Kaiser Permanente Chooses Hitachi Software StarBoards To Enhance New Employee Training Programs

-- California-Based Health Care Provider Deploys Hitachi Interactive Whiteboards In Corporate Facilities--

Chula Vista, Calif, September 2, 2009 — Health care provider Kaiser Permanente has chosen Hitachi Software StarBoards for its Colorado-based Consolidated Service Center to provide industry leading technology that immediately enhances the quality of its training facilities. The facility has deployed the FXDUO-77 model StarBoard along with the award-winning Hitachi CP-A100 3LCD ultra-short throw projector as part of the Hitachi CPA100+FXDUO bundle.

The Consolidated Service Center manages all new and transfer employee training. The StarBoards are used in training classes and orientations for presentations. Trainers also use the boards to demonstrate the various software applications that the staff will be utilizing in their new positions. “We are using the boards for interactive activities that engage our staff and enhance the learning experience. This technology has provided us with a more effective method for training our staff,” stated Sylvia Smith, manager of training for Kaiser Permanente’s Colorado Region.

Ms. Smith is looking forward to learning more about the full potential of the StarBoard’s functionality. “I’m excited about the breadth of possibilities on how we can develop our training to make it more engaging and ultimately more interactive. Once our trainers gain more experience and hands-on training, I believe we will really be able to maximize our use of the StarBoard as a tool, not only for training, but for management’s use as well,” added Ms. Smith.

When it came to purchasing the interactive whiteboards, Hitachi was chosen following a comprehensive evaluation of numerous brands. “From a technology perspective, I evaluated the features of the different interactive whiteboards and Hitachi was the most applicable for our needs. The projector is extremely functional because of the short-throw capability. In addition, there are not a lot of moving parts making its design ideal. It really is a great unified solution,” stated Arthur Luebke, multimedia communications manager for Kaiser Permanente.

“We are very conscientious in the health care field about how we allocate our members’ money. When we see a product that meets our technology needs and comes in at a price point that is within our budget, we will consider it greatly. The StarBoard definitely fit into this category,” added Mr. Luebke.

Billy Joel's "Last Play @ Shea" Relies On Studer Vista 5SR

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.”

Two Soundcraft GB4 Mixing Consoles Find Home Base At The Fengtai Softball Stadium For The Beijing 2008 Summer Games

Managing to connect a thin bat with a small round ball has been an athletic pursuit for a great many centuries, and it will take on new significance when women’s softball teams from around world converge on Beijing to play in the Olympics Softball event. The large stadium complex, which consists of two ball fields and one training field, with a seating capacity of 13,000 will require sound commensurate with its scale.

The sound systems feature two Soundcraft GB4 Series desks at their core. A 32-channel GB4 and a 16-channel GB4 are providing mixing and management for the combined sound systems that comprise of 12 Crown CTs 2000 amplifiers, seven CTs 3000 amplifiers and five Crown CTs 1200 amplifiers driving 64 JBL Application Engineered (AE) Series and Precision Directivity (PD) Series surface-mount loudspeakers with processing by 23 dbx DriveRack 260 processors and two dbx PB48 processors. The GB4 offers a comprehensive array of functions in a small and cost-effective footprint including GB30 mic preamps re-engineered circuit topology and EQ designs, rigid steel chassis and high-quality vertically mounted PCB channel strips. The dual-mode topology allows it to be used for FOH or monitor duties with fader control of group or aux outputs.

The Olympics Softball event takes on special meaning in what will be the last time the sport will be seen as an event in the Summer Olympics, - all the more reason to guarantee great sound for the games there, which will be played starting August 12, culminating with the medal finals on August 21. Eight teams will compete in the Olympic softball tournament in a competition consisting of two rounds.

“The Fengtai Softball Stadium will be an impressive stage for the world’s elite softball players and it’s fitting that the venue for an announcer-heavy pursuit such as softball, features a sound system from the world’s leading professional audio brands,” said Keith Watson, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Soundcraft Studer. “We are pleased to have such a strong presence at the games and we’re especially pleased that quality sound from Soundcraft and our other companies will contribute to the enjoyment of fans at the 2008 Olympic Games.”

Harman Professional’s Chinese distributor, ACE (Advanced Communication Equipment) provided Soundcraft consoles and other Harman brand product information and regional technical support.

Information about A.C.E. is available at: http://www.acehk.com/eng/

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®, 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.”

Wassmann Audio Video And JBL Loudspeakers Blend Audio With Excitement At Multiple Six Flags Theme Parks Across The U.S.

Demonstrating the unmatched performance and ease of installation of JBL Control® Contractor loudspeakers and VRX line arrays, Wassmann Audio Video has installed sound systems in 10 Six Flags theme parks across the country. While each location poses its own acoustical challenges, JBL Control 29AV surface-mount loudspeakers and VRX932LA compact line array loudspeakers are prevalent in each park.

Located in Whately, MA, Wassmann Audio Video provides design/build solutions for a variety of applications, including houses of worship, educational environments and corporate spaces. The contracts for the numerous Six Flags locations is rooted in Wassmann’s successful work at Six Flags New England, where the company provided sound systems for all the new rides, 11 zones of park paging, four show systems and all the sound for the Island Kingdom water park.

