NORTHRIDGE, California – One of the most stellar attractions at the Museum of Science in Boston is the Charles Hayden Planetarium—more spectacular than ever after a recently completed $9 million renovation. The Planetarium is the most technologically advanced theater in New England, and in addition to a state-of-the-art digital projection system, the Planetarium features an equally impressive 10.2-channel HARMAN JBL loudspeaker system.

“We pride ourselves on designing and installing the world’s best domed planetariums and visualization theaters,� said Marcus Weddle, Marketing Director for systems integrator Sky-Skan, headquartered in Nashua, New Hampshire. “Although admittedly the visuals are what get peoples’ attention in a planetarium, the experience would be somewhat hollow and incomplete if you didn’t have sound on a scale to match. In a domed theater environment, that means large-scale surround sound.�

“The sound system is great,� said Darryl Davis, Planetarium Systems Coordinator at the Boston Museum of Science. “The low end is much better than we had with our original theater, and if the industry catches up to 10.2, we are already prepared for it.�

To deliver the expansive sound required for the almost 60-foot dome, theater designer Kurt Berna and the Sky-Skan team installed eight JBL AE (Application Engineered) Series AM6340/95 high-power 3-way loudspeakers, two AM6212/00 high-power 2-way speakers and two ASB6128V high-output dual-18-inch subwoofers. The AM6340/95 speakers are driven in bi-amp mode, and the speakers are powered by two Crown Macro-Tech i Series MA-5000i, four CTs 1200 and five CTs 2000 amplifiers. The mixing console is a custom Sky-Skan mixer, and audio signals are handled by three BSS Audio Soundweb London BLU-160 signal processors with digital audio bus capability.

“Obviously, we couldn’t let the speakers intrude on the visuals in any way,� Berna said. “We hung the speakers from the roof, behind the projection screen, and positioned them to give even sound distribution throughout the dome. Although they needed to fill a large space, we were able to get the SPL and sound fill we needed using just 10 JBL main speakers and the two JBL subwoofers, because of the speakers’ wide yet precise coverage pattern and high power handling capability.�

Berna said, “We collaborated closely with JBL engineers and the acousticians on the project. In addition to the fact that the shape of a dome can be acoustically problematic by nature, the original construction needed better isolation from the outside environment. We solved those problems and the acoustics and audio quality in the Charles Hayden Planetarium now are outstanding.�

“The purpose of a planetarium is to transport people to another world,� Berna concluded. “We’re extremely happy with the way this installation turned out. The enveloping quality of the surround sound system and the absolutely stunning visuals really make you feel like you’re traveling through space and time and you completely forget that you’re in a theater.�

For more information about Sky-Skan, please visit www.skyskan.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 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.

INNSBRUCK, Austria – February 2012 — Austrian full service provider Light and Sound has provided an L-ACOUSTICS KARA/KIVA WST line source system for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck.

Innsbruck’s city center was transformed into a huge party zone for the 2012 Games, with an action-packed program taking place at Medals Plaza, which hosted not only the daily Victory Ceremonies but also the week-long Innsbruck 2012 Music Festival. more

––W8LCi Line Array Installed At Duycker––

Martin Audio has taken the lead in equipping premier concert venues in the Amsterdam region in partnership with their Dutch distributors, TM Audio.

Following landmark installations in the iconic clubs Paradiso and Melkweg in the past few years, a Martin Audio W8LCi compact line array system has now been installed in Duycker, the latest Amsterdam rock venue and cultural center.

Owned by the local government, and situated near Schiphol Airport in the affluent town of Hoofddorp, the complex is comprised of two live rooms and a café bar, where sound reinforcement is provided by Martin Audio’s stylish AQ architectural line.

The Martin Audio W8LCi solution was chosen for installation in the large, 850-capacity room after the line array approach had been compared with modular systems by experienced freelance sound engineer, Gerald Chermin, who was brought in as technical director to streamline the routing and optimize the system.

With a large balcony affecting both sightlines and coverage patterns posing a problem, Chermin used all the experience he had gained working with companies such as Ampco to assemble some of the market leading systems in a competitive shoot-out.

“We assembled a panel of different sound engineers, with one person tuning all the systems. We realized the line array approach would overcome both balcony coverage sightline issues, whereas going modular would have required too many boxes.�

The system has been specifically designed to provide plenty of headroom, and is based around seven W8LCi enclosures per side, with one W8LCDi Downfill at the base. Six Martin Audio WS218X subs are stacked, three a side, to provide LF extension.

The main system is run three way, but driven in four separate parts by a combination of Martin Audio MA6.8Q and Powersoft K8/K10 amplifiers, processed via XTA DC1048 4-in/8-out DSP. Three DiGiCo SD8’s have been provided for FOH, monitor (and portable) duties.

