Rock The Bike Utilizes Power Efficiency Of JBL PRX Series Loudspeakers To Drive Environmental Awareness

In a highly creative and environmentally forward-thinking application of JBL PRX portable loudspeakers, Rock the Bike, a designer and manufacturer of bicycles with an eye on raising the awareness of the “bike culture,” has employed PRX loudspeakers at several of its live music events, which are run on human power generated on bicycles.

For its live events, Rock the Bike designed a pedal-powered stage, which enables one or many individuals to ride stationary bicycles in place, which in turn power the audio system as the artists perform. “It’s been a steady progression to this—most of our performances used to be primarily in the streets and running off battery power,” said Paul Freedman of Rock The Bike. “Then we started hooking up with people interested in human power and over the past year, we’ve put a lot of energy into creating our own pedal-powered stage.”

Thanks to the efficiency of the JBL PRX Series, Rock the Bike employs PRX535 speakers for its main sound reinforcement system. “Because we’re an environmentally conscious group, the PRX speakers are a perfect fit, plus they’re lightweight so we can easily transport them on our cargo bicycles,” Freedman said. “I also really like the PRX speakers because the low/mid/high knobs on my mixer correspond directly with the low/mid/high drivers in the speaker, which make them very easy to use.”

Rock the Bike relies on volunteers from the audience to pedal the bikes, something that has never posed a challenge. “If there are a lot of people at an event, we have no problem getting volunteers from the crowd to keep a 2-bike pedal-powered system going,” Freedman said. “We position them close to the stage so they have a good view of the performers, and they’re literally supporting the music with their power.”

While the pedal-powered stage contributes to a sense of community at the live events, the system has taken an ironic (but intentional) back seat to the actual performances, as a result of its own efficiency. “The pedal-powered stage used to be the center of attention at our shows, but with the sound quality of the PRX speakers, along with our ability to make the pedal-power bikes quieter, the audience is getting absorbed into the music without even thinking about the pedal power,” Freedman added. “That’s our goal: to keep the music excellent and help spread the spirit of the bike.”

Since employing the pedal-powered stage, Rock the Bike has supported events ranging from rock star performances to a press conference at City Hall in San Francisco. “We recently powered a show by Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam,” Freedman said. “He was only supposed to play the first song of his set through pedal power, but he ended up playing the entire set with it because he got such a great response from the crowd.”

For more information on Rock The Bike, please visit www.rockthebike.com

South Korea’s Largest Nightclub Parties With New JBL VERTEC® Powered Full-Size Line Array System

Systems integrator Sovico AV recently installed a new JBL VERTEC® powered full-size line array system--the latest in the company’s VERTEC DP Series line of integrated system products--at the new Kwangju CD nightclub, the largest dance music and DJ venue in South Korea. Sovico AV installed the system with design assistance from Sovico R&D, the firm’s acoustic research laboratory specializing in acoustic measurement, sound design and system tuning.

Located at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula near the coast, Kwangju is South Korea’s sixth largest city and center of the nation’s growing photonics and optics industry. The city’s urban core is a ready market for entertainment and nightlife, and with over 36,000 square feet and an architectural design allowing for 300 tables along with an additional 30 private rooms, the Kwangju CD venue features a spectacular stage setting with extensive lighting capabilities and a high-impact sound system. The octagon-shaped overhead ceiling is divided into separate moveable parts, able to mechanically open to support a wide variety of special effects including artificial snow and artistic lighting.

Sound designer Jon Won Lee faced several challenges when considering the right approach for the innovative facility. Live DJ’s and late-night dance music playback would co-exist with live house bands on stage along with special multimedia programming to support performance artists. Additionally, the unusual architecture of the building plan, with numerous cabaret-style table setups, called for even coverage combined with high-SPL requirements. “The design of the facility, with such an extensive hall size, required a powerful system to support the variety of performance activities taking place in this space,” noted Lee. “The sound system in the club must serve five specialized DJ teams, two different house bands, three dance teams and two performance art teams.”

To meet the sound design specifications, Sovico installed a total of 12 VERTEC VT4889ADP powered full-size line array elements, configured in two arrays of six. These full-range arrays are supported by a total of eight VT4880ADP powered full-size arrayable subwoofers with ultra-long excursion 2269H 18-inch transducers, configured in two arrays of four each, located in coves beneath the performance stage. The entire main system features JBL DrivePack® technology, which incorporates Crown Audio's patented BCA (Balanced Current Amplification) and Class I circuitry, allowing JBL’s VERTEC DP Series to set a new standard for low-noise, low-distortion performance in digital amplification for powered loudspeaker systems.

Four JBL PRX535 powered systems are onsite for use as localized area fill speakers. Signal processing available to sound engineer Jung Hyun Park includes 2231 dual 31-band graphic equalizers and 1066 dual compressor limiter gates from dbx, and a Lexicon MXP1 effects processor. A Soundcraft GB8 is the primary mixing console for the venue. Seven AKG WMS4000 wireless microphone systems are on hand for use by performers. Upon system commissioning, Sovico engineers conducted comprehensive onsite training sessions for the venue’s technical staff.

