Harrah's Resort Atlantic City Wins Big With JBL VerTec, VRX And Control Contractor Loudspeakers

Demonstrating JBL Professional’s ability to provide loudspeaker solutions for all environments, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City recently renovated its pool area, coffee shop and food court. The renovated areas feature new sound reinforcement systems that include JBL VERTEC® line arrays, VRX portable line arrays and Control® Contractor ceiling speakers.

The pool at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City is housed under a 200-foot-round by 80-foot-high glass dome and hosts numerous events during evening hours as part of Harrah’s “The Pool After Dark” program. Since many of these events feature live DJs and performers, Harrah’s purchased a “performance” system that could be set up during events, as well as a permanent system for daily use.

The permanent system at the pool features 10 VRX932LAP powered, portable line arrays and two VRX918SP powered, portable subwoofers. Twelve cabanas line the pool, with VRX loudspeakers placed on top of the cabanas, evenly dispersed around the pool area. To control the system, dbx DriveRack 4800 loudspeaker management systems were installed.

Components of the performance system are set up in all four corners of the pool area. Each corner contains a line array comprised of four VERTEC VT4887ADP compact powered line array elements and two VT4881ADP compact powered subwoofers, with another two

VT4881ADP subwoofers flanking each array at the bottom. To provide concert-quality sound during events, the arrays are staged in the corners and rolled out nightly. dbx DriveRack 4800 loudspeaker management systems are in use as well.

According to Jim Esher, Entertainment Technology Manager for Harrah’s Entertainment, the decision to install powered loudspeakers was a matter of aesthetics and efficiency. “Going with self-powered speakers made the most sense because the pool area is an oasis environment, so from a cosmetic standpoint there wasn’t much desire to have amp racks in that space,” he said. “We were able to put three outlets in the flower beds and gardens and we can roll the VERTEC line arrays out as ‘caterpillars’ and have the entire system up and running in half an hour.”

The new coffee shop at Harrah’s, “Reflections,” opened on President’s Day weekend and contains six zones of audio with more than 50 JBL Control 26CT in-ceiling loudspeakers. In the food court, three zones of audio contain another 20 Control 26CT loudspeakers. Both systems are driven by Crown CTs amplifiers with BSS Soundweb London BLU-80 signal processors.

With much of the Harrah’s property built around an infrastructure comprised of Harman components, it made sense to stick with a winning formula. “I have to maintain a UL listing for all the audio systems I install and JBL was one of the first companies to recognize that their speakers need to be UL listed,” Esher said. “We have installed Control Contractor ceiling speakers throughout the Harrah’s and Caesar’s Palace casinos and the support from JBL has always been fantastic. This was also true with the VERTEC system, where JBL and our regional representative Sigmet Marketing spent an entire weekend training our staff on setting up the system. It’s been a great relationship from the beginning.”

Audio Visual Professional Group And JBL VerTec Powered Line Arrays Perform For LeAnn Rimes In Concert

Demonstrating the versatility and convenience of JBL VERTEC® DP Series powered line arrays, Audio Video Professional Group (AVPG) of The Woodlands, Texas, recently provided the audio system for The E.C.H.O. Foundation’s “Under The Moonlight” Gala, featuring award-winning country songstress LeAnn Rimes. The system included VERTEC compact powered line array elements with JBL DrivePack® technology.

With more than 25 combined years in the industry, AVPG is a leading supplier of production services for the greater Houston area, providing a wide range of services to satisfy its customers' changing media and technology needs. In February 2007, AVPG Owner Mike Rape added VERTEC powered line array loudspeakers to his company’s inventory, purchasing 16 VT4887ADP compact powered line array elements and six VT4881ADP powered subwoofers.

“We purchased the powered VERTEC models because I needed a versatile PA system,” Rape said. “We do lots of outdoor festivals and lots of indoor corporate events. The combination of compact size and large sound gives us the flexibility to hang in an outdoor system for 2-3,000 people, yet is small enough to hang in a ballroom setting without being overpowering. We have used the VERTEC line arrays on many corporate events and the loudspeakers not only sound good, but they’re visually sleek and discreet as well.”

For LeAnn Rimes’ concert at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott, AVPG deployed eight VT4887ADP line array elements per side, supplemented with three VT4881ADP subwoofers per side. Additionally, AVPG used JBL VRX932LAP portable line array loudspeakers for front fill, powered by Crown I-Tech 4000 amplifiers. The system was remotely controlled and monitored via Harman HiQnet System Architect software, with a dbx DriveRack 4800 Loudspeaker Management System for overall system gain-control and signal processing.

According to Chris Krumins, Senior Production Manager for AVPG, the VERTEC system performed flawlessly. “We used JBL’s VERTEC Line Array Calculator software and were able to predict in advance the even dispersion we achieved throughout the room,” he said. “The VERTEC system is so easy to hang and the sound is always reliable.”

Despite the event being located below another simultaneous show featuring KC and the Sunshine Band, AVPG’s new system provided enough power to eliminate the effects of any acoustical leakage through the ceiling. “I was concerned about the subwoofers on the floor upstairs being a problem, but when our sound check started, even their room upstairs started shaking!” Rape said. “So needless to say we didn’t hear a peep from them.”

