Volume 4, Issue 2 — February 23, 2015
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House of Worship Trends The Future of HOW
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Three Mistakes AVL Manufacturers Are Making
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
As a house of worship consultant to manufacturers and systems integrators, I’ve seen and heard from a wide array of companies in the Audio/Video/Lighting (AVL) space about their experience with the church market. I think your experience at a manufacturer or dealer will likely follow one of these patterns of thought and leadership. All the more essentially, I want to empower you to help identify the methods holding your firm back from tremendous success in this 300,000+ church vertical market. Below, I’ve identified the three mistakes AVL manufacturers are making when it comes to marketing to the house of worship market.
We Don’t Know How To Reach Churches
I hear the phrase “we don’t know how to reach churches” about a third of the time when speaking with AVL professionals. In my experience, this is another way of saying “we don’t know how to target vertical markets.” To speak to a specific kind of prospect requires a focused marketing effort on identifying the unique contexts and needs of the potential buyer.
Are you creating these products because you want to use them or because you believe they add value to people in various industries? Ideally, you do want to use your own products and solutions, but that’s not why you’d expand from a hobby to a business. Your business exists because someone identified a need for at least one kind of user, and built something to meet that need — even if it’s something they didn’t even know they needed until you built it!
Reaching church buyers is exactly the same as reaching Corporate, Education, Government, or Residential buyers: helping people find your product as a solution for their workflow. People are people and vertical markets all contain people. Church people are the same people who also fill those other vertical market roles. Their application is God-focused, but your technology is agnostic.
I’ve written extensively about how to reach church buyers. In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a quick list of helpful articles here on rAVe:
We’re An Engineering Company, Not A Marketing Company
Too often, products are placed front-and-center along with the line card highlighting bullet points of three to five key features; the idea being to expect the prospect to think like the engineers who designed the product and self-identify solutions based on technical capabilities.
Hint: Not many of your buyers are AVL engineers. With that in mind, it’s helpful to understand that what went into making your product great isn’t likely to start the influx of orders for your gear.
Engineers make good products. Marketers make good stories.
Engineers think they way they do for a reason. It’s why the products on the market today do the amazing things they do. However, it’s unlikely the same person sitting behind the bench working on microprocessors is the same person you’d put on the show floor to woo potential buyers. It is therefore unreasonable to leave the marketing up to the engineer; not because they lack the ‘smarts’, but they lack the skills to tell a great story. The reverse is usually true, too. Apple’s iconic Steve Jobs, smart as he was, focused himself as the marketing and sales guy, but it was Steve Wozniak the engineer who made Apple’s early products.
I’d never suggest that an AVL manufacturer orient their company as marketing-first. Neither would I suggest AVL manufacturers lead their sales and marketing efforts with engineering – except when targeting engineers as a marketing persona.
We Need To Market Better On Social Media
The third pattern I’ve found in my consulting with manufacturers and systems integrators has to do with the idea of leveraging social media for sales in the new digital landscape. Social media, however, is simply an obnoxious bullhorn for those who apply the same self-serving techniques via advertising and at trade shows. The last channel you want to abuse is social media, because unlike advertising or the exhibit hall floor, this channel has a voice that bites back when you abuse or misuse it.
A social media acquaintance of mine shared her thoughts on digital marketing in today’s marketplace, and I couldn’t offer a more succinct or on-point message than what she wrote, so I’m inserting her brilliance below to speak directly to manufacturers. This should be emailed, shared on your social network, and made an agenda item in your next new product meeting. It is that good.
A successful marketer today spends her time creating alignment and cohesion across the business to create a customer experience that’s consistent with what the company aspires to be.
It’s that simple, and that difficult.
The most important thing to remember is that social technologies and their capabilities are the catalyst for change, they’re not the solution to the problem. Their capabilities are what shine a spotlight on our vulnerabilities as businesses, namely the disconnects between our contrived brand and our customers’ expectations of us, and the stifled, process-driven flows of information inside our own companies that largely get in the way of us doing a better job of communicating with each other and with our customers.
We have to understand data without getting ourselves buried in the idea that Big Data will be our salvation, lest we burn time and energy chasing the wrong analytical windmills.
We have to shape a consistent customer experience and give them a voice in how we work while still aligning that with a business strategy that they may not have the whole picture for, and trying to hone in on the right kind of customer for our business.
