Church on the Move Keeps Sound Consistent With A Complete Harman Solution For Its Newly Expanded Worship Center

Demonstrating the comprehensive range of audio solutions available from Harman Professional, North Carolina-based system designer Strategic Connections recently upgraded the sound system for the newly expanded Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The new sound reinforcement system features JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, and BSS processing.

Already the largest church in the region, the 12,000-member church chose to remodel its existing main sanctuary by adding an additional 700 seats. 

At the heart of the new sound reinforcement system are 38 JBL VerTec® VT4888 midsize line array elements flown in four arrays with 16 JBL ASB6128V subwoofers, 10 flown and six located under the stage. For front fills, seven JBL AC28/95 loudspeakers are housed behind the perimeter of the stage. “The goal was to provide rock and roll style PA without filling the space with tons of speakers,” stated Brant Doell, system designer for Strategic Connections.

Doell said the decision to choose JBL was easy once the scope of the project became clear. “We did look at other vendors to start with until the number of boxes and racks were growing past our size limitations. JBL offers more for the dollar and size of their boxes than the competitors and they had all the gear in stock to ship that same week we ordered it.”

The system is powered by 49 Crown MA5000i amplifiers and 10 CTs 2000 and CTs 3000 amplifiers with control and routing handled by BSS Soundweb London BLU-160 processors, all networked via Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™. “Having the entire system on the network from one location allows us to handle troubleshooting sessions from our office to help insure the customer has the best support possible,” added Doell.

"The system sounds great and six months after the install was completed, no corrective equalization or system adjustments have been necessary.  Pastor Willie George was excited that his voice could be heard clearly and dynamically throughout the room without hurting the front rows and Audio Director, Andrew Stone, has been quite pleased with the clarity, punch and consistency being delivered to every seat,” said Doell.

For more information on Strategic Connections, please visit http://www.strategicconnections.net.

HardWire® Adds To Lineup With New TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary Extreme Performance Pedal

HardWire®, a leading manufacturer of guitar pedals, is introducing the new TR-7 Tremolo/Rotary Pedal at the 2010 Summer NAMM® Show in Nashville, Tennessee. The TR-7 is a true stereo tremolo, rotary, and vibrato pedal, which offers effects ranging from traditional tremolo to a highly detailed rotary cabinet simulator. It also features true stereo I/O, allowing for complex connections and sounds with extreme flexibility.

The TR-7 features seven effects including; Tremolo, Opto-Tremolo, Bias Tremolo, Duo Tremolo, Rotary, Vibrato, and VibroPan. The TR-7 also includes HardWire’s standard extreme performance features like true bypass and high-voltage rails.

“We improved on an already impressive lineup of HardWire pedals with the introduction of the technologically superior tremolo and rotary pedal. The highly advanced processing in the TR-7 is an exciting addition to a tour-worthy package of the HardWire pedals,” stated Rob Urry, president, Harman Music Group.

Each HardWire pedal also features an assortment of tour-worthy accessories, including green gaffer tape common to pro pedalboards, Stomplock™ knob guards to maintain pedal settings and a hook & loop pad to fasten the pedal to a pedalboard.

The TR-7 will be available August 2010 with an MSRP of $189.95.

DigiTech® Introduces New BP90 Bass Multi-Effects Processor

DigiTech, a leading manufacturer of guitar and bass processors, today introduced the new BP90 Bass Multi-Effects Processor at the 2010 Summer NAMM Show in Nashville, Tennessee.  The BDP90 is powered by the AudioDNA® 2 processor and gives players digital representation of their favorite vintage, modern, and boutique equipment including stompboxes, amplifiers, cabinets, modulation effects, delays, reverbs, and even special effects such as the legendary Whammy™.

Providing an arsenal of models to choose from, the BD90 features DigiTech’s exclusive tone and effect libraries that enable easy programming. Completing the processor, there are a host of aggressive sounding presets that appeal to modern players of all skill levels.

Offering 27 effects, 11 amps, five cabinets, and five stompboxes, the BP90 takes bass tone to new levels. The BP90 also features 100 preset locations, 40 high-quality drum patterns to practice with, built-in chromatic tuner, and headphone jack for silent practicing.  The expression pedal gives real time control over wah, volume, and DigiTech Whammy effects.

“DigiTech invented multi-effects in 1988 with the DSP-128 and has been the Multi-Effects leader ever since. Today we have reset the standard with the BP90, which is representative of our commitment to continuous innovation with our entire DigiTech lineup,” stated Rob Urry, president, Harman Music Group.

The BP90 is shipping in July 2010 with an MSRP of $139.95.

Audio Analysts Provides JBL VERTEC® Line Array System As Conan’s Comedy Tour Provides The Laughs

JBL VERTEC® line arrays are heading up the PA system on Conan O’Brien’s current “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour,” with Audio Analysts providing live sound reinforcement for the production. The 30-city tour kicked off on April 12 in Eugene, Oregon and will culminate June 14 in Atlanta, Georgia.  

The live stage production is similar to a television variety show, with many elements from “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” including sidekick Andy Richter and members of the show’s band. The tour also includes video bits, musical and comic performances and cameo appearances by celebrities, while O’Brien himself performs music throughout the production.

Before shipping out the VERTEC line arrays to Los Angeles for initial rehearsals, Audio Analysts fine-tuned the entire system at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  “The reliable performance of the VERTEC line arrays enabled us to pre-design Conan’s touring system with confidence,” said Mario Leccese, VP of Operations for Audio Analysts. “As a longtime VERTEC owner, we are confident that we can achieve even coverage and controllable sound in any environment.”

The main PA system consists of 24 JBL VT4889 fullsize line array loudspeakers flown in left and right columns, 12 ground-stacked JBL VT4880 fullsize, arrayable subwoofers and four JBL VT4887 compact line array elements placed as front fills. Seventeen Crown I-Tech 4000 and 11 I-Tech 8000 amplifiers power the system, which is configured via Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ software for remote control and monitoring.
 
The tour is playing mostly in soft-seat, proscenium environments, with capacity crowd levels ranging from 1,500 to 6,500 seats.  “The VERTEC system is easy to set up and configure in different types of venues, which also makes traveling across the nation and setting up each show a much easier task,” Leccese said. “To date, we have received only positive feedback on the system and the tour has been a tremendous success.”

For more information on Audio Analysts, please visit http://www.audioanalysts.com.
For information and dates for The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour, visit http://www.teamcoco.com. 

AKG Supports Chelsea Academy’s Music Center through The Bryan Adams Foundation

AKG recently provided a complete set of microphones to support the Chelsea Academy, the recently opened secondary school in southwest London created to be an outstanding centre of education and creativity. Working with The Bryan Adams Foundation, AKG has donated a 6-piece drum microphone set and four C1000 S condenser mics to the Academy's Music Centre, which is designed to give students a thorough grounding in performance and recording techniques.

The Chelsea Academy is state-funded and part of the Government's Academies program to provide a broad education for children in local communities. It was established in September 2009 and is sponsored by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Diocesan Board for Schools of the Church of England.

Academies are independent to allow flexibility, innovation and creativity in the curriculum, as well as in how they operate. To provide the best facilities for their students the schools rely on additional funding, sponsorship and donations.

The Bryan Adams Foundation has guaranteed to help support and finance the Music Centre at the Chelsea Academy. Founded by musician and photographer Bryan Adams in 2006 with the aim of "helping people help people", the Foundation has worked with leading pro audio and instrument manufacturers to provide equipment for the Academy's music department.

AKG was approached by The Bryan Adams Foundation and was keen to help support the Chelsea Academy's ambitious music program. "The drum mic set and versatile C1000 S microphones will give students experience of professional equipment and we hope the Chelsea Academy Music Centre will produce talented people who go on to a career in music," said Walter Ruhrig, artists & key customer relations, AKG. "We are also happy to help The Bryan Adams Foundation in its aim of transforming lives."