“The new powered full-size models in the VERTEC family make an ideal system design approach for this type of application,” noted David Scheirman, Vice President, Tour Sound for JBL Professional. “The models selected for the Kwangju CD club offer high output power capabilities combined with complete system integration including the onboard digital signal processing inherent to the JBL DrivePack technology platform.”

For information on Sovico, go to http://sovico.co.kr/

ET Group Outfits Canyon Creek Chophouse With JBL Ceiling Speakers And Other Harman Pro Gear

Canyon Creek Chophouse, one of Toronto’s most popular restaurant chains, recently opened a new location at Carlson Court near the Toronto Pearson International Airport. The restaurant not only serves some of the best food in town, but with systems integration firm ET Group’s design and installation of a complete audio/video system featuring zoned audio with JBL Control® Contractor Series ceiling speakers, Canyon Creek also provides one of the most relaxed and elegant dining environments in Toronto.

Known for its outstanding steaks and chops, high-quality service and elegant décor, Canyon Creek Chophouse is quickly gaining popularity with Toronto residents and tourists alike. With that elegant décor in mind, the ET Group was contracted to design and install an audio system that would contribute to the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere while blending smoothly within its design.

“We needed an audio system that was not clearly visible to the patrons, but most definitely could be heard,” said Dirk Propfe, Partner and Vice President of the ET Group. “We also wanted to be able to provide discrete control over the sound in each room, to help create an even more hospitable experience for diners and flexibility for the restaurant.”

The ET Group designed and installed a zoned ceiling speaker system, drawing from JBL’s industry-leading Control Contractor Series. ET Group installed 15 JBL Control 227CT ceiling speakers in the dining room, along with six JBL Control 19CS in-ceiling subwoofers. The patio area features six Control 227CT speakers and two Control 19CS subwoofers. ET Group installed an additional four Control 227CT speakers in the restaurant’s meeting room, while five Control 24CT Micro ceiling speakers were installed in the washroom and entry way. Two Crown CTs8200 amplifiers power the system, while a dbx ZonePro 1261 enables processing and EQ-ing of each audio zone in the restaurant.

In addition to Canyon Creek, the ET Group has provided high-end audio/video systems for many of the restaurants owned by the SIR Corporation, including other Canyon Creek locations and Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill locations, many of which also feature JBL Control Contractor ceiling speakers. “The Control Contractor speakers provide extremely smooth coverage and are highly controllable,” Propfe added. “The system has performed exceptionally to date and we look forward to future projects with JBL and the SIR Corp.”

For more information on the ET Group, please visit www.etgroup.ca

Phoenix College Turns to Hitachi Projectors To Enhance Its Classrooms

Soundcraft’s Popular Guide To Mixing Video Now Free On YouTube

Get Tips And Techniques On Mixing Live, Online For Free

Previously available only on DVD, Soundcraft has published its popular Guide To Mixing video series on its own YouTube site, SoundcraftUK (www.YouTube.com/SoundcraftUK ).

All 18 chapters from this successful tutorial may be viewed online, including sections on microphone placement, setting up a mix and monitor mixing.

To complement the video tutorials, a PDF text version may be downloaded from the company’s website, www.soundcraft.com .

Qualified Educational establishments may request printed copies of the Guide To Mixing, as well as the full-resolution videos on DVD.

Studer Vista 5 Digital Console on Mylène Farmer Tour with Dispatch

Stéphane Plisson, lead engineer for French equipment hire and production company Dispatch SA, recently selected a Studer Vista 5-42 digital console for the tour of Mylène Farmer, one of France’s most successful recording artists selling over 45 million records. The Vista 5 was selected for its undeniable advantages compared to other consoles in terms of sound quality, user interface, expandable I/O system as well as the VSP (Virtual Surround Panning) system. The engineers at Dispatch were so impressed with the Vista, they subsequently purchased the fully tour equipped version, the Vista 5 SR.

Olivier Crognennec, Dispatch sound engineer, commented on the Studer Vista 5 SR acquisition, “We were searching for a competitively priced, high-end digital console to update our audio capabilities and the Vista 5 SR was head and shoulders above the rest!” Crognennec continued, “The quality of sound is amazing, the engineers of Dispatch made an excellent choice with this console.”

On the Mylène Farmer tour, Stéphane Plisson took full advantage of the Vista 5’s versatile static automation, so that the rehearsed framework of the show could be run from the cue list, whilst having the freedom to tweak any parameter to accomplish a perfect sounding show from one night to the next, adapting to every venue’s characteristic. He also loves the VSP panning, which he uses to create a wide stereo image without damaging the mix for those of the audience who are not situated in the “sweet spot” of the venue.

Dispatch is France’s leading hire company providing professional audio equipment to the Tour and events industry and it has been evolving each year since its inception, in 1982.

