspiring audio professionals alike, the Waves Signature Series streamlines the mixing process, delivering high-quality results, instantly. The Waves Signature Series currently includes plugin collections developed with Eddie Kramer and GRAMMY® award-winners Chris Lord-Alge, Jack Joseph Puig, and Tony Maserati.

The Waves Manny Marroquin Signature Series Collection is now available with U.S. MSRP: $500. Introductory price: $299. Visit: http://www.waves.com/content.aspx?id=12132 for more information.

— 244th Guitar Center location features on-site lessons and repair services, along with
GC’s vast inventory selection —

On the evening of Thursday, March 14, 2013, Guitar Center held the grand opening of its new location in Katy, Texas, located at 24429 Katy Freeway, Katy, TX 77494. The Katy store is Guitar Center’s 244th retail location and is part of a new wave of Guitar Center retail stores that feature lesson spaces, which allows the brand to offer additional music lessons, special programs and expanded opportunities for local musicians.

Trevor McGrew, Katy’s new store Manager, stated, “I love being a part of people becoming musicians, from helping them find their first instrument, then watching them learn to play at GC Studios lessons, to when they come back to expand their collection – it’s exciting to have that connection with customers and feel like you’ve been a part of their achieving their musical ambitions.� McGrew has been with Guitar Center since 2006 and is certified in multiple departments including Guitars, DJ Gear, Lighting & Effects, Amplifiers & Effects, Effects Pedals, and Bass.

Guitar Center Katy: What Musicians Will Find In-Store

Guitar Center Studios – Deeply vested in expanding and enhancing the Katy music scene, Guitar Center Katy also brings Guitar Center Studios to the new location. The fully-equipped, in-house lesson space is giving Katy residents of all ages and skill levels access to affordable music lessons. Sourcing locally trained store employees as certified instructors, courses will be offered on guitar, bass, keys and drums, as well as vocals and recording techniques using Pro Tools and Logic Pro and GarageBand.
Vast Product Selection and Low Prices – Guitar Center Katy brings an unprecedented selection of products to Katy, all backed by Guitar Center’s guarantee and available at attractive prices. The store features the latest in guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards, as well as live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment.
Guitar Center Garage – Guitar Center Katy includes GC Garage, the store’s on-site guitar repair service, offering a host of services, including electronics repair, hardware customization, fretwork, structural repairs, cosmetic enhancements, setup and maintenances.

Guitar Center Katy: Additional In-Store Programs and Opportunities Include:

Guitar Center’s “Endless Aisle� – Katy customers can now shop from Guitar Center’s new multi-channel “endless aisle,� which extends the in-store inventory to over $400 million in new and used products from across the nation. Shoppers will be able to purchase in-store, online and via phone, with the option to have products shipped to their home or to the store for convenient pick up.
At: Guitar Center Programs – Throughout the calendar year, Guitar Center Katy will host an array of free events, such as artist workshops, lessons, product launches and performances, as a part of the company’s ongoing commitment to educating and assisting unsigned artists. These programs aim to provide musicians with the opportunities and exposure essential to achieving their music goals.
Recording Made Easy – Available at all Guitar Center locations, the Recording Made Easy program is a four-week, user-friendly series of weekly classes occurring Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

In addition to special programs at the new Katy store, Guitar Center offers year-round programs designed to spearhead creativity and highlight promising undiscovered talent. Katy residents will now be able to participate in these ongoing events from their hometown. Programs have included Your Next Record, Guitar Center On-Stage, Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter, Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues and Guitar Center’s Drum-Off.

Guitar Center Katy Store and Studio Hours

Mon-Thu: 11 AM-9 PM
Fri: 10 AM-9 PM
Sat: 10 AM-7 PM
Sun: 12 PM-6 PM

Audio-Technica, a leading innovator in transducer technology for over 50 years, is proud to be the microphone manufacturer of choice for the WKSU Akron News Bureau’s newly completed Main Street Studio. WKSU news bureaus located in Cleveland, Canton, and Akron, Ohio, along with the station’s main news operations housed at the WKSU Broadcast Center on the main campus of Kent State University, provide in-depth regional news coverage to complement NPR-delivered news reports. With the Main Street Studio positioned in the shadow of the Federal Building in downtown Akron and around the corner from the county courthouse and government offices, the opportunity for creating news reports of local, national, and international interest is significant.

