The rugged portability of DiGiCo’s SD11 was never utilized to fuller effect than on its latest voyage aboard the United States Navy’s active-duty USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier from Hawaii to San Diego. In one of its more unusual gigs, Broadcast Support designated the SD11 in tandem with a full dB Technologies PA—to handle all the audio functions for the seven-day Tiger Cruise, open to the aircraft carriers crew family and friends (aka “tigers”) as a reward for excellent service.

The $19,950 road-cased mixer was so ultra-compact that MacWest rep Steve McNeil, who aided Broadcast Support in the production, was able to check it as luggage on his flight from Long Beach, California to the ship, which was docked in Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The mixer and PA were both craned aboard the ship and hoisted off again in San Diego when the return cruise ended a week later.

For the event’s myriad productions, a stage was built in an enclosed steel room below deck in the ship’s hangar where planes and helicopters were stored. The SD11 was rolled in and out every night to handle the musical entertainment for the troops provided by the Kelly Bell Band, and presentations which included two air shows, a 26-act talent show performed by service members, a “rap-off� hosted by the band, readings, and an awards ceremony commending top sailors presented by the commanding officer.

“The SD11 was pressed into service handling diverse audio tasks from mixing the front of house PA, monitors and IEM, to the delay speakers from a matrix,� explained McNeil. “Being that this was a working ship, this gig was challenging on so many levels, as we were at the mercy of the ship and the operations crew and therefore our schedule needed to be flexible. Needless to say, the week-long festivities turned out amazing and the console, operated by our engineer Karl Weidman, performed flawlessly. Karl hung out after every performance to play more with the SD11. He had quite a bit of fun mixing on it and was amazed at the big, open sound he was able to get from such a compact mixer. An SD9 is now his next purchase.�

“The SD11 is the perfect mixer where tons of performance is required in a very compact footprint,� offered Broadcast Support’s founder and President Scott Ramsey. “The show simply wouldn’t have happened with a conventional analog console and racks of effects, which the SD11 replaced. We love the console so much that DiGiCo should change the name from the ‘SD11’ to the ‘SD!!’�

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Rio Rancho, NM – April 2012… Lectrosonics, recognized the world over as a leading manufacturer of wireless microphone systems and audio processing products, is pleased to introduce the release of Version 5.1 firmware for the company’s highly acclaimed Venue Wideband modular receiver system. The V5.1 firmware provides an important enhancement that will be most beneficial to broadcast, location, and sound reinforcement professionals—the capability of a “TalkBack� function compatible with the newly introduced HH handheld transmitter. more

VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NEW JERSEY – APRIL 2012: The video for Karmic Juggernaut’s new song, “Oo Wah Hoo,” documents the band’s inspiring and utterly fresh take on the recording process. Piloting a Subaru Outback topped with a plane of solar panels and freighted with a bank of batteries, the band toured its favorite locations in the great state of New Jersey to record each instrument in the glory of the outdoors. In the video, what you see – acoustic guitar on the beach, drums in the forest, wailing solo on the mountainside, and more – is what you actually hear. No lip-synching is afoot. In order to keep the power consumption low and the fidelity high, the project relied on the one-rack space, eight-channel, Metric Halo ULN-8 preamplifier/converter/interface for all studio functionality, save for microphones and a computer.

Everyone involved in the recording and more

JESSUP, MARYLAND – APRIL 2012: Famed producer, mixer and engineer Joe Chiccarelli is slated to appear for API (Automated Processes Inc.) at a special API JDK Day event. The special showing will feature a Q&A with Chiccarelli as well as a demonstration of his recording and mixing techniques using an API 1608.

“We are so thrilled to have Joe available to appear at this event,” said Larry Droppa, API president. “Getting Joe to explain his recording and mixing techniques in an intimate forum like this is a very rare occurrence, and API is honored to have Joe doing the demo on a 1608. He has been a fan of API gear for many years and has the ability to get the equipment to bring out the best part of an artist’s performance.”

Chiccarelli rose to industry fame as an engineer and producer more

Menlo Park, CA – April 2012… Countryman Associates, Inc., the leading innovator of high-quality, miniature microphones, is pleased to introduce the H6 Headset Microphone. Delivering exceptional audio quality, superior moisture resistance, and a secure, comfortable fit, this ultra-low profile microphone makes an outstanding choice for a variety of applications, including theater, broadcast, live music performance, and more. more

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY – APRIL 2012: Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky is not unlike other mid-sized churches. “Although we had always been happy to embrace new audio and video technologies over the years, the fact that we had fallen behind crept up on us slowly,” said the church’s creative arts pastor, Jon Farmer. In order to stay true to the church’s stated relationship with supporting technologies – “to better connect people with our message,” in Farmer’s words – Living Hope recently undertook a significant overhaul of its video system. Aided by the experts at dB Audio and Video of Gainesville, Georgia, the church now has a full HD presentation and recording system centered on Panasonic cameras, switchers, and projectors. Despite the truly vast improvement in performance, the cost was only a fraction of what it would have been just a few more

Brea, CA – April 2012… Altinex, a leading manufacturer of Signal Management Solutions®, is pleased to announce the availability of the TNP512 Interconnect Box, the latest addition to the ever-expanding line of Tilt ‘N Plug interconnect offerings. As a compact interconnect solution designed for installation into tables, podiums, or other furniture as part of an AV presentation system, the new TNP512 offers convenient, one touch access to a variety of video, audio, computer, network, and power connections—making the tabletop connection point attractive for any boardroom or conference room table. Of particular note, the new TNP512 employs a new leaf-spring mechanism—replacing the gas spring design of previous models. more

Rio Rancho, NM – April 10, 2012… Lectrosonics, recognized the world over as a leading manufacturer of wireless microphone systems and audio processing products, is pleased to introduce the WM Watertight Transmitter, the company’s newest addition to its line of highly acclaimed Digital Hybrid Wireless® microphone systems offering compandor-free audio. Combining ‘cabled-microphone’ audio performance combined with a super-tough housing designed to withstand the harshest environments, the new Lectrosonics WM Watertight Transmitter is certain to be well received by theatrical and location sound professionals. more

Council Bluffs, IA – April 2012… Grund Audio Design, a pioneering manufacturer of loudspeaker and signal processing products for the audio professional, is pleased to announce the GT-1220M and GT-1520M floor monitors—the company’s latest additions to their popular GT Series floor monitor product group. Featuring two-way, bass reflex and dual angle enclosure designs, these versatile floor monitors are ideal for both portable and fixed sound reinforcement applications. more

Singapore – April 2012 … From its dazzling airport and cityscape to a wealth of fashion emporiums along Orchard Road, Singapore sizzles with excitement. Nowhere is this high level of energy more evident than at SWITCH by Timbre, the latest live music restaurant and bar by the Timbre Group. Located in the arts and heritage district of Bras Basah, the 300-seat, bilingual venue sets the stage for the best up-and-coming Singaporean musicians proficient in Mandarin and English pop-rock and offers live performances nightly. As the third Timbre property to utilize D.A.S. Audio loudspeaker systems, SWITCH by Timbre relies on a potent sound reinforcement system drawn from the company’s Aero Series 2, Road, and Avant loudspeaker product lines. more