Volume 3, Issue 10 — October 15, 2014
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House of Worship Trends The Future of HOW
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Reversing Product Commoditization
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
Box sales. Internet commodities. Bottom-dollar buys. Is it too late for the audio, video and lighting market for reversing product commoditization in the house of worship vertical segment?
Encourage Systems Integration
In the online ‘box-sales’ world of product commoditization, the Internet sale is rumored to have removed service from the purchasing equation. Perhaps for truly commoditized parts and components this is more true, but I have seen some fairly high-end technology promoted as an online commodity ‘box sale,’ and I couldn’t disagree more with this line of thinking.
The value of A/V/L technology should be greater than a single output or function. Very, very little technology truly stands alone, which is why I continue to see systems integration firms thrive in spite of the online box sale dealer low-price sales techniques. Heck, even when some manufacturers have gone the direct sales route, the value of how technology fits into a context is more valuable than any singular component.
To embrace the consumer, position your products as part of a larger system and experience. This may seem odd, considering many products can be seen as “stand-alone” or as singular replacement components. Projectors, for example, may be seen as a singular product rather than the final output of a display system. On countless occasions I’ve been asked to specify a new projector for a church, only to arrive and find that the issue they thought was the projector was really a RadioShack connector or an antiquated scaler (or line doubler!).
Often, people forget that the entire signal chain is represented in the final technology result. So, if I’m a projector manufacturer that doesn’t offer external processing equipment, I am treating my marketing as an awareness campaign to help the consumer find a systems integrator to help the church meet their felt needs.
To bring value back to an overly-commoditized market, manufacturers must present experiences and solutions instead of features and benefits.
Embrace the Consumer
So how does a manufacturer or systems integrator embrace the house of worship consumer in an online, box-sale market? Get to know them.
Dell has done some great things on its website — and it is in a commodity business if ever there was one. Yet, they have made it possible to engage prospects and clients to not only right-size the sale, but also provide the invaluable and needed customer service a human touch. The contact form on the right not only includes immediate customer service, but instant links to their social media channels — a purposeful focus that is a key element of their brand management. Plus, they’re adding to their database of prospects with key information, namely an email address. Smart.
Quick fact: the house of worship market is made up of people. People like you and me. People who have the same concerns, red tape and myriad choices to sift through. This means you know something about this market even if you’ve never attempted to address it: People are people.
When positioning your products online, address their unique market experience and provide them with a contextual example of how your product(s) helps them do two important things: 1) How it solves a problem unique to their context; 2) How it helps them take strides towards their ‘next level.’
To accomplish these two mandates, please first understand that this is not a features and benefits list. That will tell them something interesting, but it may not solve their problem or take their production operations to a new level of success. Instead, consider these two approaches.
Solve a Problem
Obviously, each venue will have varying issues and problems, so the answer here is define the context of the problem. Audio: “Feedback from people is helpful; feedback from your audio system is not.” Video: “Don’t let poor video quality detract from the message.” Lighting: “When people can’t focus on what’s happening, it’s time to make lighting easy to forget.”
The key idea is to help them readily identify with the problem in a simplified context that generally fits but is specific enough to be quickly identified with and understood.
Next Level Operation
Promising ‘next-level’ will mean a lot of different things to different consumers, but a common denominator is efficiency. Less really is more. Helping church buyers identify with easier setup, better control, volunteer-proof operation and the like are helpful ways of positioning the product. However, the value proposition is most identified in how the technology addresses today’s and tomorrow’s needs.
To help expand where a single article alone cannot, I’ve included a partial list of helpful articles that speak directly to the manufacturers, systems integrators and even the box-sales Internet dealers of AVL technology as it pertains to the church market. I’ve written about understanding the H.O.W. market, simplifying the product research experience, reaching churches through social media campaigns, standing behind your brand, calculating R.O.I. for churches, building targeted destinations, understanding church buyer sentiment, and even the buying cycles of churches. These articles will provide a plethora of options and spur discussion on how to embrace the unique House of Worship market consumer.