The extensive Main Street Studio project involved retrofitting and soundproofing a first flooroffice in the United Building, including the supplementation of astandard street-frontwindow with a custom designed acoustic window created to eliminate street noise fromone of Akron’s busiest nearbyintersections. Inspired in part by WGN’s sidewalk studio in Chicago, the project creates an interactive environment bringing WKSU news literally to the public.

A total of five Audio-Technica AT4050/LE Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Multi-Pattern Condenser Microphones were chosen for the studio’s announcer position and four guest positions. High SPL capacity, along with the ability to reproduce accurately transparent sound from dual large diaphragms with rock solid element stability, made the microphone a perfect choice for this application. Its omni, cardioid and figure-of-eight patterns add even greater flexibility to the studio’s capacity when the need to record vocals and musical instrumentation arises.

Five Audio-Technica model ATH-M50s/LE Limited Edition Professional Studio Monitor Headphones complement the microphone selection, providing both the production staff and on-air talent with the highest level of sonic accuracy, superior isolation and maximum listening comfort. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50s/LE headphone design, which includes proprietary large-aperture drivers with neodymium magnet systems, delivers highly efficient signal transfer to produce a significant advancement in sound level and quality.

The special 50th anniversary edition silver-colored metallic finish of the microphones and headphones provides a unique artistic complementary appearance to the other equipment in the studio, including the Axia Element digital control surface.

Along with general reporting, the Akron Bureau is enabled to facilitate larger events. On Election Day, WKSU teamed with nearby WCPN to broadcast up-to-the-minute election results. Hosts were joined in the studio by special guests, offering analysis on state and national races. WKSU Director of Broadcast Engineering Ron Bartlebaugh states that announcers from both stations fell in love with WKSU’s new Main Street Studio and proclaimed it as one of the best they have ever worked in.

Other versions of the AT4050/LE limited edition (silver) MSRP $995.00 and ATH-M50s/LE limited edition (silver) MSRP $209.00 include: AT4050 (black) MSRP $895.00; ATH-M50s (black, straight cable) MSRP $199.00; ATH-M50 (black, coiled cable) MSRP $199.00; ATH-M50WH limited edition (white, coiled cable) MSRP $209.00; and new ATH-M50RD limited edition (red, coiled cable) MSRP $209.00.

— Two Panasonic projectors now illuminate a pair of special-purpose Screen Innovations Black Diamond screens at large Wilmington house of worship —

Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, recently provided key video technology and installation services to the Canaan Baptist Church of Wilmington, Delaware. The large church wanted to add video capability for its services and turned to GC Pro for a turnkey, single-source solution.

GC Pro called upon Koko Brothers Entertainment, a veteran of its innovative and hugely successful Affiliate Program, which provides GC Pro customers with access to highly experienced AV systems designers ands integrators. Koko Brothers, based in the Baltimore area, did the video system design and installation, which saw two Panasonic 6,000-lumens PT-DW6300ULS projectors with Panasonic ET-DLE450 long-throw lenses and two Screen Innovations Black Diamond screens installed in the church.

The zero-edge Black Diamond screens, which can boost projector output considerably, were chosen because the church’s sanctuary enjoys a lot of natural illumination from several large windows. “The challenge here is that so much natural light can make video resolution a problem,� says Angelo Kokkinakos, Vice President of Koko Brothers Entertainment. “We knew the products that could best address these issues, and as always, GC Pro had access and availability for everything we needed to get the job done right. Working with GC Pro means never having to compromise.�

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

Audio-Technica U.S. mourns the passing of company founder and executive emeritus of Audio-Technica Corporation, Hideo Matsushita, on March 5, 2013. Hideo Matsushita passed away of natural causes at the age of 93. In accordance with his family’s wishes, a private wake and funeral service were held on March 8 and 9.