Steven Hill, Curriculum Leader for Music at Chelsea Academy says, “We are extremely grateful to AKG for their support in providing professional equipment for Music at Chelsea Academy. The equipment has been used extensively by our students to record both compositions and performances. Many of them are already demonstrating a keen interest in and desire towards careers in Music and the opportunities for the students to produce high quality audio recordings will be greatly enhanced by the AKG microphones.”

Parx Casino Goes All In With AKG’s Versatile WMS4500 Wireless Microphone System Designed By PTC Group, Inc.

In a fixed installation that underscores the dependability and unparalleled versatility of AKG’s wireless microphone systems, PTC Group, Inc. recently designed a multi-unit WMS4500 system to drive nightly live performances in Parx Casino’s bustling 360 Ultra Lounge in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Coupled with a set of AKG C5 handheld microphones for vocals, D40 mics for instruments and a number of D 112 and CK 99 L microphones inside the drum set, the wireless microphone system is being used by a wide variety of bands and DJs every night, and acts as the centrepiece to a complete Harman Professional sound system that includes JBL VerTec line arrays, Crown amplifiers, and a Soundcraft Si2 digital mixing console.

According to system designer Nathan Powell, president of PTC Group, Inc., the AKG wireless microphone system gives the 360 Ultra Lounge a level of performance, usability, and efficiency that other wireless microphone systems cannot.

“For a busy club-setting like the 360 Ultra Lounge, where we have a different act using the equipment every single night, the versatility of the AKG equipment is absolutely essential,” commented Powell. “The environmental scan and rehearsal functions allow us to easily program the right channels and just hand the mics off; the backlit display on the transmitters and receivers make it extremely easy to program each unit; and the audio quality is clear and precise.”

The WMS4500 was designed to maximize performance with an ultra-compact design. With a complete system made up of the SR4500 receiver, an HT4500 handheld transmitter, a PT4500 Bodypack transmitter, and a CU 4000 charging unit, the WMS 4500 offers two new frequency bands in the range of 500-530 MHz and 570–600 MHz - a feature that grants it the versatility needed to operate in a space like Parx Casino. When matching the system’s feature set and robustness with Harman’s HiQnet™ System Architect™ protocol, the WMS4500 gives a level of performance that is unrivalled at the system’s price point.

Another feature that makes the WMS4500 the optimal choice for a venue like the 360 Ultra Lounge is the system’s efficient use of energy. The remaining-battery-life readout on each unit alerts the user when the battery life is low, and the CU4000 charging dock allows for quick and easy recharging of each battery. What’s more, a the BP4000 battery pack that is included with the CU4000 charging system provides 16 hours on a single charge, ultimately helping the environment by reducing waste and saving money by ensuring longer battery life.

“With the battery monitoring and charging unit, they’ve really been able to optimize the system’s energy use, which has saved them money and allowed the casino to leave a very green footprint,” continued Powell. “That was one of the main goals when installing the Harman Professional system throughout the casino, and that was one of the reasons we selected the AKG system for the 360 Ultra Lounge.”




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg8ehvIomu8

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

Harman Professional Products Installed at New Parx Casino

 

Hitachi Introduces An Affordable All-In-One Solution With The New “Stimulus Bundle”

-- Bundle Offers Highly Affordable Solution For Those Looking To Deploy Interactive Presentation Technology --

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 9, 2010 – Hitachi America, Ltd. today announced its new CP-D10+FX-77GII Bundle, named the “Stimulus Bundle”, offering a complete, low-cost solution.

The Stimulus Bundle combines the Hitachi CP-D10 short-throw projector, the Hitachi StarBoard FX-77GII 77-inch interactive whiteboard, and a custom-designed Premier Mounts wall arm which together comprise a complete solution. Mounted on the wall arm, the CP-D10’s short-throw capability greatly reduces the shadow cast on the FX-77GII from the presenter and offers a better viewing experience.  Now offered as a complete package, the bundle is the premier low-cost option for educational and corporate environments.

“The Stimulus Bundle was developed to bring a complete Hitachi solution to users who previously wouldn’t have had access to this technology because of the price point,” said John Glad, product manager, Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group.  “By combining our most cost-effective short-throw projector and interactive whiteboard with the Premier wall arm, corporate or educational environments of any size can benefit from Hitachi’s industry leading interactive presentation technology.”

The Hitachi CP-D10 projector is ideal for use in classrooms that utilize an interactive whiteboard, as well as small meeting rooms where space may be limited. The projector features a short throw distance of three feet that projects an 80-inch image, eliminating image obstruction in front of the screen. The CP-D10 offers a brightness of 2,000 ANSI lumens and XGA resolution. It also includes a 4,000-hour hybrid filter for easy maintenance.

The FX-77GII has all of the capabilities that have been revolutionized by Hitachi, but, with this model, interaction is facilitated by use of an electronic pen. The wireless 2-button pen device, included with the StarBoard, functions as a mouse that operates and annotates on the board.

The board features an electronic-free surface for more durable use and remains fully operational even if there are scratches or dents on the surface space.

Hitachi Continues To Lead Market For Networkable Projectors At InfoComm 2010

-- Hitachi’s Line Of Networkable 3LCD Projectors Enable Easier Management And More Effective Communication --

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 9, 2010 — At InfoComm 2010, Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group is showcasing its comprehensive line of networkable 3LCD projectors, which facilitate system management, effective communication and even school safety.

Newest to Hitachi’s line of networkable projectors are the CP-X4011N, CP-X3011N, CP-X2511N and CP-X2011N models. These four new projectors boast new features to Hitachi, including a USB connection, allowing users to quickly and easily display content from a PC via a USB cable. Also new to Hitachi, the projectors are equipped with a microphone input which, in conjunction with two built-in 8W speakers, can be used for audio purposes, even when the projector is in standby mode.

In addition, Hitachi’s Messenger function enables users to transmit text data to any or all projectors on the network. This is an easy and efficient way to send announcements, such as campus notifications, school activities and daily schedules. With Hitachi’s networkable projectors, users can also display content via USB and LAN connections.

The projectors also offer easy maintenance with features that include a hybrid filter, which requires less frequent cleaning and makes longer operation possible. The lamp door of each projector is on the top while the filter cover slides in and out from the front bottom, simplifying maintenance and replacement of these parts.

The four newest networkable projectors are also designed to conserve energy. The Power Saving mode found in each projector reduces standby power consumption to less than 0.5W.

For more information please visit www.hitachi-america.us/digitalmedia

Hitachi Offers Ideal Solutions For Digital Signage With Professional Series Projectors

-- Hitachi’s Professional Series Projectors Offer Large-Venue Performance And Are Sold With A One-Year Continuous Usage Warranty --

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 9, 2010 — At InfoComm 2010, Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group is exhibiting its projector offerings for digital signage applications.

In the Digital Signage area of Hitachi’s booth (#C5056), the company is displaying content with a CP-X10000 Professional Series projector. The CP-X10000 projector, along with the CP-WX11000 and CP-SX12000 Professional Series projectors, are designed specifically with digital signage in mind. In fact, all Professional Series projectors are sold with a one-year continuous usage warranty, ensuring that users can operate their Professional Series projectors on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis, a common necessity for digital signage.

The warranty comes as an addition to Hitachi’s standard, 3-year, normal operation warranty and is ideally-suited for digital signage applications when continuous operation of video hardware is critical. The Professional Series projectors range in brightness from 6,500 to 7,500 ANSI lumens and offer networking functionality with Hitachi’s proprietary PJMan software.

“At InfoComm, attendees expect new advances in digital signage, and our Professional Series projectors represent the next step in the evolution of projection technology for signage applications,” said Ray Soltys, director of sales for Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group. “The performance reliability of the Professional Series projectors, combined with the one-year continuous usage warranty, provides systems integrators with an ideal solution for digital signage.”

For more information please visit www.hitachi-america.us/digitalmedia

Hitachi Debuts The CP-WUX645N 3LCD Projector

-- The CP-WUX645N Delivers WUXGA Resolution And Networking To Large Venues --

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 9, 2010 — Hitachi America, Ltd., Digital Media Division, Business Solutions Group is debuting the CP-WUX645N 3LCD projector; a new projector that combines ease of installation and functionality with superior technology and advanced operation.  With WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution, 10-bit image processing and a brightness of 4,200 ANSI lumens, the CP-WUX645N is the ideal projector for large venues and for viewing HDTV content.

