Purchase of nearly 400 enclosures plus 150 amplified controllers underscores company’s dedication to K1/KUDO

HOUSTON, Texas — Lending further proof to the saying “everything is bigger in Texas,” L-ACOUSTICS US reports that Houston-based LD Systems has now purchased a mega-stadium-sized K1/KUDO system. Hailed as one of the largest sales in the manufacturer’s 28-year history, the order comprises 386 enclosures — including variable curvature, constant curvature and coaxial systems — all powered by LA-RAK.

According to Rob McKinley, co-founder, president and owner of LD Systems, the quantity of product was largely driven by the sound reinforcement needs of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which has been an annual client since 1985. In February and March of each year, as part of RodeoHouston, up to 75,000 people pack Reliant Stadium on any given night for three straight weeks of rodeo action and concerts from some of the biggest stars in pop, rock and country music. more

Christie, along with Draper Inc., Alcorn McBride and Tannoy today announced “Solutions that Rock�, a free event introducing several of its new display solutions to organizations involved with professional AV rental staging, fixed installs and corporate AV environments. The event takes place September 17-19 at Grips Local Union Building in Burbank, California.

“Solutions that Rock� provides a unique opportunity for consultants, architects, service planners and designers to get hands-on experience with some of the best audio and visual systems available and discover inspiring ways for projection to turn their ideas into reality. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary refreshments and gifts, and a chance to win an Apple iPad. There will be an Open House for the public on September 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Top local integrators will exclusively sponsor two of the days: Electrosonic will sponsor the full day September 18 session for invited guests and CCS Presentation Systems of California will host the full day September 19 session for invited guests.

“Solutions that Rock� is also an informal opportunity for dealers, integrators, distributors and end users to see how the showcased products offer leading edge and fully workable solutions for their customers. Attendees will participate in technology demonstrations and get hands-on experience of the capabilities for each solution, making them more confident when demonstrating and selling to customers and prospects.

The road show wraps up its 2012 tour with stops in Philadelphia, November 7-8 and Phoenix, December 3-5.

Products on Display
Highlighting the exhibits will be an eye-catching tower display of Christie® MicroTiles®, the industry’s most flexible, high-resolution modular design concept. MicroTiles are built on proven DLP® technology and specifically designed for maximum image quality in demanding indoor, high ambient light environments.

For the backstage experience, Christie will have multiple solutions from HD and 2K LCD to Xenon 3-chip DLP® images displayed on a 30-foot wide screen and a pair of 11-foot screens in portrait mode. The displays, including stereoscopic 3D demonstrations, will be managed using the Christie Spyder X20 multi-image processor.

The Christie Vista URS will also be at the show. The Christie Vista URS is an all-in-one matrix switcher that accepts multiple sources in any format (analog composite to digital 4K) and seamlessly routes any of these sources to any of eight user-configurable outputs, each of which can be configured independently for any analog or digital output format.

Christie’s new FHD551-X 55-inch flat panel LCD, designed for multi-panel displays, will also be on exhibit.

To fulfill the need to interface with IT systems, Christie will demonstrate its network solutions with all projection and multi-image systems connected to, and managed through, the IP network – including wireless control of all devices. Christie AutoStack™ – a camera-based, software driven solution, used for maintaining projector alignment in multiple blend and stacked designs – will operate across the network, offering a solution that manages both fixed installs and rental staging designs for both flat and curved screens.

Founded in 1902, Draper Inc. provides a range of products for the rental staging and fixed installation market including electric, manual, rear, portable and fixed screens, as well as a variety of projector lifts and mounts.

To register, visit http://www.christiedigital.com/solutionsthatrock.

Omagica supplies WATCHOUT to Big Video for marketing trade fair international forum presentation

Omagica has supplied Colombia’s Big Video multimedia specialists with Dataton WATCHOUT™ multi-image and display software for the international forum at the most reputed trade fair for marketing, EXPOMARKETING.