Phil Cajka, Audio-Technica U.S. President and CEO stated, “Hideo Matsushita was a wonderful person and a true visionary, laying the foundation for Audio-Technica to grow over the past 50 years. He exemplified true leadership, with commitment to and passion for music and an unmatched work ethic. His loss is felt not only by everyone in the A-T family, but also by the entire music industry.�

On the eve of A-T’s 40th anniversary in 2002, Hideo Matsushita reflected on the company’s early beginnings: “How it all started: I came to Tokyo at age 32, and, thanks to an introduction by my uncle, went to work for the Bridgestone Museum of Art. At the urging of the museum’s director, I began organizing LP concerts. These were much more successful than anyone imagined. After a decade at the Bridgestone Museum, I struck out on my own and established Audio-Technica in 1962.�

He continued, “The company immediately launched its first product, the AT-1 Stereo Cartridge. At that time, we were headquartered in a rented one-story barracks in Shinjuku. We started out with three employees, but quickly grew to 20. We worked late each night, stopping only for dinner at the ramen shop in front of the premises.�

Decades of successful growth followed, and in 1993 Hideo Matsushita took the position of Chairman, and his son, Kazuo Matsushita, became President of Audio-Technica Corporation, a position he still holds today. With their combined leadership, Audio-Technica has continued to experience steady growth, carrying on the legacy and vision of Hideo-san into the new millennium.

— As an authorized dealer for Panasonic Professional Products, GC Pro chooses PT-DX800ULS 8000-lumen XGA projector with ET-DLE150 lens for comprehensive projection system —

— All equipment was installed by GC Pro Affiliate Program member Koko Brothers Entertainment —

Converse, Inc.’s innovative Brooklyn-based recording studio and live performance venue facility, Converse Rubber Tracks, is a community-based studio designed to generate interest in music recording and live music performance among young and aspiring artists. The facility was fully outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and instruments sourced by Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, for its opening two years ago. Now, GC Pro is back, supplying Rubber Tracks with a new round of technology that adds an entirely new video element to the facility.

Key items installed at Rubber Tracks late last year, in a large open multi-use and performance space between the facility’s two recording studios, include a Panasonic PT-DX800ULS 8000-lumen XGA projector with a Panasonic ET-DLE150 lens, a Da-Lite Cosmopolitan® Electrol® 106×188 projection screen, and a Gefen GTV-AUDDEc-N 4X1 HD switcher with integrated audio decoding. The installation was done by Baltimore area-based Koko Brothers Entertainment, a member of GC Pro’s innovative Affiliate Program.

What GC Pro was able to do was supply and coordinate a completely turnkey solution for Rubber Tracks. “All it took on the part of the client was a single phone call to set the entire process in motion,� says Billy Walker, Senior Account Manager, GC Pro Northeast / Mid-Atlantic, who had previously also matched Rubber Tracks up with GC Pro Affiliate program member Malvicino Design Group of Forest Hills, New York, which provided acoustical design and treatment for the facility. “We offered the customer several options in terms of equipment and helped them make decisions as to which ones were best suited for their needs. Then we connected them with our Affiliate Partner Koko Brothers Entertainment, who has done numerous projects for GC Pro customers. Basically, GC Pro made all the arrangements to assure that all of the equipment was there in time for the installer to work with it, and we’re here 24/7 if any issues arise after installation is complete. We take care of everything.�

Angelo Kokkinakos, Vice President of Koko Brothers Entertainment, adds that the synergy between their company and GC Pro was evident on this project. “Often, integrators find it challenging to work directly from a spec sheet that someone else created; with GC Pro, our understanding of each other’s strengths really plays to the customer’s advantage, since GC Pro lets us look at the project ourselves and make recommendations as to what products will work best,� he explains, noting that being able to see the Rubber Tracks performance space ahead of time led to his recommendation of a high-lumens projector to assure a high-definition result.