The CP-WUX645N offers a wealth of exclusive features, including Hitachi’s Perfect Fit technology.  Perfect Fit enables precise adjustment of the projected image by moving the four corners individually. A 2x zoom lens helps flexible installation. Users can also manually shift the lens horizontally and vertically without causing image distortion.

The projector’s Picture by Picture feature allows users to project two images from two separate computers (or one computer and one video [or HDMI] source) on one screen at the same time for side-by-side viewing of the two desktops. 

The advanced networking functions of the CP-WUX645N allow users to manage and completely control multiple projectors over an entire LAN system.  Scheduling, e-mail and image transfers are easily controlled through the CP-WUX645N. 

The CP-WUX645N also offers advanced connectivity, with an HDMI input allowing for the transmission of uncompressed digital audio/video streams. Other inputs include an RGB port, BNC, Component, S-Video and Composite connectivity.

The CP-WUX645N includes a hybrid filter, making maintenance and cleaning less frequent, translating into longer operation. With the hybrid filter, cleaning frequency is extended to 2,000 hours.

A security bar allows easy attachment of a security chain.  Advanced security features such as the CP-WUX645N PIN lock can limit the number of users for the projector. In addition, the transition detector can prevent unauthorized use of the projector.

For more information please visit www.hitachi-america.us/digitalmedia

Soundcraft Vi1 – Smaller, Lower Priced, But Still With Vistonicstm, Lexicon FX, BSS EQ’s, And That Sound Quality

With the Soundcraft Vi Series now firmly established as a firm favourite digital desk on both the touring, broadcast and installed sound scenes, Soundcraft have taken this amazing platform to another, more affordable level with the release of the new Vi1 console.

Many users have asked for a smaller, lower-priced desk that still has the acclaimed VistonicsTM user interface, and of course the now-legendary optimal sound quality established with the Vi Series.

So here it is, the Soundcraft Vi1TM.

A complete standalone console package with 32 channels of analogue input to 27 analogue outputs, plus 6 digital inputs, 4 Stereo FX Returns and 6 digital outputs in one chassis. As standard, Input to mix capacity is 46chs, but by adding a stagebox (compatible with the existing Vi racks), simultaneous channel count increases to 64. Channels are routable to 24 multifunction busses, plus LR and Mono Mix busses.

Up to 8 of the busses can be configured as Matrix mixes, each with up to 16 sources.

The surface is just over a metre wide, and includes 16 motorised channel faders with fixed and user-definable layers, 8 output/VCA faders and 2 master faders.

What’s really cool about the Vi1 though, is the new Widescreen Vistonics interface, which will be instantly familiar to anyone who’s driven a Vi6 or Vi4, as well as retaining the same ‘walk-up’ user-friendliness of the other Vi consoles. This new development displays all parameters for 16 channels side by side, on a single 22” Vistonics touch screen. The upper half of the screen handles the Output section control as well as Cue List or Menu displays. Parameter control is via two rows of 16 rotary encoders. Exactly the same channel functionality as the Vi6 and Vi4 is available here, along with all the same core snapshot, talkback and monitoring facilities.

Naturally, the Vi1 inherits many of the facilities of its larger siblings, including Soundcraft FaderGlowTM, 4 stereo Lexicon effects engines, BSS Audio graphic EQs on all output busses, and integral dynamics on all channels.

The desk is compatible with Vi4 and Vi6 show files through the Virtual Vi offline editor, which is available as a free download from www.soundcraft.com.

As you’d expect, the price of the Vi1 is extremely attractive, starting at around £15,000 UK list, which is sure to make it a clear winner with engineers and sound companies.

Lexicon® Introduces PCM92 Stereo Reverb/Effects Processor for Live And Studio Applications

Lexicon®, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), today introduced the PCM92 Stereo Reverb/Effects Processor.  For over 35 years Lexicon has been considered the golden standard of digital reverb and effects processing.  The PCM92 utilizes the latest DSP technology and the finest collection of classic Lexicon algorithms to offer the ultimate processor for live and studio applications.  Delivering 28 mono and stereo reverbs, delays, and modulation effects, flexible routing configurations, and a comprehensive library of over 700 factory presets, the PCM92 represents the most advanced audio processor in its class.

The PCM92 delivers new capabilities to traditional reverbs by adding multimode filters in the audio flow.  This allows more exact shaping of the reverb while still maintaining that distinctive smooth, rich “Lexicon Sound.” Also, all reverbs have an “Infinite” switch that allows the reverb to run forever, which is useful for creating unusual backgrounds and sound effects.

The Lexicon Room algorithm provides a more flexible alternative to convolution type reverbs.  Reflection patterns can be easily selected, scaled and equalized all while simultaneously passing audio, and the room size can be instantly changed or reversed.   The Room algorithm provides the inherent realism of the actual space with all the precise control and manipulation that is only possible with a reverb synthesizer.

The PCM92 features the highly acclaimed Hall, Concert Hall and Random Hall reverb algorithms that have regularly been used by live sound and recording engineers because of their exceptional ability to reproduce the musical ambience of large, wide, panoramically wonderful spaces.

Designed as a single rack space processor with two channels of balanced XLR or ¼” analog I/O and two channels of XLR AES/EBU digital I/O, along with MIDI, Wordclock, and Ethernet, the PCM92 complements any mixing console or integrates easily with your DAW and features 24-bit A/D-D/A conversion and 44.1 to 96 kHz sample rates. 

The easy to use front panel keeps the most important parameters within reach on the high-resolution display for easy editing.  To supplement front panel navigation for live applications, the PCM92 can be configured and fully controlled remotely through Harman HiQnet System Architect™.  The foot switch and foot controller inputs offer additional flexibility for the live performer. 

The PCM92 has a suggested retail price of US $2699.  Following in the tradition of decades of legendary Lexicon audio processors, the PCM92 offers the highest level of sonic quality that is easily deployed in Front-of-House as well as the recording studio.

The Lexicon PCM92 Stereo Reverb/Effects feature set includes:
•    Lexicon® studio-standard reverbs, delays, and modulation effects
•    Comprehensive library of over 700 finely crafted factory presets, including recognizable classics from   Lexicon’s immense library of sounds
•    Lexicon’s flexible Room algorithm used to generate a vast array of room-related effects for music and post
•    Multi-voice pitch shift to enhance vocals
•    Mono and stereo versions of all algorithms
•    Full system configuration and control with HiQnet System Architect™
•    44.1 to 96 kHz sample rate, 32-bit floating point processing
•    Two channels balanced analog I/O (XLR and ¼”)
•    Two channels XLR digital AES/EBU I/O
•    External BNC Wordclock
•    MIDI in, out, and thru
•    Ethernet connectivity
•    Foot controller inputs make it easy to change presets and adjust parameters during live performances
•    High-resolution OLED display is easy to read in all light conditions

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across the Harman Pro Group and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lexicon is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

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JBL Professional Bows Commercial Series Ceiling Speakers At InfoComm 2010

At InfoComm 2010, JBL Professional is introducing its new Commercial Series ceiling speakers, providing excellent performance for paging and background music applications, such as retail stores, restaurants, schools and other environments. These affordable ceiling speakers are designed to meet the requirements of UL1480 and UL2043 for use in plenum ceiling spaces.

The Commercial Series ceiling speakers feature high sensitivity, providing maximum sound level, even at low tap settings. The Series’ triple-voltage transformers (100V, 70V and 25V) fit with any distributed speaker system. The drivers all feature a full 1-inch (25 mm) diameter voice coil with a Kapton™ coil-former and high-temperature wire for better power dissipation and long-term reliability. The driver, grille and transformer come pre-assembled for ease of installation. The lineup includes matching Commercial Series pre-install backcans and tile rails. All Commercial Series speakers come with zinc-plated, powder-coated steel installation accessories.