Held in May 2012 at the Corferias events center in Bogotá, Colombia, EXPOMARKETING ran for three days hosting world-class experts such as Martin Lindstrom, Marty Numeier, Joel Makower and Andreas Weigend presenting topical subjects such as branding, green businesses and data mining to educational institutions, students, marketing researchers, publicity and communications agencies, event organisers, graphic design studios, and of course, marketing companies.

For the international forum, Big Video working for LIVE Events returned to EXPOMARKETING for the third year in a row to create a breathtaking curved screen video display.

“For this event, we wanted big wow factor and to support the presentations with live video feeds and presentation graphics,� explains Diana Velilla at Big Video.

“We used WATCHOUT to synchronize 20,000 lumens projectors from Christie Digital using two 7 by 5 meter screens that were positioned to the sides of the stage. Three more 10,000 lumens projectors, also from Christie Digital, were used to project images on to 10 by 3 meter sized curved screen at the center of the stage. Here, Big Video utilized WATCHOUT’s geometrical correction feature to achieve a seamless image,� explains Diana Velilla at Big Video.

The opening of the international forum was presented to a packed audience across all three screens, creating a breathtaking animated opening, which gave an impressive welcome to all assistants, speakers and a short introduction to their presentations.

“The events were recorded using three Sony EX3 professional broadcast camera signals and the presenters multiple computer presentations were fed through an HD-SDI FOR-A switcher to Blackmagic video capture cards installed on the WATCHOUT display computers.

“The versatility of the WATCHOUT software allowed us to combine these live video signals with graphics, logos, credits and last minute add-ons on to the screens.�

Summing up the event, Velilla says: “The event coincides with the celebration of Big Video’s 20 years of service in supplying expert support and equipment to the corporate and live events rental market. What’s even more impressive is that over the 20 years, we have completed over 2,500 individual events in Colombia with many more in the pipeline.�

As well as supplying Big Video with their WATCHOUT software and associated PC hardware, WATCHOUT’s Premium Partner for Mexico and Latin America, Omagica were on hand to provide local technical and project support for this project.

Fredrik Svahnberg, Marketing Director at Dataton comments, “Big Video never cease to impress us with the dynamic ways in which they use WATCHOUT. We’re delighted that WATCHOUT was put to its full potential in front of the world’s marketing elite.�

www.dataton.com

World’s First Networked Partyline Intercom System Delivered Flexibility and Cost-Savings at the 2012 London Summer Games

LONDON, SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 ? Clear-Com, a global leader in critical voice communication systems, is pleased to announce at PLASA 2012 (Stand I-F29) that its new HelixNet Partyline Intercom System is now shipping worldwide. The industry’s first networked partyline intercom arrives at PLASA after successfully showcasing its capabilities at 31 sports venues during the 2012 London Summer Games. With 50 HelixNet Main Stations and 550 HelixNet beltpacks across the venues, the live production teams were able to take advantage of the systems’ efficiency, cost-savings and flexibility from setup to operation and maintenance.

Under the initial release of HelixNet Partyline, users can purchase the HMS-4X Main Station, HBP-2X HelixNet Beltpacks, an HLI-2W2 two-wire Interface Module and the HLI-4W2 four-wire Interface Module. They can then experience the first system to combine a revolutionary platform with the superb audio clarity of the digitized Clear-Com sound and the ruggedness to withstand all conditions. Also, as the central administration of the entire system can be performed from the Main Station with a single cable, including firmware upgrades and maintenance, HelixNet can work off one’s existing cable infrastructure.

This ability to be run over cabling that is already in place enables easy deployment and expansion as needed, making HelixNet the ideal solution for the Summer Games. Many of the venues where the game events were held already had an established cable infrastructure, so integrating the HelixNet with these setups was simple. The committee in charge of selecting audio equipment had specified digital communication systems for the events. The HelixNet partyline system fit this bill perfectly, providing users with all the functionality of an analog partyline within a digital environment.