What do you think — is the commoditization of the AVL market too far gone to reverse the trend? Comment below. Leave a Comment
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Social Media and Customer Service
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
A digital software company that focuses on building platforms for customer service knows a thing or two about what happens when customers are unhappy with customer service. Zendesk released a study in 2013 of 1,000 customers in the U.S. to understand consumer habits and complaints, and a few of the findings are especially noteworthy for today’s competitive Audio/Video/Lighting (A/V/L) industry:
- Almost half of the respondents shared bad experiences on social media, while less than ⅓ shared good experiences.
- Four in 10 of the respondents said they avoid vendors for two years after a bad experience AND recommend others not buy products or services from those vendors.
- Good customer service was rated by respondents as the most important factor in the relationship of trust with a brand.
- 88 percent of respondents were influenced by online reviews about customer service when making their purchasing decisions.
Are You Even Listening?
A 2012 study by Simply Measured showed that while 95 percent of top brands are on Twitter, only 23 percent of them had a dedicated social media account for customer service. For 77 percent of the brands, the only way they could listen for prospect and customer questions and feedback was through their already saturated corporate account. Of that 23 percent, only 7 percent responded to 50+ tweets per day.
Well beyond Twitter, brands in the A/V/L space need to apply these learnings and develop tactical plans for how to engage, direct, and respond to prospects and clients. For most brands, this will require a new level of coordination between their Marketing & Customer Service departments. To manage expectations, it is important to first define realistic response times and methods for responding via social media channels.
Brands need to predetermine what are acceptable response times and response rates. For example, an average response time of less than 30 minutes might be long for some situations, while 24 hours may be completely acceptable for other circumstances. The response rate, ideally, is 100 percent, where every brand mention receives a response; it is more realistic to define response rate percentages based upon the category of the issue.
The 5 Categories of Customer Service Needs in Social Media
Defining the kind of social media post referencing or addressing your brand or products is the first step in identifying how your team chooses to respond. From pre-made standard responses for quick copy-and-paste to ready-to-use short code links to specific landing pages dedicated to answering common questions about your brand or individual products, the perception of your brand is always in the spotlight and your team must be ready to handle any situation.
Typically, there are five categories of customer service response needs in social media:
- Urgent product issue (minutes matter)
- Positive (thanks!)
- Negative (product vs. brand)
- Questions (pre-sales vs. post sales)
- Technical (specs vs. value proposition)
It’s likely that these five are in the sequential order of response rate prioritization for your organization. Surprised that I put positive ahead of negative? Well, people are about seven times more likely to lash out on social media with a negative post than they are to say something positive. Given this disparity, it makes sense to both acknowledge these fewer positive mentions and also find a way to capture the contact information of those people to send them small gifts, thank you cards (handwritten cards today make a huge impact), or swag. Because so few brands will actually take this kind of proactive response avenue, those that do will garner tremendous favor and likely create fans that will actively promote their brands — something you can’t put a dollar amount to in the marketing arena.
Asking for feedback even before a consumer can give it on social media is also a smart pre-emptive strategy. In the screen grab on the right, it’s easy to see how much Dell values feedback from prospects and clients through their real-time feedback options.
From Listening Command Centers to Small Biz Tools
Electronics juggernaut Dell launched their own Social Media Command Center back in 2010. They monitor about 25,000 social media mentions about or to Dell — every single day. They’re serious about social and their tagline speaks volumes:
“Dell uses social media to listen, learn and engage with our customers.“
Dell has hosted over 400 tours of this small but focused command center to the likes of Fortune 500 companies and even government agencies. But if this kind of financial commitment is too high for some A/V/L manufacturers or systems integrators, consider the list of free or low-cost tools for managing multiple social media channels.
A very partial and alphabetical list includes:
BlitzMetrics ($) | Social media dashboards for your brand that monitor content across Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr and more. It helps you benchmark against your competitors, learn which demographics are the most active and track content performance so you can improve your reach and engagement.
Bottlenose ($) | A tool that provides live social intelligence by analyzing activity across all the major social networks. Use it to search, monitor, analyze, target and engage in real time, all from one place.
Buffer (Free and $) | An app that manages multiple Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, with the ability to set a tweeting or updating schedule unique to each. Includes detailed analytics for all your posts.
Curalate ($) | This tool applies advanced image analytics to social media conversations to give you detailed insights for your initiatives on Instagram and Pinterest.