“When Six Flags decided to upgrade the audio in multiple parks across the country, they toured the different locations and found that the New England park had had the best audio,” said Mark Jarrell of Wassmann Audio Video. “We worked closely with Six Flags corporate manager of park audio Brian Sherlin, who has a pro audio background, to upgrade Six Flags New England. As a result of that project, Brian was promoted and we were hired to handle the sound for the other locations.”

Jarrell collaborated with fellow Wassmann colleagues Jared Menard and Mike Tyburski to upgrade the sound systems for 10 Six Flags locations, relying predominately on the JBL Control 29AV surface-mount loudspeaker. “The Control 29AV isn’t overly large, but it has great sound, lots of bass, and is perfect for background/foreground music and announcements,” Jarrell said. “Also, the service that JBL provides is terrific and they make sure you’re getting as much quality as possible out of your investment.”

Additional, smaller areas of the Six Flags locations contain JBL Control 28 surface-mount loudspeakers, while many of the stage systems feature JBL VRX932LA compact line array loudspeakers. “We’ve had a lot of success with the JBL loudspeakers for these 10 parks, and now we’re concentrating on putting in systems for new rides and filling in some other areas,” Jarrell added. “Next year we’ll be looking at providing sound for many more rides and upgrading some other parks.”

For more information on Wassmann Audio Video, please visit www.wassmannav.com

JBL Professional 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 VERTEC® Line Arrays Define International Standards At Miss Universe 2008 Pageant in Vietnam

Bi-coastal team of audio specialists with gear from Firehouse Productions and ATK/Audiotek enable live audio support for global broadcast.

The global adoption of JBL VERTEC® line arrays continues to grow with an international flavor as demonstrated by the specification and use of a full-scale VERTEC system for the 57th Miss Universe 2008 pageant. The event took place at the Crown Convention Centre, located at the scenic Diamond Bay Resort on the coast near Nha Trang City, Vietnam. Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela, was crowned Miss Universe 2008 from a field of 80 hopeful contestants. The pageant was broadcast live by NBC in English and Telemundo in Spanish to more than one billion viewers in over 180 nations.

An all-star audio crew from the USA, including A-1 (lead engineer) New York-based Tom Holmes, Los Angeles-based digital console specialist Andrew “Fletch” Fletcher and Firehouse Productions’ system engineer Mark Dittmar, spearheaded the sound system setup, optimization and operation. Staged in a 7,500-seat performance space, the audio system needed to provide precision coverage with sufficient power to be heard throughout the venue, with adequate clarity to meet live broadcast standards. To achieve these goals, the professional audio team turned to VERTEC for the system’s loudspeaker components.

New-York based Firehouse Productions performed system integration functions and pre-event testing before shipping the entire JBL VERTEC system, the first to arrive in Vietnam, to its new owner in that country. “We have all worked extensively with VERTEC line arrays in the past and have found them to be very easy to set up, extremely reliable, and most importantly, they sound great,” said Mark Dittmar, Vice President, Firehouse Productions. “Given the technical requirements for the Miss Universe event, the VERTEC system was a natural fit.”

Additional technical audio support equipment for the production was supplied by ATK/Audiotek of Valencia, CA. “Broadcast events that include live entertainment and music program content have highly specialized requirements,” explained ATK/Audiotek’s technical operations manager Brett Valasek. “When international productions take place in regions like southeast Asia, the sponsors and producers look to the various technical specialists to work out a logistical plan that may include sourcing some local equipment while transporting other items. ATK/Audiotek outfitted the team with some specialty items not readily available in the region.”

For Miss Universe 2008, the sound reinforcement system included a main PA setup of two line arrays, each containing 12 JBL VERTEC VT4889-1 full-size line array elements per side, and a center cluster of six VT4887A compact line array elements. These were enhanced by four JBL SRX728S 2x18” subwoofers per side. The system also featured four VT4887A compact line array elements for front fill. Additionally, the backstage paging system included six JBL EON15 G2 portable loudspeakers. Crown I-Tech 6000 and 4000 amplifiers in custom Firehouse-fabricated electronics racks powered the system, while a dbx DriveRack 4800 loudspeaker management system handled system EQ and signal distribution. All amplification and signal processing functions were remotely controlled and monitored using the Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ configuration and control software.

“The specification and use of VERTEC for the 57th Miss Universe 2008 pageant, one of the most widely-viewed broadcast events of the year, is quite an honor,” said David Scheirman, Vice President of Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “This event also underscores the increasingly-sophisticated level of audio system technology that is becoming available in emerging-market regions. This allows event planners and show producers with high global standards to have their needs met even in the most far-flung, exotic locations.”

Firehouse Productions can be reached at http://www.firehouseproductions.com/

ATK/Audiotek can be reached at http://www.atkcorp.com/

JBL Professional 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.

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.”

Billy Joel’s Historic ‘Last Play At Shea’ Concert Relies On Studer Vista 5SR Console For Front Of House And Monitor Mix

Clair Showco Delivers Great Sound For Billy Joel Featuring Surprise Guests Sir Paul McCartney, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler and Roger Daltrey

Billy Joel is truly an entertainer as his ‘Last Play At Shea’ marked the end of an era of historic concerts at Shea Stadium on Friday, July 18th. With a star-studded lineup of musicians making guest appearances throughout the evening including Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler and Roger Daltrey, Billy Joel performed the last concert at the stadium. With the help of former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney (who played with The Beatles the first concert at the stadium on August 15, 1965), Billy Joel closed the show by accompanying McCartney on piano with a surprise version of ‘Let It Be.’