“HelixNet offers such users as the London Games the simplicity of running cable anywhere without worrying about each cable type or where it will run,� says Dan Muchmore, Regional Sales Manager, UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, Clear-Com. “Essentially, they only have to run one long cable, along which all of the channels can be run. It doesn’t matter how or where the cable is run—users will have access to every channel. At the Beltpack end, users can choose what channel they want or need to run. Another advantage of HelixNet is that it can operate over inexpensive cabling, such as CAT-5, keeping the cost of deployment low. The ease of setup and reduced costs made possible by the system were a few of the main reasons HelixNet was selected as the intercom system of choice for nearly all of the venues at the games.�

Clear-Com was contracted for the games’ overlay functions, requiring it to provide communications for three separate groups. These included announcers and commentators along with the on-venue results (OVR) people—who were the primary HelixNet users—and the production people who manage the stadiums and events. As the HMS-4X HelixNet Main Station and interface modules feature a high channel density and user capacity, it was able to provide access to many people and areas at once.

HelixNet’s sleek 1RU Main Station fits into any standard 19-inch rack, and can provide power and four channels of audio to support up to 20 digital beltpacks. Unlike standard analog systems, the all-digital HelixNet system is immune to electro-magnetic interference and ground loops, so there is never any hum or buzz. The Main Station settings and menus are quickly accessible, highly flexible and offer intuitive user operations. The system’s firmware maintenance and upgrades can also be achieved easily via USB ports, and it offers greater connectivity with existing analog intercom systems and audio devices.

The expansion bay in the Main Station allows optional HLI-2W2 two-wire and HLI-4W2 four-wire interface modules to connect easily with existing analog intercom systems and audio devices, while preserving the high audio quality that is free of hum and noise.

Boasting an especially clear audio signal, the HBP-2X HelixNet Beltpack offers high channel density and selectable channels to save resources. The rugged, ergonomically designed unit is a two-channel beltpack that can access two of any four system channels, connect program audio and provide individual level control over just one single cable, while distributing networked audio over a twisted pair. These features decrease the required number of cables. The beltpacks are also simple to operate and read, with optimally positioned buttons and volume knobs that are easy to locate, identify and control. Channel labels are simple to read on the high-contrast ten-character OLED displays. The flexibility of the units allow them to be set up in daisy chain or star configurations, with no need for active split boxes.

The HelixNet beltpacks are highly durable, fabricated from lightweight cast aluminum, and come with a sturdy beltclip, rubber bumpons and an integrated strap guide, offering a variety of practical mounting options.

About Clear-Com
Clear-Com, an HME company, is a global provider in professional voice communications systems since 1968. We develop and market proven intercom technologies such as Analog & Digital Partyline, Digital Matrix, Wireless and Intercom-over-IP systems for critical communication applications in broadcast, performance venues, military, government and enterprise markets. Recognized for our legacy of intercom innovations, production teams around the world have come to depend on Clear-Com for clear, reliable and scalable communications solutions. For more information, please visit www.clearcom.com.

About HME
HM Electronics, Inc. is a diverse group of companies providing solutions that enhance productivity and customer service in markets including restaurants, sports and professional audio. Founded in 1971, we sell, service and support products in 89 countries worldwide, via company-owned offices in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China, and an extensive network of HME-authorized distributors, dealers and service agents. Every day quick service restaurants take over 24 million orders using HME systems. With the recent acquisition of Clear-Com, HME is the world’s leading provider of professional intercom systems. To learn more, visit www.hme.com.

Christie® will light up the “IBC Big Screen” theater at RAI Amsterdam on Monday, delivering unprecedented 2D light levels for 3D content and, in the process, addressing one of the cinema industry’s most pressing problems – the unsatisfactory showing of 3D content at low light levels, typically less than 3 foot lamberts (ft-L), when 14 ft-L is the standard for 2D films. The event will also be the public premiere of Christie’s first prototype laser projector.

