Volume 3, Issue 1 — January 27, 2014
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House of Worship Trends The Future of HOW
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Self-Calculating R.O.I.
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
Early on in my career as a consultant, after years of my own experience on staff in three mega churches and then in the design/build side of the A/V/L industry, I found myself re-designing technology systems sold to churches. Quite often, the technology in place wasn’t the right application for the gear, whether that meant a disproportionate amount of technology (over-sold) or missing technology components (under-sold/bid work). The biggest pain point was the lack of trust and confidence the church leadership had in employing technology — after all, if they spent this much already, how was additional/replaced technology going to be any different?
This led to the typical knee-jerk reaction where appropriate funds were withheld initially from solving the problem for fear of throwing good money after bad. What they needed was restored confidence. What I needed was a more objective way to demonstrate a better return on investment (R.O.I.) and the amortization of costs over the lifespan of the project and/or technology.
Price vs. Value
Don’t skip this paragraph. You need to hear this because today’s continued focus on marketing of A/V/L technology on the features and benefits is proving the law of the Internet — cheaper, better, faster as the goal. The entire industry would do well to take a huge dose of common sense and realize that when you keep doing what you’re doing, you keep getting what you’re getting. Sure, R&D is helping make your products better, but where’s the R&D into your product and service positioning per vertical market? When you start with establishing the priority of price, you lower the value of your brand.
You have to start by stating the truth and painting a clear picture of true R.O.I. — technology is a black hole for money. Too many church leaders are led to believe that spending “enough” is the key to getting great results from their technology. What you — manufacturers, integrators, dealers, consultants – should be telling them is that spending the right amount up front is only as important as spending money on service, maintenance, training, education, updates, upgrades and replacing expendables. It’s OK to honestly talk about the ongoing expense of technology — it never really ends — because it’s a reality they need to know about and plan for well before the invoice is submitted.
When you speak only/primarily to the price, you’re talking about the short-term. When you speak to the value, you’re addressing the long run and helping the church to determine their investment threshold and commitment to leveraging technology. Don’t be afraid of this reality, because it will eventually (and sometimes immediately) lead to the trust-equity you’re trying to build. Think this through and you’ll see the picture this paints for your sales into the house of worship market — long term, loyal clients that have the chance to become great referrals.
Amortize It!
It will take some research and analysis on your part with existing clients, but it’s important to understand how churches are using your technology and how long they ‘make it last’ before replacing it.
This tells you a few important things.
First, it gives you a deeper understanding of how varying levels of technology are utilized and repurposed. Quite often, you’ll find that the gear fails before they would ever stop using it, as they’re great at finding ways to repurpose technology again and again as they make new upgrades and purchases.
Second, it provides a reference point for when and how to introduce upgrades and replacement of technology. No one expects a particular console to last forever, so help the church understand the usable lifespan of your technology so that they can amortize the initial cost out over the lifespan of that product, in not only years, but in the number of services it will likely handle before it’s time to upgrade it. Considering the huge number of churches with multiple services (and even multiple venues and campuses), it’s not unreasonable for a church to have over 250 services/special events in their venues per year — and some with many more than that!
You’ll also help them see how they can “pass down” today’s technology to either other ministries (such as youth) or even other churches. The value of repurposed equipment can also be a factor in helping to establish a realistic amortization schedule.
Think of it this way: a $50,000 product that can fit an environment for five years (at five services/events per week) before an upgrade is necessary would, amortized, costs $40 per service. Forty bucks! Pretty much every church would pay $40 per service to have the right technology in place to meet their current and foreseeable future needs!
Making R.O.I. Self-Calculating
It’s obvious that providing a cost estimator tool on your website/in the hands of your sales team that allows the church to add in variables such as minimum and maximum (based on preset values) years of expected operation and the number of times per week/month/year the gear will be used is a simple way to help the church self-realize the R.O.I. of a purchase.
But why stop there? Extend the life of a product with a service contract and include expendables (some amount per year) as part of the initial purchase (again, with amortization tools) to provide them with both a better understanding of up front costs and the costs associated with ownership.
Lest you think I’ve shifted my original position on making value more important than price, here’s how this all comes together: the price is what something is after you’ve determined the value you can get that meets your immediate and long term needs. You can help the buyer arrive at the price by making the value (and calculating the true R.O.I.) the initial — and most important — part of the conversation.
