Canada’s Axe Productions Puts New JBL VERTEC® Line Array System To The Test At K-97 Classic Rock Riot

Canadian-based A/V service provider Axe Productions recently deployed a complete JBL VERTEC® line array system in the Edmonton, Canada Shaw Conference Center to support the 2nd Annual K-97 Classic Rock Riot.  The production, which featured a performance by former Bad Company front man Paul Rodgers, marked the first implementation of the company’s new VERTEC system.

Axe Owner, Jon Beckett, supplied 16 VERTEC VT4889-1 fullsize line array loudspeakers (eight per side) powered by 16 Crown I-Tech 8000 amplifiers, which were configured with Harman’s HiQnet™ System Architect™ software for remote control and monitoring of the system.  “Our company’s business is rider-driven, so adding VERTEC to our inventory was an easy choice,” stated Beckett.  “These are the first large-format line array loudspeakers we have ever purchased, and after getting the system put together and into use, I would say that the quality of the sound is outstanding.”

To ensure that the brand-new line array system was perfectly configured for the show Beckett utilized the vocal talents of one of his company’s own sound engineers to test the system.  “It’s one thing to set up a rig and play a CD through the system, but it’s another to plug in and hear that same clarity with a familiar live voice,” continued Beckett.  “When our engineer, who is actually quite a talented vocalist in his own right, started to sing, the sound filled the entire hall with absolutely no feedback. The VERTEC system sounded great right out of the box, using JBL’s factory-supplied V4 DSP settings.”

As a full turnkey entertainment services company, Axe Productions offers total production for all events from concerts to theatrical events to speaking opportunities.  The company provides lighting, sound and cameras, allowing for a one-stop-shop opportunity for live productions. As such, Axe Productions has enjoyed considerable growth in recent years, even through challenging economic times. “I think a key to our success has been our ability to provide all production for any event, from staging to lighting to sound to projectors and cameras,” Beckett said. “The growth of our company was a big reason why we needed a large-format line array system.”

"Professional, regional event companies like Axe Productions are a strong part of JBL's worldwide VERTEC owners' network," noted David Scheirman, Vice President, Tour Sound for JBL Professional. "Having a top-tier line array system in-house and ready to serve the rider requirements for major touring acts is a significant asset for any qualified regional production company."

For more information on Axe Productions, visit http://www.axeproductions.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.

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.

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Harman Professional Concert Sound Powers Historic HAMPI UTSAV 2010 Music Festival

Three Regional Sound Companies, V&P Sound Pvt. Ltd., Sound & Light Professionals and SoundEffects.Com Collaborate for Sound Reinforcement of Major Music Festival.

NORTHRIDGE, California — India started its new year in style, with one of January’s most exciting events being the Hampi Utsav 2010, taking place in the south of the country.  A regular annual event in Karnataka at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, this year’s three-day Festival was held on a grand scale by uniting with the 500th anniversary celebration of the Vilayanagara emperor, Sri Krishnadevaraya’s ascendancy to the throne.

More than 300 hundred artists performed over three days on a 200 ft. x 100 ft. stage at Hampi, with performances that included various music and Indian dance forms by such leading Indian artists as Hema Malini, Mysore, Manjunath, and Pandit Jasrat, along with international performers. The audience was estimated at between 100,000-150,000 people on each of the three days.

Three sound rental companies, V&P Sound Pvt. Ltd., Sound & Light Professionals and SoundEffects.Com, collectively provided the sound system for this major event, with JBL VERTEC® line arrays chosen for use as the sound reinforcement system for the primary concert stage.

The main left and right array hangs comprised 24 JBL VerTec VT4889s and 16 VT4880A subwoofers, all powered by Crown I-Tech 5000HD, 9000HD, and 12000HD amplifiers. The system relied on JBL’s world-standard V4 DSP presets, developed specifically to take advantage of Crown’s LevelMAX™ multi-stage limiting in the I-Tech HD amps.

Additionally, 16 VerTec VT4888s were used for outfills and center fills, with eight JBL SRX 728s in place as the center-located ground based subwoofers. A dbx DriveRack 4800 handled loudspeaker output-zone processing. A Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing console was deployed at the FOH location.

Vishnu .P, Director, V&P Sound, said, “I’ve been impressed with the Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers, and the LevelMAX processing is great. Having sophisticated three-stage limiting, including long term thermal protection, allows for higher Peak and RMS thresholds and this ultimately translates into more SPL output.”

Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers feature a user-inspired DSP engine, OMNIDRIVEHD, co-developed with BSS Audio and developed out of the heritage of one of the most storied and successful processors in tour sound. The processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings.

“It is outstanding to see that the entire range of Harman Professional products played a key role in a highly optimized sound system for this historic music event.  The festival created an opportunity for three leading sound companies in the region to come together in a collaborative manner, and the benefit of premium sound performance. We congratulate all three companies on what was a highly successful event,” stated Sushil John, Harman Regional Sales Director for Central Asia.

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, providing a new benchmark for amplifiers in the MI category. 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,” added Flint

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.

Crown Offers Free Online Seminars For Network Design In Audio Projects

Providing system designers and integrators with leading amplifier technology and unmatched technical knowledge and support, Crown International is offering two online seminars focused on network design for audio projects. The free seminars are first-come, first-serve, with registration being limited to 50 participants per seminar. Each will be offered twice to accommodate individual schedules.