We have to unlock internal community and communication so that we can shake off the industrial-era chains that dictate efficiency above all, and instead make our companies more modular and free people up to collaborate, innovate, make agile decisions, and maneuver at the speed of the ever-changing market.
We have to guide a business culture that wants all of those things and bridges the gap between risk management and open innovation in a way that keeps the doors open but the ideas flowing and changing.
In a world of content noise, proliferation of social networks, splintered conversations…the only true marketing advantage today lies with how you treat people, and how focused you are on creating a truly outstanding customer experience.
This is sage advice and practical wisdom that, I believe, should be applied to every AVL manufacturer.
What say you? Do you see manufacturers taking any of the positions described above? Share your views in the comments below.
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If You Build It, They Will Hack It
By Anthony Coppedge House of Worship Technology Consultant
There’s a great quote from an article by John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, about hacking into systems: “There are two types of companies: Those who have been hacked, and those who don’t yet know they have been hacked.”
While Mr. Chambers point is about securing data, networks, and storage, the quote prompted a different line of thinking on my part: why don’t manufacturers make it easier to hack into their systems?
Please Hack Me
Why don’t manufacturers make Software Developer Kits (SDKs) and open up the code? There are potential safety reasons with certain technologies, but aside from acceptable parameters (limits) on code variables, it would seem the vast majority of technology from audio, video and lighting manufacturers could be modified and enhanced beyond the forethought of the design engineers.
Hackers have been hacking hardware, firmware and software for years, so why not actually encourage new and clever ways to leverage AVL technology? It isn’t reasonable to think that the engineers responsible for creating the next audio digital signal processor or moving light fixture or streaming video device can conceive of every possible application of the technology. In fact, the trade pubs frequently highlight new and shrewd uses as case studies; clearly, the hunger is for less of the inane and more of the creatively insane.
Hackathon for AVL
Wikipedia, my favorite layman’s dictionary, describes a Hackathon in a way that just begs the AVL industry manufacturers to do it:
A hackathon is an event in which computer programmers and others involved in software development, including graphic designers, interface designers and project managers, collaborate intensively on software projects… Hackathons typically last between a day and a week. Some hackathons are intended simply for educational or social purposes, although in many cases the goal is to create usable software. Hackathons tend to have a specific focus, which can include the programming language used, the operating system, an application, an API, or the subject and the demographic group of the programmers.
Having worked for two firms that invested heavily in software development, I’ve witnesses Hackathons firsthand and I’ve seen the benefits of paying employees to play and create in an anything-but-business-as-usual week of focused inspiration. The results were a mix of off-the-roadmap new products and entirely new ways of solving old problems where the outcomes made a difference in the businesses.
It would be fascinating, for example, to see a hackathon at LDI for expanding upon the DMX protocol. How cool would it be to have manufacturers provide state-of-the-art technology in a section of the exhibit hall where hackers could come and apply what they’ve created beforehand – or during the show – and demonstrate it to the mix of end-users, manufacturers, integrators, consultants, rep firms, and press that fills the exhibit hall?
If You Build It, They Will Hack It
A friend of mine was recently interviewing for an audio job at a large organization when they asked him to weigh in on his opinion of MADI versus DANTE. What if he didn’t have to choose? What would happen if transport protocols for audio were a mashup in an open source environment? These formats are going to be replaced one day, just as surely as CobraNet and EtherSound, so why not let the users hack into existence the next flavor for digital audio?
In the online world, Application Program Interface (APIs) are the ‘controlled access’ method of extending the functionality of hardware and software to share, control, or communicate with other technologies that are often far beyond the intended use of the original developers. Tools like Zapier exist solely to help bridge the gaps of API functionality between disparate tools to allow for the sharing of data. IFTTT provides a similar digital bridge for automating the repetitive tasks and actions of apps. The third party development community will always fill a void when the tools make it possible to share access.
Push The Industry
The fuzzy lines between Information Technology and AVL continue to blur. The integration of data, networks, and platforms is only accelerating, so who will be the industry leaders that open up the future through SDKs and APIs and open source code? End users will flock to those who innovate past their technology and into the hands of this technology community.
