Brigantine, NJ, September 2012….  Like most of New Jersey’s seaside communities, life on this resort island near Atlantic City is affected by the seasons. In the summer months, the sun seekers and beach lovers help to swell the congregation at St. Thomas the Apostle from 1,000 to more than 3,000 – well beyond what their existing sanctuary can handle. As Bobby Harper, VP of Sales at Egg Harbor-based ACIR Professional explains, the church came up with a creative solution.

“It’s an older structure, and it has some history, and they didn’t want to just tear it down and build something bigger,” says Harper. “So they opted to renovate the original building and also build an event center, which could handle the overflow, as well as other functions.”

The idea of connecting the events center to the sanctuary via audio and video was suggested early on, but a complex digital matrix with touch panels was simply not feasible. “We wanted to create a solution for them that would meet their needs without getting into complex and expensive networking,” Harper explains. In the end, a bit of creativity was all it took.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 2012: The modest sanctuary of St. Anthony Claret Catholic Church in Anaheim, California is of an airy and lovely modernist design. It was at the height of architectural fashion when it was built in the late 1950s and has again come into vogue in the new century. However, its unintelligible sound reinforcement system was hardly state-of-the-art when installed decades ago, and unlike a fine wine, time did not make it sound any better. As the church’s musical ambitions and spoken word requirements grew through the years, Reverend Rudolph Preciado contacted Newport Beach-based 7K Solutions to remedy the antiquated audio. Paul Dexter, owner of 7K Solutions, used an open-architecture Symetrix SymNet Solus 16 processor to create a system with twelve open inputs that could automix itself.

“Reverend Preciado will be retiring soon, and he wanted to do something great for the church before he left,” said Dexter. “The old sound reinforcement system was not performing well. An early-1980s rack of analog processing and amplification that had become ever-more ‘Frankensteined’ through the years drove a ceiling full of eight-inch, full-range loudspeakers.”

When it was constructed, the church used a charming pipe organ as the sole musical source and had only modest spoken word requirements. Today, the pipe organ is joined by a choir and, for some services, by a band that mixes itself on stage. Three microphones cover the choir, and Dexter replaced the band’s old mixer with an Allen & Heath MixWizard. Instead of a boundary mic at the altar, St. Anthony Claret now uses three wireless headset microphones for the priests, one wireless handheld microphone, and four optional podium microphones.

The Symetrix SymNet Solus 16 is an open-architecture, stand-alone unit that provides sixteen mic/line inputs and eight outputs. The routing, logic, and signal processing that Dexter programmed was quite involved and reflected the specific uses and contexts of each input. For instance, the band’s input will not duck for any other input. In contrast, all of the microphones will duck in response to the headset microphones. Dexter used Symetrix’ time-tested auto-gain algorithm on all of the microphones to ensure that individuals with both quiet and loud speaking voices receive ideal reinforcement.

“I started using Symetrix processing several years ago,” said Dexter. “I’m not the sort of person who’s into taking classes and certifications, so I appreciate how really intuitive SymNet Designer is. But things always come up, and I can call the Symetrix support staff any time and speak with someone who is knowledgeable and interested. My question gets answered and I move on. The SymNet Solus 16 was the perfect solution at St. Anthony Claret because I knew sixteen inputs would be ample and eight outputs was all that were needed. The open-architecture programming would allow me to customize the system for the very particular needs of this church.”

In addition to some clever processing inside the SymNet Solus 16, Dexter corrected the intelligibility problem with a generous helping of acoustical treatment and a single, nearly-point source loudspeaker cluster. “The walls, ceiling, floor, and pews are all quite reflective,” he said. “It was originally meant to amplify the pipe organ.” Dexter placed absorptive panels on the ceiling, sidewalls, and back wall, taking care to match colors so that the aesthetic of the church wouldn’t be compromised. He placed several panels on the ceiling near the central loudspeaker cluster so as to minimize intelligibility-degrading early reflections. The loudspeakers are Fulcrum Acoustic DX1265s, powered by Powersoft amplifiers.