Each seminar will be led by Bradford Benn, Director of Application Engineering for Crown. Benn is Crown’s lead network design and development specialist and has worked on projects ranging from NFL stadiums and NASCAR racetracks to NHL arenas.

The first of the two seminars entitled Networking 101 will be a primer on Ethernet Networking.  It will include basic discussion of connectivity, addressing, and hardware options. It is designed to assist with the design of basic systems and provide a vocabulary to build from larger systems. The session will be offered at the following times:

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009

Time: 2:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time

Session number: 719 316 881

Date: Friday, December 4, 2009

Time: 9:00 am, Eastern Standard Time

Session number: 713 516 242

The second, Deconstructing an Arena, will discuss how one goes through designing a networked control system for an arena studio system. The concepts discussed will apply to all sizes of projects.  The session will be offered at the following times:

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009

Time: 9:00 am, Eastern Standard Time

Session number: 717 500 457


Date: Friday, December 4, 2009

Time: 2:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time

Session number: 719 014 996

For more information, or to register for any of the above seminars visit http://www.crownaudio.com/tutorials/webinars091203.htm.

These seminars will be conducted through WebEx Training Center. The requirements are an active internet connection, a web browser, and either a computer with audio capability. Exact requirements can be found at http://support.webex.com/support/system-requirements.html.

Crown is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com <http://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.”

Firehouse Deploys Crown I-Tech HD Amplifiers and JBL VerTec® Line Arrays For Legendary Performance at Historic 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Concert

In a historic two day concert event featuring some of the biggest names in the history of rock and roll, Red Hook, New York-based Fire House Productions provided a JBL VERTEC® line array system with Crown I-Tech HD power amplification for live sound reinforcement at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts on Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th.

The event took place at New York City’s Madison Square Garden with proceeds from the show going to benefit the Rock and Roll Foundation.  Over the course of the two nights performers included Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon, U2, Aretha Franklin, Jeff Beck, and Metallica.  

For the two concerts, Firehouse deployed a PA system that consisted of 18 VERTEC VT4889 large-format line array elements and 12 VT4880A ultra long excursion arrayable subwoofers per side. An additional 14 VT4889’s per side and 14 VT4887’s for front fills rounded out the system, which was powered by 96 Crown I-Tech 12000HD amplifiers.

Firehouse Productions system engineer Mark Dittmar explained that VERTEC was the perfect solution for an event of this magnitude.  “With VERTEC you get a light weight system that sounds excellent and it can be aimed at angles that other PAs wouldn’t be able to achieve” he noted. “Additionally, since this concert was being recorded for TV we needed the system to cover the entire arena, yet not be visible in the camera shots. With VERTEC we can easily achieve that goal.”

Firehouse, one of the earliest users of the Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers, has continued using them consistently for large-scale events. “With Crown I-Tech HD you get more power and clarity than any other amplifier,” stated Dittmar.  “Also, the limiters on the I-Tech HD amps are extremely efficient.  We have also been using JBL’s V4 DSP presets for the I-Tech HD amplifiers, and in terms of sonic accuracy and the increased power we’ve gained with the system, that has been extremely useful.”

I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS called OmniDriveHD. The new processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings. The OMNIDRIVEHD processing engine also features an innovative new suite of limiters (Peak, Thermal and RMS), called LevelMAX™. As a remote control and monitoring application, Harman HiQnet System Architect™ software mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

For more information on Firehouse Productions, please visit www.firehouseproductions.com or call 845-758-9898.

Multi Image Group Upgrades Audio Capabilities By Purchasing Over 100 Crown I-Tech HD Amplifiers

In a move that immediately extends its sound reinforcement capabilities, Florida-based systems integration firm Multi Image Group has purchased 110 Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers. MIG, which specializes in corporate A/V projects for clients such as CitiGroup, Deutsche Bank, and Proctor and Gamble, upgraded its entire amplifier inventory from the original I-Tech amplifiers.

“MIG was not using Crown amplifiers when I joined the company. I didn’t agree with this because I had been using Crown since I started in the professional sound industry back in 1981 and they are bulletproof,” stated Andy Kakas, audio department manager for technical services at Multi Image Group.

MIG purchased its first Crown amplifiers in 2002 with Macro-Tech and soon purchased I-Tech series amps as well. “We started by building a few JBL VerTec line array systems with the Macro-Tech amps and about six months later we got the I-Techs. The sonic quality and built-in DSP of the I-Techs were major advantages when comparing Crown to other amplifiers,” added Kakas.

After purchasing the new I-Tech HD amps, Kakas immediately noticed the improvements. “The most important aspect of these new amps is the sonic detail. It has a transparent top end, which has an open and natural sound. It maintains the Crown dampening that gives you that punch in your chest. Also, the Cobranet™ integration is quite useful since we have had a need for multiple channels of AES from front of house to the stage and the amp racks,” said Kakas.

I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS called OMNIDRIVEHD. The new processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings. The OMNIDRIVEHD processing engine also features an innovative new suite of limiters called LevelMAX™. Harman HiQnet™ System Architect ™ mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

Crown 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.”

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.

PA Plus and Crown Amplifiers Help “Howie Do It” On NBC’s New Comedy Series

ELKHART, Indiana – Canadian-based sound company PA Plus recently deployed Crown amplifiers in a unique live sound application for “Howie Do It,” an upcoming unscripted comedy television series, commissioned by NBC starring Howie Mandel. PA Plus provided the sound for the live studio audience at the Colosseum at the Caesars Windsor casino in Ontario, as well as the broadcast portion of the production. The Colosseum is a 5,000-seat venue that was utilized for the show, which was the largest ever studio audience for an NBC series show.