The Commercial Series includes three new models: the CSS8004, CSS8008 and CSS8018. The CSS8004 is a 4-inch (100 mm) ceiling speaker with a sensitivity of 90 dB. It includes a 5W, multi-tap transformer for 100V, 70V and 25V distributed lines and offers a wide coverage of 175 degrees.

The CSS8008 is an 8-inch (200 mm) ceiling speaker with a sensitivity of 96 dB. It includes a 5W, multi-tap transformer for 100V, 70V and 25V distributed lines and offers 120 degrees of conical coverage.

The CSS8018 is an 8-inch (200 mm) ceiling speaker with a sensitivity of 97 dB. It includes a 10W, multi-tap transformer for 100V, 70V and 25V distributed lines.

“As we continue to expand JBL’s and Harman’s commercial sound product offerings, we are broadening our price-performance points to serve a wider range of customers,” stated Rick Kamlet, Senior Market Director for Commercial Sound at JBL Professional. “These three new Commercial Series ceiling speakers hit especially affordable price points, allowing us to provide products for our customers’ most cost-constrained projects.”

On Stage Audio Deploys World’s First Professional-Grade Application Of AVB Transfer Protocol Using HiQnet™-Enabled Harman Technologies From Crown Audio, BSS Audio and dbx

HiQnet™-enabled Crown Audio CTs Series amplifiers with USP4AVB cards, dbx SC 32 Digital Matrix Processor, BSS Audio / NETGEAR® AVB bridges, and HiQnet System Architect™ were employed by On Stage Audio to create a topography for the future of A/V at the Compuware national sales meeting.

NORTHRIDGE, California — In a highly advanced, yet-remarkably simple audio system design that points to the future of professional-grade integration, On Stage Audio (OSA) this month deployed the world’s first real-world test of the IEEE 802.1 AVB Bridging protocol.  OSA’s team, led by Jim Risgin, Vice President, configured and controlled a Crown Audio, dbx, and BSS Audio A/V system using Harman HiQnet for the Compuware national sales meeting in Detroit, Michigan and ran audio using Ethernet AVB standards.  The event, which took place at the Masonic Theater in downtown Detroit, allowed a crowd of 1,500 attendees to enjoy pristine digital audio and let the audio systems crew experience the future of A/V systems configuration, one in which everything works, all the time, and in which simplicity, not complexity, is the norm.

This watershed event marked the first time that AVB — the only standard transport protocol that allows time-synchronized, super-low-latency streaming audio and video over IEEE 802 Ethernet networks – was used as the primary audio transport for a major professional system.  Harman is a leader in the AVB initiative, chairing and editing the IEEE P1722 Committee and editing the IEEE P802.1Qat Committee and the company is also a pioneer in AVB switching and product development, via the groundbreaking efforts of the Harman Corporate Technology Group and System Development and Integration Group (SDIG). Their dedication to the development of AVB is signified by their membership in the AVnu Alliance; the industry forum dedicated to promoting the adoption of the IEEE 802.1 AVB and related IEEE 1722 and IEEE 1733 standards over various networking link-layers for the advancement of professional quality audio video.

At the core of Risgin’s design are 24 Crown CTs 3000  power amplifiers fitted with USP4/AVB cards, four 24-port BSS Audio / NETGEAR AVB bridges as well as four dbx SC 32 Digital Matrix Processors which were used as the AVB “on ramps” for the system processing.  The entire system (DSP and AVB) was controlled using Harman’s HiQnet protocol and System Architect software.

Jim Risgin, himself an early and active contributor to the AVB movement, assembled the Compuware AVB system working closely with SDIG.  Using the intuitive and customizable HiQnet System Architect drag-and-drop design interface to design his system, Risgin configured and programmed the dbx SC 32 Digital Matrix Processor for processing and using the AVB network as the matrix automatically instructed groups of Ethernet AVB amplifier channels associated with each physical zone to switch to that networked audio signal.

The dbx SC 32’s were deployed as the ‘on ramps’ were used to convert the incoming analog audio to digital AVB streams.  Fourteen audio streams were then routed via HiQnet System Architect to the 24 Crown CTs amplifiers with Crown USP4 4th generation DSP-based PIP™ (Programmable Input Processor) input modules connecting the amplifiers to the Ethernet network.  This enabled real-time transport of digital audio via Ethernet AVB and also allowed the CTs amplifiers to be remotely controlled and monitored via HiQnet System Architect.

“The systems performed flawlessly,” says Risgin, who notes that AVB-induced latency was less than 500 microseconds for all devices, and that delay from input to output maintained the <2ms specified by the AVB protocol. “Harman has done a wonderful job of making a complex process far more simple,” he states. “Everything on the network was completely transparent – troubleshooting was simple because we were able to verify that all the signal paths were correct, and there was instant metering available as soon as an AVB stream was connected to the network.  The Crown amplifiers’ load-monitoring capability verified that each speaker was working and with the correct loading, and the drag-and-drop audio routing really streamlined our workflow process.”

Comparing his AVB experience with traditional system design and routing, Risgin identified what has made the establishment of the AVB protocol so critical. “We would have been working with either analog audio signals on twisted-pair copper cabling, with the potential for failure increasing as the number of signal paths increased or other IP based transport solutions that would increase the complexity immensely” he explains. “With analog we’d have had to deal with interference, hum, and noise rejection issues while other IP solutions would have required an IT technician— in short, we’d have been working in a different age. Even with the existing networked audio protocols, AVB improved the simplicity of coordinating the system and organization of the components. Ethernet AVB has changed everything – for the better.”

Echoing this sentiment, Adam Holladay, Market Manager for SDIG notes, “Where HiQnet simplifies and enables complex programming, monitoring and control, AVB simplifies and enables complex multichannel audio and video transport.  The elegance and performance of the HiQnet and System Architect pairing is matched only by the comprehensive integration that is provided by AVB networking.  The commitment of the AVnu Alliance to advance AVB as the universal standard for audio and video transport  — indicated by the ever-increasing company membership —  really shows that we truly can expect significant industry-wide benefits to many members of the professional A/V community in the not-too-distant future.”

Harman HiQnet is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About On Stage Audio (OSA):
On Stage Audio (a division of OSA International, Inc.), one of North America's leading audio production organizations, With operations in Chicago and Las Vegas, On Stage Audio can be reached by contacting  Jim Risgin (630-227-1008, ext. 410, jrisgin@osacorp.com) or  Carmen Educate (702-458-0445, ext. 219, ceducate@osacorp.com).

For additional contact information see the OSA website at www.osacorp.com.

About Harman:
HARMAN (www.harman.com ) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
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Crown Redefines Category Performance and Price With Groundbreaking New XLS Series Amplifiers

In an introduction that redefines the category of affordable and high-quality power amplifiers, Crown today announced the next generation line of XLS Series amplifiers, The new line – consisting of four models and offering an unprecedented level of performance and configuration flexibility will usher in a new era of power amplification at the entry level.

The XLS series amplifiers implement a flexible PureBand™ Crossover System.  A user can select crossover points from 50 Hz to 3 kHz, allowing for precise matching of specified crossover points on most bi-amplified loud speakers. Increased Control is also highlighted by the three selectable channel modes and clip limiters designed to protect loudspeakers that can be turned on and off by channel.

PeakX™ limiters allow higher output levels than conventional analog limiting while providing assured driver protection, and deploy algorithms derived from the extensive research and development of the OmniDrive HD loudspeaker processing in Crown’s flagship I-Tech HD Series.

In another major advance, the new XLS series amplifiers feature Integrated DriveCore™ Technology Regardless of AC Line sag or distortion due to other equipment such as backline or lighting gear, the user will consistently have the highest level of performance as though there is a power conditioner built directly into the amplifier.  It also provides fast recovery on peaks, accurate reproduction of low-level detail, and precise tracking of low-frequencies at high power levels for maximum subwoofer output.

Further simplifying ease of use, an intuitive front panel work surface with LCD display provides fast and easy menu-based system setup and full amplifier diagnostics.