“Christie firmly believes that the best 3D is the brightest 3D and we need to help exhibitors with solutions that can project compelling, immersive 3D experiences to their screens,� said Dr. Don Shaw, senior director, Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions. “Audiences deserve to see the brightest 3D with 14 ft-L on cinema screens. Our demonstration today will show just how truly spectacular a movie maker’s vision can be when shown at the highest light levels, making the shared experience more immersive, and, ultimately, driving more cinema ticket sales.�

Continuing, Dr. Shaw noted that “as well, some attendees leave 3D movies complaining of headaches, fatigue, and sore eyes. Just like reading a book in low light levels, low brightness on the movie screen is one of the reasons for these complaints. Delivering more lumens to the screen will help address these effects, as will the advent of ‘eye-easy’ high frame rate (HFR) movies.�

(Current, non-laser methods for delivering more light to screens include dual, Xenon-lamp based Christie DLP® projection systems, known as Christie Duo™, which are filling specific needs for 3D delivery in theatres across the globe, including, for example, at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood and other ArcLight Cinemas.)

A Short, Expert Tutorial…And then the Movie
Dr. Shaw will address the low brightness problem in detail in a short address, and noted stereographers Demetri Portelli (“Hugo”) and Corey Turner (“Transformers: Dark of the Moonâ€�) will introduce 3 ft-L clips from their films and speak to the challenges inherent in making a 3D movie, knowing full well that it will be shown to audiences at inferior light levels.

“For me, crafting 3D images as a stereographer has been both the most challenging and the most rewarding experience of my career as a cameraman. I have suffered alongside many 3D film makers whose work has been compromised due to the inevitable low-brightness theatrical presentation,� said Demetri Portelli. “So this showing of Hugo 3D at 14 ft-L is an important milestone in 3D cinema projection, as it will deliver spectacular details and show how light conveys additional information in 3D space. I’m really excited and optimistic about Christie finding solutions and setting new standards for exceptional movie exhibition.�

As VP, Post Production for Paramount, Corey Turner oversees all stereoscopic 3D productions, and recalls that “When Paramount released Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which I also worked on as stereographer, some of the prints were special digital masters, aimed at systems that could deliver almost twice the brightness of standard 3D projection. But even that ‘limited edition’ only targeted 6 ft-L; of course that being much better than the current standard for 3D at 4.5ft-L, but a far cry from 2D light levels. I’m extremely pleased that the technology for brighter cinema exhibition is advancing and Christie is to be applauded for their advancements and advantages in this initiative.�

Corey added that “Technologies like this will only help filmmakers fall even more in love with 3D. It will also finally give audiences a way to see all of the wonderful detail that the director and many members of their crew put into each and every shot. People will no longer cautiously question, ‘…is this really in 3D?’ because they will be able to see and detect all of the subtle depth cues intended for the presentation.�

Laser-projection Begins New Era With Full-Length Film Showing
Following the presentation by Dr. Shaw and Mr. Portelli and Mr. Turner, Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo 3D� – the first laser projection screening of a feature-length 3D movie at 2D brightness levels – will be shown, courtesy of Paramount Pictures International, Christie and XPAND 3D.

Commenting on the laser projector and that route specifically, Dr. Shaw said that “There’s half-a-dozen different ‘forks in the road’ decisions that have to be made when designing a laser-projection system and most manufacturers will take different paths.â€� He noted that Christie customers have come to expect the best in technology and service from the world’s largest supplier of DLP cinema projectors, operating for more than 80 years, and “…our final laser projector family, when announced, will continue this trend of innovative, high performance products that will address the specific needs of our customers in the cinema, pro AV and advanced visualization and simulation arenas.â€�

Be among the first to hear VUE Audiotechnik’s complete family of professional loudspeakers when the company’s U.S. demo tour passes through a city near you. 

San Diego, CA (Sept. 7, 2012) - Responding to increasing demand after a series of highly successful demos in August, VUE leadership today announced plans to expand the U.S. leg of their tour another eight weeks-hitting key demo sites throughout North America before expanding globally.