“We have definitely made the right choice with the Martin Audio system, which is proving popular with incoming production crews,� stated Gerald. “We chose the system not only because it represented excellent value for money but the fact that it could be divided up into four separate sections.

“We also knew we could depend on excellent back-up from TM Audio and [sister company] Lightco, who have provided the lighting.�

Meanwhile in the café bar, music sourced from a DJ or computer and mixed via an Allen & Heath GR2 9-input, 4-output analog zone mixer, is played out through four Martin Audio AQ8’s, two AQ6’s and an AQ210 (2 x 10) sub, managed by a dedicated AQX system controller.

The arrival of Vari-Lites in the near future will place the final piece in the lighting jigsaw—operating under the control of Lightco-supplied Avolites desks. But the local population already has a leading destination venue—with a cutting edge technical infrastructure and live entertainment package—to kick-start their weekends.

Photos: The main room at Duycker, viewed from the auditorium and from the stage

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.

ORLANDO — Green Hill Church, a Korean-language Presbyterian house of worship in Orlando, has upgraded its sanctuary sound reinforcement system with the installation of an L-ACOUSTICS KIVA system. Laservision World of Los Angeles performed the system design and installation.

According to Laservision Sales and Managing Director Joshua Kim and System Integration General Manager Nathan Kim, the 450-seat worship space now benefits from left and right arrays each comprised of six KIVA enclosures flown beneath two KILO low frequency extension enclosures. A pair of SB18i subs further extends the low-frequency range of the system, and all enclosures are powered and processed by a total of three LA4 amplified controllers. more

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 2012: The Salvation Army is consistently ranked as one of the most popular philanthropic groups in the United States. Its name conjures images of Christmastime bell-ringers and thrift stores, both of which provide support for the Army’s vast network of social support programs and its comprehensive disaster relief aid. It is perhaps ironic that despite its very public alignment as a Christian organization, the Salvation Army is not well known for its church services. Its Clearwater, Florida church has grown over the decades, in its congregation and its physical space, as a result of local “adherents” joining and officers from around the country retiring to its Floridian splendor. After moving to a beautiful new building in 1990 with sanctuary capacity for 385 and overflow capacity for over 300 more, the congregants suffered with a woefully inadequate sound system. Paul Garner more

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Christ the King Church in Bellingham, WA recently completed an overhaul of its sound system, awarding the installation contract to Clarity Media Group of Portland. Clarity provided the best solution for the task at hand, outfitting the 1,500-seat church with a 20-box NEXO GEO S12 line array.

“The church wanted a system capable of accommodating a worship service and in addition, have rider acceptability to bring in concerts,� states John Harrel, project manager, Clarity Media Group. “The NEXO GEO S12, consisting of eight S1210 boxes per side, is configured as an LCR and was chosen based on its smooth, even coverage as well as its musicality and output. Our client wanted a center cluster rather than front fills and flown subs, so we recommended four GEO S1230s which met their requirements and are tucked away very discretely above the pastor’s podium position. The previous system was an eyesore.� The system also contains four NEXO RS18 Ray Sub cabinets flown, two per side in cardioid mode. Two NEXO NX4x4 and one NX4x1 amplifiers power the system.

“The NEXO system’s ability to maintain uniform coverage despite having a low trim height was key in choosing it for this application,� states Travis Cibolski, Clarity co-owner and designer of the system. “The net effect is that the system delivers uniform, transparent sound to all areas, and with full bandwidth!�

Christ the King Church has 6,000 members in its congregation with two campus locations. The church band consists of 6-10 musicians on average who, according to Harrel, are very discerning when it comes to good audio (one of its members is a signed recording artist).

The church previously installed a Yamaha M7CL-48 digital console at front of house, chosen for its ease of use by audio volunteers.

For more information on Clarity Media Group, visit www.claritymediagroup.net.

For more information on NEXO and Yamaha products, visit http://www.yamahaca.com.

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About Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc.:
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.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Auckland’s College Hill Productions Ltd. is one of New Zealand’s largest sound reinforcement production companies, and handles most of the concerts by major international artists as well as indoor and outdoor music events, TV and radio broadcasts, corporate events and more. Recently, College Hill Productions added two HARMAN Soundcraft Si Compact 32 digital live sound consoles to its equipment roster.