Ideally, it’d be great to have not only a way to register a new product online, but to also help the client keep up with maintenance reminders, software/firmware updates, replacement parts and their total cost of ownership over the life of a product. By the way, this would help the church immensely when purchasing insurance, as these amortization tables will likely help them to get a better rate from their insurer.
Selling to the church market has some complexities, but the week-in, week-out consistency of their technology operation also makes churches more predictable when it comes to selling and promoting your value proposition.
How is your firm helping church clients see the long-term value of your products and services? Leave a Comment
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When the Brand Stands Behind You
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
Manufacturers love to hear these words: “Whenever I see [nsert-brand-name-here] on my equipment, I feel confident about our production.” This is a powerful endorsement from an end-user that is hot marketing copy for creating brand loyalty ads.
But how often do you see the opposite happen? “Whenever we see [insert-church-tech-director-here] using our gear, we feel confident about our brand’s image.”
The difference is striking, isn’t it? And that’s exactly what churches are desperate for — a brand that will support them, not the other way around.
Brand Loyalty
Yes, there have been a few scattered ads I’ve seen over the years of a church tech guy or gal standing, arms crossed, in front of a rack of equipment, a new console or maybe inside the tech booth overlooking the platform below. The message is pretty much the same: “We chose brand X because it blah, blah, blah.” Yeah, OK, maybe that matters to a few churches out there that want whatever big-name-church-Y has. Most, however, are more interested in solutions that fit them in their own venues, in their own context.
Yes, brand loyalty is desired and should likely be a goal for some percentage of your client base in the church market. Yes, churches do pay attention to which brands they see used the most by churches they admire and/or know. And, yes, there is some benefit of having a noted church leader/worship singer/tech arts guru stand in front of your products and extoll the praises of your brand. What I’m getting at, however, is that this celebrity-culture focus is quite limited when it comes to making actual purchases. Chances are, a real fan of your products won’t ever make the cover of the trade magazine, but will stand in front of your gear in their church week in and week out, forming opinions from their experience — and your brand may or may not achieve the much desired ‘brand loyalty’ status.
The Never-Ending Training Story
Are you doing everything you can to help church clients use your equipment with greater confidence and increased effectiveness up to, during and after the sale? If your answer is “well, that’s up to the church,” you’re only partially correct. How is your firm, whether you’re the manufacturer or the sales/integrator company, removing barriers to make it incredibly easy for these users to continually learn how to make the most out of the technology you’ve provided to them?
I vividly recall the first time, years ago, when I first saw a stage hand demonstrating the proper “over and under” technique for wrapping a cord. I laughed because it seemed so elementary, but then quickly realized the genius of it: I, too, had to learn that at one point early in my career. I actually found that old clip and have posted it to demonstrate how simple and effective training can be made for users.
Ask your support team, install techs and project managers how often they’re teaching the same thing over and over again with each new client. The training will be different to an extent, but there’s a library of training content that can be repurposed for multiple venues and even multiple vertical markets. Providing value after the sale is always important, so how is your firm doing that (both free and paid)?
Contracts and Promises
How many church clients can you point to not only as a good venue for your technology, but also highlight their operator/tech director as someone who represents the use of your technology — and your brand — as a shining example? For a number of reasons, I can say with a high level of confidence that many of the readers here would be hard pressed to list more than a single handful — if that.
As stated above, continuing education and training are practical and fairly easy to produce components for ensuring your technology is properly and effectively utilized. Further, providing contract staff to help either get churches up-to-speed or outright hiring contract talent to do the live production work for a church are viable options (as I’ve written about in this previous article).
What these buyers and end users want, though, is more than a limited warranty and a pat on the back after a brief hands-on training; they’re wanting (and needing) you to value and develop them as artists and technicians. They need your massive expertise and best practices to not only lower learning curves, but to flatten out the obstacles on their path to professionalism.
I’ve long talked about the trifecta of seamlessly bringing together the manufacturer, dealer/integrator and the church end users. This is not a top-down model of manufacturer to dealer to end user, but a cord of three strands that binds together for effective training, feedback and support.
What the house of worship market is begging for is this: a brand that stands in front of a church and says “we stand behind the technology in this church, and we also stand at the front line, ensuring their staff have everything they need.”