Facebook Insights (Free) | Facebook’s built-in tool provides Facebook Page owners with metrics around their content. Helps you understand and analyze trends within user growth and demographics.
Google Alerts (Free) | Get email updates of the latest relevant Google results (Web, news, etc.) based on your queries.
HootSuite (Free and $) | A social media management system that enables teams to collaboratively execute campaigns across multiple social networks from one dashboard. Includes audience identification tools, the ability to streamline workflow and custom reports. I use HootSuite to manage my company’s Twitter account.
Klout (Free) | A tool that finds the influencers in your audience so you can target and empower them to become advocates for your brand.
Meltwater ($) | Combines social media monitoring and analytics with social engagement tools to help you create targeted marketing campaigns and build brand relationships.
NUVI ($) | Real-time display of conversations that weight influence and sentiment. You can instantly see the social media conversations taking place in your market and immediately engage your detractors and evangelists.
Shoutlet ($) | A community management and moderation platform for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, and YouTube. Includes integrated workflow tools and task assignments.
Social Marketing Cloud ($) | An automated solution that enables you to monitor and analyze blogs, forums, wikis, and microblogging sites to track real-time conversations about your brand.
Sprout Social ($) | Web app that monitors Twitter, Facebook Pages, LinkedIn, FourSquare and other networks where consumers are engaging with businesses and brands. It also offers contact management, competitive insight, lead generation and analytics through a nice real-time dashboard.
Vocus ($) | Cloud marketing and analytics platform that looks at social, search, email and PR, and delivers real-time marketing opportunities in the form of leads, prospects, social media conversations, curated content and inbound media inquiries.
Don’t Wait to Make Social Media Work
Perhaps Dell sums up the purpose of this article on serving a market best, in their own words:
“For us, social media is far more than a tool — it’s an extension of our brand, which is all about enabling people everywhere to use technology to grow and thrive.“
By defining the purpose of social media in relation to their business plan, Dell is able to both define their value proposition and build a loyal fan base of promoters to help elevate their brand. Simple. Brilliant. And totally repeatable by any organization willing to change their thinking about social media from begrudging acquiescence to enthusiastic engagement.
So — be honest — is social media customer service on your radar? Why or why not? Comment below (even anonymously!) Leave a Comment
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Aurora Adds 4K RF TunerThe new V-Tune Pro 4K from Aurora claims to deliver a 4K2K HD worldwide tuning solution for any integrated system which requires IPTV, ATSC, QAM, DVB, NTSC and PAL. The tuner is capable of decoding MPEG2, MPEG4, VC-1, H.264 and H.265 with resolutions up to 4096×2160 @ 60Hz via RF and LAN. There is also an on-board 4K scaler for viewing 1080p HD content on 4K displays.
The V-Tune Pro 4K includes IR, RS232 and IP-based control as well as the ability to program any channel for OTA/Broadcast or streaming content from the LAN, the V-Tune Pro 4K empowers the user to easily switch between content by simply changing channels. Channel/Setup-Configuration is “clone-able” for ease of setup
It doesn’t ship until January 2015 but here are some specs:
- IPTV (UDP/RTP/RTSP multicast and unicast)
- ATSC/QAM/DVB worldwide digital ultra high definition tuning
- NTSC and PAL analog tuning
- H.265, H.264, MPEG 4, MPEG2, and VC-1 up to 4K UHD
- Video and HDMI outputs
- Resolutions: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 4K UHD, 4K2K (4096×2160)
- Stereo L/R, S/PDIF, and Optical Audio Outputs
- Dolby Digital Surround Sound
- OSD Menus, Closed Captioning, V-Chip, and EPG
- 1RU Rack Mount Ears and IR Remote Included
- RS232 / LAN / IR Remote Control
- Firmware Upgradeable and Cloning via USB port or LAN
- Built in Web Page Remote Control
- Mount one or two units in a 1RU space
Here are the online details. Leave a Comment
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Barco Introduces 14K-Lumen Projector With Integrated with HDBaseT Barco has launched a new kind of projector with the RLM-W14, a three-chip DLP projector offering Active Stereo 3D, WUXGA (1920×1200) resolution, and a brightness level of 14,500 center lumens. This is the first three-chip DLP Barco projector that’s equipped with HDBaseT technology to provide video over a single Cat5 cable. The RLM-W14 is designed for fixed installation in small- to medium-sized venues. It’s housed in a rugged chassis with an optional rental frame to make it usable in the rental and staging market as well. Its TLD lenses are also compatible with Barco’s RLM-W12 projector, HDX and HDF projector lines.