For more information on AVPG, please visit www.avprogroup.com or call 832.813.0161.

Meeting Services, Inc. And JBL's New Powered Full Size VerTec Line Arrays Make General Sessions AT 2008 NAB Show Sound Better Than Ever

Demonstrating the power and performance of JBL Professional VERTEC® line arrays, San Diego-based Meeting Services, Inc. provided the audio system for the general sessions, including the Opening Keynote, at the 2008 NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The live sound system features the new VERTEC VT4889ADP full-size powered line array loudspeaker and VT4880ADP powered arrayable subwoofer.

Held at the Barron Room in the Las Vegas Hilton, this year’s Opening Keynote Session featured actor/director Tim Robbins and news anchor Charles Osgood, as well as NAB President/CEO David Rehr. The event drew an attendance of more than 2,000 people. Additionally, the audio system at the Barron Room was used for other general sessions throughout the duration of the show.

“This being the premier show for the broadcast industry, the eyes of the world are upon you,” said Ken Freeman of Meeting Services. “The entire show is broadcast live on the Internet at this point, so it’s a sound reinforcement application with a huge broadcast element. There’s no room for error.”

The front-of-house system at the Barron Room includes a left/right configuration of five VT4889ADP line array elements per side, with a ground-stacked left/right arrangement of two VT4880ADP arrayable subwoofers per side. Four VRX928 portable, compact line array loudspeakers provide outfill, while another pair of VRX928 loudspeakers were flown in the lighting rig for stage foldback. Additionally, a pair of VRX932LA portable line array loudspeakers were used as a center cluster.

Show producer Mark Layton of Layton Productions from Orem, Utah remarked, “This was the best sounding NAB show ever. Even Bob Barker [2008 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee] noticed that he could go anywhere in the room and be clearly heard.”

According to Freeman, Meeting Services’ purchase of the new full-size powered VERTEC line array loudspeakers has already reaped benefits. “One of the challenges we face in all venues is an issue of size and space because everyone is asking for products with smaller footprints,” he said. “So having onboard power on these VERTEC loudspeakers saves a lot of space, and the Crown amplification is second to none.”

Meeting Services, Inc. can be reached at (858) 348-0100 and at http://www.msiprod.com/

Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Tour Picks Up Speed With JBL PRX Series Loudspeakers

In a unique example of the power and light weight of JBL Professional’s PRX powered portable loudspeakers, The Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Tour has covered more than 5,000 miles on bicycles through California and Mexico, promoting lower energy consumption to prevent future environmental catastrophes. A crucial component in delivering the message has been a pair of JBL PRX512M powered portable loudspeakers, featuring built-in, world-class amplification technology from Crown.

On Halloween 2007, the bands Ginger Ninjas and SHAKE YOUR PEACE! launched The Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Tour in North San Juan, California. From the Sierra Nevada mountains through southern California, into Baja and eventually Mexico City, the team has played shows, recorded music with local musicians, and advocated a leapfrog-style transition to sustainable transportation.

During shows, two guitars, two vocal microphones and the bass are amplified through the portable audio system, which includes two JBL PRX512M loudspeakers halfway between the drummer and the two singers up front. To power the system itself, four Xtracycle bikes (elongated bicycles for extra carrying capacity) are set up in the air on kickstands, allowing the wheels to spin freely and turn a generator (a small DC motor run in reverse). The generator in turn goes into a capacitor to control the voltage. An indicator on the handlebars tells the “riders” (always volunteers from the audience) whether to pedal harder, cruise, or stop. The four capacitors feed a high-quality inverter, into which an 8-channel mixer and the two PRX512M loudspeakers are plugged, creating a 1,000-watt, portable, human-powered sound system.

The entire system is packed onto the Xtracycles for transportation between shows, a task that requires an optimal combination of power and light weight from the audio components. “When you are a traveling bike band, you also want music on the road,” said Kipchoge Spencer, lead singer of the Ginger Ninjas, co-founder of Xtracycle and organizer of The Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Tour. “So I’m carrying one of the PRX512M speakers on the rear deck of my Xtracycle. With an iPod and a lightweight lithium phosphate battery [charged by a 26-watt folding Brunton solar panel], we have a 500-watt ‘soul cycle’ with amazing thump and brilliant attitude.”

Although Spencer did not anticipate audiences to be larger than 300 people, crowd sizes have often reached 500. “The tour has been amazing so far, so much so that we extended it for a few more months,” Spencer said. “We’ve been playing some really great shows, some planned but many just impromptu in the town plazas.”

According to Spencer, the power efficiency of the PRX512M loudspeakers has contributed significantly to the success of the tour. “The PRX loudspeakers are the only speakers in the world that I’m aware of that could make this system possible,” Spencer added. “Not only are they light, but the built-in amplification is efficient enough to make good use of our limited amount of human power. And they sound amazing. The hyper-efficient digital amplifier puts them in a class by themselves when it comes to ecological amplification. Whether or not you’re a self-propelled bicycle road show, you should be using these speakers if you care about saving energy.”