Specific to the house of worship market, the end-users are already hobbyists, so the party has already started. Innovation can and will come from places manufacturers simply do not expect — including churches. If you build it, they will hack it.
Which manufacturers have already started down this path? Which ones do you want to see dive in? Share your views and links in the comments below. Leave a Comment
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Sennheiser Introduces SpeechLine Digital WirelessAt ISE 2015, Sennheiser has unveiled SpeechLine Digital Wireless – a wireless digital microphone designed exclusively for speech applications. And, SpeechLine Digital Wireless has an Automatic Frequency Management feature that automatically searches for free frequencies on-site, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming frequency planning in advance.
Integrated Audio Level Management automatically adapts the system to the application scenario and the speaker. As a result, the system ensures optimum speech intelligibility at all times. Also, network integration enables the system status to be remote controlled and monitored at a glance at any time using the special app “Wireless System Remote” (WSR), AMX or Crestron — for example to show the current reception quality or the battery’s state of charge.
If wireless transmission is disturbed, Automatic Interference Management automatically and seamlessly switches the system to an alternative free frequency. The lithium-ion battery technology used in SpeechLine Digital Wireless provides a battery life of more than 15 hours. In addition to various flexible charging possibilities, the battery can also be conveniently recharged via USB if required, making it much easier to arrange several consecutive lectures. Optimum speech intelligibility is guaranteed at all times by various selectable sound profiles and sound processing algorithms, such as presets for bass-intensive male voices or high female voices.
Integrated with 256-bit AES encryption, the mic also operates in the license-free, future-proof 1.9 GHz frequency band, and no registration is required.
SpeechLine Digital Wireless is available as a handheld or Lavalier microphone or as a headset. All three sets include a mobile transmitter unit — a handheld or a bodypack system, a battery as well as a receiver station that can easily be integrated.
The SpeechLine Digital Wireless sets and the app “Wireless System Remote” (WSR) will be available in June. Here’s a video we shot of it at ISE last week.
Here are all the product details. Leave a Comment
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Behringer Ships X AIR XR18 Behringer today said its X AIR XR18 Digital Mixer for iPad/Android tablets is finally shipping.
The XR18 is a remotely-controllable 18-input/12 bus portable mixer housed in a stage box form factor, and claim it’s the first of its kind designed for use with iPad and Android tablets, as well as smartphones and PC, Mac and Linux computers. XR18 is designed for both live and studio applications and includes 16 Midas-designed mic preamps, an integrated tri-mode Wifi module for wireless control — and a bidirectional USB audio/MIDI interface.
Other features include four high-end X32 stereo FX processors, with close to 50 studio-grade X32’s high-end FX “Plug Ins”; X AIR Gain Sharing technology for hands-free auto-mixing; a high-resolution 100-band Real Time Analyzer (RTA), with full bar and spectrograph views, and Ultranet connectivity for Behringer’s P-16 Personal Monitoring System.
The $699 X AIR XR18 can be found here. Leave a Comment
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HARMAN’s Crown Ships XLi Series Affordable Power Amplifiers HARMAN’s Crown is now shipping its XLi Series, four amplifiers that are aimed at the entry-level system buyer. The new XLi3500, XLi2500, XLi1500 and XLi800 deliver 1,000, 500, 330 and 200 watts per channel, respectively (into 8 ohms; 2,700, 1,500, 900 and 600 watts in bridged mode into 8 ohms). All models feature user-selectable input sensitivity to accommodate a variety of program sources that have low output signals and include balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs. XLi can be operated in stereo, parallel or bridged-mono mode and provides binding post and speakON output connectors to facilitate use with virtually any type of passive PA speakers.
All four amplifiers feature front panel level controls, signal presence, and clip and fault LED indicators. Like all Crown power amps, XLi Series models provide comprehensive protection against shorts, no-load conditions and power on/off thumps.
