LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Underscoring its commitment to the increasingly popular Dolby® ATMOS™ platform, South African cinema chain Ster-Kinekor recently deployed HARMAN’s JBL Professional cinema loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers at its flagship Gateway Cinema in Durban. The system was unveiled in December at a premiere for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. South Africa professional audio distributor Wild & Marr supplied all the HARMAN components for the installation.

The theatre features five JBL ScreenArray 4732 loudspeakers with three suspended left-right-rear JBL 4642A dual 18-inch subwoofers. Forty-eight JBL 8350’s serve as the surround speakers for the sides, rear, and overhead. Twenty-nine Crown XTi4002 amplifiers power the system and three Crown XTi6002 amps power the subwoofers.

Dolby ATMOS creates life-like sound where each of the 48 JBL surround speakers are independently amplified, creating 48 separate channels of surround sound in the cinema. The use of JBL loudspeakers enables greater realism with a heightened impact in every scene.

“Being part of the scientific process of taking a piece of art and recreating it as the director had intended is awe inspiring. Interacting with Dolby to overcome technical challenges that face this very new concept was an honor and it was great to hear from Dolby that our method of installation was way above average,� stated Wild & Marr Systems Engineer, Gustav Teitge.

“We are proud to bring this groundbreaking technology to our No.1 Ster-Kinekor cinema in the country – Gateway. We are especially excited to launch this offering to the city of Durban where South Africans go to play, to holiday, to relax and to have fun this time of year. We think South Africans deserve the best. And we’re happy to bring it to them,� added Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theaters.

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.

LANCASTER, Penn.—The place was the American Music Venue in Lancaster, PA. on a late day in March. Country artist Gary Allan
performed in support of his latest CD “Set You Free�. Bauder Audio (Horsham, PA) provided a NEXO GEO S12 line array for the date with support from Tom Hogle, Bauder systems engineer and Sean Gary, A2 for Gary Allan. 24 NEXO GEO S12s over eight RS18 Ray Subs were all powered and processed with NXAMP4X4 amplifiers.

“Besides the fact that the GEO S12 sounds great, it is easy to set up which makes for a quick load in,â€� states Hogle. “NEXO continues to manufacturer studio monitors for large venues!” remarked Chris “Sullyâ€� Sullivan after mixing front of house for the show.

Tucked behind the NEXO arrays, Jason Spence specified a Yamaha PM5000 console for the entire Gary Allan tour, provided by Sound Image of Nashville. “We had options and, in fact, listened to other consoles, notes Spence. However, after listening to the 5K, Gary and the band chose to go analog. The production requirements did not necessitate a digital mixer so we went with the PM5000.”

For more information on the NEXO GEO S12 and Yamaha consoles, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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PHOTO ID: Left: Bauder’s Tom Hogle Right: Sully

About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.

NORTHRIDGE, California – If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere—and HARMAN’s JBL VTX line arrays have made it in New York in a big way, with Clair Brothers Audio Systems installing a comprehensive VTX system, powered by Crown Audio I-Tech HD amplifiers, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

“The Theater at Madison Square Garden is a world-class venue and nothing less than a world-class sound reinforcement system would be appropriate,� said Jim Devenney, Senior Engineer for Clair Brothers Audio Systems. “Tom Arrigoni, Russell Lynn and Tim Parsaca, from the Garden’s production staff, provided critical design and logistical support, helping to make this install successful.�

The main loudspeaker system consists of left and right flown clusters of nine JBL VTX V25 fullsize line array elements each, along with two hangs of four S28 subwoofers each. The centerfill cluster includes six VERTEC® VT4887A compact line array elements. The main left and right clusters are located just offstage of the proscenium opening and the subwoofer hangs are offstage of the main arrays.

To cover the back third of the venue’s seating, Clair Brothers deployed two delay rings—the first ring has 16 bi-amped JBL AM7212/66 loudspeakers and the second delay ring includes 14 AC28/95 loudspeakers. In addition, eight JBL AM5212 loudspeakers cover the side box seats.