Studer is distributed in France by AUDIOPOLE. For more information, visit www.audiopole.fr.

Soundcraft Vi6™ Digital Consoles Provide More Headroom For ‘Marie Antoinette’ In The Bremen Musical Theater

The legend of Marie Antoinette became synonymous with the French revolution in the 18th century and today, The Bremen Musical Theater in Germany is launching a new and impressive production of the musical by the same name. Providing the sound reinforcement for ‘Marie Antoinette’ are two 96-channel Soundcraft Vi6 digital consoles supplied by the German rental company, Avilux GmbH.

In total, the Soundcraft Vi6 consoles supply 192 channels and operate at the front of house and monitor positions for the production. Demonstrating the interconnectivity and versatility of the consoles, both Vi6 consoles are placed at the FOH position and operated by a single sound engineer.

The complex sound design of ‘Marie Antoinette’ required a detailed audio system designed by technical director, Athanasios Rovakis. He had two major targets; the first was to deploy one engineer to operate the Vi6 at the FOH/monitor position and secondly, he wanted to pre-program the show and save the settings for a convenient setup.

The Vi6 consoles allow the engineers to record 128 tracks of the live stage show or rehearsal onto third-party recorders. Recordings can be replayed into the desk for a virtual sound check, switching channels between a live signal or playback, providing a smooth transition. These flexible features make the setup easy and efficient. System checks, corrective actions and re-configuration can take place almost instantaneously and the handover of the show to new staff is much faster and easier.

The sound engineers for ‘Marie Antoinette’ appreciate the clear and logical design of the Vistonics™ II user interface. “A lot of changes on the Vi series are resolved in parallel with the actual workflow and these features make it possible to work as fast as necessary with the desk during a musical show,” comments Rovakis. “As a sound engineer in a musical production, you need a very ergonomic and well-arranged working environment to handle the number of switching and mixing actions and both desks operate without any failure.”

The John Cooper School Performing Arts Center Selects Soundcraft Vi6™

The John Cooper School, located in The Woodlands, Texas, recently upgraded its 515-seat performing arts center with a Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing console. The Vi6 is a permanent fixture on the main stage and is responsible for a wide range of performance applications and productions. The engineers have found the versatility and ease-of-use of its’ Vistonics™ user interface has decreased engineer set-up time by nearly half.

Troy Dingle, Audio Video Coordinator for the Performing Arts Department at The John Cooper School, selected the Vi6 because its ‘analog feel’ allows students to experience mixing in a traditional manner with the benefits of advanced digital technologies. The Vi6 is used on a daily basis for a wide range of applications, including rehearsals and other school events as well as large monthly assemblies and school productions.

The intuitive Vistonics™ II interface on the Vi6 means that the console was quickly employed on a wide range of tasks. It enables the engineers to effortlessly scan all input and output levels using the Master Bay area and if he or she recognizes anything unusual, they can easily access the feature without having to guess or reference a manual. Also, the input and output channel strips of the touch screens provide valuable insight on each channel at one glance. The Studer designed Vistonics is controlled by a simple touch of a finger on any screen to instantly control gain, EQ, dynamics, DSP and routing.
Providing audio support for a school offers many challenges and the rate at which things change ‘makes life interesting’ for Troy Dingle. “Every day I’m mixing something different: which is exciting but requires a very flexible audio console,” commented Dingle. “I often have lower school kids (quiet and/or yelling) right next to a vocally trained upper school student with a great vocal range and dynamics, performing on the same microphone. With the Vi6, I can quickly adjust the gain, EQ, gate and compression to create a smooth sounding event.”

The variety of different events and the rapid rate or performance changes requires the all flexibility of the Vi6. “The students themselves create a changing variable that requires instant input changes,” Dingle continues. “Many times I rehearsed with one student only to find that the next day three more students got their courage up and are now singing. I can quickly use the consoles’ copy and paste functions to recreate the adjusted channel strip settings onto other open channels.”

The John Cooper School’s Vi6 is adapted to meet the wireless microphone needs of the installation. The sound engineers run 28 channels of wireless mics from the FOH mix position and opted to install two 8-channel line-in cards bringing the local rack to 32 line inputs. Soundcraft also provided a custom-built 1U rack unit that fits above the local rack input connection box to house the additional 16 inputs.

“Knowing that I rarely go past 48 channels of analog mics, I created two distinct layouts within the single Vi6 console. All microphones are on the left side of the master bay in a 48 channel setup and the left 1-24 channels on fader page A and left 25-48 channels on fader page B. On the right side of the master bay are 8 groups of stereo linked channels for line level playback devices. The right side channels are not numbered; instead they are labeled according to the device that is attached.

Taking advantage of the included additional local rack MADI Card (optical), I installed a MADI card into the FOH computer and can now record 64 channels effortlessly for every event we run.”

For more information on the John Cooper School, please visit www.johncooper.org