Crown XLi Series amplifiers have MAP pricing as follows:
- XLi3500: $649
- XLi2500: $399
- XLi1500: $299
- XLi800: $229
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DENON Launches New Mixer Line Denon Professional announced two new audio mixers today in the form of the 8-channel DN-408X and 12-channel DN-412X — both in a 2-bus portable tabletop format. Both mixers offer DyNamic Audio (DNA) mic preamps and built-in audio compression. Both the DN-408X and DN-412X include over 100 studio-grade effects and 9-band graphic EQ for enhancing a mix. Each mixer channel features color-coordinated 3-band EQ for correcting and shaping audio frequencies. And, each mixer includes a wealth of input and output types to ensure adapter-free connection to loudspeakers or amplification systems: XLR, balanced ¼-inch (6.3 millimeter), and RCA.The mixers also both offer two track inputs and outputs on RCA connections; 60-millimeter faders with dedicated mute switch and LED clip meter; a main mix with two balanced XLR outputs and two balanced 1/4-inch main outputs; a monitor/control room mix with two balanced 1/4-inch main outputs; and two USB ports.
Denon Professional DN-408X features include:
- 8-channel, 2-bus audio mixer
- Five high headroom DNA mic preamps provide uncanny detail
- Five balanced XLR inputs; ten balanced ¼-inch (6.3mm) TRS line inputs
- 3-band EQ with two effects sends on every channel
- Dynamic compression (ch. 1 and 2) tames unpredictable volume changes
Denon Professional DN-412X features include:
- 12-Channel, 2-bus audio mixer
- Seven high headroom DNA mic preamps provide uncanny detail
- Seven balanced XLR inputs; twelve Balanced ¼-inch (6.3mm) TRS line inputs
- 3-band EQ with two effects sends on every channel
- Dynamic compression (ch. 1-4) tames unpredictable volume changes
The DN-408X and DN-412X will be available in spring of 2015 at a U.S. price of $249.99, and $299.99, respectively. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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Midas Introduces New M32 Digital Console Series and a Stage Box Midas’ new M32R and M32C are both digital consoles while the DL32 is a 32×16 stage box.
Both the M32R and M32C are 40-input / 25-bus digital mixers with a host of connectivity options — and the M32R features the same Midas microphone pre-amplifiers and “1-million cycle” motorized faders as the PRO Series consoles. The mixers also feature ULTRANET connectivity for “acoustic integration” with the new Turbosound active loudspeakers and P-16 personal monitoring systems.
Expanding on the functionality and connectivity of the DL16, the DL32 stage box doubles the I/O in a rugged 3U rackmount chassis with 32 Midas PRO Series microphone preamps, 16 XLR outputs, two AES50 ports, AES/EBU stereo outputs, MIDI I/O and dual ADAT connectivity.
The Midas M32R, M32C and DL32 will list for $ 2,999, $999 and $ 1,999, respectively. Specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Audio-Technica Introduces System 10 PRO Rack-Mount Digital Wireless System Audio-Technica just launched a new System 10 PRO rack-mountable Digital Wireless System, the latest addition to the growing range of A-T System 10 wireless solutions. Like all System 10 models, the System 10 PRO Rack-Mount operates in the 2.4 GHz range and the rack-mount chassis houses one or two receiver units that can be operated locally within the chassis or be removed and mounted remotely (up to 300 feet away) via Ethernet cable. This approach to delivering wireless increases the versatility of the system while also greatly enhancing wave propagation. Additionally, up to five System 10 PRO chassis (10 receivers) can be linked together using the RJ12 cable included with each system, creating a multichannel system with the simultaneous use of up to 10 channels.
The chassis’ LCD Dual System Display shows RF signal level, system ID, transmitter battery level, and system link status for both channels. Like all the products in the System 10 wireless family, the PRO Rack-Mount features 24-bit/48 kHz wireless operation, easy setup, clear, natural sound quality, and three levels of diversity assurance: frequency, time and space. Frequency Diversity sends the signal on two dynamically allocated frequencies (with automatic frequency selection). Time Diversity sends the signal in multiple time slots to maximize immunity to multi-path interference. Space Diversity uses two antennas on each transmitter and receiver to maximize signal integrity. A ground-lift switch helps eliminate audible hum caused by ground loops.
Each System 10 PRO Rack-Mount system includes an ATW-RC13 receiver chassis, one or two ATW-RU13 receiver units, one or two AT8690 receiver-unit mounting brackets, one RJ12 cable, two rack mounting brackets, one joining plate, one AC adaptor, and one or two ATW-T1001 UniPak body-pack and/or ATW-T1002 handheld transmitters. Both the receiver chassis and transmitters feature displays.
