BUSINESS
What: Hear Technologies
What it does: Manufacturer of professional audio equipment for recording, TV, video postproduction and live sound.
Where: Huntsville, Ala.
When: Founded in 2001.
Services/products provided: Mix Back Monitor Mixer, Talk Back Personal Monitor System, Talk Back 600MV, ADAT Extreme Extenders, Free-dom Back Wireless system, Future Sonic Atrio personal monitors and Hear Bud and Headset personal monitors.
Claim to fame: Hear Technologies won the Innovations in Technology Award at the National Sound Contractors Association (NSCA) Expo 2003 in Dallas. New products from over 500 NSCA exhibitors were nominated across six categories. Products from each of the finalists were displayed in the Innovations in Technology Pavilion. More than 10,000 low-voltage professionals, including designers, integrators and installers voted the “Hear Back” Personal Monitor Mixer System from Hear Technologies as the top innovation in the Audio category.
Brush with greatness includes… Les Paul, who selected the company’s Future Sonics Ear Monitors brand custom personal monitors.
People might be surprised to know: Hear Technologies is a division of Quantum Research.
PERSONAL
Who: Dave Holland.
First Gig: “I played in a nine-piece horn band at the age of 14.”
I knew I wanted to be in this business when… “I wired my first P.A. at age 14.”
What I love about this business is… “Helping people achieve great sound and music.”
Career low point: “I’d rather not discuss it, but it involved playing a song in the wrong key!”
What bugs me about this business: “Long trade shows, though I really enjoy seeing my friends there.”
What bugs me at concerts: “Engineers who think that the kick drum and bass guitar are the only reason for mixing sound. Come on guys — what about vocals and other instruments?”
The CDs in my car right now are… “Tower of Power, Jackson Brown, Ugly Stick, James LeBlanc and Jeff Tamelier.
Best concerts I have ever heard were: “Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.”
Over there, they just call it food: “My favorite food is real Chinese food in China.”
Last good movie I saw was: “Real Genius.”
If I were a cartoon character, I’d be: “Marty Martian.”
Motto/Favorite Quote: “Live, Love and Laugh.”