In what ways is your brand standing behind your church clients? Leave a Comment
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Christie to Introduce Q Series Projectors at ISE 2014 Christie will introduce at ISE 2014 in Amsterdam a new series of 1-chip DLP projectors with the new Christie Q Series. The Christie Q Series 1-chip DLP platform has brightness options ranging from 8,500 to 10,000 lumens and XGA, WXGA and WUXGA resolutions. These projectors are designed for rental and staging applications, such as concerts or conventions.
Usable in either single or dual-lamp mode, Christie Q Series is equipped with eClarity, which is Christie’s advanced image processing, which the company says significantly enhances images by providing greater control over image sharpness, gloss and shading. Christie eClarity delivers increased image clarity of standard definition content – making images stand out more than ever. With built-in High Dynamic Contrast Range (HDCR), image ‘washout’ in high ambient light conditions is eliminated.
More information about the Q Series is here. Leave a Comment
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Kramer Intros VP-794 Live Events Scaler, First Product Released as Part of Calibre UK PartnershipAt ISE, Kramer will introduce the first model in its new professional and events range, the VP-794, which is the first product to come out of its recent partnership with Calibre UK. The VP-794 multi-input scaler is designed for scaling, scan conversation, professional edge-blend and warping of video content on to projection and LED video wall displays as well as for general purpose events and broadcast scaling. The VP-794 can be switched between LED, projection or scaler/scan converter modes, greatly appealing to rental and staging providers as it permits a single model to be held in an inventory.
The VP-794 is based on Calibre UK’s HQView architecture, optimized for low latency scaling to arbitrary active image sizes. The VP-794 features powerful dual-processor architecture with 16-bit professional-grade blend processing with de-gamma, post-warp blending for optimal blend and warp performance and curved screen warping. It can capture a live image for display as a still, for example a customer logo screen or backdrop, which the device can scale, warp and blend this captured image.
It VP-794 offers per input channel RGB, brightness/contrast/saturation/hue controls, including on digital and computer graphics inputs. Video inputs include HDMI, DVI, VGA, component, composite and YC/S-video, as well as 3G-SDI inputs and separate genlock. Audio pass-through and de-embed is achieved from 3G-SDI and HDMI to 3G-SDI, HDMI and SPDIF. The VP-794 has a built-in test pattern generator including SMPTE bars, pluge, aspect ratio test, greyscale as well as custom downloadable test patterns that are accessible via Web browser interface.
With ease of use in mind, the rack-mountable VP-794 has front panel LCD menu with a jog-shuttle wheel for fast setup. Remote control over a network takes advantage of a built-in Web server.
The VP-794 will be shown for the first time on Kramer’s stand at ISE 2014, which will be held in early February at the Amsterdam RAI. For more information on the VP-794, click here. Leave a Comment
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Marshall Launches 3U High Dual 7″ Rack Mount LCD Monitors Marshall’s new M-LYNX-702 is comprised of two 7″ LCD monitors (both 1024×600 resolution) in a 3U rack mount enclosure. Inputs include HDMI, 3GSDI with loop-through (auto selects HDSDI/SDI), component and composite with loop-through. Features include selectable markers, 1:1 pixel mapping, overscan and H/V delay modes, Picture in Picture, audio de-embedding and monitoring via front panel headphone jacks, built-in LED tally indicators (Red, Green, Yellow) and power using included 12-volt supply or use standard 4-pin XLR.
Marshall is marketing this as an economical solution for control rooms, routing rooms and meeting room rack systems for in-rack monitoring of signals. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Extron XTP DTP 24 Twisted Pair Cable Receives HDBaseT RecommendationExtron’s new XTP DTP 24 Shielded Twisted Pair Cable has been independently tested in an HDBaseT Alliance Recognized Testing Facility and verified to exceed performance requirements for recommendation by the Alliance. The HDBaseT Alliance’s Cable Recommendation Program helps AV installers to select cables that are engineered for optimum signal transmission within a twisted pair infrastructure. Extron XTP DTP 24 cable is specifically engineered to improve performance and signal path reliability with Extron XTP Systems, DTP Systems, and HDBaseT applications. The cable is available in both plenum and non-plenum versions, and is certified to 475 MHz bandwidth at distances up to 330 feet (100 meters).
