— 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.

World Revival Church employs Bose® Professional System products to help them spread the word globally with clear and clean audio

Framingham, Massachusetts, March 8, 2013 – Kansas City, Missouri’s World Revival Church, a 1,000-seat house-of-worship facility that ministers to a live congregation and broadcasts services globally, recently upgraded its sound system with components from Bose® Professional Systems Division. RoomMatch® loudspeakers and PowerMatch® amplifiers, along with other Bose products, were installed to deliver the clarity and intensity of the church’s services. The challenge was to provide a system that could deliver uniform coverage, consistent volume levels and optimized sound at every seat, and by all accounts, the new Bose system more than did its job.

Ten years ago, with demand for the church’s services on the rise, World Revival moved from its original meeting house to its current 1,000-seat auditorium, with stage space for a full band, professional lighting rigs and multimedia capabilities. Soon, World Revival began live streaming its weekly services on the Web, expanding its reach around the globe.

“Our church is different,� says Steve Gray, World Revival’s Senior Pastor. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm. In some ways it’s almost a stadium experience.�

“We like a pretty good amount of volume in our worship,� says William Gilpin, World Revival’s Church Manager.

Over time, however, it became clear that, while the size of World Revival’s new home was adequate, the sound was not.

Gilpin contacted Steven Brown, System Design and Sales, Progressive Electronics, for a consultation. “Loudspeaker coverage in the space was spotty,� Brown says. “There were areas that were abrasive, and other areas that were soft. Nobody was getting the same kind of sound in the space anywhere.�

Brown’s background is in audio recording and he’s very particular about loudspeaker sound. He recently heard a demonstration of Bose RoomMatch loudspeakers. “I was floored,� he says. “I thought with this product, Bose had knocked it out of the park. I was absolutely, totally inspired.� Brown told Gilpin and Gray, “I know of a sound system you would cry for,� and scheduled a demonstration for them. After hearing it for themselves, Gilpin and Gray became believers.

Brown quickly got to work. “My goal was to paint the space with sound,� he says. “Keep all the direct energy off the walls and on the floor and the seats, so that it’s powerful without taking away from clarity and intelligibility.�

He brought in Bose sales and field engineering resources to work closely with him designing and commissioning the system. “The support from Bose is unmatched by most of the manufacturers I work with,� Brown says. “They’re not just selling product. They’re selling solutions.�

After exploring World Revival’s space, Brown and his team recommended a system with RoomMatch array module loudspeakers and PowerMatch configurable power amplifiers. Using Bose proprietary technologies, RoomMatch loudspeakers and PowerMatch amplifiers deliver concert-quality sound for fixed-installations in almost any room size, shape or acoustic requirement, and budget.

“RoomMatch gives you great directivity,� says Nathan York, Design Engineer, Progressive Electronics. “Everything just blends perfectly.�

The system uses three RoomMatch array clusters consisting of 14 RoomMatch loudspeakers; four RM5505, two RM7005, two RM7010, two RM7020, two RM9010, two RM9020 and four RMS215 subwoofers, all driven by seven PowerMatch PM8500N amplifiers programmed with Bose ControlSpace® ESP digital signal processing. For York, the PowerMatch amplifier was the right choice. “It has eight channels and almost limitless possibilities of what you can do with it,� York says. “It would be my go-to amplifier in almost any scenario.�

With their new sound system installed, it was time to hear what they’d been missing. “People could sit anywhere in the room and it was good,� Gilpin stated. “The sound is full and loud,� Gray says, “but somebody can talk to you at the same time. You can be right underneath it and still have good fidelity.�

Soon World Revival’s congregation were believers, too.

“Everybody seemed ecstatic that first night. The clarity of it. The crispness. You could hear the low end, you could hear the highs,� added Dustin Smith, Worship Leader/Music Director. In fact, immediately after the broadcast, listeners from all over the world called World Revival, asking how they improved their broadcast audio mix. Which, of course, they didn’t. They improved the sound in the room instead.

“What we’re doing here works for us,� Gray says. “And touches thousands of people around the world.�

Audio Industry Leaders Gather for the Sixth Annual GRAMMY® Week Celebration at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles Honoring Music Producers Quincy Jones and Al Schmitt

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Mar. 4, 2013) — On Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing® kicked off GRAMMY® Week with its sixth annual event, “An Evening of Jazz,” honoring 27-time GRAMMY winner and multi-talented music producer Quincy Jones and 18-time GRAMMY-winning engineer and producer Al Schmitt for their commitment to excellence in audio and ongoing support for the art and craft of recorded music. The event was held at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles. GRAMMY Week culminated with the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.

The event was held with the support of leading companies within the musical instrument and professional audio markets. Premiere sponsors included Astell & Kern (www.astellnkern.com), Avid® (www.avid.com), DTS® (www.dts.com), HARMAN® Professional brands (AKG® Acoustics, JBL® Professional and Lexicon®) (www.harman.com), Iron Mountain (www.ironmountain.com), Louisiana Entertainment Commission (www.louisianaentertainment.gov), Music Marketing (www.musicmarketing.ca), PMC, Ltd. (www.pmc-speakers.com), PreSonus (www.presonus.com), Shure Incorporated (www.shure.com), and Ultimate Ears by Logitech (www.ultimateears.com).