“We had been keenly awaiting the Si Compact 32 ever since we first got wind that Soundcraft was working on a line of small-format digital consoles with a rich feature set,� noted Leon Dalton, general manager of College Hill Productions. “When the Si Compact 32 finally shipped, we jumped at the chance to snap up a couple!�

“Our primary reason for going with the Si Compact 32 was its audio quality,� Dalton continued. “We didn’t want to sacrifice sound quality just for the convenience and flexibility a digital console offers. In fact, we had found other small-scale digital consoles lacking in audio performance. The Si Compact 32, on the other hand, sounds fantastic.�

The console was a logical upgrade for College Hill Productions for a number of other reasons. “The Si Compact 32 is an easy-to-use, ergonomic, compact and great-sounding drop-in substitute for our older small-format analog consoles,� Dalton said. “Each Si Compact 32 also replaces two external racks of outboard effects. The four built-in effects engines are plenty for our purposes and they sound superb.�

Adding to the consoles’ versatility, College Hill Productions ordered the Si Compact 32 consoles with the MADI card option, which allows the use of external stage boxes and extends the consoles’ input/output and multitrack recording capabilities. “The MADI option complements our existing MADI inventory and gives us the ability to create cost-effective, live multi-track recording options for bands, television companies and radio stations,� Dalton pointed out.

“I cannot emphasize enough how much of a benefit the Si Compact 32’s small footprint provides,� concluded Dalton. “It’s one of the console’s great strengths. The console in its road case has the same dimensions as a monitor wedge case, making it perfect as part of a support band package for larger arena shows where truck space is at a premium.�

For more information about College Hill Productions please visit www.collegehill.co.nz/chp.htm

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 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.

Technomad Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers and PowerChiton amplifiers deliver intelligible voice to three outdoor zones on campus

BOSTON, February 22, 2012 — Western Washington University‘s sprawling campus in scenic Bellingham stretches 215 acres, with nearly 15,000 students walking the grounds during the fall and spring semesters. The university gives prominence to campus safety, recently upgrading its fire alarm system in 47 buildings and adding a mass notification system to improve audio quality and long-distance coverage.

Mills Electric Co., a Bellingham-based electrical and systems contractor serving the commercial and industrial markets, installed the multi-zone audio system in conjunction with Western Washington University support staff. Technomad Berlin narrow dispersion loudspeakers exclusively power three outdoor zones at campus-designated “gathering areas.�

Technomad PowerChiton high-power waterproof amplifier modules drive live and pre-recorded messages to the loudspeakers for campus-wide broadcast. The project also marries all indoor/outdoor PA points and associated pan/tilt/zoom cameras to an existing Edwards EST-3 campus-wide fire alarm system, programmed and upgraded by Performance System Integration, an Edwards EST Life Safety and Communications Strategic Partner.

The complete system ties to a central network infrastructure, enabling administration, campus police and other offices to deliver voice notifications to any single location, multiple zones, or every PA point in an “all-call� scenario.

Cory Kovacevich, a service and project manager at Mills Electric Co., notes that the Technomad loudspeakers produce intelligible voice over long distances, ensuring that students, staff and visitors hear emergency notifications loud and clear. Each gathering area includes two Technomad Berlin 90×40 loudspeakers, mounted between 20 and 90 feet from the ground depending on the location. Weatherproof construction ensures long-term durability and protection from the outdoor elements in rainy northwest Washington.

Kovacevich adds that the PowerChiton modules deliver 500 watts of clean power to each Berlin loudspeaker in a simple, easy-to-install package. Though IP66-rated and designed for permanent outdoor installation, Kovacevich installed the PowerChitons indoors at the central audio headend for easier accessibility.

“The PowerChitons come in small, non-metallic enclosures and take up minimal space, which is important because we have limited room to add equipment,� says Kovacevich. “The PowerChitons tie directly to the fire alarm system, and are mounted next to the fire alarm panels. This keeps everything but the loudspeakers and cameras in one building.�

Kovacevich notes that the overall system represents a major upgrade for the campus, enabling text-to-speech translation and remote access to make announcements over the system from off campus — in addition to video integration, multi-zone capability and superior audio quality.

“The Berlins put out some serious sound,� says Kovacevich. “We had recently broadcast a test message from the rooftop and saw people more than 100 yards away stop, turn around and look directly toward the loudspeakers. The university is very happy with the power, sound quality and clarity of the voice.�

ABOUT TECHNOMAD
Technomad LLC, founded in 1995, designs and manufactures loudspeaker systems for the professional audio and security/military technology industries. The company invented the first reliable full-range weatherproof loudspeaker and now offers nine models ranging in power from 60-watt loudspeakers to 1250-watt subwoofers — most available in Turnkey PA System packages featuring amplifiers, mixers and other signal processing equipment in pre-wired racks. The company also manufactures a variety of audio infrastructure and communications equipment including playback and recording systems, weatherproof power amplifiers and turnkey remote audio systems. Contact Technomad at 617-275-8898 or visit www.technomad.com for more information.

NORTHRIDGE, California – The University Art Museum (UAM) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) kicked off its prestigious and innovative audio installation of “Metal Machine 3: The Creation of the Universe� with an appearance by Lou Reed, American rock superstar.