For more information on The Pleasant Revolution Bicycle Music Tour, please visit www.pleasantrevolution.net

For more information on Ginger Ninjas, please visit www.myspace.com/gingermyninja

Sound Designer Peter Zinda Deploys Eventide Anthology II On Major Hollywood Films

Eventide’s Anthology II TDM plug-in bundle has allowed prominent film sound designer, Peter Zinda, to transition from his trusted Eventide DSP4000 and other outboard processors to a plug-in bundle that provides him with a panoply of sounds unavailable anywhere else.

“My DSP4000 is one of the few outboard pieces I still reach for,” said Zinda. “But now, the Anthology II plug-in bundle gives me that great Eventide sound, along with programmability and the power to automate parameters on any track. Anthology II also allows me to use multiple instances of plug-ins in the same session which I couldn’t do with my outboard gear.”

Zinda has also found that, when the processing chain is saved inside the session, it becomes easier to go back to a project at a later date. It also enables him to collaborate with another sound editor – all useful tools when working on a major feature film release.

Such command of a broad array of sonic tools serves Zinda well in his many well-known projects. He has served as sound designer and sound effects editor on a vast number of major Hollywood releases such as The Express, Mission: Impossible III, Blade 2, and Chronicles of Riddick. His efforts in the studio have garnered him the Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing for Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and he has been nominated for awards on many other projects.

Anthology II contains:
E-Channel™ - configurable channel strip with gate, compressor/limiter with sidechain, and 5-band 48-bit double precision parametric equalization
EQ45 Parametric Equalizer - vintage 48-bit double precision 4-band equalization with high and low cut 12dB/octave filters
EQ65 Filter Set - vintage 48-bit double precision high and low cut 18dB/octave filters, plus 2-band reject or band pass filters
Eventide® Reverb - nine room types from the H8000 with 3-band parametric EQ (pre- and post-reverberator), a compressor (pre or post-reverberator) and stereo delays
H3000 Band Delays™ - eight voices of delay with modulating filters; includes the Function Generator with 19 waveshapes
H3000 Factory™ - patch together any combination of 18 effects; includes the Function Generator with 19 waveshapes
H910 - the original Harmonizer® pitch shifter with delay
H949 - deglitched pitch shifting with delay, reverse, flanging, and randomizer
Instant Phaser™ - recreation of the world’s first phaser
Instant Flanger™ - dedicated flanger with bounce
Omnipressor™ - dynamics processor with an attitude!
Octavox™ - eight-voice diatonic Harmonizer pitch shifter
Precision Time Align™ - track phase alignment tool
Quadravox™ - four-voice diatonic Harmonizer pitch shifter
Ultra-Channel™ - configurable channel strip with gate, compressor/limiter with sidechain, Omnipressor dynamics processor, 5-band 48-bit double precision parametric equalization, micropitch shifting and stereo delays

Anthology II is fully compliant with ICON, D-Control, D-Command, Venue, Pro Tools 7.4, and is Mac, Universal Binary, and PC compatible.

Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards Add Up For Batesville Math Classes

Batesville Magnet Schools in Batesville, Arkansas have accelerated learning in their math classes with Hitachi Interactive FX-series Whiteboards. Applied across grades four through eight, classroom use of these high-tech teaching tools highlights Batesville Schools’ commitment to providing the very best education for their students. And the successes they’ve seen with the boards illustrate the effectiveness of Hitachi Software products for educators.

“Having such a powerful visual aid makes the lessons go so much quicker, everything is right up there for the students to see,” said Angie Bone, an eighth grade math teacher for Batesville Junior High. “I can put my worksheets right on the board without taking the time to write everything out.”

Bone has also found that using the board makes it easier to juggle lessons for students in all class levels: Advanced Algebra I and all levels of 8th grade math. At the end of each lesson, all she needs to do is capture the period’s work and save it, then open up the previous day’s work to continue where the next class left off the day before.

She also enjoys using the “Screen Block” feature with her worksheets, putting problems on the board and covering the answers. After giving students a chance to work on the problems, she can reveal the answers with a quick move of her pen. The interactive capability makes for a more captivating experience for the students.

The board also allows her to work through complicated algebra step-by-step. “It’s really important for the students to see the whole process,” continued Ms. Bone. “I’ll work through the problem and when we’re finished, I can easily clear the annotations for the next class. It’s a real time saver!”

Ms. Bone has also found the included Mult-e-Maths features very helpful. Mult-e-Maths Toolbox LE is an interactive math tool package created by Cambridge-Hitachi exclusively for Hitachi Software, compatible with any current StarBoard interactive product. “The Mult-e-Maths features really help me illustrate my lessons on the board. For example, I often use the protractor tool to show angles,” added Ms. Bone. “If I didn’t have that, I guess I’d have to use a regular old protractor, which wouldn’t get as strong a response from the students. The students respond better to everything with the board!”

About Hitachi
Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc., Business Group, subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., markets LCD projectors, interactive panels and whiteboards and security and observation system products through value added resellers, system integrators, distributors and OEM.

Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd. develops advanced interactive communications tools for education, training and boardroom applications including interactive whiteboards, plasma displays and tablets all powered by the company's category-leading StarBoard software. Go to www.hitachi-soft.com.

Hitachi has a unique position in the marketplace by manufacturing and developing its own core technologies to provide consumers and businesses with optimal product performance in each of Hitachi's product categories. For Business products go to www.hitachi.us/digitalmedia. For consumer products, please visit www.hitachi.us/tv.

Hitachi Starboard Offers Industry-Leading Interoperabilty For Educators

In a move to accelerate the interoperability and technology integration of its presentation technologies, Hitachi Software Engineering America, Ltd. showcased its ability to integrate seamlessly with off-the-shelf software packages from Microsoft and other manufacturers. This interoperability allows educators the flexibility to use their existing lesson plans on Hitachi interactive whiteboards, tablets and display panels, rather than limiting them only to lessons designed specifically for interactive technologies.

Hitachi StarBoard software is designed to help teachers execute their lesson plans with flair and imagination, keeping students engaged and making lessons come alive like never before. The software is designed with a number of features that allow for interoperability with educators’ existing tools.

“One of the biggest challenges teachers face when working with new educational tools is adapting the new technology to existing curricula,” said John Glad, Product Manager for Hitachi Home Electronics (America), Inc. Business Group. “We designed StarBoard software to easily integrate with the software teachers already use, ensuring that they can jump right in and teach with the lessons they already have—augmented and improved by our products.”

StarBoard software allows teachers to take lesson plans created in everyday software program packages like Microsoft Office and easily use them on Hitachi interactive whiteboards or panels. Lessons in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint can easily be dropped into presentation slides in the StarBoard software with the push of a button. Moreover, lessons and edits performed on a board or tablet may be resaved back into Microsoft PowerPoint®, Adobe PDF®, and other image formats allowing teachers to send and reuse lessons developed during class time in multiple ways.

In addition, Hitachi has developed a free open license application called the StarBoard Viewer. It offers the essential interactive whiteboard tools such as virtual whiteboard space, digital inks, the ability to manipulate objects, and a docking/floating toolbar. Additionally, it allows anyone to view, edit, modify, and save StarBoard Software files on any computer and present the material using any brand of interactive whiteboard.

“Our goal is to close the digital divide between students and teachers who want expanded access to StarBoard files, as well as providing a tool for those seeking simple interactive whiteboard software to use for free,” continued Mr. Glad. “While other competitive products offer whiteboard viewers, none offer the ability to save work away from the presentation product itself.” The release of the Hitachi StarBoard Viewer is slated for the end of April and will be available to download from their website (www.hitachistarboard.com).

Hitachi StarBoard software also offers a unique “Word Split” feature. Any time a teacher grabs copy from an outside source and pastes it into a lesson being presented on the board or panel, the software provides the options to either paste the copy as a single object, as individual lines, or break apart the individual words. Given these options, teachers have the ability to move and change the copy as they see fit and do not have to spend precious class time altering the copy to fit the lesson.

StarBoard Software is designed to work with a teacher’s existing lessons. A static Word® document can be made interactive by manipulating text, marking it up with ink tools, and using layers of objects for hide-and-reveal activities. Although Hitachi offers additional resources for use with StarBoard products through its partnership with Cambridge University Press, the software is designed to work with what teachers already have and feel comfortable presenting.

Eventide TimeFactor

A video of the Eventide TimeFactor Twin Delay Stompbox being used in a recoding studio, illustrating some features that you won't find on other stompboxes.

Biamp Systems Acquires Creative Audio

In a major expansion of its audio engineering research and development capabilities, BIAMP® Systems today announced the acquisition of Creative Audio, of Brisbane QLD Australia. The acquisition, which was announced by BIAMP Systems President Ralph Lockhart, provides the company with immediate access to a highly evolved and experienced engineering development team that will enable BIAMP Systems to accelerate its R&D programs in digital audio networking technologies.

Currently, Creative Audio products are featured in many prestigious installations throughout the world including the US House of Representatives, the Sydney Opera House, Stadium Australia, and Heathrow Airport. The company has developed forward-looking networked technologies for audio control and communications, as well as advanced paging systems.

"Creative Audio has proven to have a remarkable technical core with a keen understanding of contractor requirements and end-user needs," Lockhart noted. "BIAMP Systems shares this close connection to the market and places a high value on providing innovative approaches that create valuable solutions for our customers. I am confident that our engineering teams, though separated by many miles, will jointly raise the bar in turning out great new products".

Creative Audio was established in Brisbane in 1986 as a technical development group focused on creating engineered product solutions for paging and audio communications applications. The company's products include entertainment communications systems and large scale automated paging control systems.

A CobraNet® licensee, Creative Audio has carefully assembled a team of highly qualified engineers and developed comprehensive in-house research and development capabilities. With dedicated expertise in analog and digital circuit design; professional audio systems engineering; software development and digital signal processing, the Creative Audio engineering team and the BIAMP Systems engineering team are highly complimentary, and the acquisition provides new resources and skill sets in the ongoing product development efforts of the company.