“The V25 line arrays proved to be the perfect choice for this application, since they deliver higher sound output and wider coverage for their size than any other line array I know,� Devenney said. “We were able to fit in nine per side, which, in combination with the VT4887A center fill speakers, were more than enough to do the job.�

“We wanted to ensure even coverage throughout the back of the theater, which is why we went with the additional JBL AM7212/66, AC28/95 and AM5212 speakers,� Devenney added. “The combination of the main VTX and VERTEC and the delay speakers enables an optimum sonic balance throughout the venue.�

All system amplification and speaker processing is handled by 24 Crown IT 4x3500HD 4-channel amplifiers. Two BSS Soundweb London BLU-160 signal processors with digital audio bus and additional input and output cards are placed inline before the amplifiers for system routing and to interface with the fire alarm muting system.

“The before and after difference in sound quality is phenomenal,� Devenney concluded. “We knew the VTX and VERTEC line arrays would provide better clarity, output and coverage over the previous system, but the level of improvement really needs to be heard to be appreciated.�

For more information on Clair Brothers, please visit www.clairsystems.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 25 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 net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – At CinemaCon 2013, HARMAN’s JBL Professional today announced the introduction of its 3252N 2-way screen channel cinema loudspeaker system, a cost-effective solution for movie soundtrack reproduction in small- to mid-sized auditoriums. The loudspeaker is available as a fully passive system.

“The 3252N is a space-saving, easy-to-install loudspeaker that delivers smooth, accurate reproduction of movie soundtracks with wide dynamic range and maximum output over a wide coverage area,� noted Chuck Goodsell, Senior Manager, Cinema, JBL Professional. “The 3252N is a great solution for cinemas and auditoriums where space and budgets may be limited but where top-quality multichannel theater sound is required.�

The 3252N measures 43-1/3 inches (1100 mm) high by 25-1/5 inches (640 mm) wide by just 17-3/4 inches (450 mm) deep and its speaker cable connections are made from the side, a configuration that facilitates easy placement behind a screen. The loudspeaker ships as a complete unit—no further assembly is required.

The 3252N employs a 2414H-C Teonex®-diaphragm high-frequency compression driver that operates into a molded Optimized Aperture Waveguide. Two 15-inch woofers with 2.5-inch aluminum ribbon wire voice coils provide powerful, detailed low-frequency response. The 3252N has a high 103 dB sensitivity and can be driven to up to 124 dB maximum rated SPL. A newly designed passive crossover network provides a seamless transition between the drivers for clear, articulate dialog and high-fidelity music reproduction. The speaker’s built-in protection circuit ensures that all components operate within their optimal power handling range.

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 25 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 net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – At CinemaCon 2013, HARMAN’s JBL Professional is introducing the 4181 Cinema Subwoofer System, a cost-effective movie soundtrack reproduction loudspeaker for basic cinema applications. The 4181 is a high-quality subwoofer system featuring an advanced technology 460-millimeter (18-inch), low-frequency transducer mounted in a direct radiator, bass-reflex enclosure for smooth response to the lowest audible frequencies.

“JBL has recognized a need for cost-effective, low-frequency augmentation of digital soundtracks in motion picture theaters and for general sound reinforcement applications,� said Chuck Goodsell, Senior Manager, Cinema, JBL Professional. “The 4181 addresses this need at a very affordable price point.�

The driver unit utilizes a vented cooling loop, which pumps air through the magnetic gap
and directly over and around the voice coil, providing immediate heat transfer. Through the use of computer-aided magnet optimization and analysis techniques, JBL engineers were able to optimize magnet weight, flux density and field saturation, resulting in a significant reduction in harmonic distortion.

The 75-millimeter (3-inch) voice coil, using dual coils in parallel and with holes in bobbin, offers greater thermal stability with increased power handling. All elements of the optimized parts of the driver ensure smooth low frequency response, lower power compression and enable the system to carry a 500 watts continuous pink noise rating.

The enclosure is constructed of dense stock and is extensively braced on all panels. It is tuned to 30Hz with three large ports to minimize port compression and to reduce distortion due to turbulent airflow.

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 25 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 net sales of $4.4 billion for the twelve months ending June 30, 2012.

Martin Audio has appointed James King as its new Director of Marketing.

King assumed his new position at this year’s Prolight+Sound Show in Frankfurt as the loudspeaker manufacturer’s groundbreaking MLA technology starts to enjoy unprecedented sales success.