Joel’s world tour began in January 2006 and has been touring ever since. The 2008 segment kicked off in Philadelphia, PA on January 26th, making stops in California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, Quebec, Louisiana, Connecticut, Virginia and finishing up with two shows in Flushing, NY at Shea Stadium. Joel resumes the second leg of his world tour with dates in Japan, Australia and New Zealand beginning in November. Sound reinforcement for the tour was supplied by Pennsylvania based company Clair Showco, which has had a long relationship with Billy Joel; in fact, many of the tour’s key personnel have worked with Joel for multiple tours, including FOH Engineer Brian Ruggles and Production Manager Bobby Thrasher, who have worked with Joel for over 33 and 27 years respectively, as well as Monitor Engineer Mike Pirich, who has been with Joel for the past 10 years.

When looking for a sound console for both FOH and the monitor positions, Clair Showco turned to the Studer Vista 5 SR for its portability, ease of use and sound quality.

“The Vista 5 SR is capable of handling a lot of inputs,” said Ruggles. “We’ve tried different digital desks before but I wasn’t really thrilled at the way they sounded – until this one came along. The Vista 5 SR is by far the best sounding digital desk I’ve heard because it’s closest to the sound of an analog desk.”

Pirich noted, “Using the Vistonics interface makes it really easy to see where you are. As far as digital desks go, this is by far the easiest to get comfortable with before a show and to prove it, I only spent a few hours with the Vista 5 SR before we did a show.”

Pirich added, “As far as quality, it sounds spectacular! It’s got lots of gain and no distortion. We have 30 faders in total consisting of three banks of 10 but are in no way limited by the number of inputs and outputs we can handle. We’ve just pushed 100 inputs feeding 18 stereo mixes and 22 mono mixes but really have more available inputs and outputs than we ever hope to use.

Joel’s Keyboardist, David Rosenthal truly relies on the sound quality that he receives in his in-ear mix and with each song, a different monitor mix may be needed. As one of the band members, Rosenthal heavily relies on Pirich and the Vista 5 SR.

“What we hear is critical to how we perform,” said Rosenthal. “If what we hear sounds good, it is inspiring to us and the crowd gets a better performance. The great thing about working with this console is it’s easy to recall settings for each song – that way, we get our own mix dialed in exactly as we need it for each particular song.”

Rosenthal noted, “I’m a big fan of Studer products, from this console to the 2-inch recording products I’ve used so many times in the past.”

Production Manager Bobby Thrasher was extremely pleased with how much easier the Studer consoles make his job. “It’s small, it’s lightweight, it’s portable and not like the 6,000 pounds I used to have to carry around or fly around,” said Thrasher. “We’ve spent more money on shipping than those rentals were worth. With gas prices the way they are, it’s actually cheaper to own a Studer.”

Billy Joel’s first show at Shea Stadium on Wednesday, July 16th was originally tagged as the ‘Last Play At Shea.’ However, after the first show sold out so quickly, Joel added a second show and due to the schedule of the Mets, Friday was the date provided. During Wednesday’s concert, celebrity guests included Tony Bennett, John Mayer, John Mellencamp and Don Henley. With this appearance at Shea Stadium, Billy Joel became the only artist to perform at the three major stadiums in the New York area: Giants Stadium, Yankee Stadium and now Shea Stadium.

Crown Macro-Tech 3600VZ amplifiers and Clair Showco’s custom JBL-loaded S4 loudspeakers were used for sound reinforcement during the Billy Joel tour. The Studer Vista 5SR is enabled with the Harman Pro Onboard HiQnet™ control protocol.

Clair Showco can be reached at www.clairshowco.com.

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.

Studer 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.”

PA Plus Helps Make Nashville Songwriters The Stars At Avalon Theatre With JBL’s VERTEC® Line Arrays And New V4 DSP

Demonstrating the premium audio fidelity and rider-friendly characteristics of JBL VERTEC® line arrays, PA Plus Productions recently supplied the live sound reinforcement system for “Songwriters Night,” held at the Avalon Theatre at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Canada. The shows featured six of Nashville’s most successful country songwriters performing hits they have written for Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Faith Hill, Vince Gill and many more. The event showcased the songwriting talents of Al Anderson, Bob DiPiero, Tim Nichols, Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman and Tony Mullins, telling the stories that inspired their most popular songs, followed by all six performing each song together.

PA Plus deployed an “in-the-round” setup providing 360 degrees of coverage, with six line arrays each containing eight VERTEC VT4887 compact line array elements. PA Plus also used 16 JBL MS26 compact loudspeakers for front fills. Powered by Crown I-Tech amplifiers, the system was remotely controlled and monitored via the Harman HiQnet™ System Architect™ platform.

In addition to the temporary sound system deployed for the “Songwriters Night” event, PA Plus recently installed the permanent sound reinforcement system at the 1,500-seat Avalon Theatre, which includes a left-right configuration of 10 VT4888 midsize line array elements per side, along with six VT4880 arrayable subwoofers per side. Crown I-Tech amplifiers power the new house system, which also includes AKG microphones, BSS Audio DPR dynamics and dbx 162SL compressor/limiters.