Commenting on the acquisition, Creative Audio Engineering Director, Neil Packer, said, "Rarely in business do companies achieve such a compelling fit as we have achieved with BIAMP today. Our engineering competencies will compliment the work BIAMP is doing extremely well, and there is a strong cultural fit as well".

"Our goal in acquiring Creative Audio was to take two strong design groups and leverage the best of both to apply bright minds and fresh approaches to the development of new product options for our customers," explained Steve Metzger, BIAMP Systems Vice President of Business Development. "Both organizations share a passion for excellence, and this move allows BIAMP to reach into new market opportunities with the same eye for creating forward-thinking solutions as we have with our current products. We're excited about what this means for us and our customers!"

The acquisition has no effect on the product distribution channel. Australian-based Audio Products Group (APG), a leading distributor of premium AV products and a valued Biamp partner, will continue on as BIAMP’s distributor throughout the Oceanic Region. The acquisition of the new organization will provide APG additional opportunities to bring innovative AV solutions to their market.

Periscope Book Light-World's Only Book Light In A Book cover

Make no mistake about it. The patented Periscope book lights in a bookcover eliminate all cords, clips and clutter and let you read what you want where you want in all types of low-light reading environments — all while protecting the reader’s privacy.

read more | digg story

Eventide Anthology II Plug-ins Underscore Sonic Creations Of Grammy Nominated Producer Eric Rosse

Eventide’s Anthology II TDM Plug-in bundle, drawing on decades of boundary smashing effects, provides a foundation for many of the innovative sounds of illustrious, Grammy ®-nominated producer Eric Rosse.

A professional musician and composer, as well as producer, Rosse is also known for scoring the highly acclaimed film Hand of Fate. He has worked closely with Gold and Platinum selling artists like Tori Amos, Anna Nalick, Lisa Marie Presley, and Sara Bareilles. Rosse produced the groundbreaking first album of Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes, and continued working with her on her Grammy nominated second album, Under The Pink, which produced smash hit singles across the globe. Rosse now works out of SquawkBox Studio in Silverlake, Los Angeles, maintaining control of projects from development through production, recording, and finishing. In his studio, he relies on Eventide’s Anthology II bundle for a sonic foundation.

“I depend on the great sounds in the Anthology II bundle first and foremost,” said Rosse, “but I also count on their ease of use and depth of programmability. When I’m mixing, just about all the processors are being used, and effects such as Eventide’s great sounding reverbs come in handy for recording drums, guitars and vocals.”

Rosse’s current projects, all of which involve him relying upon Anthology II, include the band White Tie Affair, whose eponymous album will be released on Epic this year. For that project, Rosse leaned heavily on Anthology’s EQ, reverb, compressors, and distortion for special effects and re-amping instruments. Beyond that, Rosse also kept busy with a recently released record by Sara Bareillas and on Anna Nalick’s second album. Nalick’s single was just released, and a preview EP is to be released shortly. Producing and mixing a new rock band on Mercury called Sparky’s Flaw, Rosse drew on Anthology II for EQ and reverb especially.

“The plug-ins in Anthology II speak to me sonically, like my favorite pieces of analog gear do,” Rosse said. “I still use my old Eventide H-3000/SE - it has never gone out of style. Quality is the most important aspect of any piece of gear — even above convenience — and the heritage of Eventide evolving into the Anthology II plug-ins provides both.”

Anthology II contains:
E-Channel™ - configurable channel strip with gate, compressor/limiter with sidechain, and 5-band 48-bit double precision parametric equalization

EQ45 Parametric Equalizer - vintage 48-bit double precision 4-band equalization with high and low cut 12dB/octave filters

EQ65 Filter Set - vintage 48-bit double precision high and low cut 18dB/octave filters, plus 2-band reject or band pass filters

Eventide® Reverb - nine room types from the H8000 with 3-band parametric EQ (pre- and post-reverberator), a compressor (pre or post-reverberator) and stereo delays

H3000 Band Delays™ - eight voices of delay with modulating filters; includes the Function Generator with 19 waveshapes

H3000 Factory™ - patch together any combination of 18 effects; includes the Function Generator with 19 waveshapes

H910 - the original Harmonizer® pitch shifter with delay

H949 - deglitched pitch shifting with delay, reverse, flanging, and randomizer

Instant Phaser™ - recreation of the world’s first phaser

Instant Flanger™ - dedicated flanger with bounce

Omnipressor™ - dynamics processor with an attitude!

Octavox™ - eight-voice diatonic Harmonizer pitch shifter

Precision Time Align™ - track phase alignment tool

Quadravox™ - four-voice diatonic Harmonizer pitch shifter

Ultra-Channel™ - configurable channel strip with gate, compressor/limiter with sidechain,
Omnipressor dynamics processor, 5-band 48-bit double precision parametric equalization, micropitch shifting and stereo delays

Anthology II is fully compliant with ICON, D-Control, D-Command, Venue, Pro Tools 7.4, and is Mac, Universal Binary, and PC compatible.