Supporting point-to-point transmission of video signals up to WUXGA at 60 Hz from a source converter to a projector over a single Cat5 cable, the RLM-W14’s integrated HDBaseT technology eliminates the need for multiple cables and allows for signal distribution over a distance of more than 70 meters. Barco told rAVe it’s gradually integrating HDBaseT technology into its entire projector fleet. The RLM-W14 features a DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) simulated mode that guarantees accurate gray-scales and highly detailed images — key requirements for use in medical training and education applications.
Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Anchor Adds Bluetooth Anchor Audio has now made Bluetooth as a standard feature in its Portable Sound Systems and Portable Public Address Systems. Starting in August, Anchor Audio began offering Bluetooth as a standard feature in the Beacon, Liberty, Go Getter and MegaVox systems, at no additional cost. Even the base model has the Bluetooth functionality, free to the customer.
Anchor’s designed the Bluetooth module with a class 1 radio, which is the highest powered, and most sensitive class of Bluetooth radio available, and allows for the superior connection.
Bluetooth integration features include:
- Bluetooth v3.0
- Class 1 Radio
- Range 100ft *- Line of Sight
- +18dB PA Output RF Gain
- +12dB LNA Input RF Gain
- High Speed Wireless Data rate up to 3Mbps
- Digital & Analog Stereo Input
- Digital & Analog Stereo Output
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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New Extron Under-Table Mount System for Full Rack Width Products Now Shipping Extron is shipping its new UTM 100 Series of self-supporting under-table mount system for 1U and 2U full rack width products. The UTM 100 Series brackets feature EIA standard rack-mount spacing and are designed for use in environments where a traditional equipment rack or cabinet cannot be located beneath a table top or other furniture surface. The UTM 100 Primary Bracket mounts directly to the under-surface of the table top, providing a small gap for optimum airflow and cooling of top-vented enclosures. For additional capacity, one or more UTM 150 Secondary Brackets can be attached to the UTM 100, up to the total supported weight of 30 pounds. (13.6 kg).
The UTM 100 system works with most Extron full-rack width enclosures, as well as Extron RSF, RSB and RSU Series Rack Shelves, for optimum flexibility. UTM 100 Series mounts are finished in a durable gray powder coat finish to match other Extron products. Other Extron under-table mount solutions include the UTS 100 Series Under Table Shelf System for half rack width and smaller products, and ZipClip 100 and ZipClip 200 Mount Kits for one-eighth and one-quarter rack width products.
Here are all the options. Leave a Comment
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Mackie Introduces Six New Compact Mixers Mackie today announced its new Mix Series Compact Mixers with three models, the Mix5 5-Channel Compact Mixer, the Mix8 8-Channel Compact Mixer and the Mix12FX 12-Channel Compact Mixer with Effects. Mix Series mixers are the most affordable mixer produced by Mackie.
The Mix5, Mix8 and Mix12FX compact mixers feature the right mix of I/O, EQ and routing for applications that don’t require a lot of inputs or multiple racks of output. Ideal for singer/songwriters, small band rehearsals or instrumentalists on the go, Mix Series mixers deliver high-quality Mackie pre-amps and electronics in proven high headroom, low-noise designs. Additionally, Mix12FX offers a selection of 12 integrated effects including reverbs, choruses and delays to easily create mixes that sound great. Each model features an all-metal chassis, high-quality components and a sleek rugged design that’s built to last.
Mackie Mix Series compact mixers are already shipping and the Mix5 lists for $69.99 and the Mix8 lists for $109.99 and the Mix12FX lists for $159.99 and their specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Barco Intros Present-C Line With 10 New Single-Chip DLP Projectors Barco has introduced 10 new corporate AV projectors under the brand Present-C. Present-C projectors are all single-chip DLP projectors with brightness levels ranging from 3,000 up to 8,000 lumens. Resolutions include 1080p, WUXGA, Panorama and WQXGA, with all models spec’d at low noise dB levels.