Crown I-Tech amplifiers provided the power and processing for the system. All I-Tech amplifiers are equipped with comprehensive status, fault, and load monitoring via standard Ethernet networking and Harman Professional’s HiQnet™ connectivity and control protocol and System Architect™ interface. “System Architect easily allowed us to create and store a series of presets dedicated to the broadcast,” stated Mark Radu, systems engineer at PA Plus. The I-Tech amplifiers also feature advanced DSP processing which can be utilized for additional adjustment of line arrays.

“We were contacted by Ian Dunbar, who was head of audio for this project, to provide a complete audio solution for both the live studio audience as well as the broadcast production,” stated Radu. Providing sound for a live television event was not an easy task and the setup presented many challenges. “The production team was building its own stage and set in front of the existing setup. This then required dedicated sound, lighting and video systems to support the television tapings,” stated Radu. With the venue already equipped with an in-house Harman system, PA Plus was able to choose components from the existing sound system to use in support of their sound integration. “As host to the production, The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor offered the use of any or all of their in house installation to expedite the setup. After discussing matters with the venue’s production manager, Todd Therrien, we came up with a plan that would best serve the television production yet still be non-disruptive to the regular operation of the venue,” Radu added.

The I-Tech amplifiers powered 26 JBL VerTec VT4887 compact line array elements that covered the bleacher section of the audience. “Everybody involved was familiar with the product, the venue is a VerTec installation and we fully support VerTec within our own inventory,” added Radu. JBL SRX712M monitors provided audio support for the floor seating. “Outfitted with the same family of driver components as the VerTec series, the SRX712M’s would allow for a smooth transition between the floor seating and the bleacher sections,” stated Radu. The floor level seating was covered by nine JBL SRX712M’s and was augmented by six additional SRX712M’s utilized as front fills.

Sound Image To Put 10 Million Watts of Crown I-Tech HD Power On The Road

The introduction of the Crown I-Tech HD series amplifier has caught the attention of the entire tour sound industry. Most notably, Southern California-based Sound Image Inc. has agreed to purchase over 800 I-Tech HD amplifiers for its tour sound business. “Our customers are extremely demanding and I-Tech HD gives Sound Image the ability to take our system performance to unprecedented levels,” stated Dave Shadoan, president of Sound Image Inc. “At Sound Image we have always prided ourselves on providing the best sound possible to the clients we serve.” Sound Image’s touring division is known as a provider of premium live sound systems, working with major artists such as Rascal Flatts, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, and Taylor Swift to name a few.

At its core, I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS called OMNIDRIVEHD. The new processing engine features Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled crossover performance for sonically pure tunings. The OMNIDRIVEHD processing engine also features an innovative new suite of limiters called LevelMAX™. The new LevelMAX™ limiter suite offers higher SPL out of existing loudspeakers while at the same time better protection and minimal sonic degradation. Harman HiQnet™ System Architect ™ mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions.

“We designed the Crown I-Tech HD with sound companies such as Sound Image in mind. Many of the new features we engineered on this amp are the result of great feedback we received from companies like Sound Image. At Crown we have an understanding of our customers and their need for powerful and rock-solid performance from their sound reinforcement equipment,” stated Marc Kellom, vice president of marketing at Crown.

“There were a lot of features that stand out in this new amplifier that are going to help us be more efficient. The new built-in DSP is a major advantage, because it makes our job easier when it comes to EQ and tuning. Additionally, the front panel USB slot is going to save a lot of time when it comes to configuring entire racks of amplifiers. Ultimately, Crown took a great amplifier and made it even better for what we do,” stated Shadoan. “I-Tech HD amplifiers offer our tour sound business a level of performance that is unmatched. I-Tech HD has the ability to raise the bar on not only amplifier performance, but system level performance as well. Combined with our JBL VerTec line arrays the I-Tech HD amplifiers allow us to achieve levels of performance that were not previously attainable.”

Crown Audio Appoints Guillermo Sanchez Business Developer For Central and South America

Crown Audio today announced the appointment of Guillermo Sanchez to the position of Business Developer for Central and South America. In this role Sanchez will be responsible for supporting the sales within the region and working closely with the customer base to ensure all products are tailored to meet their needs. He will report to Director of Marketing for Installed Sound, Brian Divine.

Previously, Sanchez served as Chief Sound Designer and Engineer for Corporacion Dynaco. In this role Sanchez was responsible for preparing and engineering sound reinforcement equipment for live music, corporate events, television. He also engineered sound solutions for events such as parades and political events in this role.

Sanchez is also the former owner and Chief Sound Designer and Engineer for Dynacoustic. In this position he specialized in the design and engineering of sound equipment for major live sound events.

“Guillermo has over twenty-five years of experience as a sound engineer. As a veteran of the industry he’s well aware of the needs and challenges of our clients and his background will prove to be a major asset for them to tap into,” stated Divine.

Commenting on his appointment, Sanchez said today, “After over twenty-five years spent in sound design and engineering, I now get to work for one of the companies that I relied on so often in my career. This is an outstanding opportunity and I look forward to the challenge of assisting others in their sound design needs. I’ve always relied on equipment from companies that stood behind their products and Harman is known throughout the industry for just that.”