AKG K181 DJ Headphones Help DJ Ravidrums Lay It All On The Line

In a talent-packed city like Los Angeles, new DJs on the club scene have to bring something “extra” to make it big. Ravi Jakhotia, known professionally as DJ Ravidrums, learned this lesson early and has risen to play some of the most coveted clubs and television spots in the nation. Ravi moved into the limelight by riding on the cutting edge, and his AKG K181DJ headphones help him stay there.

Ravi has a frenetic performance style that combines traditional DJing with intense live drumming. He helped pioneer the art of the live remix—serving crowds the songs they know and love in new and exciting ways. His innovative work has gained him entry to the hottest clubs and venues in the country (including the Playboy mansion), landed him a cameo in the movie Matrix Reloaded, and recently earned him a prime spot on the Fox Super Bowl XLII Pre-game Show.

To execute his unique live performances, Ravi needs headphones that can handle the subtleties of both live instruments and recorded music. “I’m very critical when it comes to headphones,” he says. “It’s something very personal because it’s the sound you hear that puts you right there, in the moment.”

AKG’s K181DJ headphones work perfectly for Ravi because they were designed specifically to meet DJ requirements. The unique 3D-axis professional folding mechanism allows him to change his monitoring position quickly and enables the headphones to fold down into a thin package for easy transportation as he moves from gig to gig. The rugged, lightweight construction provides unwavering comfort and reliability as Ravi bounces between his deck and drums. And, of course, there’s the sound.

“I love the way these headphones reflect what’s going on in my mix,” he explains. “With other headphones I’ve tried, you can’t get that deep low end and all the highs. These give me all I need for everything I’ve got going on. The sound is incredible!”

Other features include switchable bass boost, isolating ear cups that attenuate ambient noise and keep even quiet passages clearly audible, and a stereo/mono selector for optimum single-ear monitoring—everything the professional DJ needs.

“Asking a DJ to play with bad headphones is like asking a sprinter to run on nails—bad sound can cripple your set.” Ravi loves the audio quality he gets from his AKG headphones, and their adjustability and comfort work with his energetic style.

He began to develop that style when he moved to Los Angeles in 1997. He knew that the club scene was jam-packed with DJ talent and he would have to do something big to make his mark. “Spinning records is great, but to be truly remembered, you’ve got to lay it all on the line,” he says.

Ravi began to shine through his collaborations with established DJs. He called upon his experience as a funk drummer and made his way around the circuit playing live along with other DJ’s sets. Soon, he began to experiment with live remixing—incorporating his live drumming and loops along with the tracks he played—and that’s when things really took off.

One fateful night playing a set at Mood, a hot LA venue, he met acclaimed pop star and American Idol judge Paula Abdul. She’d seen his set and was blown away, offering to help Ravi move his career along. “She kinda took me under her wing,” he recalls.

Ravi began to collaborate with Abdul on a number of projects and with the help of her ‘Idol’ costar Randy Jackson, she landed Ravi a spot on the Superbowl pre-game show in front of millions of viewers. His spirited performance that Sunday earned him legions of fans and placed him high in the ranks of the nation’s most in-demand DJs.

Wherever his burgeoning career takes him, Ravi brings his AKG K181DJ headphones. “I’ve been using them every day, I love everything about them, the sound especially!” Ravi has been so pleased with the headphones’ performance, he’s even been introducing them to other DJs he works with. “Everyone I put them on tries to take them!”

Sun Light & Sound And JBL VerTec Line Arrays Rock The Desert In Dubai

In one of the Middle East’s most popular annual live music events, production equipment rental company Sun Light & Sound (SLS) Productions deployed a JBL Professional VERTEC® line array system for Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2008. Held March 7-8 at Dubai Festival City, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2008 drew more than 28,000 fans over two days.

Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2008 marked the Festival’s fifth anniversary. As in years past, the Festival showcased some of the world’s most popular hard rock and heavy metal acts, including Korn, Velvet Revolver, Machine Head and As I Lay Dying. With the goal of providing sonic clarity while matching the power of the Festival’s high-energy performances, Sun Light & Sound provided an elaborate audio system that included a total of 90 VERTEC line array elements.

The PA included main hangs of 12 VT4889 full-size line array elements per side, complemented by six VT4880 full-size arrayable subwoofers per side. Eight VT4887 compact line array elements were suspended to provide down fill, with five VT4888 mid-size line array elements hung per side for additional out fill. Twelve JBL VT4880A Ultra-Long Excursion subwoofers were stacked on each side of the stage for added low-frequency output, with four VT4887 compact line array elements on hand for front fill. Lastly, three arrays of six VT4888 mid-size line array elements each were set up at the front of house position to serve as delays. Crown Macro-Tech and I-Tech amplifiers powered the entire system.

“When we first started using VERTEC line arrays, we received very good feedback from our clients, and as we increased our inventory we have found VERTEC to be a great asset,” said Martin Luiz, Owner of Sun Light & Sound. “The VERTEC loudspeakers have exceptional clarity, light weight, compact size, and are easy to set up. We have supplied our gear to many international artists performing in Dubai and almost all of them prefer using VERTEC. Visiting sound engineers have always given our team a big ‘yes’ for our inventory and services, and more live concerts in the UAE will see our company rocking with VERTEC. This system has revolutionized the concert sound industry.”