With Reba McEntire loading in right after the final Songwriters Night performance, PA Plus left the existing VERTEC midsize house system in place and flew the standalone VERTEC compact system for the Songwriters Night in-the-round show. In order to expedite loadout after the Songwriters Night events, PA Plus took full advantage of the configuration functionality available in the venue’s Crown I-Tech amplifier installation. “Power and processing for the portable VT4887 system was achieved by simply tying into the existing speaker lines in the overhead production grid and loading the corresponding JBL V4 DSP presets into the Crown I-Tech amplifiers,” said Mark Radu, Systems Engineer for PA Plus. “A simple re-patch in the grid and preset recall was all that was required to ready the system for Reba McEntire.”

According to Radu, the acoustic music content of the show was a perfect match for the VT4887’s. “This was the first chance I had to work with JBL’s new V4 DSP presets for driving 4887’s with I-Tech,” he said. “I was much closer to the desired end result right out of the box with V4 presets, while the system as a whole sounded much more coherent from top to bottom. I was happy with the improvements [JBL’s Director of Tour Sound Product and Application Engineering] Paul Bauman and JBL Engineering have made with the rest of the VERTEC DSP presets, and his work on the VT4887’s proved just as impressive.”

For more information on PA Plus, please visit www.pa-plus.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.”

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 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.”

Summer Festival Season Rolls On With Proshow Systems And New JBL VERTEC® Line Array System

Underscoring the continued adoption of JBL VERTEC® line arrays by leading regional rental and touring sound firms, Proshow Systems recently added a large VERTEC system to its inventory. Proshow Systems has already provided VERTEC for numerous events throughout the southeast United States during the summer festival season.

With locations in Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama, Proshow Systems is a full-service, live entertainment production company that has served the entertainment industry since 1989. The company specializes in complete technical productions including audio, lighting, backline and crew service. “We strive to ensure that every event runs smoothly and on schedule, while providing a flawless show for each and every audience member,” said Michael Faber, Director of Purchasing for Proshow Systems.

A large part of Proshow’s company philosophy is to maintain an inventory that is built around industry-standard equipment. “Our years of experience serving the corporate and entertainment industries enables us to select the right equipment for a given system,” Faber added. “Our systems are easily adapted to fit every event or requirement, from the largest venues down to the smallest meeting.”

With this in mind, for 2008 Proshow bolstered its inventory with VERTEC, purchasing 32 VT4888 midsize line array elements and 16 VT4880A arrayable subwoofers. Proshow also purchased 22 VRX915M portable stage monitors. The entire VERTEC system was recently put to the test at the 2008 Schaeffer Eye Center Crawfish Boil in downtown Birmingham. The 2-day outdoor event featured performances by 3 Doors Down, Fergie, Gavin DeGraw and Seether. Proshow’s onsite team included Brendan Hines (Crew Chief and House Engineer), Jason Baker (Monitor Engineer) and Adam Edmonds (Stage Tech).

The main PA system at the Schaeffer Crawfish Boil featured a L/R hang with 16 VT4888 line array elements per side, over eight VT4880A subwoofers per side stacked on stage. Crown IT8000 amplifiers powered the main PA system, while Crown IT6000 amplifiers powered the VRX915M monitors.

“The VERTEC line arrays have performed flawlessly for us so far and the JBL name guarantees high-quality audio. And, it’s very rider-friendly,” Faber said. “We’ve only had them for a few months, and we’re already getting calls from clients asking us to use VERTEC for their events.”

“JBL loudspeakers have been a great addition to our company,” said Jody Bear, President, Proshow Systems. “From the user list on the website [which we use for extra sub-rentals] to the outstanding service from reps to accounting, everything has been stellar.”

For more information on Proshow Systems, please visit www.proshowsystems.com or call 901.372.0550.

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.”

Westbury National Show Systems Installs JBL Loudspeaker Systems In Two Chinese-Speaking Houses Of Worship In Ontario, Canada

Demonstrating the time-proven performance of JBL loudspeakers across product lines for even the most demanding house of worship environments, Westbury National Show Systems installed JBL loudspeaker systems at the Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church as well as the Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church, both located in Ontario, Canada. The installation at Richmond Hill was part of an extension to the existing facility, with the addition of a 1,600-seat worship sanctuary, while the installation at Scarborough was part of a brand-new, uniquely designed church with a sanctuary capacity of 1,000 people.

The Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church features a main PA system that includes a center cluster of three JBL PD5322/43 loudspeakers, which are hung above the main stage area and include a JBL PD5322/64 loudspeaker on each side. Westbury also installed two JBL VPSB7118 subwoofers in the stage. There are eight AC2212/64 loudspeakers installed in the over balcony area and eight MS28 loudspeakers installed in the under balcony area. The system is complimented with a choir fill system containing three JBL AC2212 loudspeakers that are located behind the main center cluster.

The driving forces behind this extensive JBL system are Crown CTs series amplifiers. Three CTs2000 amplifiers are driving the high fills while five CTs3000 amplifiers are driving low fills. Four Crown CTs1200 amplifiers drive each of the over- and under-balcony loudspeakers respectively. Two CTs6000 amps power the high fills for the choir and two CTs1200 amps power the low fill. The audio distribution is done from the front of house console through four BSS Soundweb BLU 80’s and three BLU 32’s.