King states that he immediately recognized the opportunity to capitalize on this situation. “I am impressed with the ambition, innovation and heritage of Martin Audio, and am excited at the prospect at being able to hone this into a clear competitive advantage that will deliver further market share gains worldwide,� he said.

“The industry is full of passion and I look forward to immersing myself in the world of pro audio to deliver the insights necessary for Martin Audio to best serve its customers and strengthen its brand position.�

Welcoming him to the company, Martin Audio Managing Director, Anthony Taylor, added, “We have searched hard for an experienced marketing talent that will help to bolster the existing executive board and to capture both verbally and visually the essential nature of Martin Audio. And in James we believe we have that person. This will lead to an exciting new chapter in the company development as the message of our technological edge continues to take hold.�

Highly experienced in brand leadership within the international business world, James King joined communication giant Motorola in 2001, and after occupying various senior management roles, became EMEA Brand Marketing Director in 2008, a position he held for the next four years. Prior to that, among the other companies he held a marketing management position was with Dyson.

The new Director of Marketing will be based at Martin Audio’s international headquarters, in High Wycombe, Bucks.

For more about Martin Audio, please click to www.martin-audio.com.

About Martin Audio®
Founded by audio engineer David Martin in 1971, Martin Audio pioneered the use of all-horn-loaded bass designs in world-class touring loudspeaker systems for groups such as Pink Floyd, ELP and Supertramp. Located outside of London, Martin Audio now embodies a sophisticated mix of acoustic design, research, mathematical modeling and software engineering for a wide range of products in the installation, cinema and touring sound markets.

OXNARD, California – April 2013 — L-ACOUSTICS is pleased to announce the latest version of its LA Network Manager software (2.1.0.1) as well as a firmware update (2.0.0.2) for its LA4 and LA8 amplified controllers. The full release pack with updated documentation is now available from L-ACOUSTICS’ online download center at http://www.l-acoustics.com/support-download-center-13.html. more

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – APRIL 2013: For over sixty years, the Campbell Student Union has been the central campus venue for meetings, relaxation, and events at Buffalo State, the State University of New York. To keep pace with the shifting needs of its students and to take advantage of new technologies, the university secured funds for a $6 million renovation. The centerpiece of the renovation is a vastly improved social hall, where approximately four hundred people can attend a huge diversity of events, from national touring rock bands to fashion shows and from performing arts to lectures. Even roller skating is on the list! Prior to the renovation, Buffalo State rented a PA for the space whenever it was needed at great expense and with imperfect results. Now, a permanent sound reinforcement system comprised of Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers and subwoofers delivers any kind of program material with fidelity and punch.

AVL Designs of Penfield, New York designed the system. “Several people at the school had their hearts set on a line array solution when we first became involved in the project,� said Seth Waltz, owner and chief designer at AVL Designs. “Of course, I want to provide them with the best sounding, most durable solution available. I felt that a Danley system would be best in that regard, but I also knew it would be financially smarter than a line array. To help persuade them, I sent a Danley loudspeaker for a demo. A few days later, I received their short but telling reply: ‘Yeah, we’re fine. We don’t need a line array.’ Once you hear it, you can’t really argue with Danley’s sound quality.� Operating out of its Rochester, New York office, Ronco Specialized Systems handled the installation.

For concerts, DJs, plays, and other stage-based or high-volume events, Waltz designed a stereo system, with identical clusters flown above either side of the stage. Within each cluster, a Danley SH-60P and a Danley SH-50P merge their coverage patterns to provide an even blanket of sound to the main floor. Additionally, each cluster contains a Danley SH-95P for downfill. All six boxes make use of Danley’s optional self-power. Two Danley DBH-218 subwoofers provide abundant bass from either end of the stage. “We had originally designed the system with four DBH-218s,� said Waltz. “But after hooking up just two, we knew four would be complete overkill. With just two, we could deliver a tremendous amount of clean, amazing bass.�

“Our technicians love working on Danley projects,� said Al Colucci, account manager at Ronco Specialized Systems. “Their loudspeakers and subwoofers sound great, and the people at Danley are easy to work with. The pattern control is excellent and as advertised.� Waltz added, “We started incorporating Danley into our designs about three years ago, after hearing them at InfoComm. They are, hands down, the most natural-sounding vocal boxes we’d ever heard. And not only do they sound great, they require little EQ and translate a wide range of musical styles well.�

For dinners and lectures, Waltz specified nine Danley SH-100s, which are distributed around the room and fire straight down. An eight-channel Ashly ne8250 amplifier powers them (with two SH-100s tied together on one of the channels). “When we were tuning the system, I had someone walk around with a Countryman headset microphone,� said Waltz. “For the first time ever in my experience, we didn’t need any filters. The distributed system sounded even and natural right out of the box.�

An Ashly ne24.24M processor handles all of the input and loudspeaker conditioning. “I put an Ashly processor in almost every job I do,� said Waltz. “In terms of functions per dollar, Ashly can’t be beat. And the audio path is clean and nice sounding, which is of course critical. Here, it handles all of the system equalization and dynamics.� An APB DynaSonics console provides a versatile analog front end, and a collection of Shure and Countryman microphones supply the primary inputs.

Recently, Buffalo State celebrated the completion of the Campbell Student Union renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by university officials, state lawmakers, faculty, and students. Multiple events, including a live band and a fashion show, demonstrated the new system’s ability to work across styles for maximum effect.

ABOUT DANLEY SOUND LABS Danley Sound Labs is the exclusive home of Tom Danley, one of the most innovative loudspeaker designers in the industry today and recognized worldwide as a pioneer for “outside the box” thinking in professional audio technology. www.danleysoundlabs.com

PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE US AT INFOCOMM BOOTH #143, DEMO ROOM #W203B

Powerful, portable speaker system with legendary Cerwin-Vega! Bass

Cerwin-Vega!® introduces its new P-Series professional PA system at Musikmesse/Prolight + Sound 2013 (Hall 5.1, Stand B65). Comprised of two active speaker products, the P1500X and the P1800SX, this latest offering delivers a new standard in power and bass punch, suited for any sound reinforcement application, from live concerts to public speeches.

The heart of the P-Series is the P1500X, a two-way, bi-amped, full-range bass-reflex speaker. It employs a 15-inch woofer and high-frequency compression driver, powered by a custom Class-D amp. With a rating of 1500W, the P1500X is the most powerful PA product in its price class. A proprietary hemi-conical horn provides enhanced sound clarity over an even and wide coverage area. A built-in mixer with I/O connections allows for simple and fast setup, while enhanced EQ, VEGA BASS boost and high-pass filters enable exact tuning and exceptional performance for any event. The P1500X is a versatile product that can be used as a single speaker for a small venue, set in pairs for a larger venue needing more coverage and SPL, or side mounted as a floor monitor for a band.

The P1500X’s lightweight, robust polymer enclosure includes a two position pole cup with an adjustable mounting point, as well as comfortable ergonomic handles. These features provide users with versatility and comfort. Built-in rigging points and remote volume port make the P1500X ideal for suspended installation.

The muscle of the P-Series is the P1800SX, a powered subwoofer, employing an 18-inch woofer with a custom 2000W Class-D amp. The large woofer and amplifier are enclosed in a hardwood cabinet, the combination of which provides a high level of bass punch and extreme low-end response, both Cerwin-Vega! trademarks. Like the P1500X, the P1800SX has frequency-shaping controls, a VEGA BASS boost and a high-pass filter switch (as a built-in crossover). This ensures that the user has the right amount of bass for a particular venue. While designed for use with the P1500X, the P1800SX can be used for bottom-end extension with competitive products. Additionally, the THRU and MIX output options allow for system expandability and fast daisy-chain connections between components.

The suggested list price for a P1500X is $1199 USD and the P1800SX is $1499 USD.

About Cerwin-Vega!
Cerwin-Vega!, part of the new Gibson Pro Audio division, is a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of loudspeakers for the home and professional audio markets. Designed in the pursuit of dynamic, accurate sound reproduction since 1954, Cerwin-Vega! products are distributed throughout the world via a network of distributors and dealers in more than 75 countries. For additional information on all Cerwin-Vega! products, please visit us online at www.cerwin-vega.com.