David Scheirman, Vice President, Tour Sound, JBL Professional notes that Sun Light & Sound Productions represents an excellent example of how JBL’s industry-leading loudspeaker technology is supporting the growth of pro-level regional rental firms in the Middle East and beyond. “We look forward to the growing success of Martin Luiz and his team, as VERTEC increasingly becomes the line array of choice for leading concert sound system providers around the world.”

For more information on Sun Light & Sound Productions, please call +971-4-3550300 or visit http://www.slspro.net.

Hitachi CP-A100 Projector PC Magazine Review

In a category—that of the ultra-short-throw projector—that's populated with impressive products, the Hitachi CP-A100 stands out.

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Mitsubishi Electric Announces New Storage Expansion Units With Industry Leading Storage Capacity

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Imaging Products Division today announced availability of its new DX-ZD6UE storage expansion unit for DX-TL4500U, DX-TL4700U and DX-TL5000U DVRs. The expansion units may be used in a cascading network of 16 DX-TL5000U DVRs, increasing possible total storage to 368 terabytes—highest in the digital security industry.

Like its predecessor the DX-ZD5UE, the DX-ZD6UE was designed to increase the storage capacity for the DX-TL5000U, DX-TL4700U and DX-TL4500U series DVR recorders. However, the new units feature increased storage capacity in both one terabyte and 1.5 terabyte models. Up to 14 DX-ZD6UE units may be added to a single DVR for a possible combined total of 21 terabytes of additional storage.

This increased capacity allows users to build systems with up to 368 terabytes of total storage by taking advantage of the cascading capabilities of Mitsubishi’s DX-TL5000 DVR. When 16 DX-TL5000s featuring two terabytes standard storage are combined with 14 DX-ZD6UE expansion units and then connected in a cascading network, the result is a single system that can hold 368 terabytes of information, operate up to 256 cameras, and can be controlled and monitored from a single station.

“The DX-ZD6UE allows our customers to approach digital storage the way they approach other aspects of their digital security, by adding and customizing solutions to meet their exact needs,” said Jeff Kiuchi, product specialist, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Imaging Products Division. “Mitsubishi is dedicated to providing solutions that scale to customer demand and with the DX-ZD6UE they can have a little extra storage or build a system tailored for massive storage—whatever works best.”

For more information visit http://www.mitsubishi-imaging.com/security.

Mitsubishi Electric Announces New Line Of Security Cameras At ISC West 2008

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Imaging Products Division today announced its new line of security cameras as a complementary offering to its industry-leading digital security solutions. The new line of cameras includes both IP-based and analog units with fixed, dome and Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) models.

The IP cameras feature advanced MPEG4 streaming, Sony Super HAD™ CCD chips for high resolution (up to 540 TV lines), and a maximum frame rate of 30 frames per second at D1 resolution. They support multiple network protocols, making them ideal for a variety of environments. The analog camera line features a wide dynamic range for superb video in any lighting environment, including day and night models.

The addition of a camera line to Mitsubishi’s already robust offering of digital security products represents a major step forward for security product integration. In an industry that depends on multiple providers to contribute to any one system, Mitsubishi is becoming a single source for digital security solutions across multiple industries including retail, financial, higher learning and home security monitoring.

“Historically, customers have relied on Mitsubishi for reliable security products and solutions behind the cameras, but now they can find top-of-the-line cameras with us as well,” said Jeff Kiuchi, product specialist, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Imaging Products. “As a result, integrators can now come straight to Mitsubishi for all aspects of digital security, from cameras to DVRs to the software and solutions that ensure the entire system works efficiently.”

Customers building or upgrading company security systems can receive their cameras from the same leading provider they look to for DVR units and customized software solutions; starting with a more integrated package and saving time on system development.

“With digital security systems, the products and solutions used are only as good as the others working alongside them in the chain,” said continued Kiuchi. “By offering our own line of quality camera products, we know—and more importantly, our customers know—that everything will integrate seamlessly and work together perfectly with no complications or inefficiencies.”

For more information visit http://www.mitsubishi-imaging.com/security.

Mitsubishi Electric Presents Integrated Digital Solutions At ISC West 2008

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Imaging Products Division today presented its integrated, customizable security solutions with applications across multiple industries including retail, financial, higher learning and home monitoring.

Mitsubishi’s customizable solutions combine different modules to suit the unique requirements of individual retailers and organizations. Modules offered include Central Station Alarm Monitoring, Automated DVR Health Check and Point of Sale Monitoring. Individual modules may be mixed and matched, customized and tailored to any organization’s specific needs. In addition, storage expansion units are available to increase the capacity of Mitsubishi’s industry-leading DVR units.

With Mitsubishi’s Central Station Alarm Monitoring, Mitsubishi DVRs integrate seamlessly with existing alarm systems. When an alarm sounds, images automatically appear in the central monitoring station with a split screen of live video along with archived video, allowing immediate review of any security concern. This system is vital for any market that utilizes central stations—such as large retailers, banks or home monitoring centers.