“This is very different from the typical loudspeaker demo in that we’re meeting with potential customers at their own facilities, and demonstrating our entire line,” explained VUE’s Executive Vice President, Jim Sides. “This format not only allows potential customers to audition our entire range, but it presents our team with an opportunity to better understand each customer’s unique business model. This is the type of personalized demo that I’ve always wanted to do, and we’re thrilled that people are responding so well to the format and to our products.”

The demo tour features a full complement of VUE Audiotechnik’s current offerings. Identified by VUE’s CEO Ken Berger as the “first wave”, the current lineup was revealed at the InfoComm show in Vegas last June. It includes three product classes encompassing a broad range of systems, from the most compact contractor offerings, to VUE’s flagship h-Class Active models. Berger reports that a “second wave” is scheduled to arrive before the end of the year, and that those new products will be incorporated into the tour at that time.

“The VUE speakers clearly appeal to a diverse customer base,” explained Steve Gorski of The SG Group, VUE Audiotechnik’s representative in the Southwest U.S., and an active participant in the first six stops of the tour. “From touring sound to AV integrators, the demos we’ve conducted have generated enthusiastic feedback across the board, and the resulting ‘word of mouth’ is fueling intense interest throughout the audio community. The momentum is definitely building, and I’m incredibly excited to be a part of it.”

The VUE team is conducting demos this week in Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. From there, the demo tour moves to Florida and Georgia (Sept. 9-15), before heading north to New York and other northeast states. The tour will then turn west, booking additional stops throughout October.

Those interested in participating in the demo tour are encouraged to contact their local VUE Audiotechnik representative. Contact information, as well as an ever-growing list of tour stops, can be found online at: www.vueaudio.com/events/

About VUE Audiotechnik
VUE Audiotechnik is a California-based designer, manufacturer and marketer for professional audio systems for a broad range of sound reinforcement applications including: touring sound, theatre, club sound, portable PA, houses of worship and commercial audio. A truly global company with a local feel, VUE Audiotechnik is committed to achieving the absolute highest level of loudspeaker performance through a “real-world” design philosophy utilizing advanced technologies and manufacturing techniques, all backed by an unwavering commitment to support, service and long-term relationships.

Moog Music has announced it will be sponsoring this weekend’s Hopscotch Music Festival, which showcases some of North Carolina’s finest musicians while pairing them with notable national and international artists. Slated to bring over 10,000 attendees to downtown Raleigh, Hopscotch is the second biggest new music festival in North Carolina after Moog’s own festival, Moogfest.

“Hopscotch is doing great things for music lovers in our state by bringing boundary pushing artists to North Carolina and putting local bands on a larger platform. Moog has always supported musicians that aren’t afraid to take risks and we’re honored to support festivals like Hopscotch that showcase these artists. It’s a great time to be a music fan in North Carolina with Hopscotch and Moogfest happening almost back to back on the calendar,” said Emmy Parker, Moog Sr. Marketing and Brand Manager.
 
Moog’s Hopscotch stage at the Hive @ Busy Bee Café, will feature some of North Carolina’s most experimental genre bending musicians, including: Found sound sculptor, Feltbattery; avant-garde jazz trio, The Hot at Nights; DJ’s for change, Beat Report; heart breaking fuzz-folk outfit, The Toddlers; and experimental-electro-metal duo Tomas Phillips and Craig Hilton.
 
Festival goers will also get a treat when DJ, Producer, and founder of Fool’s Gold records, Nick Catchdubs, hits the Moog stage. Fool’s Gold has signed and supported some of the most influential and experimental hip-hop and electronic artists of the last three years, including Moogfest alumni, Chromeo. 
 
To show its support for music fans in its home state of North Carolina, Moog will be welcoming each Hopscotch ticket holder at Wrist Band City in Downtown Raleigh’s Sheraton Hotel with giveaways, a daily raffle of their handcrafted effects pedals and the chance to play Moog’s iconic analog synthesizers.