Just a single Symetrix ARC-2e wall panel remote provides all of the user control for the system. Dexter fixed the sanctuary’s output volume and then provided ten steps of volume control for wireless microphones (as a group), the podium microphones (as a group), the choir microphones (as a group), and the band’s on-stage mixer. Additional menu pages provide output volume for the choir monitor (which contains all content except the choir mics) and the cry room. Behind the scenes, the SymNet Solus 16 provides additional zone control for the foyer and each main loudspeaker. Zoning out the loudspeaker cluster allowed Dexter to shade and tune each element to deliver even coverage from the front seat to the back wall.

“Taken together, the system is very effective,” said Dexter. “It sounds great, and they don’t need an audio tech on hand. Reverend Preciado tested the system with us, and he walked all around the room, overjoyed by how clear everything sounded. And it’s so easy to use that we never had to provide a formal training session. The Reverend just pushed some buttons on the ARC-2e, and he understood exactly how it works.”

ABOUT SYMETRIX
Sound professionals rely upon the performance, value and reliability of audio mixing, routing and processing products from Symetrix. For more information on Symetrix professional audio products, please visit www.symetrix.co or call +1 (425) 778-7728.

Oslo, Norway, September 2012… The Sofiemyr church in Oslo is a striking modern building, with bare brick walls, a tiled floor and wooden ceiling. Light pours in from a huge stained glass window and other windows in the corners.

WADSWORTH, Ohio — When looking to upgrade its front-of-house console at Northside Christian Church in Wadsworth, Ohio, Matt Howard, Music Pastor at the Church, opted for the most appealing and intuitive desk for the job: HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Compact 32.

Northside Christian Church holds Sunday morning and afternoon services and utilizes the console for all FOH and some wireless in-ear monitor use. The morning service is mostly traditional, which differs from the afternoon program, which Howard referred to as “worship on steroids,� meaning they incorporate lighting and music for a whole show experience.

Howard wanted a console that wasn’t too daunting for his volunteers to operate, but still had the sound quality and durability of the Vi series Soundcraft boards that Howard has used before with great success.

“One of the biggest challenges was finding a console that allowed us to save our settings so volunteers could easily operate the console week after week,� Howard said. “We have a pool of about 20 musicians and 40 vocalists who constantly rotate each weekend. Since we don’t have professional sound engineers, we wanted the easiest board to manage their settings. With Soundcraft’s ability to snapshot settings, it has made the whole process very easy.�

With the additional MADI card that Northside Christian Church uses, the Si Compact 32 allows them to record rehearsals and provide a learning tool for the volunteers. “We turn the rehearsals into a virtual sound check where the person operating the console can play the service back and find the optimal settings for high-quality sound,� Howard added.

With an acoustically challenging building, having the ability to find the perfect settings has proven to be beneficial. “We have a huge wooden wall behind the stage which dulls all the sound and there are also sound absorbing panels in the back row of the audience,� explained Howard. “With the matrix on the Si Compact, we can offset that with some delays, and it has become really easy to manage.�

Along with the Si Compact 32, the Northside Christian Church deploys Crowns CTs 1200 and CTs 4200 amplifiers. “We never have to touch them, it’s great having the confidence that they are always up and running and providing the power we need,� Howard added.

“I’ve always loved the sound quality of Soundcraft but am greatly surprised by the power of the Si Compact. Soundcraft has always given me great support and everyone at the Church is extremely pleased with the results of the upgrade,� Howards summed up.

For more information on the Northside Christian Church, please visit: www.northsideweb.com

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

HOUSTON, Texas – Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, the largest “megachurch� in the United States, recently received a complete audio upgrade to its 16,800-seat facility. Working with Shawn Mullins and Joe Smart of Houston-based sound contractor Covenant Communications, the team designed and installed a HARMAN audio system featuring JBL’s new VTX Series line arrays and subwoofers along with Crown Audio I-Tech HD Series amplifiers and BSS Audio BLU-800 signal processors.