Extron XTP DTP 24 cable is performance-optimized, 24 AWG shielded twisted pair cable specifically engineered to Extron’s exacting standards of performance. The cable utilizes an SF/UTP Shielded Foil/Unshielded Twisted Pair design for superior performance in digital video and audio distribution system applications and features 24 AWG solid copper conductors within overall braid and foil shields. Both non-plenum and plenum-rated versions are available in spools of 1,000 feet (305 meters). To ensure end-to-end cable infrastructure performance, a line of matching shielded RJ-45 plugs, punch down jacks and couplers is also available.
The HDBaseT Alliance details are here. Extron’s cable is here. Leave a Comment
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Epson Introduces EX5230 Pro Portable Projector With 3,500 LumensEpson’s new EX5230 Pro projector offers 3,500 lumens of color light output (and 3,500 lumens of white light output), automatic vertical keystone correction and a horizontal slide control bar for image correction. The 3LCD projector also has HDMI connectivity, wireless projection (PC and MAC) and instant on and off (with no cool down time).
The native XGA resolution (1024×768) projector includes a 6,000-hour lamp (using a 200-watt UHE) and includes a throw ratio of 1.48 – 1.77:1 (zoom). Inputs include HDMI, VGA and component, as well as the company’s wireless projection technology (iProjection), which can project via Android, iOS, Windows PC or a Mac.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Peerless-AV Intros New 47″ Outdoor TVPeerless-AV launched a 47″ outdoor TV at CES last week dubbed the CL-47PLC68-OB. Offering native 1080p resolution, the outdoor TV can operate in severe temperatures ranging from -24 degrees Fahrenheit to 124 degrees Fahrenheit and features an IP65 rating, making it water and dust resistant.
Peerless-AV says the 47″ Outdoor TV is maintenance-free with no filters that need to be cleaned and/or replaced. It’s constructed of aluminum and uses safety glass.
The new display is LCD with 700 cd/m2 in brightness, a 1000:1 contrast ratio and both HDMI and VGA inputs. It’s scheduled to ship in mid-February.
All of Peerless-AV’s TV and display solutions are water and dust resistant and/or proof (dependent on the model), making them ideal for outdoor entertainment as well as digital signage and menu board operations, among other uses. Dependent on model, the TVs and displays range in size from 32″ to 55″.
The new HDTV isn’t on Peerless-AV’s website yet as it’s too new, but when it is, it will be here. Leave a Comment
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Digital Projection Intros 12,000 Lumen Laser ProjectorDigital Projection will launch a new 12,000-lumen laser version of its HIGHLite line of projectors at the Integrated Systems Europe trade show in Amsterdam next month. Like most solid-state lighting devices, it’s spec’d at 20,000 hours and offers WUXGA resolution (1920×1200).
This is only the industry’s third laser projector — the other two are from Barco and Sony.
Features will include edge blending, 3D capability, refresh rates up to 144Hz, two HDMI 1.4 inputs, a DVI and a 3G-SDI inputs, as well as HDBaseT connectivity and lens options range from 0.77:1 to 6.76:1.
DPI will show the projector in Stand C88 at ISE 2014 and more details will be here. Leave a Comment
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CAD Audio Debuts New 1600 Series UHF Wireless MicsCAD Audio launched this week the new StagePass 1600 Series UHF wireless system. The new StagePass provides 100-channel frequency UHF operation and is integrated with CAD’s own ScanLink technology (for auto scan, select and link to the optimum channel in any RF environment). Other features include something they are calling True Diversity that apparently cuts down on multipath interference along with CADLock Automatic Tone Encoded Squelch that eliminates unauthorized transmissions in the signal path.
The 1600 systems are available as the WX1600 Handheld System, a WX1610 Bodypack System featuring the Equitek E19 Broadcast and Production miniature condenser earworn mic, as well as a Cardioid Lav and Guitar Cable. StagePass TX1600 handheld TX1610 body pack transmitters have soft touch multi-function On-Off/Mute/Low Battery/ScanLink status switches with multi-color LED indicators. The WX1600 receiver is housed in a metal chassis with ¼” and XLR outputs and specs include a Frequency Response of 40Hz–15KHz, and Dynamic Range >105dB.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Meyer Sound Debuts LYON Linear Sound Reinforcement System and Callisto 616 Meyer Sound’s new self-powered LYON linear sound reinforcement system is the newest addition to the LEO Family of linear loudspeaker systems that are self-powered. LYON will make its debut at the ISE trade show in Amsterdam.