David VanVeldhuisen, CTS, project manager of Westbury National Show Systems, states, “The PD Series loudspeaker is a great product and the Crown amps were a great match. We get very good quality of sound from PD series loudspeakers and they’re easy to install.”

One of the main challenges faced in the design of the sanctuary was its circular shape. VanVeldhuisen continues by stating, “It’s a unique church in that it’s a circular. There’s a point of origin at the stage and it spreads out in a circular fashion from there.”

The brand-new Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church is a uniquely designed church with a long stage and four seating sections that accommodate a total of 1,000 people. Westbury National Show Systems installed an audio system featuring a left/right setup containing two JBL VP7315/64 loudspeakers and one VP7215/95 loudspeaker on each side. Each cluster also includes one VP7212/64 for stage fill and two SB7118 subwoofers that is hung from the ceiling.

The Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church also features six JBL EON10 loudspeakers as stage monitors, while the lobby area and the nursery include JBL Control 26CT loudspeakers and two EON10 stage monitors. Westbury also installed a BSS Soundweb BLU 80 and BLU 32 system for DSP functions. A Crown CTS600 drives the lobby. The chapel has two AC2212/64 speakers, two EON10 stage monitors and a Crown
CTS600 amplifier.

According to VanVeldhuisen, the installation at Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church was a success. “The church loves the sound, we achieved great coverage from the system,” he said. “The onboard power of the VP Series made the project much more convenient, because we had limited space for racks. It greatly simplifies the installation process and it’s a nice box that’s easy to address.”

For more information on Westbury National Show Systems, please visit www.westbury.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.”

C.V. Lloyde Music Center And JBL Professional Loudspeakers Kick Off At University Of Illinois Memorial Stadium

Demonstrating the weather durability and output capability of JBL Professional’s Precision Directivity (PD) Series and Application Engineered (AE) Series loudspeakers, systems integrator C.V. Lloyde Music Center utilized WRX weather resistant versions of these speakers in a new scoreboard loudspeaker system at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium. Home to the University of Illinois football team, Memorial Stadium now holds more than 65,000 fans after renovations over the past few years.

With the goal of providing a high-impact loudspeaker system to augment the existing sound system, C.V. Lloyde Music Center chose JBL loudspeakers for their weather-resistant durability and sonic accuracy. “We have used JBL loudspeakers for more than 12 years and have always been impressed with their weatherproofing,” said C.V. Lloyde. “The loudspeakers also needed to be aesthetically discreet and not visually interfere with the scoreboard itself. Plus, I felt comfortable installing JBL speakers above the main scoreboard at Memorial Stadium, which is such a vulnerable position because of the weather.”

To that end, C.V. Lloyde Music Center installed two JBL PD5200/43-WRX loudspeakers (one on each side of the scoreboard), two PD5200/95-WRX loudspeakers, and three AM6212/64-WRX loudspeakers across the front of the scoreboard, mounted to the roof. All loudspeakers are located above the new scoreboard, which measures 60 x 10 feet in size.

“I have been a JBL dealer since 1969, and JBL is like family to me,” Lloyde said. “I always have a lot of confidence in their loudspeakers, whether it’s a church, a sports facility or a performance space. Our installation of JBL PD Series and AE Series loudspeakers at Memorial Stadium is a great example of JBL’s ability to provide loudspeakers that work harmoniously across product lines.”

“As more stadiums are undergoing renovations and upgrades to their physical structures as well as their communication technology, system integrators are adopting a JBL solution,” said Jon Sager, Director of Market Development, Installed Sound for JBL Professional. “The installation of JBL PD and AE Series loudspeakers at the University of Illinois not only demonstrates C.V. Lloyde’s professional expertise, but also exemplifies the worldwide recognition of JBL’s ability to provide clear, powerful and easy-to-install loudspeaker systems for these applications. Whether it be a complete loudspeaker system or a few additional loudspeakers to improve coverage in newly renovated or added spaces JBL has a solution.”

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.”

Harman Audio Installation At Espace Event Space In New York

Gabisom Brings Power And Performance To World’s Largest Music Festival With JBL VERTEC® Line Arrays at Rock In Rio

Demonstrating the rising global popularity of JBL VERTEC® line arrays for the world’s most challenging live-performance events, Brazil-based Gabisom Audio Equipment provided a massive VERTEC line array system at Rock in Rio, the world’s largest music festival. The first in two series of shows, Rock in Rio Lisbon featured performances by Lenny Kravitz, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Rod Stewart, and Linkin Park. The second series of shows in Madrid featured Bob Dylan, Franz Ferdinand, Chris Cornell, Neil Young, Shakira, The Police, and Amy Winehouse.

In both locations, Gabisom deployed a JBL VERTEC system with four array locations for the main (World Stage) system. A total of 120 VT4889 large-format line array elements and 60 VT4880A Ultra Long Excursion subwoofers were deployed in the main suspend arrays. The main system consisted of four arrays across the front in the normal L/R (front), LL/RR (outfill) configuration.

In a unique twist, however, each array consisted of three separate hangs: dual VERTEC VT4889 full-range hangs, separated by a VT4880A subwoofer hang in the middle. The main left and right arrays had two columns of 18 VT4889 line array elements and one column of 18 VT4880A arrayable subwoofers each. Outer LL and RR columns had two columns of 12 VT4889 elements and one column of 12 VT4880A subwoofers. Each group of the three arrays was driven by three separate signals called Band, Vocal, and Sub. This assisted in creating sound that was portrayed by system operators as effortlessly powerful and clear in a festival where the sheer size of the venues demanded something beyond the standard PA.