Crown Audio Supercharges System Reliability On 660A Series Amplifiers For Commercial Sound Marketplace

In a move to address the needs of both its contractor and end user communities in all vertical markets, Crown Audio today introduced its 660A commercial sound amplifier with a re-engineered high bandwidth filter that provides comprehensive system reliability in the most demanding fixed installation environments. The 660A represents a renewed commitment to providing the highest quality amplifiers for commercial and industrial audio.

“The 660A is among the most complete amplifier packages designed specifically for commercial applications,” said Phil McPhee, marketing director for Crown Audio. “For this reason we added a new high bandwidth filter to make it among the most reliable in this product category.”

The 660A has six inputs and six 60W power amplifier channels for multi-zone systems. It can drive different types of speakers in different areas of a facility. The amplifier is ideal for applications in schools, hospitals, factories, restaurant/retail, house of worship, fitness facilities, and 5.1 surround systems. These low-cost units provide all necessary features in a simple building-block format. The sound system can be upgraded as a facility expands, allowing for the addition of more mixers for more inputs, or add more power amps to handle more zones.

The amplifier features balanced Phoenix-type line inputs and touch-proofed screw-terminal speaker outputs. Its advanced protection system includes output current limiting, DC protection, circuit breaker/fuse, and thermal protection. The 660A is backed by Crown’s 3-year full warranty.

Crown Audio Breaks The Power/DSP Barrier With New I-Tech HD Series Amplifiers

In an introduction that dramatically resets expectations of what a professional-grade touring amplifier should deliver in terms of performance, processing, integration and ease of use, amplifier pioneer Crown Audio today introduced the new I-Tech HD Series amplifiers that have been meticulously engineered to advance every criteria by which an amplifier is judged. At its core, I-Tech HD features a new user-inspired DSP engine co-developed with BSS and Linear Phase FIR filters that offer unrivaled performance. Together with Crown’s Class-I amplifier technology; new software that makes I-Tech HD robust and very easy to configure; an industry-leading choice of input options including CobraNet and the all-new LevelMax™ limiters (Peak, Thermal and RMS), I-Tech HD is a stunning product of engineering R&D, more than 60 years of amplifier heritage and systematic user input from tour sound leaders in all markets.

“I-Tech HD, our new flagship amplifier, advances the state-of-the-art on no less than seven fronts,” said Mark Graham, President of Crown Audio. “A remarkable achievement in engineering, I-Tech HD Series is a destructive technology in the sense that it obsoletes all that came before it. It’s a worthy testament to Crown’s engineering team and the tour sound professionals around the world who helped with the development.”

Developed in conjunction with sister company BSS, the next generation OmniDriveHD DSP Engine at the heart of I-Tech HD is built on a new architecture specifically optimized for fast and efficient audio processing to provide tour and contracting professionals with a new platform for signal processing. The new FIREWALL™ FIR filter technology provides significantly improved midrange clarity and dramatically improved off-axis response. The OmniDrive HD reduces latency, safeguards sonic integrity and advances system reliability. AudioCore features 24- bit, 192 kHz A/D and D/A converters.

In yet another industry first, Crown Audio links the limiters in its new family of amplifiers: Crown’s innovative LevelMax™ limiter technology links the previously independent Peak, Thermal and RMS Limiters, enabling more effective, elegant protection of connected speakers while advancing system performance. LevelMax limiter actions are better informed for more effective, efficient results and minimal sonic degradation.

Crown I-Tech HD benefits from the software R&D firepower of Harman Professional’s System Development & Integration Group (SDIG) and is easily configured via HiQnet™ System Architect™ Software. The user interface has been completely redesigned. Managing large networks of amplifiers on the road has never been easier. System Architect mirrors the typical browser navigation interface to provide tour sound and contracting professionals with a familiar interface to access a host of power configuration and control functions. System Architect includes context-sensitive, alphanumeric keypads, which pop up automatically with relevant parameter units when a value or text entry box is selected with the stylus.

Further simplifying ease of use, Crown I-Tech HD Series features a road-warrior-inspired front panel USB slot for load and recall of amplifier settings. Chief engineers can simply hand pre-loaded USB keys to entry-level staff who can now quickly, cost-efficiently and accurately configure entire racks by inserting the correct key and pressing the load button. A patent-pending intuitive front panel work surface with LCD display provides fast and easy menu-based system setup and full amplifier diagnostics.

Crown Audio’s commitment to networking and interoperability goes beyond the USB slot. I-Tech HD boasts a category-leading arsenal of standard input options including CobraNet, AES/EBU and analog XLR inputs, allowing distribution of many channels of real-time, high quality digital audio for a vast array of touring and contracting applications.

I-Tech HD builds upon Crown Audio’s remarkable 60-year heritage of amplifier design and the category-defining legacy of the original I-Tech amplifiers. Patented Class-I Amplifier Technology featured in the new I-Tech HD delivers the highest output voltage in the industry, which provides clean transient peaks.

“Today, great power comes with great functionality,” Graham continued. “With I-Tech HD, Crown Audio has achieved the enviable balance of matching functionality with ease of integration, network scalability, intuitive operation and power performance. Just as I-Tech set the benchmark for integrated DSP and amplification — topping many millions of watts on the tour sound circuit and in fixed installation — I-Tech HD provides members of our user community with distinct audio and commercial advantages that make them better, faster, more competitive and lighter than their competition!”