System 10 PRO will be available February 2015 in the following configurations:
- ATW-1301 — Single Channel Bodypack System: $599.00
- ATW-1301/L — Single Channel Bodypack System w/ Lav: $699.99
- ATW-1302 — Single Channel Handheld System: $629.00
- ATW-1311 — Dual Channel Bodypack System: $1,059.00
- ATW-1311/L — Dual Channel Bodypack System w/ Lav: $1,259.00
- ATW-1312 — Dual Channel BP/HH System: $1,089.00
- ATW-1312/L — Dual Channel BP/HH System w/ Lav: $1,189.00
- ATW-1322 — Dual Channel Handheld System: $1,119.00
Each one’s detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Turbosound Unveils Modular Column INSPIRE Loudspeaker Series Turbosound introduced the company’s first modular column loudspeakers and subwoofers called the INSPIRE Series. The iNSPIRE Series consists of three full-range powered column loudspeakers, the 800-watt iP500, 1,000-watt iP1000 and 1,000-watt iP2000 — plus two 1,000-watt powered subwoofers, the 12” iP12B and 15” iP15B with integrated dual-channel 200-Watt amplifiers for satellite speakers.
Equipped with an on-board, two-channel and remote-controllable digital mixer via dedicated iPhone / iPad app or locally via dedicated LCD-based user interface, the INSPIRE Series also features wireless Bluetooth stereo audio streaming. Each speaker is powered by Klark Teknik digital signal processing (DSP), Class-D amplification and SST Spatial Sound Technology.
The INSPIRE iP500, iP1000, iP2000, iP12B, and iP15B will list for $499, $599, $799, $399, and $499, respectively. Specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Behringer Intros Small Format Mixer With MP3 PlayerThe Behringer XENYX QX602MP3 is a 6-input/2-bus small format mixer with XENYX Mic Preamps, British EQs, a built-in MP3 player and a Multi-FX engine. The ultra-compact mixer’s six inputs (two mic, two stereo) feature onboard studio-grade XENYX Mic Preamps with available phantom power, as well as the Company’s so-called “British” channel EQs, which are modeled after the EQs found on vintage British recording consoles.
But, unique to it is the addition of a built-in MP3 player, which provides instant access to their audio files and playlists from a USB stick. The MP3 function features Random, Play/Pause, Rewind and Forward control switches for flexibility and ease whether playing break music or accompaniment tracks. A built-in, 24-bit, stereo multi-FX processor with studio-grade reverb and delay plus the integrated power supply round out the professional feature set of the QX602MP3, making it an incredibly versatile — and affordable premium-quality mixer.
The XENYX QX602MP3 lists for $99. More information is here. Leave a Comment
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Turbosound Debuts iQ Series Acoustic Integration Loudspeakers Turbosound launched its all-new iQ Series networked loudspeaker product line. The iQ Series features what Turbosound is calling “Acoustic Integration”, enabling digital mixers, personal monitor systems and loudspeakers to communicate directly with each other via the company’s proprietary ULTRANET Technology.
Acoustic Integration allows users to change the sound system without ever leaving the mixing desk. Users can easily set up and adjust parameters directly at the loudspeakers, or remotely via mixing console, PC or tablet running downloadable apps.
Designed for FOH and floor-wedge applications, the iQ15, iQ12, iQ10 and iQ8 two-way loudspeakers are lightweight and portable and are meant to work with the company’s iQ18B and iQ15B subwoofers. All enclosures feature standard 35 mm pole-mount sockets.
The iQ Series is affordable (starting at $549.99) and aimed at small to medium-size venues, such as theaters, schools and houses of worship. Here are all the specs. Leave a Comment
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HARMAN’s JBL Professional Debuts SRX800 Series Portable Powered Loudspeakers JBL Professional today announced the introduction of its SRX800 Series portable powered loudspeakers that integrate both JBL transducers and Crown DriveCore amplifiers. JBL SRX800 Series models include the 12-inch two-way SRX812P, 15-inch two-way SRX812P, dual 15-inch three-way SRX835P, 18-inch SRX818SP subwoofer and the SRX828SP, the world’s only dual-18-inch powered subwoofer at this price point.