Peter Racy, Gabisom Audio Equipment’s Chief Engineer for Rock in Rio, explained, “The main PA was set up in a non-traditional and unusual manner, which we call ‘side-by-side.’ It was non-traditional for line array systems because of its mammoth size, and also unusual because it was intentionally designed to have a greater amount of acoustical output than usual.”

The system’s power and fidelity was confirmed by “Big Mick” Hughes, known for his high-level expectations as longtime FOH mixer for Metallica. “The VERTEC system for Rock In Rio was fantastic…it was dead powerful,” he noted. “It was perhaps the largest line array system setup I’ve ever had the pleasure of mixing this band on. The 15-inch loudspeakers in the JBL line-array rig work particularly well for the band’s guitar-based sound. We achieved spectacular results.”

Gabisom deployed a massive JBL VERTEC line array system for Rock in Rio, the world’s largest music festival. Tony Szabo, System Engineer for the European leg of Bob Dylan’s tour, was another professional onsite who had a positive experience. “With Peter and Valter [Silva] in charge at front-of-house, and JBL’s new V4 DSP presets loaded in the rig, the show certainly sounded good,” he stated. “We really didn’t have to do too much EQ at all. All in all, it was a really big PA that looked good and sounded good. What more can you ask for?”

“Gabisom is a highly-experienced concert sound company with a broad and diverse inventory. Their decision to use their VERTEC line array system for such an event is a statement unto itself about VERTEC’s rider-friendly acceptability,” said David Scheirman, Vice President of Tour Sound, JBL Professional. “Rock in Rio not only marks the convergence of some of the most talented performing artists in the world, but it’s also a gathering of some of the industry’s most accomplished and knowledgeable live sound professionals. JBL is honored to see our speaker system products selected for this demanding, high-profile application.”

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.”

DPA Soundco Brings Power To The Masses At Roskilde Festival With JBL VERTEC® Line Arrays and V4 DSP Presets

Demonstrating the industry-leading sound, reliable coverage characteristics and easy setup features of JBL VERTEC® line arrays, more than 67,000 fans flocked to Roskilde, Denmark this year to witness Roskilde Festival 2008, the largest annual rock music festival in Northern Europe. This year’s Roskilde Festival featured performances by Radiohead, Neil Young, Gnarls Barkley, My Bloody Valentine, Jay-Z and many more.

DPA Soundco A/S of Soborg, Denmark, once again provided concert sound services for the legendary festival. A total of 60 VT4889 full-size line array elements were suspended using ground-support trussing structures which flanked the festival's unique, orange tensile-membrane outdoor stage covering. Each main left/right array included 18 VT4889's, supplemented with out-fill array hangs of 12 boxes each. DPA Soundco’s Paul Hammann and Claus Pedersen headed the onsite crew responsible for system deployment and operation.

"This is the first year we have deployed JBL's VERTEC system for Roskilde, after using another system for many years," advised Sten Jensen of DPA Soundco. "The large VERTEC system went up very quickly. We relied on JBL's new V4 DSP presets and found that we did not have to use very much EQ on the system. The long-throw capabilities were as expected, so some additional delay arrays that had been provided on towers at 50 meters (164 feet) out from the stage were more to bring in some additional high-frequency energy than for providing any additional output power, as there was a constant headwind of up to 8-12 meters per second [18-27 miles per hour]."

JBL VT4888 midsize line array elements were used to cover areas close to the stage. "The front fill system that we had designed for the event worked well for the audience pits in the middle, intended for a throw out to about 25 meters from the stage," explained Jensen. "Each year we make gradual adjustments and improvements to the overall sound system, and we already have ideas for refining our approach for next year."

Jensen noted that the sound crew and guest engineers were very pleased with the overall results. "We were especially happy with summation of the main and the offstage VERTEC array hangs. And, we were able to get perforated net in front of the offstage speakers (rather than solid plastic) so this was a help," he observed. "All in all we were quite pleased with the performance of the system. We think that VERTEC will experience a second wave of interest and excitement in the industry, with JBL's new V4 DSP presets."

For more information on DPA Soundco, please visit http://www.dpasoundco.dk/

JBL Professional 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.”

AKG Provides Top Class Products For Young Talents At The Annual AES Student Competition In Amsterdam

Underscoring its commitment to engineering education and reaffirming its support of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), AKG provided two of the top performing students in the 2008 Annual Student Competition of the AES Convention with microphones and headphones as prizes for their academic achievement. The 2008 competition, held last month at the 124th Convention in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, featured the largest number of student participants to date.

Two top performing students were issued a pair of AKG K271 Mk2 headphones and an AKG C 214 microphone for their accomplishments. David Schwager, of The University of Applied Sciences in Dusseldorf, was granted an AKG C 214 microphone for Non-Classical Surround, while Marcin Szwajcer of the Wroclaw University of Technology, received a pair of AKG K271 Mk2 headphones for finishing second at AES for World/Folk music.