Here are all the announced models, with additional specs and links to more information:
- CVHD-31B: 3,000 lumens, Full HD 1920x1080p
- CVWU-31B: 3,000 lumens, WUXGA (1920×1200)
- CTHD-61B: 5,500 lumens, Full HD 1920x1080p
- CTWU-61B: 5,500 lumens, WUXGA (1920×1200)
- CTPN-41B: 3,800 lumens, Panorama (2560×1080)
- CTWQ-51B: 5,000 lumens, WQXGA (2560×1600)
- CNHD-81B: 7,500 lumens, Full HD (1920×1080)
- CNWU-81B: 7,650 lumens, WUXGA (1920×1200)
- CRPN-62B: 5,500 lumens, Panorama (2560×1080)
- CRWQ-72B: 7,000 lumens, WQXGA (2560×1600)
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Neumann Debuts Midfield Monitor Neumann is expanding its KH line with its first midfield monitor, the KH 420. The active three-way system (10″+3″+1″) designed for larger 5.1 and 7.1 configurations and listening distances of up to 11 meters.
With a corner frequency of 52 Hz, the KH 420 uses something they call Mathematically Modeled Dispersion Waveguide (MMD), acoustical controls for matching the speakers to the listening room, a highly flexible input section, and a wide range of mounting hardware make the KH 420 a versatile monitoring tool for the audio professional. The KH 420 has been designed to provide optimum dispersion regardless of the orientation of the cabinet. This is possible thanks to the rotatable waveguide section which contains both the high frequency and mid-range drivers.
An optional Digital Input Module (DIM 1) will be available for the KH 420, which provides the monitor with digital AES3 and S/P-DIF inputs and a delay function. This feature, which is available on both the digital and analog inputs, may be used for audio/video lip synchronization and to compensate for non-equidistant speaker placement. Maximum delay time is 409.5 ms with a minimum resolution of 0.1 ms.
Here are the specs. Leave a Comment
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Analog Way’s Software Toolbox App for Android and iOS Now Available Analog Way announced that AW Toolbox, a wireless app to remotely operate the LiveCore series of AV processors, is now available for download.
The app offers the ability to manage the Soft Edge Blend function, recall presets, operate transitions and configure the processor’s inputs and outputs. One unique feature is that AW Toolbox displays sources and logos through dynamic snapshots automatically refreshed every second. Compatible with Android tablets and the Apple iPad, AW Toolbox is available on both the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. One weird thing is that Analog Way is charging for it?! That is not a good idea.
Here it is on the Google Play store. Here it is for Apple iOS. Leave a Comment
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TASCAM Releases New DSLR Recorder to DR-60DmkII TASCAM has updated its recorder for use with DSLR video to the DR-60DmkII. The four-channel recorder gets new microphone pre-amps with up to 64 dB of gain for recording quiet voices on set. Designed as a portable recorder, the DR-60DmkII contains a tripod mounting screw on top and socket hole on the bottom, integrating with cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony and others. The camera output attenuates down to mic level before passing the signal to the camera to prevent distortion. The new version includes an improved microphone preamp for up to 64 dB of gain.
A pair of XLR microphone inputs feed TASCAM’s latest HDDA microphone pre-amps and provides phantom power for condenser microphones. The pre-amp gain and other controls are easily accessed from the front panel with physical controls instead of software menus for quick adjustment. A second pair of inputs can be patched to wireless receivers or other sources for four-track recording. These pre-amps far outshine the camera audio and individual headphone and line outputs allow an additional feed on-set. Four channels can be recorded or the unit can be set to Dual Recording mode, which records a safety track at a lower level to prevent distortion.
At a cost less than competing preamps, the TASCAM DR-60DmkII is the ultimate 4-track recorder designed for filmmakers, television, live events and web broadcast.