“We designed the XLS series amplifier from the ground-up to be a category-defining amplifier.  We are bringing features and technology to a price point that no one else is close to offering.  We set out to provide users with an amplifier that would reset the standard for power, performance, flexibility and value. Quite simply, this amplifier is a game changer,” stated Andy Flint, marketing manager for Crown.

The new XLS Series amplifiers are housed in a new premium industrial design chassis, featuring a cast front panel for durability.  They also feature integrated rack handles and weigh under 11lbs making the XLS Series the ultimate portable amplifier.

XLS Series amplifiers conform to Harman Professional’s Green Edge™ environmental initiative. Crown’s new advanced circuit components use fewer resources in manufacturing, but have also contributed to significant weight reduction in the amplifiers that result in less energy consumption.  The XLS amplifier’s high operating efficiency translates into greater efficiency for each watt of output and a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

BSS Audio® Adds Telephone Hybrid Card Option To Soundweb™ London Conferencing Solution

BSS Audio®, a Harman International Company (NYSE-HAR), today added the Soundweb™ London Telephone Hybrid Card to its conferencing portfolio. The new Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Card complements the highly-regarded Soundweb London AEC Input Card and the two cards represent a highly-integrated, premium solution for conferencing applications.

The Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Cards are designed to populate any of the four card slots on Soundweb London BLU-800, BLU-320, BLU-160 and BLU-120 devices. These cards enable Soundweb London devices to interface with a standard POTS (aka PSTN or Analog PBX) telephone network and feature line and parallel set connections. The members of the Soundweb London family provide the building blocks of the perfectly tailored system solution.

The Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Cards also have two analog inputs which allow each Telephone Hybrid Card to receive two microphone or line level signals. These analog inputs offer Phantom Power, configurable per channel and software controlled analog gain in 6dB steps from 0dB to 48dB.

HiQnet™ London Architect v2.08, which provides support for the Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid, offers a fully-featured integrated dialer, speed dial presets and Auto Answer control. All important buttons and feedback from the dialer are accessible from external control and third-party control systems, without the requirement of a PC on the network.

Iain Gregory, market manager for installed sound at Harman Music Group stated, “The Soundweb London Telephone Hybrid Card complements the superbly-performing and already highly-regarded Soundweb London AEC Input Card perfectly. With the reach of Soundweb London extended into conferencing applications, contractors and system integrators are able to leverage existing infrastructure, reduce implementation time and provide a powerful and truly integrated audio solution, using a single platform.”

Aspen Custom Electronics Turns To AKG To Deliver An Unprecedented Level Of Clarity At The Payne County Courthouse

Designing sound systems for courtroom applications presents a host of challenges: acoustical, electrical and application-specific requirements make courtroom systems the most mission critical audio installations in the marketplace. After four subpar audio installations at the Payne County Courthouse in Oklahoma, Judge Worthington and the courthouse administration approached Aspen Custom Electronics with a special request to upgrade the courthouse audio system for good. Using an arsenal of AKG equipment which includes the WMS450 Wireless body pack, a DMM 4/2/2 Audio Mixer and two GN30 Goosenecks, Aspen Custom Electronics was able to do what four companies before it could not: install a clear and powerful audio system that exceeds everyone’s expectations.

According to Matt Hall, project manager for Aspen Custom Electronics, the courthouse’s audio system required so many revisions because of its many acoustical anomalies. Built in 1917, it was designed to provide optimal voice projection without the use of a PA system, so even the smallest sounds reverberate throughout the room, and a good portion of the front is covered in marble.  What’s more, the witness is able to turn up to 180 degrees while on the stand, looking from judge to jury, and many of the times their voice is very low and withdrawn.

It was clear to Hall that the audio system needed to be clear and focused. After reviewing the layout of the courthouse, Aspen Custom Electronics decided on a GN15 Gooseneck at the judges desk, one GN30 Gooseneck at the attorney’s lectern and one at the witness stand, a WMS450 wireless body pack at the attorney’s lectern and a DMM 4/2/2 Audio Mixer for the whole courthouse. Each mic – for the judge, attorney and witness – uses a ST45 stand and a CK80 Mic Module.

“Unlike entertainment installs, people’s lives hang in the balance in a courtroom installation,” Hall said. “As a result, our systems need to be powerfully accurate and clear, and with AKG, we get everything we are looking for and more.”

The performance of the audio system has exceeded expectations of both Aspen Custom Electronics and members of the court. The witness stand microphone, which was the biggest problem before the installation, delivers clear, intelligible sound no matter which direction they are looking and the judge and court reporter can now hear everything without fail. In addition to the AKG components, the system features a dbx AFS224 processor and a Crown 180A amplifier.

“AKG has a wide range of products, and because of that, we were able to choose the right microphone for the right applications,” Hall continued. “Their products are very affordable as well, which made them easy to recommend to our customer. The pick-up patterns and the variety of shotgun capsules gave us a lot of microphone options, the DMM 4/2/2 is a perfect fit for the application we had in the courtroom, setup was easy and the product worked exactly as we had anticipated.”

AKG is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
Harman International designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products
for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, and maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, employing more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

AKG Brings Its Digital Automatic Microphone Mixer To The Studio With The New DMM 4/2/4 At InfoComm

AKG is presenting the next addition to its long line of automatic microphone mixers with the DMM 4/2/4 at InfoComm in June. Designed as a studio version of the DMM 4/2/2, the DMM 4/2/4 is designed with a unique and highly effective mixing algorithm that gives it the flexibility to handle nearly any mixing application, from boardrooms to broadcast studios and even houses of worship.

The DMM 4/2/4 comes complete with four microphone and two stereo AUX inputs, intelligent mixing algorithms with a noise sensitive threshold to prevent accidental activation of input channels, and a digital signal processor with a dbx® compressor. Each channel on the processor offers switchable gain, switchable phantom power, and an incremental level control with peak hold display, and each system comes with an expansion connector that enables multiple mixers to be linked together for larger audio setups. All functions are run through incremental controls on the front panel which use the intuitive central control concept, similar to the DMM 4/2/2.

“The DMM 4/2/4 is one of AKG’s most exciting mixer to date,” said Mario Siokola, AKG’s Product Marketing Manager Installed Sound. “It has the functionality to be used in virtually any mixing environment, the flexibility to address a wide range of audio needs, and the engineering to process even the most advanced algorithms; and for the price, it simply can’t be beat.”

One of the most unique aspects of the DMM 4/2/4 is the fact that the mixing algorithm also includes a “Last Mic On” function and a “Best Mic On” function; using shiny blue LED’s to alert the user of both. Other new features that were not present in the predecessor include a headphone output and a PC interface, with remote control software that will be available shortly.

“The DMM 4/2/4 is taking the sonic integrity of the famed DMM 4/2/2 and bringing it a few steps further,” continued Siokola. “In addition to the advanced functions of the mixer, it also satisfied all of the aesthetic requirements and comes complete with full 19-inch metal housing and is rack-mountable.”

AKG is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
Harman International designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products
for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, and maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, employing more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

JBL Professional Introduces PRX600 Series Portable Powered Loudspeakers

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — JBL Professional rocked the audio industry today with the introduction of its highly evolved PRX600 Series active portable loudspeakers. The new PRX600 Series offers unparalleled power, rugged durability and incredible versatility for any small to mid-sized live sound environment.

The new PRX600 Series comprises four full-range cabinets (PRX612M, PRX615M, PRX625, PRX635) and two subwoofers (PRX618S and PRX618S-XLF). Utilizing tour-tested JBL Differential Drive® speaker technology, dbx® Type IV™ limiting circuitry and Crown® award-winning class-D amplifiers, the PRX600 Series delivers uncompromised performance in a package that is light, small and professional in both function and appearance. At the core of the PRX line is a fully integrated DSP input section providing mic/line level input, selectable system EQ and a premium A/D converter for a maximum signal-to-noise ratio.

“We designed the PRX600 Series from the ground up to perform in the real world of sound reinforcement where challenging audio environments, high ambient noise levels and loud volumes are the norm,” said Richard Ruse, Director of Marketing, Portable PA, JBL Professional. “With their professional appearance, tour tough construction, affordability and outstanding performance, the PRX600 Series are the intelligent solution to almost any audio problem.”