Thomas Stubics, Product Manager for recording and broadcast at AKG, stated, "Young talent is the lifeblood of our community. It drives innovation and creativity and brings new perspectives to complement experienced engineers. At AKG, we believe it is critical to support young talent in every way that we can and so we are pleased to award AKG products to the winners.”

AKG K271 Mk2 are dynamic, around-ear, closed-back headphones that are designed for playback recording and live monitoring applications. Offering a stage blue color and superior performance, the K271 Mk2 is also equipped with an additional five meters of coiled cable, comfortable leatherette and velvet ear pads.

AKG’s brand new C214 microphone captures sound using a one-inch diaphragm with patented Edge-Terminated Back Plate Technology providing wide frequency response. Additionally, the microphone offers a –20 dB Attenuation pad, 13 dB noise floor, and a low cut switch-all in an elegant but rugged package. Additional features include an integrated suspension, a double mesh grill, and a switchable low cut filter.

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.”

Harman Sound System Takes Center Stage At Hollywood High’s Auditorium

System Featuring JBL Professional VERTEC® Loudspeakers, Crown I-Tech Amplifiers, Soundcraft Vi4 Mixing Console Joins The Cast At Hitmaker High School.

As the sound system provider of choice to some of the world’s most high-profile concert tours, the most successful blockbuster movie presentations and the most prestigious recording studios, it is only fitting that the Harman Pro Group was selected to provide components for a brand new PA system for the 1000-seat auditorium at Hollywood High School, a veritable star-making machine that has earned a far-reaching reputation for its remarkably progressive and prolific drama program. The sound system was designed and installed by Richard Ralke, President of L.A. Sound Company in Canoga Park and features JBL Professional VERTEC® line array loudspeakers, Crown I-Tech amplifiers and a Soundcraft Vi4 mixing console.

The alumni rolls from Hollywood High School reads like a Who’s Who of movie history. Former students include screen legends like Mickey Rooney, James Garner, Judy Garland, Keith and Robert Carradine, Sara Jessica Parker, Lana Turner, John Huston, John Ritter and Laurence Fishburne. The school is located between Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard and is a fixture in a Hollywood landscape that includes other iconic Harman Pro Group installations including Mann’s Chinese Theater, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Kodak Theater, the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), The Directors Guild Of America (DGA) and the Alfred Hitchcock Theater. In addition to its star-studded alumni, the school has also hosted concerts for The Byrds, Elvis Costello and the Stone Roses among others.

The system comprises 14 JBL VERTEC VT4887A compact line array elements with four JBL VERTEC VT4881A arrayable subwoofers. The system includes a Soundcraft Vi4 mixing console, and amplification is provided by 8 Crown ITech 4000s for the line arrays, 1 Crown ITech 8000 for the subs, 4 Crown XTI 4000 for stage monitors and 1 Crown CDI 1000 for dressing room and backstage. The audio package reflects the standard equipment riders of touring concert acts like Bruce Springsteen, Blue Man Group, Gwen Stefani, Nine Inch Nails, Toby Keith, Neil Diamond, Lenny Kravitz, Rascal Flatts, Josh Groban, Seal, Eric Clapton, and many others whose rental system suppliers take to the road with similar gear.

“L.A. Sound Company is providing the students, staff and audiences of Hollywood High School with a world-class system,” noted Michael MacDonald, Harman Pro Group Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “Now, when students step onto the stage at Hollywood High, they’re entering the same technology environment they would experience in the world’s best-sounding and most prestigious venues. We’re proud of our association with Richard Relke and L.A. Sound Company and the unique academy of performance that is Hollywood High!”

Hollywood High’s Musical Theatre and Vocal Department is led by staff teacher Stormy Sacks. “Our student body is drawn from a broad ethnic mix and our productions incorporate a wide spectrum of styles,” observed Sacks. “The sound system that we needed to acquire had to accommodate, with crystal-clear clarity, all styles of vocal and instrumental music as well as the spoken word. We have just begun to use our new Harman Pro Group system, and it is proving to be versatile and high-performing with an extraordinary dynamic range. It has transformed the experience for both the performers and the audience; and, I know that in years to come we will recognize that this sound system was vital to the growth of our Performing Arts Center. It is already helping us to build a larger audience - one that can finally experience and enjoy the superior level of performance by the students at ‘World Famous’ Hollywood High.”

L.A. Sound Company, founded in 1971 by Richard Ralke, has evolved from being a regional tour company into a full service corporate and concert system provider, system designer - integrator and pro audio retailer. The company has become a fixture on the Hollywood scene and has earned a reputation for excellent sound coupled with personalized service. Locally, L.A. Sound Company is supported by Harman Pro Group sales representative Dave Kaiser of Sound Marketing West.

“This school auditorium is a central a part of Hollywood folklore,” Ralke said today. “Legends have been born here and it’s appropriate that our own local hero, the Harman Pro Group, also joins these icons and soon-to-be icons on the stage at this remarkable high school.”

To learn more about L.A. Sound Company call 818 772-9200 or visit http://www.lasoundco.com

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.”

Soundcraft FX16 Survives 'Lighting' Strike

Baltimore Tattoo Convention Performances Challenged When Tesla Machine “Zapped” Analog Sound Console; Durability Proves Show Must Go On!