Other sponsors included Argosy® (www.argosyconsole.com), Capital Bauer Insurance (www.capitalbauer.com), Focusrite Novation (www.focusrite.com, www.novationmusic.com), Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro) (www.gcpro.com), Guitar Center www.guitarcenter.com, iZotope (www.izotope.com), Lurssen Mastering (www.lurssenmastering.com), OraStream (www.orastream.com), SoundExchange (www.soundexchange.com), Vintage King (www.vintageking.com) and Westlake Pro (www.westlakepro.com).

Producers & Engineers Wing Senior Executive Director Maureen Droney said, “The evening was a huge success, and once again we take the opportunity to offer a sincere thank you to all of our sponsors. It’s a simple fact that we couldn’t have done it without them. Quincy Jones’s and Al Schmitt’s careers represent powerful moments in music history, and it is especially gratifying that so many leading high quality brands joined together and shared the night with us. We all look forward to next year.”

Representatives from several of the sponsors also weighed in on the evening’s festivities:

David Atkins, President/CEO, Argosy Console, Inc., stated, “We were thrilled and honored to be with so many of our friends and industry heroes and proud to support activities at the P&E Wing event of GRAMMY Week.”

Jim Odom, Co-founder and CSO, PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc., added, “Supporting The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing is a no-brainer for us at PreSonus; they’re our people! I’m a voting member of the Academy, and with other members of our team in the P&E Wing, we couldn’t imagine a better way to spend an evening during GRAMMY Week than to pay tribute to two of our heroes, Quincy Jones and Al Schmitt.”

— GC Pro, exclusive U.S. Genesys distributor, makes getting a Genesys easier than ever before —

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, March 4, 2013 — Guitar Center Professional (GC Pro), the outside sales division of Guitar Center that focuses on the needs of professional users, is pleased to announce, along with AMS Neve, the latest news regarding the Neve Genesys (www.gcpro.com/genesys.html), a custom-crafted, expandable digitally controlled analog recording console that incorporates digital workstation control.

First, GC Pro, the exclusive Genesys distributor in the U.S., is offering a new aggressive financing package on the console, making it easier than ever for users to make the Genesys the centerpiece of their recording studio. All Media Capital will offer 100% financing plus any applicable sales tax, and the customer will only have to make two advance payments upon execution of the loan documents.

Second, GC Pro is offering a new custom patchbay system for the Genesys, created by Horacio Malvicino of Malvicino Design Group, a GC Pro Affiliate Program member. The system, which includes seven TT-96 point and two sixteen-input mic panels/foldback as well as one tie line Interface, provides maximum flexibility and full connectivity for all analog inputs and outputs available on the console frame, plus basic user connections for added outboard and external gear.

The system uses digital-ready patchbay kits from Audio Accessories with five contacts jacks for normalizing, along with oxygen-free analog ultra-flexible multipair audio cables and Neutrik connectors. All parts are hand crafted, by the Malvicino Design Group staff, in their facilities; all connections are made with silver solder for enhanced connectivity, reduced signal degradation and low noise while increasing durability; and all cables and snakes are clearly labeled for easy identification and easy installation. Every system is individually tested at the Malvicino Design Group facility in New York City. A complete engineering handbook with schematics will be provided with each system. Additionally, services offered by the Malvicino Design Group include providing Neve Genesys customers with a “one on one” system engineering and integration service. On site installation and commissioning will be available.

Please click this link to find out more info or connect directly to a GCPro Account Manager: www.gcpro.com/genesys.html.

About the Neve Genesys
With its unmistakable Neve qualities of exquisite design, peerless craftsmanship and legendary Neve sound, the Genesys is a comprehensive, cost-effective solution to the challenges of audio in the digital age. The base configuration offers 16 channels of mic/line preamps, 16-channel DAW monitoring, 32-channel analog summing at mixdown, Total Reset, DAW control for Pro Tools, Logic, Nuendo and more, 8 auxiliary buses, 8 group buses, 2 main outputs, 4 effects returns, comprehensive metering, 5.1 mixing on each channel strip, 5.1 monitoring, 2 cue mixes, talkback services and an internal power supply. What sets the Genesys apart is its remarkable combination of features and affordability — an affordable Neve analog console with Neve’s legendary sound and digital control at a cost of less than $50,000 enables the widest possible range of professionals to make a genuine Neve console the heart of their studios. Furthermore, the Genesys has the ability to upgrade as studio owners’ requirements change — it can be expanded to over 60 channels in a straight or articulated frame, with options including motorized fader automation, recall, mastering-grade A/D and D/A converters, digitally controlled EQ and dynamics, remote mic amp control and much more.

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