The SRX800 Series utilizes JBL transducers that combine high power handling with extremely low distortion. JBL says the high frequencies are handled by waveguides that provide accurate horizontal and vertical pattern control with smooth frequency response over a wide area. The high-excursion woofers deliver the clear, articulate, powerful bass that is a JBL hallmark, with minimal dynamic compression even during continuous use at high volume. SRX800 loudspeakers and subwoofers are rated at between 135dB and 141dB depending on the model.
All JBL SRX800 models incorporate built-in Crown DriveCore amplifiers with 2,000 watts power output (1,000 watts in the SRX818P). The amplifiers’ on-board DSP includes 20 parametric equalizers, 96kHz FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filters for improved crossover tuning, speaker-delay adjustment and even a signal generator to aid in system calibration. All models also incorporate JBL Application Engineered preset tunings that facilitate fast system setup. In addition, JBL SRX800 Series loudspeakers and subwoofers are fully compatible with HARMAN’s HiQnet network communications protocol, enabling control via Audio Architect or JBL SRX Connect—the new iOS and Android application that provides a fast streamlined approach to system control.
SRX800 Series enclosures are built for extreme durability even under the most demanding applications. The speakers have M10 suspension points for easy rigging and standard 35 mm pole cups for stand mounting. The rear panels feature an LCD screen and glow in the dark ink to facilitate setup even on dark stages. The SRX812P includes feet that enable it to be used as either a main or monitor speaker.
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DENON Intros Four New Loudspeakers Aimed at Meeting Room InstallsFollowing the introduction of the company’s compact DN-304SAM audio monitors, Denon Professional, introduced four loudspeakers for conference rooms and meeting spaces. The announcement includes the bi-amplified two-way DN-306SA and DN-308SA, and tri-amplified three-way DN-506SA and DN-508SA.
Designed for presentations, collaborative discussions and critical multimedia playback, the Denon Professional DN-306SA and DN-308SA offer the following specs:
- Two-way, bi-amplified reference monitor
- Available with a 6-inch (DN-306SA) or 8-inch (DN-308SA) woofer
- Kevlar woven woofer provides tight, accurate bass response
- 1.25-inch silk dome tweeter with custom waveguide for non-fatiguing treble
- Ported, acoustically inert coated MDF enclosure
- 60+40 Watts (DN-306SA); 70+60 Watts (DN-308SA)
- Three-position proximity switch adapts bass response to various placements
- Balanced XLR and ¼-inch (6.3mm) input
- Shelf, desktop or wall (VESA) mountable
- Convenient LED light guide assists in placement
- Detachable metal grille with elegant trim accents
- Sold in single units
Designed for larger installs, the Denon Professional DN-506SA and DN-508SA specs include:
- Three-way, tri-amplified reference monitor
- Available with a 6-inch (DN-506SA) or 8-inch (DN-508SA) woofer
- Dedicated 5-inch mid-range driver offers stunning vocal reproduction
- Coaxial mid+high drivers save space while preserving time and phase cohesion
- Kevlar woven woofer provides tight, accurate bass response
- 1-inch silk dome tweeter with custom waveguide for non-fatiguing treble
- Ported, acoustically inert coated MDF enclosure
- 110+30+20 Watts (DN-506SA); 150+35+35 Watts (DN-508SA)
- Three-position proximity switch adapts bass response to various placements
- +/- 6dB variable boost/cut at 100 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz (with bypass switch)
- Balanced XLR and ¼-inch (6.3mm) and RCA input
- Shelf, desktop or wall (VESA) mountable
- Convenient LED light guide assists in placement
- Detachable metal grille with elegant trim accents
- Sold in single units
All four speakers come with detachable metal grilles surrounded by a smoke metallic trim. The DN-306SA, DN-308SA, DN-506SA and DN-508SA will be available in spring 2015 at a U.S. price of $249.99, $299.99, $349.99 and $399.99, respectively. More detailed specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Visual Productions Brings Cuety iPad Lighting Controller to ISEAt ISE, Visual Productions will be exhibiting their range of lighting control software for Mac, PC and Linux and solid-state hardware controllers including the CueCore and Cuety iPad lighting control system.