LYON linear line array loudspeakers are available in two versions: the LYON-M main line array loudspeaker and the LYON-W wide-coverage line array loudspeaker. Compatible with the 1100-LFC low-frequency control element and the Galileo Callisto loudspeaker management system, the LYON-M can anchor a powerful system for installations in arenas and large auditoriums, as well as tours and festivals. The LYON-W can serve as down fills to augment a LYON-based system. Both LYON versions can be used to provide supplemental coverage in a LEO system.
At ISE, Meyer Sound will also show the recently announced Galileo Callisto 616 AES primary array processor — hardware and software solution for driving and aligning Meyer Sound loudspeaker array systems. Designed as a mastering tool for delivering digital audio, the Callisto processor combines alignment tools like U-Shaping equalization and delay integration with a suite of AES3 analog and digital inputs and outputs.
LYON is here.
Galileo Callisto 616 is here. Leave a Comment
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Schoeps Intros Best Looking Mic We’ve Ever Seen With V4 DesignThe Schoeps V4 U, a studio vocal microphone, is modeled after the classic appearance of the SCHOEPS CM 51/3 microphone from 1951. Schoeps says the fundamental idea was clear that only a small-diaphragm capsule could meet the requirements for the technical response curves and transparency of sound that they wanted for this vocal mic. But the diffuse-field characteristics seemed to call for a large-diaphragm capsule, in which the pressure build-up due to the large membrane surface would cause the inevitable and desired narrowing of pickup pattern at high frequencies to begin sooner.
In the end, both of these conflicting requirements were able to be achieved through the use of a beveled ring around the membrane, thus increasing its diameter (as far as certain acoustic phenomena are concerned) to about 33 millimeters. Schoeps says this 33-millimeter beveled collar causes the capsule’s directivity to increase steadily and smoothly at high frequencies, as in a large-diaphragm microphone. Meanwhile, the superior acoustic qualities of a small-diaphragm capsule are maintained. The capsule is elastically suspended internally to reduce handling noise and other solid-borne sound. The head can be angled +/- 20°.
Specs include:
- Maximum sound pressure level of 145 dB SPL
- Maximum output level = 5 V
- Output stage: Transformer-less and without capacitors
- Symmetrical, balanced output
- Low, frequency independent output impedance
- Requires +48V phantom power via XLR-3
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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ClearOne’s VIEW Pro Displays Ultimate 4:4:4, True-Color Digital Multimedia Streaming For IP NetworksClearOne’s VIEW Pro encoders and decoders provide for 4:4:4 multimedia streaming (H.264-based) with what the company claim is loss-less compression. Content can be distributed via IP to virtually an unlimited number of displays. VIEW Pro is compatible with ClearOne’s StreamNet technology for auto discovery and control of all networked StreamNet products.
The included VIEW Virtual Matrix Software displays a simple view of the entire system on a single screen, as well as providing source and destination selection and control options in Windows, Android and iOS for StreamNet encoders & decoders. Users have control access from any number of input devices, including wall touch-screens, desktops, laptops and handheld devices. The VIEW Pro provides for HDCP support and can output up to 1920×1200 resolutions at 60 Hz.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Aviom’s New D800 and D800-Dante A-Net Distributors Now ShippingAviom is shipping its new D800 and the D800-Dante A-Net Distributors. Both units are designed to distribute audio and power to up to eight Aviom personal mixers like their predecessor, the A-16D Pro A-Net Distributor, but these units offer new features and easier to integrate with various consoles.
The D800 A-Net Distributor, used in conjunction with the Aviom SB4 System Bridge, makes it possible to send audio from up to four console cards into an Aviom A360 Personal Mixing System. With four cards, users can make up to 64 channels available to the Aviom Personal Mixers connected to the D800, and each A360 Personal Mixer can have a unique set of channels for the performer to mix.