Lakewood Church is led by senior pastor Joel Osteen, whose broadcasts reach more than 10 million viewers worldwide every week. The Church features a large stage at the front with floor and tiered seating all around. Lakewood Church moved into its current location (formerly the Compaq Center) in 2005, renovating the facility and sound system. However, as the Ministry grew in scope, over the past year church management including Lakewood Church technical director Reed Hall and senior audio engineers BK Beard and Brad Duryea realized the system needed to be upgraded.

“Pastor Joel Osteen uses a lavalier mic and moves around the stage quite a bit when giving his sermons. He wants to reach and engage every congregant. The audio system needs to be heard loud and clear in every part of the church,� noted Hall. “However, the existing system was a bit deficient in headroom and because lavaliers don’t have the output (gain before feedback) of handheld mics, it was sometimes a challenge to get a loud enough level from Osteen’s lapel mic. Management also felt that the coverage from the older system’s front fills was inadequate, and that the system was deficient in upper midrange and high-frequency clarity.�

Covenant first demonstrated Crown IT12000HD amplifiers on a section of the existing system. It made a “huge improvement� in headroom and clarity according to Smart, but didn’t solve all of the existing problems. Subsequently Hall, Beard, Duryea and Smart demoed various line array loudspeaker systems. “Nine months ago I knew nothing about JBL VTX line arrays,� said Hall, “but once we found out VTX was on its way we told each other we really needed to hear it.�

For initial evaluation purposes, Hall and key members of his audio team attended a VTX demonstration at the Forum in Los Angeles conducted by Paul Bauman, Senior Manager, Tour Sound, JBL Professional. Next they brought VTX V25 line array loudspeakers and competitors’ models into Lakewood Church to perform side-by-side comparisons, and chose the V25 after extensive auditioning. All were impressed by the high-frequency smoothness, clarity and extension of the V25 and its D2 dual-diaphragm, dual-voice-coil compression driver, as well as the massive amount of low-end the V25 provides, which enabled them to ultimately reduce the number of subwoofers they had planned to deploy and allowed them to select a 60Hz crossover point for the V25’s to achieve a better blend between the main speakers and the subwoofers.

The speaker complement selected for Lakewood Church includes 60 JBL VTX V25 line array cabinets and 20 VTX S28 subwoofers, flown in four arrays: main left-right V25 arrays of 20 enclosures each, two suspended arrays of 10 S28 subwoofers and two side arrays with 10 V25 loudspeakers each. The main left-right arrays curve down 90 degrees to cover from front seats all the way up to the back bowl of the church. In addition, 26 JBL VERTEC® VT4886 subcompact line array elements are employed—eight for sound reinforcement for the choir, 12 used as outfill and six deployed as front fill. A total of 73 Crown IT12000HD amplifiers power the entire system.

Hall feels that Lakewood Church is the best-sounding arena in the country because of its padded seats, sloping floor, and carpeting. However, the room has some hard surfaces surrounding the seats and achieving a tight low end proved to be challenging because of the existence of a number of metal-framed sheetrock partitions that have the potential to resonate. The V25’s tightly focused low-frequency output helped solve this issue.

Hall also found the system much easier to setup and configure than what was previously installed, thanks to the synergy between the JBL VTX loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers and HARMAN’s HiQnet System Architect™ and BSS London Architect programming software and communications protocol. When setting up the system Beard & Duryea went through every cabinet one by one, dialed in each group of speakers and then integrated the entire system, a process made easier by System Architect. Additional onsite support was provided by Allan Devantier, Manager, Objective Evaluation, HARMAN International, and Paul Bauman, and the HARMAN Audio Test System (HATS) was employed to calibrate and tune the Lakewood Church installation. With the improvements to the Lakewood Church audio system, Hall feels that the large facility now offers the acoustic experience of a 4,500-seat theater.