In an incredible feat of resilience, 500,000 Volts of electricity struck a Soundcraft FX16 audio console during a sideshow gone awry at the Baltimore Tattoo Convention on February 8th in Baltimore City, MD and the show was able to continue. While providing sound reinforcement on the first day of this three-day expo of tattoo artists and live performances, Airport Circle Sound Reinforcement, LLC was faced with an unexpected bolt of lightning that discharged from a performer’s Tesla Coil into the Soundcraft mixer. After destroying the preamps of the mic channels that were attached and all the microphones that were in use, Executive Engineer for Airport Circle Sound, Nik Salvo was able to use the remaining channels of the sound console and continue with two more days of performances.

Performers in "The Enigma" are known for their use of a 500,000 volt Tesla coil in the performance to direct bolts of lightning through the air to a performer’s body, ultimately lighting up a light bulb that they hold in their mouth. The first night took an unexpected turn as the machine discharged when someone mistakenly plugged it in back stage. Lighting bolts immediately shot from the coil to the sound and lighting systems, rendering most of the system inoperable, yet the sound console survived.

Nik Salvo commented on the incident. “I could not believe that my Soundcraft console worked after such a shock! We had only brought a small five-channel mixer as a backup and the damaged Soundcraft mixer was still better to use than our backup unit. I am very impressed that after such a lethal blow to our console we still could go on with the show. It was a true testament to the quality, engineering and ruggedness of the products Soundcraft makes.”

Salvo continued, “After this event we were disappointed to find that the FX16 was no longer in production, but were told by our vender that the new FX16ii was now available and without hesitation, we placed the order and are very pleased with the newer version. The features of the new Lexicon effects section and the other changes were a great improvement on an already great product.”

The annual Baltimore Tattoo Expo houses over 60 tattoo shops and over 150 tattoo artists onsite. In 2008, numerous live bands performed throughout the weekend including: Dead Neks, The Trauma Dolls, Murphy's Law, Cobra Clutch, The Nerve Scheme, Stout, and Dahlozen Prophecy provided music. Additionally, “The Enigma” was on-hand for an eclectic mix of rock and roll, sideshow acts and stunts including sword swallowing, fire breathing and stunts with the Tesla Coil. The Enigma’s upcoming tour includes stops in Manchester, NH, Des Moines, IA and Denver, CO.

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®, 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.”

Studer and Soundcraft Mixers Featured Heavily at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Mixers from both Studer and Soundcraft appear at numerous events and broadcast facilities at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Digital consoles from both Harman companies have been chosen and purchased by local Chinese broadcasters as well as worldwide companies who are installing or providing facilities at the events. The increased attention to HD broadcasting and surround has been one of the reasons Studer consoles particularly have been bought by numerous Broadcasters for their games coverage.

By far the largest consumer of Studer consoles for the games is China’s premier Broadcaster, CCTV (China Central Television). Their English-speaking International channel, CCTV-9, is using a Studer Vista 7 in its on-air studio, while the main studios of CCTV have been equipped with four Vista 5’s and five OnAir 3000’s. Quindao Radio has purchased an OnAir 3000 for the games, and Hong Kong’s TVB has purchased a total of five Vista 5’s, three for its studio for the games and two for OB vans.

Studer Vista consoles are particularly popular in OB vehicles because of their compact size, weight, simple user interface and functionality (including surround management and integral Dolby E and SDI decoding capabilities), and local broadcasters Guangdong TV, Beijing TV and Shanghai Media Group all feature Vista 8’s in their trucks. The Shanghai Media Group also fitted a dedicated 5.1 audio truck with a Vista 5. CCTV’s HD OB van is equipped with a Vista 8 and an OnAir 3000, while TJTV’s HD truck is now equipped with a Vista 8. HLJTV’s HD van comes with both a Vista 5 and an OnAir 3000, BTV’s HD truck is fitted with a Vista 8 and an OnAir 3000. Jinan TV and Dalian TV are sending HD trucks, both fitted with Vista 5 consoles.

From outside China, Spain’s TVE is constructing its own studio in Beijing, where three Studer Vista 5’s handle all the mixing tasks, as will the Vista 5 in the studio of Hungary’s MTV. Danmarks Radio’s facilities include a Studer OnAir 3000 (the corporation operates some 90+ Studer OnAir mixers in Copenhagen), and an OnAir 3000 will be at the heart of Brazil’s TV Bandeirantes’ system, while OB vehicles from France (SFP and VCF) and Norway (NRK’s HD-1) will run with Studer D950’s, Vista 5’s and Vista 8’s. Finally, the OnAir 3000 infrastructure of the Swiss SRG Media Services (MSC) will also be in Beijing, feeding all the radio programs of SRG, 13 networks in all.

For the opening and closing ceremonies, Soundcraft Vi6™ digital consoles are part of a large Harman-based system, while a Soundcraft Vi6 is at the heart of the system in the National Aquatics Centre. Two Soundcraft Vi4™’s are installed at the National Olympic Conference Centre, and numerous Soundcraft analogue mixers ranging from CompAct mixers up to MH4’s are installed in Olympic venues such as the Fengtai Softball Field, Chang Ping Indoor Stadium, Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium, Beijing Foreign Language University Stadium, Ditan Park Indoor Stadium, Shanghai 80k Stadium, Hong Kong Equestrian Venues and the Honk Kong Olympic House Conference Room.

Studer and Soundcraft are units 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.”