In addition to Crown amplifiers, the PRX600 Series loudspeakers utilize new, ultra-low noise A/D converters that help reduce idle noise and improve the overall spectral balance and audio performance of the speakers. The entire line has been re-voiced for better clarity and tone and, with the addition of a new, professionally discrete appearance and strategically located M-10 suspension points on the full-range cabinets, the PRX600 Series is ideal for installation in any commercial facility or house of worship. The new models are at least 15 percent lighter and 20 percent smaller than their predecessors, making them the “performance-to-weight” ratio leaders in their class.

In addition to meeting the performance requirements for the PRX600 Series, JBL accepted a new challenge to meet Harman’s “Green Edge” promise of being environmentally responsible. The new speakers require less wood and less plastic than their predecessors, use less energy to build and will use less fuel (due to the lower weight) to transport than previous models.  

All PRX600 Series loudspeakers include: proprietary JBL Differential Drive® neodymium woofers; powder-coated, obsidian, 16-gauge perforated steel grilles; obsidian DuraFlex™ finish; integrated handles with backing cups; commercial-grade, lightweight, multi-layer, 18mm sides and 24 mm top and bottom, poplar/birch hybrid-ply cabinetry; tongue and groove construction; dual 36 mm pole sockets on the PRX612M and PRX615M; single 36 mm pole sockets on the PRX635/PRX618S; and an M20 pole socket on the PRX618S-XLF.

Prices range from US $1,199.00 MSRP to US $1,849.00 MSRP

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

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Crown Audio Introduces ComTech DriveCore™ Series Amplifiers: New Chip Based Amplifier Technology Redefines Standard For Installation Market Applications

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Providing sound integration professionals with high performance, energy efficient amplifier technology that will redefine the way amplifiers are designed and built, Crown Audio today introduced the ComTech DriveCore™ series of amplifiers. The new line – consisting of four models, are all one rack, convection cooled, ultra-energy efficient amplifiers.  

Offering up to eight channels and 150 watts per channel in a one-unit chassis without a fan, the ComTech DriveCore amplifiers are the ultimate for solution for a range of fixed installation environments, from video conferencing in boardrooms to luxury suites in stadiums.

The new line features the Integrated DriveCore technology chip that offers greater than 90 percent efficiency with no compromise in performance boasting a signal-to-noise ratio of 110dB. DriveCore also has patented feedback and protection circuits integrated into the silicon for fast and accurate response.

“The ComTech DriveCore introduction is destructive in the sense that it obsoletes everything that has come before it. Today’s introduction is a watershed event in amplifier design and manufacturing in every aspect from performance, weight, heat generation, and efficiency,” stated Marc Kellom, vice president of marketing for Crown. As part of Harman International, Crown has more research and development at its disposal than all of its competitors combined. This introduction is a clear demonstration of our determination to out innovate and outperform the competition while providing our customer base with unmatched value.”

The amplifiers feature flexible input routing and universal power supply.  Conforming to Harman Professional’s Green Edge™ environmental initiative, the amplifiers are convection-cooled and Energy Star 2.0 compliant. Crown’s new advanced circuit components use fewer resources in manufacturing, but have also contributed to significant weight reduction in the amplifiers that result in less energy consumption. The amplifier’s high operating efficiency translates into greater efficiency for output and each of the four amplifiers in the series weighs only 10lbs.

Crown is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

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The Most Advanced User Interface Just Got Even Better: Studer Releases Vista 9 Digital Console

Building on the acclaimed and proven Vista digital mixing platform, the Vista 9 combines advanced ergonomic design with complete system flexibility, pristine audio quality and groundbreaking new features to create a console fit for a new age of broadcast and live production.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Following on from the Vista 5, 6, 7 and 8 desks, the Vista 9 takes the operator experience to a higher level, supplementing the Vistonics™ interface with radical and innovative ‘wide screen’ based TFT metering, FaderGlow™ and numerous other innovations.

The new metering really does give precision feedback on signal status. The channel meters are able to show mono--right through to 7.1 channel signals--in the upper section of the screen, while the lower portion can show bus assignment or for surround channels an image of the surround composite, providing a clear and easily understandable display of the surround signal. 

Alternatively, a unique HISTORY mode records events such as overloads in the audio path of each channel, and highlights them in red on the channel waveform. The operator can then review which channel had such an event, up to 30 seconds after the event has occurred. Furthermore, all stereo inputs and stereo masters have a correlation meter bar above the bargraph display.

The Control Bay meter section can be configured to show any choice of output busses and input channels and displays up to 40 meters at the time.

Studer’s patented Vistonics has won many friends worldwide thanks to its speed and ease of use and affinity to the analogue channel-strip way of working. Each touch-sensitive TFT screen shows 10 channel strips, with rotary encoders and switches mounted directly onto the screen, providing the operator with ‘Where you look is where you control’ ergonomics.

During a hectic live production, the context oriented FaderGlow™ provides the operator with an instant overview of the console status by illuminating each fader in one of eight freely-assignable colours. Suddenly it’s easy to see exactly where your channel groups are, dramatically increasing reaction time and reducing the stress of mixing in an environment where there is no second chance.

The new Vista 9 gives you absolute freedom to place input, as well as master channels, anywhere across the surface. You decide how you want your mixing session laid out. From surround input channels with an intuitive input balance section to stereo input channels with a 5.1 up-mixing panner to automatic down-mixer processes for outputs, the Vista 9 has all the practical tools for today’s and tomorrow’s surround productions built-in.  This includes dual speaker group 7.1 control room monitoring connectivity integrated into the desk.

Drawing on more than 60 years of experience in the design of rock-solid, industry-proven broadcast equipment, failsafe redundancy comes as standard with the Vista 9. Dual PSU’s as well as a dual control system ensures that component failure doesn’t mean loss of control over the mix, while a redundant network system keeps up the vital communication to the DSP core.

The Vista 9 integrates nicely with other Studer Vista and OnAir consoles and Routers by making use of the Studer RELINK network technology.  Communication to third party control systems is also provided, making the Vista 9 a future-proof investment.

The Studer Vista 9 has already shipped to the first customer installations, and is in full production. The Vista 9 will be on show for the first time at the Broadcast Equipment Exhibition of the Shanghai TV Festival and KOBA the following week.

Video examples of the Vista 9 metering can be seen at http://harmanprogroup.blogspot.com/2010/06/vista-9-video.html

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.


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Harman Professional Puts AVB Front And Center At InfoComm 2010, Hosts A Series Of Seminars And Training Sessions

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — In a move to provide systems integrators with deeper knowledge of the features, benefits and applications of the AVB protocol for multichannel A/V networking over standards-based Ethernet, Harman Professional will hold multiple training sessions and discussions throughout InfoComm 2010 that focus exclusively on the new protocol. The training sessions and discussion will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center on separate days throughout the 3-day exhibition, while its new AVB system, which demonstrates the benefits of the technology with an emphasis on Houses of Worship applications, will also be on display at the Harman Professional booth, number C6236.
The House of Worship demonstration system features the three interconnected elements of Harman’s AVB system solution: next generation hardware, next generation software, and the next generation audio network. The next generation hardware consists of a dbx SC Series digital matrix processors, Crown CT series amplifiers with USP4/AVB installed, BSS Audio AVB wall plates, and the BSS Audio / Netgear Ethernet AVB switch. The system is operated through next-generation software HiQnet System Architect™ version 2 with its new configuration and routing paradigms based on designing the system directly ‘into’ a floor plan of the venue; all audio running over the next-generation audio network, Ethernet AVB.  Visitors to the booth will not only be able to experience the extrodinary simplicity of Harman’s AVB routing mechanisms, but also take real-time control of the system with System Architect’s new full-screen kiosk mode functionality.
“As more members of the professional A/V community begin to adopt AVB protocols, and the single A/V network standard becomes a reality, Harman Professional will continue to support and introduce new products that enhance the efficiency of A/V delivery,” commented Adam Holladay, Market Manager, System Development and Integration Group. “It is important for us to educate our customers on the benefits of AVB, and we encourage anyone who is at InfoComm to come by our booth or seminars to learn more – particularly those connected with House of Worship system design.”
The first public event, a training session entitled “Designing The World’s First Ethernet AVB Systems With HiQnet System Architect”, will focus on configuring an Ethernet AVB system with System Architect in a House of Worship system design, and will take place on Wednesday June 9 from 2:30pm-4:30pm at room N208. It will be hosted by a complete Harman Professional team, including Adam Holladay and Tom Cram for SDIG, Iain Gregory for dbx / BSS Audio, and Brad Benn for Crown.
The next event will be an AVnu Alliance™ panel - featuring representation from Harman International, and several other AVnu Alliance member companies - and will take place on Friday, June 11 from 10:30am-12:00pm in room N219. The panel will discuss the new IEEE 802.1 AVB standards and how they affect the A/V community.  See avnu.org for more information about the alliance.
Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Harman Professional will also be showcasing its new AVB product technologies along with other members of the AVnu Alliance at the AVnu Alliance Pavilion at booth number C7934 throughout the show.