In order to provide the unique 3D sound necessary for the event, Arup, specializing in acoustic consulting, installed 12 of HARMAN’s JBL PRX612M compact powered speakers, arrayed spherically to create a fully immersive 3D sound environment.

The exhibition will run from January 27- April 15, 2012, and is free and open to the public with no reservation required. The show kicked off with legendary musician Lou Reed and producer Bob Ezrin in conversation, giving voice to their thoughts, processes and motivation behind their work.

The exhibit allows museum visitors to hear a groundbreaking composition as Mr. Reed once heard it himself while performing onstage. This has been made possible through the collaboration and hard work of recording and reproduction specialists at Arum, using their “ambisonic� process perfected in the Arup SoundLab®.

Many aspects of Reed’s original work will be present such as his mixed over-modulated feedback and guitar effects at varying speeds to create an ebb and flow of organic atonality that is only experienced while on stage. The modulated din of this deep sound flow becomes meditative noise art that spans over the course of the hour-long recording. In order to enhance sound quality chairs will be strategically placed so audience members can gain the full sonic experience.

Paul Chavez, Director of Systems Applications for HARMAN Professional states, “We are pleased to provide the sound for this special event. The PRX612M speakers are perfect for this application as they provide quality sound to support the 3D environment and the goal of the overall exhibition.�

The University Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach is open: Mon-Sun: 12-5pm, Thur: 12-8pm, and closed Mondays and all University holidays. For more information please visit: http://www.csulb.edu/org/uam

For more information on Arup, please visit: http://www.arup.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 13,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.2 billion for twelve months ending December 31, 2011.

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The Netherlands – February 2012….  A beautifully renovated museum boasting Europe’s largest collection of street organs has had its central space turned into a live performance area, attracting top Dutch artists, with its acoustics tamed by a Renkus-Heinz IC Live system installed by TM Audio.

Dedicated to Europe’s largest display of street organs, Museum Speelklok was founded in 1956 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. In 1984 the museum acquired a large church, whose restored interior now houses the collection.

Visitors are given a guided tour with explanations of each organ’s backstory. Some of the pieces – which range from hand-cranked barrel organs to vast, mechanically driven multi-instrument extravaganzas, rate among the world’s first and finest digital instruments, programmed by the equivalent of computer punch tape, a long strip of tough paper dotted with differently shaped holes that the organ’s ‘tape reader’ translates into instruments, notes, ‘channel’ volume and more.

Says Dirkjan Haspels, the museum’s head of events: “All the instruments are real instruments, there’s never a loudspeaker: you’re always hearing a string or a bell, an organ pipe or whatever. So throughout the history of this museum we have very much been against all sorts of amplifiers and loudspeakers, because that is the enemy of what our instruments did beforehand.”

He explains that the one part of the building that was rarely used was the central space, originally the church’s nave, due largely to its poor acoustics. However, all that changed recently when the vacant nave was transformed into a live performance space, allowing musicians and singers to perform in combination with instruments from the museum’s collection. The idea was inspired by earlier collaborations with musicians in theatres and at festivals, and by the museum team’s ability to program new tracks onto the paper strips.

Haspels continues: “For us the shows were a great success because new audiences came to see and hear the instruments and said ah, an organ doesn’t only play Tulips from Amsterdam or whatever – it can also play new music like hip-hop and jazz, which really opened their eyes.”

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Bringing those performances to Museum Speelklok itself entailed a €1.5m Dutch BankGiro Lottery grant, used both to acoustically treat the space and finance a PA system.

“To transform this part of the church into a concert hall,” continues Haspels, “I took a lot of expert advice and several sound systems were tested in the nave. Many people came to listen, including our resident system engineer, GertJan Schoutsen – and the verdict for us all was clearly the Renkus-Heinz IC Live.

“It is quite hard to see, which makes me happy; just two little columns and the subwoofers. Yet it’s the first time that it’s been possible to have 500 people listening to amplified sound from the stage here without problems.”

The IC Live system consists of four 8-channel Renkus-Heinz ICL-R digitally steerable columns, mounted in one double stack per side atop matching IC215 2×15″ self powered subwoofers. These take their signal via RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network) from a 16 channel Yamaha 01V96 with an Allen & Heath iDR8 digital mix processor. The stage is covered by four Renkus-Heinz CF121M2 12+2″ self powered monitors.

TM Audio project and application engineer Olaf Landzaat comments: “IC Live dealt with the acoustical issues, which are typical for a church. With conventional loudspeakers you’d get a lot of reflections whereas with IC Live you can manipulate the beams to reduce reflections, to get as good speech intelligence and sound as possible.”

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Headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, Renkus-Heinz, Inc. is the worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of audio operations networks, digitally steerable arrays, powered and non-powered loudspeakers, system specific electronics and fully integrated Reference Point Array systems.