Similarly, the D800-Dante A-Net Distributor simplifies connections to the Aviom personal mixers by making it possible to connect directly from any Dante console or network into the Aviom system. With the D800-Dante A-Net Distributor, 64 channels from the network can be available to the personal mixers in the system. Each performer can mix those channels he or she wants from this pool of 64 available channels.
Both of the new distributors are compatible with Aviom’s A-16II and A-16R Personal Mixers, but when used with the A360 Personal Mixers, the D800s also offer the new Network Mix Back feature. Network Mix Back sends a digital copy of the stereo mix output from each A360 Personal Mixer connected to the D800 or D800-Dante back to the Dante network or to an AN-16/o v.4 Output Module for simplified connections to musicians’ wireless in-ear transmitters. With Network Mix Back, transmitters for wireless in-ears can be set up off stage, while cabling for the personal mixers on stage is simplified. In addition, both D800s serve as a communications hub for iOS devices connected via an Ethernet Wi-Fi router. iOS support for the A360 is scheduled for release later this year.
The D800 specs are here while the D800-Dante specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Christie QuickConnect Allows iOS Control of Christie ProjectorsThe Christie QuickConnect App enables end users and installers to project photos, documents and websites to a compatible Christie projector over Wi-Fi from their iOS devices. It also allows users to control their projector using an iOS device. This app is specifically designed to control Christie LW401, LWU421, LX501, LW551i, LWU501i, LX601i, DXG1051-Q, DWX951-Q and DWU951-Q projectors.
The app is supported on all iOS version 5.1+ enabled mobile devices. The Christie QuickConnect app and the projector must be on the same local Wi-Fi network. Features of the QuickConnect App include:
- Projector discovery
- Content delivery lets users display content from their iOS devices to the projector, including documents, images and webpages
- Projector control: standby/on, audio mute, blank and freeze, input source selection
- Inputs include two computer ports, two USB ports, HDMI, video, S-video and LAN
- Display modes — full image mode or multi-iPads mode (up to four iPads at the same time).
- Presenter mode enables the user to invite others to present or prevent another iOS device from connecting to the projector.
Here are all the details and how to get it. Leave a Comment
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HARMAN’s AKG Launches WMS420 Wireless Microphone System HARMAN’s AKG today launched the WMS420 wireless system, a single-channel wireless system designed for smaller venues such as schools, town halls and houses of worship. There are four targeted product packages: Vocal Set with AKG D5 handheld microphone, Head-worn Set with AKG C555L, Lavalier Set with AKG C417 and Instrument Set with AKG MKG L cable. Also, the WMS420 is rack-mountable in addition to having detachable extended antennas that attach to the back of the receiver.
The WMS420 system includes the SR420 UHF stationary receiver with two external and detachable antennas on the rear side, as well as BNC connectors at standard 50 ohms. The HT420 handheld transmitter’s and PT420 pocket transmitter’s charging contacts, like the AKG WMS470, are compatible with the AKG CU400 charging station.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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MIDAS Unveils M32 Digital Mixing Console Midas released its M32 Digital Mixing Console this week. This console is a 40-input digital mixer that’s 96 kHz ready, featuring 192 kHz AD/DA converters as well as Ultranet for “Acoustic Integration” with the new Turbosound iQ Series active loudspeakers or IEM systems.
Using a design the company says is from a Bentley Motors Industrial designer (not sure they got their money’s worth on that expenditure), the console uses materials such as carbon fibre and aluminum so it’s very light.
Additional features include:
- Eight-slot stereo effects engine
- On-board 32×32 USB interface
- Real-time tracking
- Optional expansion cards such as ADAT, MADI and Dante
- 100-Band RTA for all channel/bus EQs
- Gain splitting and remote control for FOH and monitoring
- 32 MIDAS microphone pre-amplifiers
- 25 mix buses
Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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Klark Teknik DN9680 Expands to 192 Channels and 1,000 Meter Range Klark Teknik’s new DN9680 allows up to 192 bi-directional channels of AES50 digital audio to be extended up to 1,000 meters via a dual fibre-optical cable, thereby overcoming the typical 100 meter limitation of Cat5 cable for most audio formats. Klark Teknik designed the DN9680 for use with Midas digital consoles, including support for dual-redundant AES50 networking. Multiple clock source options are available for flexible system integration, which even provides a high-precision one part-per-million (1 ppm) temperature-compensated internal clock reference. Klark Teknik says this offers jitter-free sample-synchronous operation across AES50 networks.