Says Walker in conclusion, “We find that our clients like this kind of comprehensive project management. It’s less for them to think about. One phone call, one payment, one vendor.�

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

- Sonic film brushed away, allowing unprecedented clear and accurate monitoring -

Nashville, TN: The Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is one of the largest programs of its kind in the world. Recently, MTSU control rooms D and E have been refurbished and acoustically redesigned by Carl Tatz Design. Garnering a Mix Magazine Class of 2012 Educational Facility Award, both rooms, which are mirror images of each other, feature the Carl Tatz Design (CTD) PhantomFocus™ System 4 monitor tuning protocols utilizing the school’s existing Genelec 1037C monitors. Along with a custom application of the Carl Tatz Signature Series™ family of control room acoustic modules by Auralex®, the facilities were transformed from the least popular studios on campus into the most sought-after ones by the university’s students and teachers alike.

“It’s amazing to have a monitoring system that allows our students to experience music the way it should truly sound. We want them to develop a sense of the ideal, and the PhantomFocus System presents that to them every day,� states MTSU Department of Recording Industry assistant professor and GRAMMY®-nominated engineer/producer John Merchant. “Studios D and E are where our students begin their audio careers. Learning to record and mix with this quality of monitoring is like learning to drive on a Maserati!�

Department chair Bill Crabtree comments, “MTSU’s Recording Industry Department is very happy with our new studios D and E. The work that was done by Carl Tatz Design is outstanding. Along with his proprietary PhantomFocus System monitor tuning protocol, these two control rooms are now the two best mix spaces that we have on campus. We hope to do more work with Carl Tatz Design in the future to bring our remaining studios up to the standards that Carl and his staff have established in Studios D and E.�

Recording Studio Techniques instructor Mauricio Gargel who had been teaching in both control rooms D and E prior to the Carl Tatz Design implementation, has the unique opportunity to compare the before and after experiences for both him and his students. “The low frequencies are now impressively defined helping the students understand each and every note in the spectrum without guessing. Even the pan-pots can be heard much more accurately, and the depth is also incredible. You can smell the soundstage… it is soooo real. Concepts like soundstage, depth and presence are much easier to teach… They are actually happening now, and the student can feel it. It makes my job much easier! Thanks Carl Tatz!â€�

“We’re honored to work with Carl Tatz, one of the top studio designers in the industry, on this exciting new Auralex offering. This new series makes Carl’s signature style easy and affordable enough for any serious studio owner. Now virtually any room can benefit from the same aesthetic and sound control enjoyed by top hitmakers like Rascal Flatts and others,” says Eric Smith, founder and president of Auralex Acoustics.

In a recent YouTube clip, Audio-Technica’s Gary Boss (Marketing Director) performs an “unboxing” of A-T’s System 10 wireless, going through the package component-by-component while explaining the setup and the technologies incorporated in the system’s design. Watch the video here or click the graphic above.

— 243rd Guitar Center location features on-site lessons and repair services, along with GC’s vast inventory selection —

On the evening of Thursday, February 21, 2013, Guitar Center held the grand opening of its new location in Shreveport, Louisiana, located at 7460 Youree Dr. Ste. T, Shreveport, LA 71105. The Shreveport store is Guitar Center’s 243rd retail location, and will help enhance the thriving Louisiana arts and media community, which has been expanding via state-sponsored incentives. The Shreveport location is part of a new wave of Guitar Center retail stores that feature lesson spaces, which allow the brand to offer additional music lessons, special programs and expanded opportunities for local musicians.