About Gibson Guitar Corp.
Gibson Guitar Corp. is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. The Gibson Les Paul Guitar is the bestselling guitar of all time and is a tribute to the late, famed musician of the same name. Collectively, the Gibson Robot Guitar, Gibson Dark Fire, Gibson Dusk Tiger and the Gibson Firebird X represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in more than 75 years. Through the Gibson Foundation, Gibson Guitar Corp. has become equally known for its philanthropic efforts on behalf of music, education, health and human services. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville, TN, since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Baldwin, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere Technology, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, Wurlitzer and Gibson Pro Audio. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com. Follow Gibson Guitar at www.twitter.com/gibsonguitar and www.facebook.com/gibsonguitar.

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Built originally as a private high school located in a residential neighborhood of Montreal, the school has transitioned to College Regina Assumpta, recently designing a 705-seat concert hall as part of the revitalization of the college. “An interesting feature of this project is that the concert hall is found inside a courtyard,� states Guy Desmarteaux, main designer and consultant, GO multimedia inc. “This offers the advantage of having the sound of city noise insulated. Specialized in music and dance education, the school now has a powerful tool for development and improvement.�

The Director of the College, Pierre Carle, was on a mission to make the venue a place where the sound quality could compete with the best concert halls. The team of GO professionals listened to the requirements and combining their knowledge, Carle, accompanied by the Director of the Equipment Christophe Bancilhon, and Eric Brunet, responsible for the audio-visual, worked in obtaining the desired result.

Desmarteaux was assisted by Julie Quenneville, architect and scenograph, with Simon Lemieux, Éric Berteau and Pascal Malenfant Tremblay as the consultant team from GO multimédia inc. The architectural firm for the project was Architectes Gagné & Villeneuve. Electrical and structural engineers collaborated with great ease, and always in the interest of the client, to create a professional level concert hall. “From the beginning of the project, the architects and engineers were happy to work with us to achieve a unique space,â€� says Desmarteaux. “The design was a team effort. The shape, volume, and parameters of the hall were the results of our discussions and proposals.”

“Technologically, it seemed normal and unequivocal to install digital,â€� notes Desmarteaux. “The scale of the challenge was mainly in the integration of clusters of speakers; quite a challenge to integrate the main sound system in a non-apparent way at higher proscenium.â€� The main PA consists of four NEXO GEO S1230, eight NEXO GEO S1210, and two RS18 Ray Subs. Three NEXO NXAMP4x4 amplifiers, allowing an active configuration, power the entire system. A set of loudspeakers provides the surround sound reproduction as well as front fills. All signal processing is accomplished using a digital controller with several adjustable settings via a control and management system using a touchpad. Solotech, Montreal, completed the system installation under the supervision of Charles Cadieux and Gilles Côté.

The clusters are installed with a charge differential between the top and bottom speakers. An important physical exercise was necessary in order to integrate them so as to sonically cover the entire audience. NEXO NS-1 software that determines the methods of possible hanging was suggesting that it was an off-standard or impossible installation. Michel Trépanier and his team at Yamaha assisted in facilitating the integration of the clusters. The optimal positioning of the cardioid subwoofers was determined after several tests and measures to match the acoustic phase and frequency response. “The sound image is an important factor not to be neglected,� adds Desmarteaux.

During the concert hall’s construction, interest was raised from internationally known conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Once the project was completed, the venue’s acoustics charmed him, and a three-year agreement was signed between the College and the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Nézet-Séguin, for the concert hall to be used as their practice space.

For more information on Collège Regina Assumpta, visit http://www.reginaassumpta.qc.ca.

For more information on GO multimedia inc. visit www.gomultimedia.net.

For more information on NEXO products, visit www.yamahaca.com.

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About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
Celebrating 125 years of Passion and Performance, and 25 years in the manufacturer of high quality digital audio consoles, Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. (YCAS) provides a full line of integrated professional audio products offering complete systems solutions for the broadcast, sound reinforcement/installed sound, touring, commercial recording, and post production markets. With the addition of NEXO to the product line, the company remains the official U.S. and Canadian distributor for all NEXO speaker models. YCAS offers comprehensive in-house and field product training for its customers, a dedicated dealer network, and 24/7 technical support.