User control is via an internal web server, which allows browser-based configuration via a dedicated Ethernet. It lists for $1,199 USD.
More information will be here. Leave a Comment
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DPA Microphones Gives d:facto Vocal Mic a Facelift DPA Microphones just showed new grids with gold and nickel finish for the d:facto Vocal Microphone at the 2014 NAMM Show. The new grids are available as accessories to existing systems and can be purchased as metal grids only or as total solutions with foam and pop screen. Additionally, the nickel option matches the finish available on the Sennheiser 2000, 5200 and 9000 wireless mic systems and comes complete with corresponding adapters.
As you likely know, the d:facto line is a vocal mic used with the wired DPA handle and provides singers and engineers with the added benefit of an adapter system, which allow for integration with many professional wireless systems. DPA believes these latest color options are sure to make the d:facto even more popular among live sound engineers.
The new gold and nickel grids will be available starting February 2014 and the entire line is here. Leave a Comment
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Behringer Intros X18 Portable, iPad-Integrated Digital Mixer Behringer’s new X18 Digital Mixer is is a 18-input/12-bus portable mixer designed specifically for use with the iPad for both live and studio applications. Since its integrated with a “virtual FX rack,” loaded with true physical models of famous processors, such as the Lexicon 480L, PCM70 and Pultec EQs, plus Teletronix and Fairchild compressors, it eliminates the need for any outboard gear.
Access is provided to four on-board true-stereo (eight mono) multi-effects processors, such as delay, chorus, dynamics and more. The X18 can also run production-quality, true-stereo reverbs concurrently with 31-band GEQ. Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, an 18×18 channel bi-directional USB interface also makes the X18 a powerful digital mixing solution for recording directly to an iPad or PC.
Ultranet connectivity allows the user to send any of the 18 input sources over Cat 5e cable to compatible gear, such as P16-M personal monitors.
The X18 is available at a suggested U.S. MAP of $799.99. Specs are here. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HOW out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
For those of you NEW to rAVe, you just read how we are — we are 100 percent opinionated. We not only report the news and new product stories of the ProAV industry, but we stuff the articles full of our opinions. That may include (but is not limited to) whether or not the product is even worth looking at, challenging the manufacturers on their specifications, calling a marketing-spec bluff and suggesting ways integrators market their products better. But, one thing is for sure, we are NOT a trade publication that gets paid for running editorial or product stories. Traditional trade publications get paid to run product stories — that’s why you see what you see in most of the pubs out there. We are different: we run what we want to run and NO ONE is going to pay us to write anything good (or bad).
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A little about me: I graduated from Journalism School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where I am adjunct faculty). I’ve been in the AV-industry since 1987 where I started with Extron and eventually moved to AMX. So, I guess I am an industry veteran (although I don’t think I am that old). I have been an opinionated columnist for a number of industry publications and in the late 1990s I started the widely read KNews eNewsletter (the first in the AV market) and also created the model for and was co-founder of AV Avenue, which is now known as InfoComm IQ. rAVe [Publications] has been around since 2003, when we launched our original newsletter, rAVe ProAV Edition.
Everything we publish is Opt-in — we spam NO ONE! rAVe ProAV Edition is our flagship ePublication with what we believe is a reach of virtually everyone in the ProAV market. rAVe HomeAV Edition, co-published with CEDIA and launched in February 2004, is, by far, the largest ePub in the HomeAV market. We added rAVe Rental [and Staging] in November 2007, rAVe ED [Education] in May 2008 and then rAVe DS [Digital Signage] in January 2009. We added rAVe GHGav [Green, Healthcare & Government AV] in August 2010 and rAVe HOW [House of Worship] in July 2012. You can subscribe to any of those publication or see ALL our archives by going to: https://www.ravepubs.com
To read more about my background, our team and what we do, go to https://www.ravepubs.com Back to Top |
Copyright 2013 – rAVe [Publications] – All rights reserved – All rights reserved. For reprint policies, contact rAVe [Publications], 210 Old Barn Ln. – Chapel Hill, NC 27517 – (919) 969-7501. Email: Sara@rAVePubs.com
rAVe contains the opinions of the author only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of other persons or companies or its sponsors. |
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