Either this is the week for digital consoles, or there must be a trade show coming up soon. In addition to the recent announcement of the Si3 digital console from Soundcraft, they have announced upgrades to the Vi6 and Vi4 digital audio consoles. The new upgrades will allow the Vi6 to handle 96 channels and take the Vi4 to 72 channels.

All that is needed for the upgrade is a DSP card and new V3 software if you have one of the existing consoles. Those interested in purchasing a new system will have the option of a package for 64 or 96 input channels for the Vi6 and 48 or 72 inputs for the Vi4. Additional stageboxes can be added to the system if additional microphone preamps are needed or the additional inputs can be used with MADI hcannels or AES/EBU inputs.

The Vi6 and Vi4 are very impressive consoles from Soundcraft and these new updates will hopefully expand the reach of viable venues for these consoles to be used in. I personally love the layout and feel that these consoles most closely match the feel of mixing on an analog console that most of us are used to using. An engineer can almost literally walk up to this console with no training and figure out how to use it. One of my biggest issues with digital consoles in the layout of the channel strip and Soundcraft has kept things essentially where they should be. The Vi6 and Vi4 keep the channel strips as we are used to and yet use the adjacent space on the lcd screens when the user needs to fine tune something in the mix.

The V3 upgrade also allows the Vi4 to access all 35 output busses (8 busses fixed in Aux mode). The output expansion does not require the DSP card.

For more information on the new software or to download, please visit soundcraftdigital.com. For pricing and basic product information, see productionoutlet.com (vi6 | vi4). To purchase or to speak with us about this console, give us a call at 877-4-CBC-TECH. We’re working on finding the information regarding the needed DSP card as this is a product we haven’t seen yet. Stay tuned for updates.

Midas has slowly been giving us information regarding the XL8’s little baby brother. (It seems that everyone is introducing a new baby brother these days - I just wrote about the UR1M last week.) Many knew or expected that a smaller version of their flagship console must be on the way so that it would be more within the reach of most people’s budget. Well, their theory is that they needed to start with he big guy and then scale it down from there. The real advantage of scaling something down instead of up is that you know the infrastructure can handle it. The last thing any designer or manufacturer would want to do is take a small product and try to make it larger only to find out that it doesn’t scale. Midas has taken the correct approach with this console. Sometimes it sucks that we have to wait for the tools we really want; this one will be worth the wait!

The PRO6 is scheduled to be revealed at PLASA next week (September 7-10, 2008) and I’m sure there will be a crowd there waiting to get their hands on it. The console is being compared to a digital Heritage with the tag line “digital, with Heritage.”

The new product brochure tells us:

The Midas PRO6 Live Audio System is the second networked digital audio system from Midas. Employing technologies developed from the class-leading XL8, the PRO6 offers the same exemplary sample-synchronised audio performance in a compact package.

Although the PRO6 standard system comprises a Control Centre with a footprint similar to that of a 32 channel Verona and only two 7U 19” rack units, it’s diminutive size belies its ability to provide up to 80 simultaneous input processing channels and up to 32 (+3) discrete mixes in monitor mode, all of which feature EQ and a choice of many dynamics processing options. By adding additional I/O hardware the PRO6’s network can be expanded up to 264 inputs and 264 outputs. These connections can be patched and routed on a scene-by-scene basis, by use of the PRO6’s powerful snapshot automation.

In typical Midas fashion, they were concerned with ensuring the Midas sound with the digial consoles which is achieved through Midas microphone pre-amps and Midas class plugins. Reliability is handled with redundant master control computers, power supplies and data links.

Alas, I probably won’t get my hands on one until October and I’ll be sure to enjoy it and report back to you. In the meantime, have fun drooling over the new product brochure or check out the teaser. And hey, let me know if something like this would work for you and we’ll discuss your needs and find out how we can get the product to you. You can always call 877-4-CBC-TECH or drop us an email at sales@cbctechnical.com. We look forward to discussing this product and your needs with you.

How could this console work for you? What features are you looking forward to?

Save now on Artist Series microphones.

Get up to $40 REBATE when you purchase an Artist Series microphone between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.

Click here for PDF mail-in rebate form.

Whether you use wedges or in-ears, line-array or portable PA, the Artist Series will help you squeeze every ounce of performance out of your reinforcement system. Plus they’re built tough. As the company that made studio condensers durable enough for stage use, we know a thing or two about solid construction. The Artist Series is rugged to the core—these all-metal microphones are engineered to perform flawlessly despite the inevitable bumps and bruises of life on the road.

“Seriously awesome microphones.” Read John Horvath’s ProSoundWeb Road Test at www.prosoundweb.com.