Createasphere Presents Career-Building, Expert-Led Sessions in New York and Los Angeles

(Burbank, CA) Createasphere will again present its intensive, career-oriented Post Production Master Class (PPMC) in New York and Los Angeles. PPMC NY is set for September 27th at the New Yorker Hotel and PPMC LA will take place November 8th during Createasphere’s Entertainment Technology Expo at the Burbank Marriott.

The Post Production Master Class is a one-of-a-kind event focused on the evolving post production process, facing shifting demands, trends and technologies. The event offers rare access to thought leaders who discuss their points of view about what’s happening now and what will happen to the professional post production community in the near future. As production, on-set, pre-production, visual effects and global interactivity continue to evolve, so too will post production. The PPMC presents highly regarded experts who share their knowledge and experience and give attendees a road map to navigate this volatile but exciting career path. The small group atmosphere allows exceptional access to these professionals and the peer-to-peer nature of the class encourages lively interaction.

In addition to the educational sessions, there are Tech Spotlights, presented by the industry’s top technology providers. The expertise of the presenters offers attendees the ability to have in-depth discussions of the latest technology affecting the evolving discipline of post production.

Session and speaker highlights in New York include:

* Post Production for Spots: Delivering on the Idea – Meet the fearless producers from New York agencies who take ideas from concept to delivery for advertising campaigns. MindSmack Executive Producer Kwesi Collisson with Director Antoine Manceaux will discuss their recent international spot for Non-Stop Energy Drink, shot in Hong Kong. Twist Comedy Director Matt Pittroff will discuss how he has executed his creative vision for Cannonball’s extensive and ongoing commercial campaign for Amerista, and Producer Aaron Royer adds his perspective from numerous spots and campaigns. Moderated by NYCPPNews Founder and long-time industry journalist Dan Ochiva.

* A Colorful Conversation: Meet the Colorists – A panel of top colorists take an in-depth exploration of the changing pathway to the images that capture our attention. Speakers include Will Cox, co-founder of Final Frame; Lenny Mastrandrea, DI Colorist and Head of Department at Nice Shoes; and Tim Stipan, colorist, Technicolor-Postworks.

* Talent, Story, Time and Technology: Television Post Production New York Style – Spend time with television producer Brad Carpenter as he discusses the production and post strategies that bring Showtime’s Emmy-winning Nurse Jackie to the screen each week. Matthew Schneider, Technology and Business Development Director at Technicolor-PostWorks, will moderate a spirited look at the ways Manhattan post houses keep up with the city’s busy television production hub.

* The Evolving Post Production Career – A roundtable of post production professionals who will thoughtfully discuss where we are as an industry and where we need to go. Speakers include Marcelo Gandola, President, Post New York Alliance and Senior VP Deluxe Content Creation Group; Terry Brown, CTO, MegaPlayground, Matthew Mallinson, AllCreative NY; Glenn Allen, Co-Founder/VFX Producer/VFX Supervisor, Brainstorm; Richard Friedlander, Co-Founder/VFX Producer, Brainstorm; editors from ACE; facility owners; VFX producers and more.

Session and speaker highlights in Los Angeles include:

* Behind The Scenes In Award Winning Storytelling: The Oscar Panel – Join the editor, post supervisor, and visual effects supervisor from an Oscar worthy project and learn how choices are made and how workflow and tools impact the process.

* What Does the Future Hold, and the changing career path for post production – join the top leaders in post production for a serious look at the future and what pathways lie ahead for post production professionals.

* How Visual Effects Tools are Changing Everything – Meet the creatives who have fully embraced and benefitted from a new treasure chest of affordable tools and see how to incorporate them into your work.

* From Set to Editorial: A Keynote Conversation – An intimate conversation with a celebrated editor and cinematographer.

Los Angeles speakers include; Larry Chernoff, MTI Films, Norm Hollyn, USC; Ramy Katrib, DigitalFilm Tree; Phil Linson, AFI; Thomas Tannenberger, Gradient Effects; Tom Vice, nextLAB; Josh Rizzo, VP Technology for Technicolor/Slate Media. More speakers will be announced.