HARMAN (www.harman.com ) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.
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Harman Professional Links With Com-Net Software To Launch IDX Information Delivery Systems That Couple Harman Audio Networking And Performance With Com-Net Software’s Market-Proven Interface And Control

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Realigning expectations for high-performance, easy to integrate communication systems, Harman Professional today announced a partnership with information display and paging specialist Com-Net Software to launch a series of new communication technologies starting with the co-branded IDX Information Delivery Systems that debuts today at InfoComm. The IDX System couples Harman’s Crown CTs, BSS London and HiQnet™ technologies on the back end with Com-Net Software ECLIPSX Flight Information Display System or ECLIPSX Transit Information Display System at the front end.  The combined result is great sounding, highly reliable audio networks with application-engineered interface and control in a versatile, cost-efficient package.

According to Van Williamson, Sales & Marketing Manager Commercial Systems, Harman Professional, working with Com-Net Software made a very attractive proposition.  “Rather than build a system from the ground up and learn paging at our customers’ expense, we have the opportunity to work with the market leader in flight information display and message delivery logic.  The new IDX System hits the ground running to deliver considerable audio networking and control without impacting the end-user interface or workflow.  It’s literally the best of both worlds!”

The IDX System delivers audio solutions integrated with signage products and provides integrators serving customers in paging and life safety for infrastructure, healthcare, transportation and government.  Featuring Com-Net software logic and interface software deployed on a database platform speaking to a BSS London and Crown CTs audio network via CobraNet and Harman HiQnet systems configuration and control protocol, the IDX System is a powerful, unified communication system.  Operators can monitor the status of every critical component of a system for status and full control over recording, playback, volume, and scheduling of audio and visual messages.

Commenting on the introduction, Chad Timms, Vice President, Product Development, Com-Net software said today, “Harman Professional deserves considerable respect for recognizing that one size does not fit all: that mission-critical paging systems require very specific feature-sets and fail-safes to the professional audio systems deployed in entertainment, sport or retail!  Because paging is a demanding market where the slightest hiccup can result in mass confusion or personal injury, customers need a proven solution developed by trusted experts — going any other route would be short-sighted and counter-intuitive.”

Underscoring Timms point, Com-Net Software and Harman have worked together closely to deploy several major transit facilities in the United States already prompting the companies to work closer together to productize their solution: The IDX Information Delivery System.  The companies have agreed to work closely together to build upon the platform and develop a range of modular paging systems and signage solutions to make airports, train stations, healthcare institutions and other large facilities safer, friendlier and more communicative.

In doing so, Harman Professional is providing its global sales and distribution teams with a range of compelling new solutions to serve new customers in paging and life safety for infrastructure, healthcare, transportation and government markets.  Harman will immediately be providing the IDX Information Delivery System to international partners.

“Harman is committed to growth and well-positioned to meet that commitment at the corporate level, the brand level, the manufacturer-rep level and the international distributor level,” Williamson concluded.  “We believe that well-directed innovation will provide more customers with better sound and we’re pleased to have partners like Com-Net in this important, exciting mission.”
Harman HiQnet is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by engineers from across Harman’s Professional Division and is coordinated by the System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Signature Technologies, Inc. dba Com-Net Software is a leading provider of Audio-Visual Customer Communication Systems for the transportation, retail, hospitality, education and healthcare industries. Com-Net is a market leader in providing sophisticated turnkey solutions that include hardware, software, installation, maintenance and support throughout North America.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Andy Trott Appointed President of AKG

Soundcraft, Studer and AKG combine under the same management team.

VIENNA, Austria – Andy Trott, President of Harman’s mixer business Soundcraft Studer, with facilities in the UK and Switzerland, has also been made responsible for AKG, headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Stefan Gubi, who has headed up AKG or the past five years, is departing at the end of June, returning to a senior post in the telecom industry from where he originated prior to joining AKG.

Andy Trott, who has architected the ‘digitalisation’ of Soundcraft Studer’s business since he joined in early 2003, is understandably excited at the prospect of leading AKG. Speaking from Vienna today, Trott said, “Having a background as a digital engineer and a recording musician I am absolutely thrilled at the prospect of leading another legendary name in the audio industry. AKG has always been a brand I have revered and having now met with many of the team in Austria I can see many synergies with the new product development programs we have been pursuing in Soundcraft Studer.

“Harman’s strategy is to develop centres of excellence and by bringing our microphone and headphone business closer together with our mixer brands, we will be able to capitalise on engineering innovations currently under way in both camps--for example, we have several digital programs in place that can benefit from sharing one another’s creativity.”

Regarding organisation there will be minimal change, according to Trott. “We will obviously look for efficiencies and make sensible changes, but AKG is running well, much to the credit of Stefan’s [Gubi] work over the past four years. Nigel Beaumont, our VP of Operations, has been running our manufacturing operations across all three brands for almost a year now and the marketing teams, in line with all Harman Professional brands, work together on a daily basis so the businesses are comfortable working together.”

Accepting his new appointment in the same year as AKG received a coveted Technical GRAMMY Award, Trott was keen to point out that his strategy is to spearhead growth. “Like Studer, AKG has over 60 years of proud history valued by staff, distributors and customers alike, and this is something we want to protect as we pioneer new technologies--no other brands can offer such an integrated set of possibilities for future products as we can.”

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Plug-ins Provide Sonic Solutions for GRAMMY Winning Producer

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – While searching for the ultimate sound combination to complete the freshman album of pop singer Jenna Andrews, GRAMMY and EMMY Award-winning producer Andy Zulla, deployed the Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Bundle to develop one of the most unique-sounding albums to date for the young Toronto native. 

With influences stemming from Hip Hop, R&B and Pop, Andrews had visions of an album with a sound combining a blend of retro-sounding, wet mixes and a contemporary, dry and tight mix.  Zulla knew he would have to summon the perfect reverb that sounded full and dense, while also having a transparent, non-existent feeling.  Having sold his Lexicon 480L and 960 before taking on this project, he hadn’t realized that hitting this perfect mix without them would be difficult.

“The problem was once we went for a dense reverb, it became very clogged and heavy; very lifeless yet very apparent,” said Zulla, Mixer of multiple number-one hits and more than 20 gold and platinum records for artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson and Rod Stewart. 
           
The powerful PCM Native Reverb Bundle includes seven signature Lexicon reverbs including: Vintage Plate, Plate, Hall, Room, Random Hall, Concert Hall, and Chamber with over 950 of the most versatile and finely crafted studio presets including recognizable classics from Lexicon’s immense library of sounds.

“After purchasing every reverb plug-in available as well as libraries and libraries of impulse responses, I realized I could find nothing to replace my Lexicon 480L and 960 reverbs, until now. The new Lexicon PCM Native Reverb Bundle delivers that lush Lexicon depth and fullness that nothing else can even come close to! Back are the days of just pushing up the fader and having the reverb sound instantly great without even trying,” continued Zulla. “It has the ability to create lush spaces but at the same time allow the mix to sound dry, tight, and modern. We ended up using the PCM plug-in on everything, all over the album.”