Protected by a rugged 2U chassis, the I-Tech HD weighs in at a lightweight 30 lbs. (13 kg.) but its proven, Class-I output design packs a heavyweight punch to deliver massive amounts of power while generating minimal heat. Crown Audio’s patented Power Factor Correction (PFC) techniques allow I-Tech HD to draw current from the mains more efficiently, which in concert with the Class-I output enables I-Tech HD to provide the highest output voltage available and a clearly audible difference driving high-performance loudspeakers. Minimum guaranteed power ratings are as follows:

Power per channel with both channels driven:
I-T5000 HD: 2,000W at 2 Ohms; 2,500W at 4 Ohms; 1,250W at 8 Ohms
I-T9000 HD: 2,800W at 2 Ohms; 3,500W at 4 Ohms; 1,500W at 8 Ohms
I-T12000 HD: 3,750W at 2 Ohms; 4,500W at 4 Ohms; 2,100W at 8 Ohms

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.

Crown 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.”

Crown Macro-Tech I Amplifiers Power Sounds Of Summer At Multiple Concert Events

Continuing a tradition of providing the leading amplifiers for tour sound applications, Crown’s MA-12000i amps were featured in XXXX Audio System’s live applications for a number of sold out shows this past summer. Artists such as KISS, Sammy Hagar, Jason Aldean, Frankie Valli, Daughtry, Lifehouse, Ne-Yo, John Michael Montgomery, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Sheryl Crow, Mike Ness and the Black Keys all performed with sound systems that integrated MA-12000i amps and JBL VerTec speaker systems.

Doug Pumphrey, sound integrator for XXXX Audio Systems, said, “We constantly rely on the MA-12000i amps because they are built for tour sound applications. These amplifiers are made to power the larger venues we dealt with on a consistent basis this past summer. We have and will continue to utilize Crown, specifically the MA12000i for all the artists we work with.”

Comprised of three models – the MA-5000i, MA-9000i and MA12000i – the Macro-Tech i Series builds upon its predecessor by incorporating Crown’s advanced, patented Class-I circuitry, which efficiently delivers significantly greater power while simultaneously reducing overall amplifier weight by more than half. The new lineup is also equipped with comprehensive status, fault, and load monitoring via standard Ethernet networking and Harman Professional’s HiQnet™ connectivity and control protocol and System Architect™ interface. Furthermore, a universal power-factor corrected power supply ensures that the new models can be used literally anywhere in the world, delivering full rated power regardless of where touring schedules may lead.

At 28 pounds, the Macro-Tech amps garner new appreciation because of their practicality for portable applications. “In our work, anytime you make something lighter and increase its performance at the same time you’ve done your job. We will continue to implement additional MA-12000i amps into our inventory for concert system applications,” stated Pumphrey.

Loudness Sonorização Select Crown Amps To Power Brazilian Red Bull X-Fighters International Motocross 2008

Powering a sound system for a concert with screaming fans is never an easy task. Powering a sound system with screaming fans and dozens of motorcycle engines revving at the Red Bull X-Fighters Motocross in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is even more difficult. Showcasing the power and sound quality of Crown’s I-Tech amplifiers, Brazilian sound reinforcement company, Loudness Sonorização selected 60 Crown I-Tech amps to power a JBL line array loudspeaker system for the motocross event in Rio.

This one day event highlights riders from around the world, while they perform dare-devil stunts for cheering fans, all the while, their motorcycle engines revving and quickly throttling up to build up the speed necessary to launch themselves 30, 40 or even 50 feet in the air.

“When we selected Crown’s I-Tech line, we knew that these amps would not only be able to deliver the power necessary to overcome the incredible sound of the motorcycles, but the clarity to allow the fans to hear the announcements,” said Márcio Pilot, Director of Loudness Sonorização.

For the event Loudness Sonorização provided 48 Crown IT-8000 and 12 Crown IT-4000 amplifiers. They powered JBL VERTEC VT4889 loudspeakers. Pilot chose the Crown Amplifiers for sound quality, internal DSP, reliability, and ease of installation. “Crown is recognized worldwide as the best amplifiers you can buy for sound reinforcement, tour sound and fixed installations,” stated Pilot.

Available in I-T4000, I-T6000 and I-T8000 iterations, the Harman HiQnet™-compatible I-Tech family has become the tour sound professional’s de-facto standard amplifier by matching unsurpassed Class-I power, light weight and ease of use. Onboard DSP provides a wide array of signal processing functionality, significantly reducing the need for rack components and rack wiring. Onboard DSP features 24- bit, 96 kHz A/D and D/A converters that reduce DSP noise for studio-quality processing and quieter overall performance. I-Tech features peak voltage and RMS power limiting for speaker protection and global power supply to deliver maximum power worldwide! The model boasts a front panel LCD for diagnostics and preset selection, ensuring fast and easy system setup but also front panel lockout for enhanced safety.

For more information about Loudness Sonorização please visit: http://www.loudness.com.br

Bruce Springsteen Tours World with Audio Analysts and Crown Audio I-Tech Amplifiers

Sirius Showequipment AG provided Audio Analysts with sound reinforcement system for European leg of tour.