Guitar Center Shreveport: What Musicians Will Find In-Store

Guitar Center Studios – Deeply vested in expanding and enhancing the Shreveport music scene, Guitar Center Shreveport also brings Guitar Center Studios to the new location. The fully-equipped, in-house lesson space is giving Shreveport residents of all ages and skill levels access to affordable music lessons. Sourcing locally trained store employees as certified instructors, courses will be offered on guitar, bass, keys and drums, as well as vocals and recording techniques using Pro Tools and Logic Pro and GarageBand.
Vast Product Selection and Low Prices – Guitar Center Shreveport brings an unprecedented selection of products to Shreveport, all backed by Guitar Center’s guarantee and available at attractive prices. The store features the latest in guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards, as well as live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment.
Guitar Center Garage – Guitar Center Shreveport includes GC Garage, the store’s on-site guitar repair service, offering a host of services, including electronics repair, hardware customization, fretwork, structural repairs, cosmetic enhancements, setup and maintenances.

Guitar Center Shreveport: Additional In-Store Programs and Opportunities Include:

Guitar Center’s “Endless Aisle� – Shreveport customers can now shop from Guitar Center’s new multi-channel “endless aisle,� which extends the in-store inventory to over $400 million in new and used products from across the nation. Shoppers will be able to purchase in-store, online and via phone, with the option to have products shipped to their home or to the store for convenient pick up.
At: Guitar Center Programs – Throughout the calendar year, Guitar Center Shreveport will host an array of free events, such as artist workshops, lessons, product launches and performances, as a part of the company’s ongoing commitment to educating and assisting unsigned artists. These programs aim to provide musicians with the opportunities and exposure essential to achieving their music goals.
Recording Made Easy – Available at all Guitar Center locations, the Recording Made Easy program is a four-week, user-friendly series of weekly classes occurring Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Music Mentor Series – Available at all Guitar Center locations, the Music Mentor Series offers educational courses on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week and touch topics such as Understanding DJ Gear and Stompbox Signal Flow to Hardware and Cosmetic Upgrades for Guitars.

In addition to special programs at the new Shreveport store, Guitar Center offers year-round programs designed to spearhead creativity and highlight promising undiscovered talent. Shreveport residents will now be able to participate in these ongoing events from their hometown. Programs have included Your Next Record, Guitar Center On-Stage, Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter, Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues, Guitar Center’s Drum-Off.

Guitar Center Shreveport Store and Studio Hours
Mon-Fri: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 8:00pm (GC Studio open until 10:30pm)
Sunday: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

— GC Pro’s access to a wide range of products and its efficient Affiliate Program for AV systems integration offers the Cloister Inn clubhouse everything they need —

Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, was recently contacted for a PA upgrade to a clubhouse on the Princeton University’s Fraternity Row. GC Pro was able to supply a wide range of products and systems, as well as providing a complete turnkey proposition for the club with design assistance and systems installation by Koko Brothers Entertainment, based in the Baltimore area, a member of GC Pro’s innovative Affiliate Program.

The products installed for the Cloister Inn clubhouse at the famed Ivy League school include a B-52 MATRIX 2000 ACTIVE 1200-watt PA system, QSC AD-S82H eight-inch two-way and AD-S52W 5.25-inch speaker enclosures, a Crown XTi 2002 power amplifier, a dbx® 1261 10X6 ZonePRO® multi-zone processor with a dbx ZC9 and ZC1 wall-mount volume controls, and a Shure PGX24/SM58-H6 UHF handheld wireless microphone system.

“The club had some specific goals they wanted to accomplish,� recalls Angelo Kokkinakos, Vice President of Koko Brothers Entertainment, such as setting up a DJ position in a main room inside the clubhouse and extending the audio to an exterior deck. But they also wanted to stay within a budget. Kokkinakos says that GC Pro was able to source the niche B-52 PA system, which he describes as both cost effective and rugged, both critical characteristics for any college facility. The dbx ZonePRO offers the ability to keep the volume in check in different zones, important for avoiding noise complaints.

“GC Pro’s understanding of a wide range of equipment and their ability to source it make it the best resource there is for AV systems integration,� says Kokkinakos. “We never worry about availability of products, and we know that the equipment we need to do the job will always be there when we need it.�

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