Zulla and Andrews’ completed album, ‘The Moon And The Stars’ on Island Records, will be released in the summer of 2010.  Her first single, ‘Tumbling Down’ was released May 17, 2010.

“Computer technology has finally advanced to the point where it is able to efficiently run our complex algorithms natively,” stated Rob Urry, President, Harman Music Group. “The use of the PCM Native Reverb Bundle by world class professionals such as Andy is a testament to the Lexicon brand and our success in this platform environment.”

The PCM Native Reverb Plug-In Bundle is ideal for recording and post-production environments where unsurpassed quality is required. It is a fully functional cross-platform plug-in that is compatible with Windows® XP, Vista, and 7 along with MAC® OSX 10.4, 10.5, 10.6. It is available now with a suggested retail price of US $1899. To activate a free 7-day trial of the Plug-In, a user can visit www.Lexiconpro.com for an iLok™ authentication key.


Lexicon is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.2 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Soundcraft Vi6™ Conquers The Great White North

WHITEHORSE, Canada – The Yukon Arts Centre (YAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the arts as an important cultural, social and economic force in the Yukon, and the territory’s premier venue for performing and visual arts, has purchased and installed a Soundcraft Vi6™ large-format digital live sound console. The Vi6 emerged as the clear winner of a nearly year-long period of intensive research and systematic comparison by Patrick Matheson, Technical Director of the YAC, which saw the Vi6 emerge superior in key performance categories including intuitive operation, a fast learning curve and exceptional reliability. In the year since the Vi6 was installed at the YAC, it has acted as the FOH mixing platform--and often simultaneously as the monitor mixer, as well--for a wide range of music artists, consistently delivering great sound and smooth performance.

Intended to be a model for the development of the arts in Canada’s North territory, the YAC’s 428-seat proscenium theater offers outstanding acoustics and top-of-the line technical support to provide an engaging experience for performers and audiences alike. YAC has become a major presentation venue in Canada, showcasing performances ranging from hip-hop to modern dance, from cutting-edge theater to national and international music headliners, and everything in between. But it’s unique in another way, as well. “Being in a fairly remote area of the country, we have to try to be all things to all people to the extent that we can,” explains Matheson, who has acted as Technical Director for the YAC for the past five years. He spent the better part of the last year intently researching the YAC’s first foray into digital mixing, which promised to give the YAC’s audio system the flexibility it needed.

“Once we decided to go with a digital console, we knew that it had to meet some very rigorous criteria,” he says, again noting that Yukon’s vastness and remoteness meant that the console would have to offer outstanding reliability even while it was being used almost every night, often to mix both FOH and monitors. Furthermore, with nearly half the visiting artists performing at the YAC bringing their own live sound engineers, the console had to be user-friendly. “We reviewed a lot of candidates,” says Matheson, who compared specifications of several different consoles and contacted colleagues asking their experiences with them. The results increasingly pointed towards the Soundcraft Vi6.

When Matheson visited the General Motors Place arena, home to the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks, where a Vi6 had been installed a year earlier, he realized he had found what he was looking for. “We needed a board that had already proven itself, yet was still state of the art, that could perform multiple functions yet be as familiar as an analog console for visiting engineers,” he says. “The Vi6 was all that and more. The touch-screens are easy to navigate – you know where everything is and where it’s routed all the time, which is much better than a single screen where you have to go through several layers to find everything. Plus, we have had a lot of good experience with systems from BSS, Lexicon and Studer, and those technologies are all integrated into the Vi6, such as the Vistonics™ interface. I’m an Apple computer user, so I have a very specific idea of what a simple but effective user interface is, and I have to say that if Steve Jobs designed a digital audio console, the Vi6 would be it. Visiting engineers are on it after just a 10- to 15-minute tutorial. It’s a console that speaks to its operators. It’s been the perfect choice.”

Soundcraft is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com).
Harman International designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets, and maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, employing more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”

Lights! Camera! Sound! Technology From Harman Professional Provides Audio For The Legendary Sundance Institute Feature Film and Composers Lab

Fledgling filmmakers are mentored at the Sundance Labs Program, for which Harman Professional provides leading-edge technology products from JBL and Soundcraft, including JBL LSR studio reference monitors and Soundcraft M Series mixers for editing and mixing of film soundtracks and dialogue, and for film scores

For the past 11 years, Harman Professional technology has helped young filmmakers find their voice at Sundance and this year is no different, with Harman providing 7 pairs of JBL LSR2300 monitors, 3 Soundcraft M12 mixers and 3 M8 mixers for the summer-long program

NORTHRIDGE, California –- Continuing its support of excellence and creative innovation among young filmmakers, Harman Professional will once again provide cutting-edge audio technology for this season’s Sundance Institute Labs Feature Film Program that takes place from June through September at the Sundance Institute in Provo, Utah.  This year — the program’s 12th season — Harman Professional will provide seven pairs of JBL LSR2300 monitors, three Soundcraft M12 mixers and three Soundcraft M8 mixers for use in the program’s film editing and scoring projects.  HP Marketing, of Centennial, Colorado, the Harman Professional regional manufacturer’s representative and a long-time supporter of Sundance, facilitated the equipment’s delivery to Sundance.

Reservoir Dogs, Boys Don’t Cry, Requiem For A Dream. These are just a few of the now-classic movies that had their starts at the Sundance Institute Labs Feature Film Program, which every year nurtures a select group of aspiring filmmakers in a workshop environment where they are mentored by some of the best minds on the film industry. The Feature Film Program, which also includes the Film Composers Lab in which young music scoring talent is cultivated, takes place in the hills of Utah, far from the high-tech sound stages of Hollywood. However, thanks to Harman Professional’s commitment to the advancement of film sound, the work at Sundance Institute Labs Feature Film Program benefits from the same technology platforms these students will be using when they begin their careers in Hollywood.  The JBL LSR2300 Series Studio Monitors features the same stringent Linear Spatial Reference criteria used in the design of the acclaimed LSR6300 and LSR4300 Series for absolute accuracy at the mix position in any environment. The Soundcraft M Series mixers deliver a great-sounding, reliable performance in any environment, offering a familiar user interface with advanced design and construction, including high-quality 100mm faders combined with signal and peak LEDs on every channel and high resolution output metering.

“The Sundance Institute Feature Film and Composers Programs are extraordinary undertakings,” states Ian Calderon, Director of Digital Initiatives.  “Our visiting filmmakers, composers and creative advisors expect to use the best technology resources while at Sundance.  JBL and Soundcraft have consistently met those expectations and we are grateful for their continued support.”

Scott Johnson, Technical Director for the Sundance Institute Film Composers Lab Program, notes that the JBL and Soundcraft equipment are used throughout the summer, for all the editing work and for the Film Composers Labs working first on documentaries and then on narrative features later in the summer.  Now in his 11th year with the program, Johnson says JBL and Soundcraft have been an integral part of the initiative for as long as he can remember. “The equipment is great – it really helps raise the technical and creative bar at the Labs,” he says. “Working with this kind of quality equipment in this remote environment gives the students an incredible advantage, one that I’m sure will stay with them for the rest of their careers.”

Commenting on the initiative, Michael MacDonald, Harman Professional Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales noted, “Innovation comes in many shapes and forms. Organizationally, Harman is deeply committed to creative and technological innovation in our culture and in the community.  The Sundance Institute shares this commitment to innovation and education, which is why support for the Institute labs is a natural step for Harman.

About Sundance Institute: Dedicated year-round to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences, Sundance Institute was founded by Robert Redford in 1981 in the mountains of Sundance, Utah. Since that time, the Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for thousands of independent artists. The Institute advances originality, authenticity, and innovation in storytelling by offering creative and financial support to artists around the world.

Through year-round support and a series of Labs and fellowships for screenwriters, directors, and producers, the Institute’s Feature Film Program has supported more than 200 feature films, connecting filmmakers with musicians, the Film Music Program’s Composers Lab allows accomplished musicians to explore composing for film while introducing filmmakers to the importance of music in film.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com), designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NYSE: HAR.”