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ATM250DE Cardioid Condenser & Hypercardioid Dynamic
- $40 rebate

SAX, TOMS, BRASS, VIOLIN, UPRIGHT BASS
ATM350 Cardioid Condenser - $40 rebate

HI-HAT, CYMBALS, STRINGS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, PIANO
ATM450 Cardioid Condenser - $40 rebate

Just days before Midas is rumored to be unvailing their new digital console to the world, Soundcraft today has unleashed a new digital console of their own.

The Soundcraft Si3 is designed for live use on both touring sound systems and in fixed installations and its intuitive operation and high input and bus count makes it a perfect choice for House of Worship sound systems. Theatre users will also find the Soundcraft Si3 very applicable in their area. 

Soundcraft has revisited the control topology employed on the ground-breaking Spirit 328 and 324 digital consoles, and made it even easier. The model is this - above each fader is a rotary encoder, the function of which changes according to the mode selected. This ‘bank’ of encoders, known as the VCS or Virtual Channel Strip  can be set to control every function of a channel (known as Channel mode), so mic gain, EQ, dynamics, auxes, panning are all controlled as if you had a normal analogue channel strip laid sideways in front of you. The VCS also incorporates all the switching you would find on an individual analogue channel strip (48v, Phase Reverse, EQ In etc.). Alternatively, in what is called Global mode, each encoder controls the same function for each channel. So, for example, the encoders could control all the mic gains, pans or a chosen Aux bus (very useful for creating monitor mixes).

On the rear of this highly-featured console are all the I/O connectors you’ll need. Sixty-four XLR’s for the mic/line inputs, 4 stereo line level inputs, 24 bus output XLR’s, 8 matrix output XLR’s Left/Right/Centre mix output XLRs, Left/Right/Centre monitor output XLRs  and comprehensive internal and external talkback and Oscillator connections. There are also 8 analogue insert connections which allow outboard processing to be inserted into any input channel output bus.

As well as the wealth of experience in digital platform development that Studer and Soundcraft have with the Vista and Soundcraft Vi Series’, the Soundcraft Si3 also draws expertise from other sister companies within Harman, with built-in effect processors from Lexicon and gates & compressors with the heritage of dbx and BSS Audio.

Our Shure Rep, Mike from Audio Geer, was nice enough to bring a new toy with him to our open house earlier this week, the new UR1M (info | shop). This is the first time I’ve been able to see the micro bodypack from Shure since we saw the early design models on a secluded portion of a show floor a long time ago.

I must admit my first struggle with the bodypack was opening the battery compartment. There is a little switch like piece on the bottom of the pack which must be opened to gain access to the batteries and controls. I’m sure this was designed to keep talent out of the controls, but it seemed kind of a hassel to deal with. Maybe wtih time it will be easier for me to open the flap.

The unit seemed just like the pre produciton models we saw. Nicely built and an incredibly good use of space. It will take some getting used to for users to put AAA batteries in the unit instead of the AA batteries used in it’s big brother the UR1. Even more interesting is that they go in the same direction instead of alternating as in most other units. Removing the batteries was easy which is good since it can be a pane in some other units.

I didn’t have the opportunity to fire it up and listen to the sound coming through the airwaves. I’m sure that it sounds as good as we would expect from products in this range and is comperable to the other UHF-R products in audio dynamics and compression.

The controls were easy to use and the display was easy to read, a great must on all devices and something I was worried about with the smaller unit. It was weird pushing buttons on the bottom of the unit (once the battery compartment is open) as opposed to the buttons under the display on most other units (like the UR1). The buttons were firm and did not require special tools or toothpics.

I am a fan of the threaded TA4F input connector on the UHF-R series packs. I just wish that Shure would allow us to purchase elements with the threaded connectors already installed.

All in all, I’m looking forward to using the new micro bodypack even though I will probably not ever actually wear it or experience the benefits of it that a cast member would. I guess I’m just really happy that Shure has this addition to their line.

CBC is proud to announce that we have partnered up with Premier Mounts to bring our rental and sales customers with the best projector and LCD mounts in the industry.  Over the next few days we will be bringing these new products online for purchase at productionoutlet.com

Celebrating a 30-Year History of Excellence and Innovation

“As we proudly mark our 30th Anniversary, it seems fitting to reflect on a history of remarkable growth that has made Premier Mounts what it is today – one of the industry’s leading providers of quality mounts.