Taking advantage of the power and flexibility of Crown’s I-Tech Series amplifiers, Sirius Showequipment AG of Niederdorfelden, Germany provided Audio Analysts with over 100 of Crown’s I-Tech amplifiers for use on the Bruce Springsteen tour throughout Europe, while Audio Analysts also provided Crown I-Tech amplifiers on the North American portion of the tour. The amplifiers powered JBL VerTec VT4889 and VT4887 line array elements and JBL VT4880 arrayable subwoofers. Springsteen’s tour began in Hartford, Connecticut on February 28, making 29 stops throughout North America before a 12-country tour in Europe. The tour returned to Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey for three performances at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford on July 27, 28 and 29, where with the help of his fans, Springsteen belted out classics including “Out In The Street”, “No Surrender”, “Thunder Road”, “Born to Run” and “Glory Days.” The final show took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 30.

Audio Analysts’ FOH Engineer for Bruce Springsteen, John Cooper said, “When Bruce performs, he wants to ensure his fans get the best audio experience possible. We turn to Crown’s I-Tech Series because we know these amps will deliver the power and performance Bruce requires and they will function again and again. My RMS to peak voltage requirements are very wide and the I-Tech amps are able to deliver that dynamic performance that I need.”

PA Tech Todd Hartman noted, “Crown and JBL are truly the best products available and I wouldn’t use anything else since I always know they will perform and sound great.”

“When Bruce performs on the edge of the stage, he likes to feel the power of the PA and wants to make sure that the fans at the barricade get the same impact that those people 10 or 20 rows back experience as well as those fans that are 650 feet away in the top seat of the stadium,” Cooper added. “By using the VerTec line array, we are able to unhinge the last one or two boxes to create downfill.”

The I-Tech amplifiers feature advanced DSP processing which was used for additional adjustment of the JBL arrays. With the built-in LCD screen on the front panel, basic features and amplifier status can be accessed from the amplifier’s location. Additionally, the added convenience of HiQnet networking allows a front of house or monitor engineer to easily monitor an amplifiers status from their location.

Crown 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.”

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.

Audio Analysts Select Crown Audio I-Tech Amplifiers For Bruce Springsteen’s North American Tour

Known for its power, performance and reliability, Crown Audio’s legendary I-Tech Series of amplifiers was selected by Audio Analysts of Colorado Springs, Colorado for Bruce Springsteen’s North American tour. Crown’s I-T4000 and I-T8000 amplifiers were used to power JBL VerTec VT4889 and VT4887 line array elements and JBL VT4880 arrayable subwoofers. Springsteen’s tour began in Hartford, Connecticut on February 28, making 29 stops throughout North America before a 12-country tour in Europe. The tour returned to Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey for three performances at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford on July 27, 28 and 29, where with the help of his fans, Springsteen belted out classics including “Out In The Street”, “No Surrender”, “Thunder Road”, “Born to Run” and “Glory Days.” The final show will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 30.

Audio Analysts’ FOH Engineer for Bruce Springsteen, John Cooper said, “When Bruce performs, he wants to ensure his fans get the best audio experience possible. We turn to Crown’s I-Tech Series because we know these amps will deliver the power and performance Bruce requires and they will function again and again. My RMS to peak voltage requirements are very wide and the I-Tech amps are able to deliver that dynamic performance that I need.”

PA Tech Todd Hartman noted, “Crown and JBL are truly the best products available and I wouldn’t use anything else since I always know they will perform and sound great.”

“When Bruce performs on the edge of the stage, he likes to feel the power of the PA and wants to make sure that the fans at the barricade get the same impact that those people 10 or 20 rows back experience as well as those fans that are 650 feet away in the top seat of the stadium,” Cooper added. “By using the VerTec line array, we are able to unhinge the last one or two boxes to create downfill.”

“I-Tech amplifiers feature advanced DSP processing which was used for additional adjustment of the JBL line arrays. With the built-in LCD screen on the front panel, basic features and amplifier status can be accessed from the amplifier’s location. Additionally, the added convenience of HiQnet™ networking allows a front of house or monitor engineer to easily monitor an amplifiers status from their location” says Bert Pare, President of Audio Analysts.

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.

Crown 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.”

Sirius Integrators Provide Crown Audio’s I-Tech Amplifiers For Bruce Springsteen European Tour

Taking advantage of the power and flexibility of Crown’s I-Tech Series amplifiers, Sirius Showequipment AG of Niederdorfelden, Germany provided Audio Analysts with over 100 of Crown’s I-Tech amplifiers for use on the Bruce Springsteen tour throughout Europe. The European leg of the 23-stop tour began with three shows in Dublin, Ireland on May 22nd, 23rd and 24th followed by four shows throughout the U.K. The tour continued in Dusseldorf and Hamburg, Germany with a single appearance in Amsterdam in between on June 18th. Antwerp, Belgium; Milan, Italy; Paris, France and Copenhagen, Denmark were all treated to single-night appearances of “The Boss.” The tour continued to Oslo, Norway and Helsinki, Finland before concluding with four nights in three locations in Spain: San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona. The tour then returned to the U.S with a 3-night stint in Springsteen’s home state of New Jersey at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford.

“We chose Crown’s I-Tech amplifiers because they sound great and are extremely easy to use and to install,” said Holger Shader, Technical Director/Senior Engineer. “They work really well with the JBL VerTec line array speakers we are using on the tour. By using HiQnet™ for setup and monitoring, we are able to get a real-time status check on the amplifiers. We were amazed at how quickly and efficiently we were able to setup the racks during each stop on the tour.”

For the tour, Sirius Showequipment AG used I-Tech 4000 amps for the FOH system to power the JBL VT4889 and VT4887 VerTec line array elements. Additionally, I-Tech 8000 amplifiers were used to power the JBL VT4880 arrayable subwoofer.