Mitsubishi’s Automated DVR Health Check software monitors the status of all the DVRs in use across a given system, checking connectivity and recording status while synchronizing with the organization’s network time protocol. The enterprise health check software alerts operators at the Central Station to any loss of video signal. In this way, an operator can investigate and repair immediately rather than losing recording capabilities for extended periods.
Mitsubishi also offers options for increased storage, allowing users to build up to the level of storage they need. New DX-ZD6UE expansion units add up to 1.5 terabytes of extra storage to existing DVR capacity, and 14 units may be connected to a single DVR for a total of 21 additional terabytes of space. By a creating a cascading system of 16 Mitsubishi DX-TL5000U DVRs—each with the maximum number of expansion units—users can gain an industry-leading 368 terabytes of total storage.

For retailers especially, the benefits are compelling. Mitsubishi DVR models work with a multitude of security cameras regardless of brand, type or location. Point of Sale cameras, loss prevention cameras and security cameras can all be integrated into the same system. In custom applications, POS images can be matched with the data from any particular point of sale, allowing users to enter transaction numbers into the system, immediately pulling up the matching video.

An entire system, in effect, can become a fully controlled network with features for programming and changing settings on each DVR remotely. With such a system, IT crews do not need to be onsite to manage the units—a critical capability for companies with hundreds of locations. Mitsubishi software allows remote selection of video and recording options, motion detection and other features across the network, giving a specific location not only remote viewing capabilities but full access to any of the hundreds of DVRs and their thousands of recorded camera images. If desired, authorization codes can be granted to designated operators for access to certain images while administrators retain total global access to all images from any location they choose.

“Mitsubishi is dedicated to providing the very best in digital security products across a wide range of industries, and we realize that security needs can differ greatly from organization to organization,” said Jeff Kiuchi, product specialist, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Imaging Products Division. “Mitsubishi offers a wide range of solutions that can be customized for any need, all while providing the very best features, options and the highest potential storage capacity in the industry.”

For more information visit http://www.mitsubishi-imaging.com/security.

Mitsubishi Electric Presents DVR Health Check At ISC West 2008

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Imaging Products Division today presented its Automated DVR Health Check solution for retail, financial and higher education security installations.

Mitsubishi’s DVR Health Check software monitors the status of all digital video recorders operating in a given security system. The software routinely tests the connectivity and recording status of all networked DVR units while synchronizing with the organization’s existing network time protocol. If an issue arises or a loss of video signal occurs at any point, enterprise health check software immediately alerts operators at the Central Station.

In this way issues with DVRs on the system can be investigated and repaired immediately. DVR downtime can result in the loss of important surveillance footage, and up-to-date health status is of critical importance—especially for retailers and financial institutions.

“We developed DVR Health Check to take the guesswork out of DVR maintenance,” said Jeff Kiuchi, product specialist, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Imaging Products Division. “For organizations using multiple DVRs for their security video, it’s a huge challenge to check all the units individually. Our system eliminates the need for constant monitoring and greatly reduces the amount of time between failure and fix.”

DVR Health Check is just one of Mitsubishi’s customizable solutions that combine to suit the unique requirements of individual retailers and organizations. An entire system can become a fully controlled network with features for programming and changing settings on each DVR remotely. With such a system, IT crews do not need to be onsite to manage the units—a critical capability for stores or companies with hundreds of locations.

For more information visit http://www.mitsubishi-imaging.com/security.

Mitsubishi Electric Presents Central Station Alarm Monitoring Capabilities At ISC West 2008

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America’s Imaging Products Division today presented its integrated Central Station Alarm Monitoring solution for the retail, financial, higher learning and home monitoring industries. Central Station Alarm Monitoring seamlessly integrates Mitsubishi DVRs with existing alarm systems, creating a single solution that facilitates rapid response to any critical situation.

With Central Station Alarm Monitoring in place, security personnel in the central monitoring station immediately receive split-screen video feeds when an alarm sounds. These images show live video paired with archived video from the alarm location, allowing personnel to quickly scan the current scene as well as review what happened just prior to the alarm. They can then immediately assess the situation and quickly decide the best course of action. The system is vital for any market that uses central stations, such as banks, large retailers, or home monitoring centers.

Central Station Alarm Monitoring is just one of many Mitsubishi security solution modules that may be mixed and matched with other applications and hardware, and can be customized to an organization’s specific needs. By offering different options, Mitsubishi allows customers to pick and choose the best security technology and tailor it to their unique businesses.

“Central Station Alarm Monitoring adds instant response capabilities to the already feature-rich line of Mitsubishi DVRs and offers a robust solution for times when swift reaction is most critical,” said Jeff Kiuchi, product specialist, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Imaging Products Division. “Mitsubishi is dedicated to providing a wide range of digital security options, and Central Station Alarm Monitoring integrates seamlessly with existing hardware and applications for a full-scale security solution.”

For more information visit http://www.mitsubishi-imaging.com/security.