- Four-track WAV or BWAV recording up to 96kHz/24-bit
- Designed to attach to a DSLR camera with top and bottom tripod mounts
- Easy-to-use interface with switches instead of menus
- Dual record mode captures a safety track so there’s a backup in case of overload
- High-quality microphone pre-amps, analog/digital converters and recording format (BWAV) — much better than the camera audio specs
- Improved microphone preamp with up to 64 dB of gain
- Camera output pads down to mic level so it doesn’t overload the camera
- Records to SD card media
- Individual headphone and line outputs
- Slate function plays a tone for easier synchronization with camera audio
- Two XLR/1/4” combination jacks plus stereo 1/8” mini jack
- Powered via AA batteries or USB input
It will list for $199. Details are here. Leave a Comment
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db Technologies Launches DVX Theater Series Stage MonitorsItalian loudspeaker manufacturer dB Technologies just launched the DVX TH “theater” series stage monitors. The initial introduction includes the DVX-DM12 TH and DVX-DM15 TH active two-way stage monitors, both spec’d as high output (136 dB max SPL) and featuring either 12” or 15” neodymium woofers with 4” voice coil coupled with 1.4” exit HF neo compression driver with 2.5” voice coil. The cabinets feature rotatable HF driver (for left or right configuration), double EQ preset, input and output panels on either side with universal switch mode power supply. Frequency response on the DVX-DM12 TH is 63Hz-16 kHz and on the DVX-DM15 TH is 55Hz-16 kHz (+/-6 dB).
A unique feature of the TH series monitors is the ability to rotate the front panel to configure the monitor with the horn on the right or on the left for stage positioning and stereo configuration purposes. In addition, the 90×40 horn can be rotated for proper pattern coverage.
dB Technologies says the TH series incorporates a two-way Digipro G2 amplifier which splits the power delivering 750-watts RMS to the low frequency section and 375-watts RMS to the high frequency section. Integrated with SMPS (Switched-Mode Power Supplies) and PFC (Power Factor Correction) technologies assure operation with supply voltages between 100 VAC and 240 VAC.
The monitor cabinets are constructed of heavy-duty 15-mm multi-layer birch, painted with a black polyurea for ruggedness. All inputs (Powercon and XLR input) are located at one end with the links (Powercon and XLR output) at the opposite end for ease of pass-through connectivity. The input section also includes LED indicators monitoring the internal limiter circuit, amplifier status, power voltage, input sensitivity and audio signal presence. Two recessed side handles facilitate transport.
All the technical specs are here for the DMX-DM12 TH and here for the DMX-DM15 TH. Leave a Comment
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Antelope Audio Introduces MP32 32-Channel Microphone PreamplifierAntelope Audio is launching the MP32, a 32-channel, console-grade microphone preamplifier with integrated software control. Housed in a 2U rack space, MP32 each of the class-A pre-amps on the MP32 feature phantom power and four of them can operate as Hi-Z instrument inputs. By using the MP32’s control panel (compatible with both Mac and PC), users can manipulate each of the unit’s input types and mic gain levels remotely.
Each preamplifier on the MP32 was designed to be what Antelope is calling open and transparent, introducing an increased level of sonic realism in recorded material. The unit offers excellent headroom and up to 65 dB of gain in 1 dB steps — more than enough power for even the most demanding ribbon mics.
The MP32 is scheduled to ship Q4 2014 and will list for $2,995 and here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Apogee Introduces New Ensemble Apogee Electronics’ new Ensemble is a 30×34 Thunderbolt 2 audio interface. Using Intel’s Thunderbolt technology, Ensemble provides everything you need to record, edit, mix and master professional quality audio on your Mac using Logic Pro, Pro Tools or any Core Audio based DAW.
At 1.1 milliseconds, Ensemble offers the lowest round-trip latency performance available in any all-in-one audio interface, eight mic pre-amps featuring Apogee’s Advanced Stepped Gain circuitry, front panel Guitar I/O, built-in talkback functionality and the most comprehensive user interface of any Apogee product. Ensemble’s proprietary Thunderbolt audio driver and full 32-bit playback path provide incredible CPU efficiency, allowing you to leverage the power of your Mac to monitor through a DAW with native plug-ins and simplify your workflow.