Audio Analysts’ FOH Engineer for Bruce Springsteen, John Cooper noted, “I really love using Crown’s I-Tech amps on this tour. They are easy to integrate with JBL’s VerTec speakers and the HiQnet system allows us to easily create control pages that we can quickly access.”

The I-Tech amplifiers feature advanced DSP processing which was used for additional adjustment of the JBL arrays. With the built-in LCD screen on the front panel, basic features and amplifier status can be accessed from the amplifier’s location. Additionally, the added convenience of HiQnet networking allows a front of house or monitor engineer to easily monitor an amplifiers status from their location.

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.

Crown 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.”

Harman Audio Products Finish On Top At 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony

JBL VERTEC® speakers, Crown I-Tech amplifiers and Soundcraft Vi6 Digital Consoles specified for spectacular event sound system design.

In one of the most-watched global media events of the year,the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing was held on Friday, August 8 at the newly-constructed Beijing National Stadium (known informally as “The Bird’s Nest”). The Opening Ceremony marked the beginning of the 29th Olympic Summer Games. While the Stadium normally has a capacity of 80,000, an additional 11,000 temporary seats helped accommodate the 91,000 spectators at the ceremony, which lasted nearly four hours, and included four segments: the opening address, artistic performances, entrance of the competing athletes, and lighting of the primary Olympic torch flame inside the stadium.

Composer Tan Dun provided the musical score for the event, which featured more than 15,000 performers and was highlighted by Chinese gymnast Li Ning lighting the Olympic torch. Centered around the theme of "Civilization and Harmony," the spectacular performances, including costuming, sets and overall production effects, were designed by Zhang Yimou, the renowned film director, who aimed to convey the "conception of harmony from an international perspective." Leading-edge projection, lighting and mobile sculpture technologies and an entertainment production stage designed by Mark Fisher were an integral part of the technical production, along with extravagant fireworks displays. Sound Media Fusion facilitated the event audio system design, programming and deployment, which prominently featured JBL VERTEC® line arrays, Crown I-Tech amplifiers and Soundcraft Vi6 digital mixing consoles.

Gary Hardesty (Chief Designer, Audio- Beijing Olympic Ceremonies Department; Technical Consultant, Panasonic for all Olympic Ceremonies and competition/non-competition venues) had the complex but rewarding task of specifying and implementing the massive, multi-zone, distributed sound reinforcement system approach to integrate portable and installed speaker locations.

“All FOP [field of play] speakers needed to be self-powered arrays due to highly restrictive physical space limitations,” explained Sound Media Fusion’s Gary Hardesty. “In the case of the JBL products, I needed small size and a lot of SPL, not to mention predictable coverage. The JBL VERTEC DP systems were part of a very large, distributed, multi-zone system and they performed flawlessly, exceeding my requirements and expectations. The sound quality was very good. Overall, the venue sound for the event was excellent, with an 'in-your-face' direct sound characteristic throughout the audience area. We achieved excellent acoustic isolation from zone to zone with zero intelligibility problems. Even considering the massive venue size, the result was very, very good for all concerned.”

Numerous Harman HiQnet™-compatible VT4888DP-AN powered midsize line array elements and VT4882DP-AN companion subwoofers with JBL DrivePack® technology were selected to cover various portions of the stadium, including array locations dedicated for use in critical end-zone locations.

These were configured as ground-based stacks, each containing two or three enclosures. Arrays were masked with neutral grey weather-protective covers, and many speaker units were installed behind facades and integrated into Hardesty’s overall system design underneath temporary staging platforms, including the 5 Rings Plaza and the National Flags Platform. Additionally, a total of 26 JBL MS-26 ultra-compact fill speakers were dedicated for second tribune and VIP stand fill.

Passive speaker systems were powered by Crown I-T6000 and I-T4000 power amplifiers, compatible with hundreds of other Crown amplifiers installed for the venue’s audio system infrastructure. Additionally, Soundcraft Vi6™ digital consoles were part of the event sound system. In addition to the high-profile event system for the Opening and Closing ceremonies, Harman products have been specified and installed for more than a dozen Olympic venues in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, including the National Olympics Conference Center, The National Stadium, National Aquatics Center, and Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, as well as various fencing, softball and equestrian sports facilities.

“Global multi-media spectacles such as the Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games have the highest level of audio performance expectations, and require an ever-increasing amount of advance planning, with coverage and output predictions for specialized loudspeaker systems being paramount,” noted David Scheirman, Vice President, Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “JBL and Harman’s other professional audio brands are honored to have our products be selected for use in this demanding and high-profile application.”

Sound Media Fusion’s efforts for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games were assisted by Harman Professional’s Chinese distributor, ACE (Advanced Communication Equipment) whose staff provided JBL and other Harman brand product application information and regional technical support. Duncan Edwards was on hand as a direct assistant to Mr. Hardesty for music programming and system tuning. “The technical collaboration between Gary Hardesty, Duncan Edwards and the entire Chinese team, including Mr. Ma Xin [assistant sound designer to Mr. Hardesty] and Mr. Jin Shao Gang [FOH sound engineer for the opening ceremony], was inspirational to see,” observed ACE’s Bingo Tso. “This teamwork has resulted in a highly successful achievement, the most spectacular sound reinforcement project in the nation to date”.

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.

For additional information on Sound Media Fusion, contact www.soundmediafusion.com
JBL 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.”