The PPMC in both cities is sponsored by the PNYA, HPA, ACE, ASC, and registration is only $45. For more information, please call 818.842.6611 or visit http://createasphere.com/PPMC.

About Createasphere
Createasphere is the premier business development partner for technology enabled entertainment, marketing, and communications organizations. We advance careers and technologies by connecting world-class professionals globally online and in person.

Createasphere was founded in 2001, and over the past decade has grown into a global company that in 2011 produced seventeen events over three continents as well as five websites. Createasphere became part of Diversified Business Communications in 2008, and now drives their entertainment, media, technology strategies and properties division. Currently, Createasphere produces the Entertainment Technology Expos in Los Angeles; the Digital Asset Management Conference in New York, Los Angeles, and Europe; The DAMMY Awards in New York; the Executive Marketplaces for Houses of Worship in Los Angeles and Chicago; Post Production Master Classes in New York and Los Angeles, the Digital Process Workflow Lab and the online news and content portals ProVideoCoalition.com, DamCoalition.com and ProPhotoCoalition.com.

Connect with Createasphere on:
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/createasphere/120410987973181)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/createasphere)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/company/createasphere)
Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/createasphere)
Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=createasphere&f=hp)

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Media Contact:
Chris Purse, 818.303.8088
ignite strategic communications
chris@ignite.bz or mimi@ignite.bz

For three evenings in July, 45,000-plus fervent fans gathered at the Lollapalooza festival’s Bud Light Stage to hear some of the world’s top musical acts, including Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne, Avicii, Justice, and Franz Ferdinand. To deliver their music with full impact across the 7.5-acre grassy quadrangle, Thunder Audio of Livonia, Mich. assembled a massive sound reinforcement system built around 76 Meyer Sound MILO line array loudspeakers.

“The MILO system sounded phenomenal, as it always does,” comments Thunder’s Gregory Snyder, who served as system designer and project manager for the event. “The FOH mixers for every act were amazed with how smooth and coherent the system was, regardless of levels.”

Anchoring the sound at the stage were dual main hangs of 18 per side MILO loudspeakers, supplemented by outfills of eight MILO loudspeakers each. Low end pumped through 36 700-HP subwoofers while MILO 120, MICA, and M’elodie line array loudspeakers provided, respectively, front, front-out, and center downfill. Eight MILO loudspeakers were hoisted atop each of three delay towers, and the entire system was governed by a Galileo loudspeaker management system with four Galileo 616 processors.

The Meyer Sound rig—along with everyone in attendance—received a thorough drenching from a fierce Saturday afternoon thunderstorm, forcing cancellation of one act at the stage. All other acts performed as scheduled, and to overwhelming audience response.

“They all sounded great, but to be honest I thought Black Sabbath with Ozzy was beyond amazing,” recounts Snyder. “Considering the volumes they were playing, the stereo imaging and clarity were astonishing. It never sounded overdriven.”

With Florence + The Machine, Snyder was impressed by “the precise separation of the instruments and the way her voice fell into the mix.” And with the French DJ duo Justice, he noted how the low end was “punchy and yet smooth, with none of that distorted square wave sound you’ll get sometimes in DJ sets.”

Thunder Audio also provided Avid Profile consoles for FOH and monitors, plus eight Shure 900 Series IEM systems and eight Shure UHF-R wireless microphone systems. Systems tech on the Thunder Audio crew was Erik Rogers.

Lollapalooza producer C3 Presents invited Thunder Audio to bring the MILO rig to Chicago based in large part on the performance of the system at Metallica’s Orion Music + More festival, also produced by C3, which was staged in Atlantic City in June.

www.meyersound.com/news

Five-Stage, 21-Camera Production Supplies Live HD Webcast Footage and Feeds Big Screens and LEDs Provided by NEP Screenworks more