According to Visual Productions, Cuety is a new generation lighting controller that turns an iPad into a lighting console. The Cuety LPU-1 controller is solid-state and has full support for moving heads, LEDs, conventional lighting and DMX controlled special effects. A unique feature of Cuety is that the compact LPU contains the engine that runs the actual show, calculates fade times and renders dynamic FXs. The Cuety app is just your user-interface. In the case of a WIFI interruption your show will go on. In a stand- alone installation you can select any combination of the 64 playbacks to run on “power – on.”
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Extron Introduces New H.264 Streaming Media Player and Decoder Extron has introduced the SMD 202 — the latest addition to the company’s H.264 Streaming AV product line. The SMD 202 is a compact media player and live stream decoder used in H.264 streaming applications. It provides the flexibility to present the signal from a locally connected AV device, decode a live streaming source, or play back media files from internal memory, removable SD card, local USB, or network storage. The SMD 202 supports a wide range of container formats and streaming protocols, making it adaptable for use with a variety of encoded media. Advanced signal processing, scaling, and aspect ratio management supply high quality signals to AV displays.
The SMD 202 is adaptable to different network conditions and streaming requirements, offering both push and pull streaming configurations. Audio output signals are available as HDMI embedded audio as well as analog stereo audio, making it directly compatible with embedded display speakers or existing audio systems. An intuitive, interactive on-screen menu provides easy setup and source selection using front panel buttons or the optional handheld IR remote control. Designed for pro AV applications, the SMD 202 can be controlled using Ethernet, RS-232, IR, and wired IR interfaces.
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Christie H Series Joins 1-Chip DLP Lineup at ISE Christie introduces its brightest 1-chip DLP projector line today with the new Christie H Series that include two projectors that are both spec’d with 12,000 lumens.
Weighing only 52.5 pounds (24 kilograms) each, both the dual-lamp Christie D12HD-H (1080p) and Christie D12WU-H (1920×1200) projectors are designed for mid-to-large rental staging and fixed applications such as concert halls, auditoriums, hotels, boardrooms, education, government, conference rooms and houses of worship.
The H Series join the Christie G Series, GS Series and Q Series that are run on single-chip DLP technology.
Features include:
- HD and WUXGA resolutions
- Built-in warping, blending and color correction
- A noise level of 40 dBA
- Camera-based geometry correction
- Portrait capability and 360-degree orientation
- Full suite of lenses and there is an adapter available for existing Christie E Series lenses
- Six-segment color wheel
- Inputs include 3G SDI, HDBaseT and a bottom-side HDMI
- Optional rigging/stacking frame
- Wireless dongle for presentation and control
- Optional coarse dust and fog filters for harsher environments
- Black or white chassis
All the specs are here. Leave a Comment
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K-array’s Unique Owl Is Most Innovative Live-Events Speaker We’ve Seen in Years K-array’s new Owl (aka KW8) is one of the first audio moving head speakers to market. It’s outfitted with an 8″ coaxial transducer and a newly built-in camera tool to allow users to accurately focus their directivity of sound. This feature bridges the gap between AV in a revolutionary concept. The Owl provides up to 500 watts of power, 120dB of SPL and a frequency range from 60 Hz to 19 Khz.
The Owl follows K-array’s catalog of compact designed speakers by measuring 45x40x22 centimeters and weighing just 10 kilograms. Another near invisible speaker designed to be a problem solver in the most challenging of applications, going where no speaker has gone before.
The Owl has packaging that is stylish and compact, quick to assemble and deployed with DMX, USB, SDI and audio balanced connections which guarantees easy plug and play connections, easy to transport, and delivers extremely high SPL with unprecedented quality for a wide variety of performance types and venue configurations.
The Owl will be announced and shown for the first time at ISE 2015 in Amsterdam Feb. 10 – 12. More information will be on the K-array website soon. Leave a Comment
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Christie Announces Boxer Projector Series Christie’s new Boxer Series will officially launch and will make its worldwide debut at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Amsterdam, but we have the details now. Technically, there was a private launch back in November and Christie has already taken orders for more than 200 projectors — without a public launch!
The first offering from the new Boxer Series, the Boxer 4K30 has six 450-watt mercury lamps delivering 30,000 center lumens. Weighing about 150 pounds (68 kilograms), the Boxer 4K30 can be carried by two individuals and is designed for rental/staging fleet or permanent installs. With built-in Christie Twist, images can be blended and warped from multiple projectors onto curved or irregular surfaces without requiring an external solution. Housed in two 3-lamp cartridges, the six long-life mercury lamp modules are easy to handle, maintain, and change and stock, which means a better return on investment and less consumables.