“For those that haven’t heard the new JBL VTX series they can’t imagine the level of performance these speakers achieve. While JBL VERTEC has long been seen as the industry standard, the VTX technology is truly a game-changer for live sound applications,� added Smart.

“Osteen wants the system to sound everywhere the way it sounds in the front row, and with this system we have nailed it,� Hall concluded. “Compared to the old system from the console, Osteen’s voice sounds 50 feet closer than it did before.�

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

The cooperation between Chyron and 3d realtime graphics specialist Ventuz Technology AG reaches a new level with the integration of Ventuz into the BlueNet workflow

The established Broadcast systems supplier Chyron and graphics specialist Ventuz, who entered into a strategic partnership in February of this year, today announced that the companies will use IBC 2012 in Amsterdam to showcase their first joint development success. “We are now ready to announce our integration of Ventuz within the CAMIO broadcast environment,� said Erik Beaumont, Product Manager of Ventuz. “This allows us to seamlessly and transparently operate Ventuz graphics systems within the existing Chyron BlueNet workflow.�

The implementation allows Ventuz to be controlled by the CAMIO and LUCI systems, and so function as part of an automated newsroom environment. Asset management, MOS integration, playout control using Chyron’s ISQ, and distribution functionalities are all covered by the proven and robust Chyron framework, while Ventuz offers unparalleled flexibility and capability as a real-time graphics system.

“This also gives Ventuz users access to Chyron’s hosted cloud-based graphics using the Axis World Graphics system for news and map images,â€� said Bill Hendler, CTO of Chyron.

“Through this integration, we are leveraging the best of both companies,� said Beaumont. “Ventuz adds advanced data visualization and interactive touch screen capabilities to the Chyron family of graphics solutions which is utilized by thousands of editors, operators, artists and producers all over the world.�

Ventuz and Chyron will showcase their integration at IBC 2012 in Amsterdam, September 7th through 11th, at the Chyron stand, 7.D11.

Sanford, FL, September 2012… Josh Walker is a self-described “professional creative.” From music and recording to live sound and systems integration, Walker works with bands, musicians, and organizations, helping to create a powerful musical and visual experience.

In addition to his regular duties as Creative Arts Director at Morgantown, West Virginia’s, Catalyst Church, Walker is an AV consultant to churches and institutions across the US, helping their users to design and get the most from their systems. As he puts it, “I love technology, and I love simplicity.”

Walker recently talked about an interesting project at Safe Harbor Christian Church in the Orlando suburb of Sanford, Florida. The church’s 250-seat sanctuary was plagued by a number of challenges, both environmental and operational. “The room itself is actually pretty good, other than a rather high ceiling,” he observes. “But they had some rather outdated and ineffective technology, and that’s where we started.”

The sanctuary’s analog console lacked many of the features the church needed. “Even at its best, they could only get two monitor mixes out of it,” Walker explains. And the aging mixer had apparently seen better days, with several channels either partially or fully inoperable.

The multi-channel snake fared little better. “The snake had been spliced with what looked like residential copper wiring to extend it to the 250 feet needed to reach the desk,” says Walker. “It was pretty down and dirty and just a bit dangerous.”

Walker recommended the PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 digital console. “I had mixed live shows on the PreSonus on a couple of occasions and was pretty impressed,” he says. “For its size and price, it’s surprisingly powerful. It’s ideal for small to mid-sized churches.” Apparently it wasn’t hard to convince the church either. “They had been researching consoles, and the StudioLive was at the top of their list.”

Not surprisingly, the butchered snake was a goner. “There was no way to salvage it, so we installed a new 200-foot multicore,” says Walker. “Between the snake and the StudioLive, we immediately raised their available monitor mixes from two to five. The snake enabled us to go up to eight, and the console allowed for ten.”

Another challenge plaguing the church was a lack of proper training. “Outside of their core team, it’s largely a volunteer crew,” Walker explains. “One of the guys had run the sound at a larger venue for about 20 years, so he knew audio but he didn’t know digital. The rest of them were folks who wanted to help out, but had no audio experience.”