Crown Audio CTs Series Amplifiers Network Control Technologies Power Audio Intelligibility At Wukesong Indoor Stadium For 2008 Summer Olympics

Demonstrating the performance consistency and system reliability of Crown Audio’s CTs Series amplifiers in concert with the efficient network capability of Crown’s IQ Series network cards, Beijing’s new 18,000-seat Wukesong Indoor Stadium, home to the basketball competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics, features a complement of three Crown CTs600 amplifiers, two CTs1200 amplifiers, two CTs3000 amplifiers networked via seven Crown IQ3-PIP-Lite cards and Harman’s HiQnet™ system configuration and control protocol. The networked amplifiers drive 22 JBL Professional Control 29AV-1 loudspeakers.

Situated in Western Beijing, the 63,000-square meter facility was completed in January 2008 and after the Olympic basketball preliminaries and finals will become a major cultural, recreational center for the citizens of Beijing, integrating cultural, sporting and commercial facilities with large-scale gardens and green space.

The audio design required engineers to specify and install a system that would sound great despite the resonant surfaces of the large space. Bcause the system would enjoy a second life after the games reliability, scalability and versatility needed to be balanced carefully with the budgetary limitations.

“The Crown CTs Series is a proven performer for installed sound applications and, together with the JBL Professional loudspeakers, will provide Olympic basketball fans and the citizens of Beijing with quality audio for years to come,” noted Marc Kellom, Vice President of Marketing, Crown Audio. “And because CTs amplifiers are so easily networked using IQ-PIP cards and HiQnet, the system is optimally configured for the games but can be easily configured and controlled for many future applications via the HiQnet™ System Architect™ user interface.:”

Crown’s CTs Series amplifiers provide exceptional performance, flexibility and value for installed sound applications. CTs Series amplifiers feature independent selection of high and low impedance operation for a specific channel, plus power levels and features that were carefully chosen to match the requirements of fixed install design. Crown Audio PIP Lite integrates Ethernet-based network control via 100-Mb TCP/IQ protocol for digital control of analog devices with digital signal control for error trapping, proactive response and remote load monitoring.
The Wukesong Indoor Stadium is one of ten venues for the 2008 Summer Olympics games that feature audio systems by Harman Professional. The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, features JBL Professional loudspeakers, a Soundcraft console, Crown amplifiers and BSS Audio processing. Fengtai Softball Field, features Soundcraft consoles, JBL Professional loudspeakers, dbx processing and Crown amplifiers. Many of the same Harman companies are featured 10,000-seat Chang Ping Indoor Arena’s audio system features JBL Professional loudspeakers driven by Crown amplifiers, managed by dbx processing and Soundcraft consoles. The Beijing Foreign Language University Stadium sound system comprises BSS processing, Crown amplifiers, dbx patchbays, Lexicon processors and Soundcraft consoles. In Shanghai, the Shanghai Stadium features JBL loudspeakers, BSS Audio and Lexicon signal processing, Crown microphones and Soundcraft consoles. The Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue is outfitted with JBL Professional loudspeakers and Soundcraft mixers and the Laoshoan Velodrome features JBL loudspeakers, Crown amplifiers, BSS processing and dbx system control. The Olympic Green Convention Centre features Soundcraft consoles, Crown amplifiers, BSS processors and JBL loudspeakers. The Beijing National Stadium is equipped with an awesome array of Crown I-Tech amplifiers.


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.

Crown 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.”

Elkhart business amps up the Beijing Summer Olympics

Crown International has been making high-tech sound equipment in Elkhart for a long time. They sell their products all over the world. This year they struck gold in China — Olympic gold — with 600 sound amplifiers that the Chinese will use at 33 different venues in Beijing. (From WSBT TV, Elkhart Indiana)

To read more and to watch the video please click here!

Crown Audio Powers China’s “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium For Beijing Olympic Games

With the official opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games, Crown Audio today announced it had provided China’s National Stadium with 400 Crown I-Tech amplifiers to power the sound system during the next 16 days of events at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games being held in Beijing, China.

Affectionately known as the Bird’s Nest, the stadium was created by elite design and architectural teams from all over the world. With capacity for 100,000, the stadium will host track and field events as well today’s opening ceremony and closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics to be held on August 24th.

“As 100,000 spectators cheer for their respective countrymen in the opening ceremony, clear and present audio will be important, no matter what language is being spoken,” said Marc Kellom, Vice President of Marketing for Crown Audio. “With over 400 of our I-Tech amplifiers powering the system, we’re confident that everyone in attendance including the athletes will be able to hear their country’s introduction.”

Audio alone takes up two full rooms in the spacious stadium and Crown’s 400 I-Tech amplifiers are housed in 30 racks. The audio system, which is fiber based, was designed by China Broadcast Bureau, a state-run agency. All the processing in the system is being done by the digital console and the robust internal DSP of the Crown I-Tech amplifiers.

The integrated processing in the I-Tech amplifiers reduces DSP noise associated with external systems for quieter overall operation. With this level of advanced technology, simple system operation is available via the front panel LCD, which provides easy access to diagnostics and preset selection, ensuring fast and easy system setup.

For an event as important as the Olympics, front panel lockout on the I-Tech ensures that tunings and presets are safely stored and protected from unauthorized users. Remote monitoring and control allow for complete system control from anywhere in the Olympic Stadium. “Our ability to provide world-class network control and monitoring via HiQnet technology was instrumental in the decision to use I-Tech amplifiers in this job,” notes Kellom.

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.

Crown 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.”