Users can monitor the lamp hours and serial numbers through Near Field Communication (NFC) with each lamp and it uses the Christie TruLife electronics package so it natively handles 4K signals as well as HD signals, with on-board up-scaling to 4K.
Christie Boxer Series connectivity includes 3G-SDI, HDBaseT, Display Port, DVI-I, HDMI, VGA and five BNC, plus a color LCD preview panel readout and a complete lens suite.
It will ship in April. Full specs are here. Leave a Comment
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Extron 3G-SDI Fiber Optic Transmitter Ships Extron is shipping its FOXBOX T HD-SDI fiber optic transmitter that converts 3G‑SDI video to streamline integration of SDI sources with non‑SDI displays in FOX systems. The FOXBOX T HD-SDI uses Extron all‑digital technology to provide perfect pixel‑for‑pixel transmission of video, audio, and control to a FOX Series DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI or VGA receiver, including the FOXBOX SR HDMI scaling receiver. The FOXBOX T HD-SDI is ideal for a wide range of system designs, supporting distance learning applications, auditoriums, houses of worship, and other environments that often include the use of broadcast‑type sources such as PTZ cameras and professional or consumer‑grade displays.
The FOXBOX T HD-SDI provides many features for simplified integration, including input equalization, audio gain and attenuation adjustment, real‑time status LEDs, and alarm notification for fiber link loss. For increased system design flexibility, it sends embedded AES audio or stereo analog audio and bidirectional RS-232 control signals along with the video. SD Pro processing de-interlaces 480i and 576i signals for compatibility with HDMI and DVI‑equipped displays without the need for additional scalers. This low‑profile fiber optic transmitter is available as multi-mode and single-mode models. The FOXBOX T HD-SDI enables SDI signal conversion and extension in simple point‑to‑point applications, and can be combined with FOX Matrix Switchers to support installations up to 1000×1000 and larger.
Here are the technical details. Leave a Comment
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JBL Professional Previews PD500 Series at ISE 2015At ISE 2015, HARMAN JBL Pro showed its new PD500 Series loudspeakers. An extension of its PD Series loudspeakers, the PD500 Series will feature five new models and will offer the high power, excellent pattern control and smooth coverage that JBL says is found in all PD Series loudspeakers.
The PD500 Series is a new line of loudspeakers systems consisting of four horn-loaded 15″ 2-way systems and one dual 15″ subwoofer. The PD500 Series loudspeakers include horn coverage patterns of 40° x 40°, 60° x 40°, 60° x 60°, and 90° x 50°. All models will be available in black, white, and JBL Professional’s WRC weather protection and WRX extreme weather protection finishes.
All five PD500 Series models will be EN54-24 certified. JBL plans to make this new line available in July 2015. Here are the details. Leave a Comment
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New Haivision Media Gateway Is for Live Video Contribution, Monitoring and Distribution over the InternetEnterprises, broadcasters and houses of worship now have a low cost way to bridge remote video infrastructures. Launched at ISE 2015, the Haivision Media Gateway is a video streaming solution that gathers and distributes video streams to and from multiple locations, giving organizations a cost-effective alternative to satellite or MPLS networks for live video transport.
Powered by Haivision’s SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) technology, the Haivision Media Gateway allows organizations to aggregate and replicate live, HD streams concurrently to and from remote locations, over any network. SRT optimizes streaming performance across unpredictable networks by ensuring packet loss recovery, stream security, and network health monitoring. With the Haivision Media Gateway, users can:
- Convert streams to and from SRT and standard MPEG Transport Stream (TS), TS for video distribution within a LAN and SRT for transport over WAN.
- Aggregate streams from multiple facilities to one central location for live backhaul and broadcast monitoring.
- Replicate a live stream from a central location and distribute it to multiple facilities over public and private networks.
The Haivision Media Gateway allows broadcasters to harvest live video content from multiple remote production venues, aggregating SRT streams and re-distributing the streams as TS within a central production venue.
Here are all the tech details. Leave a Comment
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For all you REGULAR readers of rAVe HOW out there, hopefully you enjoyed another opinion-packed issue!
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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.
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