Walker says the StudioLive made training the crew an easy undertaking. “We had to go through everything, from how to use a digital console down to the basics of how to mix, use EQ, compression, and so on. I think we did a total of around six hours of hands-on training, and when I left I was fully confident that they had a good grasp of things,” he says. “The console makes it so easy. The Fat Channel is so intuitive – all the information is right in front of you. There are no layers of menus. In fact, there’s almost nothing you can’t get to within two button presses or two turns of a knob.”

He points to the StudioLive’s expandability as another asset. “If their production grows twofold in the next couple of years, they can get another one and connect them via FireWire.”

“To be able to give them a console that takes up less space and does more than two of their old consoles is just a no-brainer,” he concludes.

###

Founded in 1995, PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc., is a leading designer and manufacturer of audio-recording software, hardware, and related accessories. PreSonus software, microphone preamps, signal processors, digital audio interfaces, mixers, control surfaces and other products are used worldwide for recording, sound reinforcement, broadcast, sound design, and Internet audio.

Oxygen DCT’s recently launched Evolution ProFlex monitors will be on show at IBC 2012 (10.B44) as part of a range of new products that the company will be debuting for the first time in Europe.

The latest addition to Oxygen DCT’s popular Evolution Pro range, the low cost, high performance Evolution ProFlex is targeted at more budget conscious installations by offering broadcast picture quality at consumer pricing levels.

“With Evolution ProFlex monitors we are giving control rooms and galleries access to professional grade monitoring, thus negating the need to use large domestic televisions that don’t offer the same level of picture quality,� says Steve Hathaway, Oxygen DCT’s Managing Director. “This new monitor range is flexible and capable of being driven by multi-viewer systems with between four and 64 signals on a single screen.�

There are seven different sizes in the range, from a super 9.7� to a high performance 10 bit, 1.06 billion colour 55� model and an enormous 70� screen. Unlike consumer screens, these monitors are a consistent ergonomic design that will not change model or design as occurs in the consumer market. They also have broadcast colour reproduction with adjustable colour controls, contrast and backlight setting allowing broadcast users to colour match panels together.

Each screen is equipped with the latest, high performance LCD panels and low energy LED backlighting. ProFlex monitors are designed to be flexible with control from either rear mounted buttons or a plug-in remote control panel. DVI and HDMI inputs are standard whilst 3G-HD-SDI is optional.

Initially developed in conjunction with ITN, which installed them in its new Channel Four News room, Evolution ProFlex monitors have also been supplied to customers such as the British Army Communications Media. Prices for the range start at £355 for the 9.7� to £477 for the 21.5� and £3,330 for the 55� model.

Also making its debut at IBC 2012 is Oxygen DCT’s powerful and feature-rich 3G 2-channel test signal generator that offers all the analysis tools engineers need in a highly portable, hand-held unit.

The OxTPG 1000 offers the full range of High Definition standards including 3G and HD/SDI up to 1080p resolution. While ideally suited to all film and broadcast applications, its portable nature makes it particularly well suited to those working in an Outside Broadcast environment with DSNG vehicles and fly-away units. By taking advantage of new technology, the unit is also significantly lower in price than many of its competitors.
“The OxTPG 1000 is the lowest cost high performance TSG on the market and comes with a selection of moving test patterns to test links and monitor performance,� Hathaway adds. “Users can also personalise the unit by loading their own test patters.�

The OxTPG 1000 features a variety of output modes including SD/SDI, HD/SDI and 3G/SDI test signals. Audio is incorporated within the test signal output and users can also Genlock the unit to a master reference. Optional fibre optic links can be supplied with the OxTPG 1000 should these be required. The unit can also be powered by an on-board battery, making it even more useful and versatile.

As Cinedeck’s leading European distributor, Oxygen DCT will also be showing the new 4-channel Cinedeck MX multi-channel recorder, which will be on display for the first time in Europe. This compliments the latest v3.5 versions of the Cinedeck RX Broadcast and RX Cine/444, and the Cinedeck EX.