Premier Mounts’ parent company, Progressive Marketing Products Inc., opened its doors in 1977. Originally started as an audio-visual supply re/distributor, Progressive Marketing offered a diverse mix of products that provided President Len Dozier with an intricate and balanced knowledge of the entire industry. He also created a broad contact network of industry insiders that he maintains to this day.

In 1980, Len noticed a significant lack of durable, high-quality mounts and carts for projectors. By 1981, he began manufacturing projector ceiling and wall mounts as well as projector carts. These would eventually fall under the brand name of Premier Mounts.

Originally focused on LCD and CRT projectors, Premier Mounts was already well established in the industry when the plasma display market began to develop. Because mounting plasma displays was simply an extension of its engineering expertise, Premier Mounts developed one of the first after-market plasma mounts in the world. When LCD flat-panel monitors first appeared, again, Premier Mounts was there — measuring and fitting — its engineering gears constantly turning.

As the next new display technology begins to develop, Premier Mounts will certainly be developing the best mounts and adapters to complement it.”

CBC Technical, Incorporated has recently joined the Murrieta Chamber of Commerce and will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be followed by an open house until approximately 1 p.m.

We hope you will come spend some time with us and be part of this ceremony. Please come, bring your friends and join us for a few minutes or hours as your schedule permits. Show up at the right time and you might even get a free lunch! RSVP’s are not required although they would certainly help us plan how much food to have catered.

All attendees will have the opportunity to enter to win prizes including microphones and the always coveted swag from leading industry manufacturers as well as CBC Technical! Do you have your CBC t-shirt yet?

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Wednesday, August 27 10 a.m.
38372-C Innovation Ct Ste 308
Murrieta, California 92563
(951) 304-0640

Read the rest of this entry »

Bosch recently named Quantum Sales & Technology the rep of the year. We are lucky enough to work closely with the guys from Quantum and are pleased that they were selected for this award. The effort they put into making sure we have the correct product and aren’t just pushing boxes at us has been much appreciated by our entire staff. The Quantum team has a lot of territory to cover and some interesting projects to ensure are getting the best setup possible. Quantum has pushed us to invest in education and is constantly bringing new solutions to the table.

To Buck and the team, thank you for all you do. Congratulations on your award!

NEW Duplicators Feature Rackmount Packages and New Media

Being a division of TEAC puts TASCAM on the cutting edge of media technology, which is how we can offer the most reliable CD and DVD duplicators. Continuing in this tradition, TASCAM is pleased to announce several new duplication products to consultants and integrators. The new DV-W11R and DV-W14R are rackmount duplicators based on the same high-speed, reliable TEAC optical drives as TASCAM’s current duplicators. The DV-W11R 1×1 duplicator is perfect for recording studios, houses of worship or anywhere else rackmounting is important. The DV-W14R includes a high-speed hard drive for saving disc images that can be written over and over. It has one master transport and four destination drives, and two can be chained together for 1×8 duplication. When the hard drive is used as a master source, the DV-W14R uses all fi ve drives for writing new discs. All of the machines feature 12x DVD drives for fast duplication. Two more new duplicators provide duplication for SD cards and USB Flash drives. The SSD/USB/11 duplicates USB Flash drives, making it ideal for giveaways, software distribution and other USB drive needs. The SSD/SD/11 copies SD Cards, making it essential for manufacturers, cell phone providers and retail chain displays. Each of the duplicators copies one source to as many as 11 destinations. As new media destinations develop, you can be sure that TEAC and TASCAM will continue to lead the way with essential new tools for cutting-edge applications.

For more information please call us at 877-4CBC-TECH or visit productionoutlet.com

We are excited to announce the UR1M Micro-Bodypack Transmitter. The UR1M’s small design, outstanding durability and robust RF performance make it the ideal solution when a comfortable, concealed wireless bodypack is desired. Great for use in broadcast, sporting events, theatre and touring productions.

The UR1M operates on the premium Shure UHF-R® wireless platform which includes Audio Reference Companding® for far superior wireless audio quality and Wireless Workbench® 5 for increased control.

Primary Features and Benefits:

• Compact size, lightweight design
  • Easily and comfortably concealed by actors, performers and speakers
• Operates on the premium Shure UHF-R wireless platform
  • Patented Audio Reference Companding delivers crystal-clear audio
  • Far superior to conventional wireless technology
• 60 MHz bandwidth*
  • Significantly more than any other bodypack on the market
  • Robust RF performance ensures flexible, easy setup and reliable operation
• Conformal coated circuit board
  • Extends sweat resistance of bodypack
  • Allows placement of bodypack next to skin on performers
  • Extends durability and lifespan of bodypack

* Except X1 frequency band

NOW SHIPPING

Order online at productionoutlet.com