Ensemble Features:
- Thunderbolt 2 Mac audio interface
- Eight mic pre-amps with up to 75 dB of gain and Advanced Stepped Gain circuit
- Two front panel Guitar I/O channels with class A JFET inputs, dual mode re-amp outputs
- 16 analog outputs of premium Apogee conversion
- Complete input/output control with Apogee’s Maestro software
- AD/DA conversion for recording up to 24-bit/192kHz
- Works with Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton or any Core Audio compliant app on Mac
It lists for $2,495 and here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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The Neumann U47 is BackAn icon of 1970s music scene was the Neumann U 47 fet microphone. As the transistorized successor of the U 47, it permitted the processing of very high sound pressure levels for the first time, for instance allowing positioning directly in front of loud amps. Due to this feature, and the capsule sound derived from its famous tube-based predecessor, the U 47 fet contributed to many legendary recordings of the time.
Now the U 47 fet is back! For the new “Collectors Edition U 47 fet,” Neumann has resumed production of this classic mic and say they are building it to the original production documents and schematics. The Collectors Edition is supplied in a wooden case with special packaging, and an individual certificate with the serial number of the microphone.
In terms of technical design, the U 47 fet is a condenser microphone with a cardioid directional characteristic and fet 80 circuit technology. If required, a switchable low-cut filter raises the lower cutoff frequency electronically from 40 Hz to 140 Hz, and switchable attenuation can reduce transmission levels by 10 dB. In addition, to prevent overloading of the connected preamp, the output signal can be reduced by 6 dB via a switch on the bottom of the microphone.
The $4,000 mic can be seen here. Leave a Comment
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TASCAM Debuts Wireless Linear Recorder TASCAM’s DR-10C series recorders connect to your lavaliere microphone to create a compact recording system that fits on a belt pack. Two versions are available: the DR-10CL for Lectrosonics mics and DR-10CS for Sennheiser microphones. Additionally, option kits are available for Shure (AK-DR10CH) and Sony/RAMSA (AK-DR10CR).
The DR-10CL & CS recorders have both inputs and outputs, so they can either be used stand-alone or with a wireless transmitter. When used with a transmitter, the DR-10C acts as a backup to protect against wireless dropouts during recording. For lectures or worship services, the DR-10C can record the entire program before it gets to the front of house system. And for events like weddings and reality TV production, the DR-10C is a compact recording system for body mics.
The DR-10C runs for hours on a single AAA battery. It records to standard microSD media. Recording features include auto-gain and a low-cut filter for simple setup. Its dual recording feature records a safety track of your audio at a lower level, so in case of distortion you have a non-clipped backup. When multiple units are used, an infrared signal can synchronize settings between recorders.
Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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Almo Professional A/V Signs Agreement with Three New Manufacturing Partners Almo Pro A/V today announced the addition of three new partners: Comprehensive Cable (cable and connectivity products), TASCAM (playback and recording equipment) and Tightrope Media Systems (enterprise class digital signage solution). All three have joined the fall E4 AV Tour traveling networking and training show, which stops in Boston on Oct. 3 and Washington, D.C. on Oct. 17.
Comprehensive Cable’s entire line of cables and devices are accessible through Almo, with an emphasis on the Pro AV HDMI products. With features like ProGrip to eliminate loose connections, SureLength indicators for cable organization, and color identification to ensure the cables are properly plugged, connectivity project needs are taken care of for Almo partners.
TASCAM fills a hole in the market for playback and recording devices with a commercial feature set and professional quality. Almo now offers TASCAM’s rack mount BD/DVD/CD players and recorders with RS232, as well as the TASCAM broadcast and portable recorders to address the needs of resellers that purchase broadcast cami9 eras.
Tightrope Media Systems provides its Carousel Digital Signage, an easy-to-use, easy-to-manage web-based digital signage system that scales from one display to thousands of channels, and is in use at thousands of corporations, educational institutions, municipalities and small businesses throughout the U.S. Carousel integrates with BrightSign media players, another Almo partner, to minimize the costs of deploying large-scale out-of-home networks. By combining the features of Carousel software with the performance of BrightSign’s XD230 Networked Interactive Player, Almo partners now have access to a highly sophisticated digital signage platform that can scale to the largest of deployments.
Come to the Washington, DC (or Boston) E4 by signing up 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).
Don’t like us, then go away — unsubscribe! Just use the link below.
To send me feedback, don’t reply to this newsletter. Instead, write directly to me at gary@ravepubs.com or for editorial ideas, Editor-in-Chief Sara Abrons at sara@ravepubs.com
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 2014 – 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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