Oxygen DCT will complete its IBC line-up with a host of monitors for broadcast and production and a range of studio glue products including the GlueBoxâ„¢ Mio HD/SD-SDI to HDMI/DVI converter, a high quality, compact, reliable video conversion and interfacing device for broadcast television and digital film industries.

For more information about these products and the entire Oxygen DCT range, please visit the company in Hall 10, Stand B44 or visit www.oxygendct.com

-ends-

About Oxygen DCT:
Oxygen DCT is a broadcasts systems solutions provider with a deep knowledge and understanding of the broadcast and professional media markets. This dynamic organisation has amassed in just over five years, a very extensive and comprehensive products portfolio of over 3000 carefully designed broadcast and production products that represent the pinnacle of engineering excellence. Oxygen DCT was the first company in the broadcast industry to fully implement online facilities for its customers and its unique, comprehensive online ordering facility automatically configures equipment systems for customers, saving time and provides industry professionals with the convenience of immediate online pricing. The ‘one-stop-shop’ website caters for the smallest requirements whilst also allowing users to prepare their own quotes and place orders online with immediate order confirmation. Oxygen DCT also provides advice, support and expertise as part of its ‘life cycle’ care scheme, ensuring that customers are fully serviced throughout their career life cycles. www.oxygendct.com

JESSUP, MARYLAND – AUGUST 2012: API, manufacturer of professional analog recording consoles and outboard processors, has appointed London-based powerhouse Source Distribution as exclusive distributor for its full range of products throughout the United Kingdom. Source, a division of HHB Communications, brings over 35 years of industry experience to the partnership, as well as a client list that includes the BBC, Sky, CNN, and Abbey Road, among others. The company is well known for serving its clients not only with great products and equipment, but also with comprehensive educational and technical support. The addition of API signal processing modules and consoles significantly extends the breadth and depth of high-end analog processing available to Source and HHB clientele.

“We’re very pleased to be working with the great people at Source/HHB,” said Dan Zimbelman, director of sales at API. “HHB Communications has been in this business for almost as long as API has, and the staff’s consistent professionalism and unfailing habit of exceeding expectations has earned HHB a large and loyal client base throughout the UK. It’s a great time for API to broaden our reach throughout the UK market.

“API is a legend in the world of professional recording, and we’re proud to sell its punchy, ‘American’ analog sound on our side of the pond,” said Ian Jones, owner and managing director at HHB Communications. “From its modular lunchbox series to its dedicated rack mount gear, and from its small-frame 1608 to its large-frame Legacy and Vision consoles, API occupies a unique niche in the industry. After all, every audio professional knows what is meant by the phrase, ‘the API sound.’ Is there any other company with this type of name recognition or reputation in this industry? Just watch us run with API.”

ABOUT API (AUTOMATED PROCESSES, INC.)
Established more than 40 years ago, Automated Processes, Inc. is the leader in analog recording gear with the Vision, Legacy Series and 1608 recording consoles, as well as its classic line of modular signal processing equipment.

www.apiaudio.com

San Diego, CA (August 30, 2012) - VUE Audiotechnik today announced the appointment of three noted representative firms that will oversee the company’s sales and support efforts across the western U.S.

Building on the momentum sparked by VUE’s first official product unveilings at the InfoComm show in June, these appointments mark the latest step in an aggressive expansion of a worldwide sales and distribution network for the young brand.

H.C. Garrison Company, The SG Group, and Warman Marketing all join VUE Audiotechnik as of August, and can be reached in their prospective territories via the contact information provided below.

“Fostering strong, long-term relationships as a cornerstone to great service is one of our most valued principles at VUE,” explained VUE Audiotechnik’s Executive Vice President Jim Sides. “These firms share that same commitment, and we’re pleased that they’ve agreed to bring their experience, passion and energy to our efforts.”

California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii