Building A Solid Sound Foundation

COSTA MESA, CA–QSC has released a new dual-eighteen subwoofer built for flown or groundstack applications, the new WL218-sw. Operable down to 31 Hz and capable of delivering high acoustic output (139 dB SPL@1m), the device is designed for use with QSC's WideLine loudspeakers, but can be used with other professional, full-range enclosures as well.

JERSEY CITY, NJ–Production services provider Big Mo Pro, Inc of Parsippany, NJ, recently brought out its L-ACOUSTICS Kudo rig for a pair of events at Liberty State Park on Jersey City's waterfront. With Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan as the spectacular backdrop, BMP provided sound and lighting for the big LibertyJAM concert on Sunday, June 25, featuring a stellar lineup of artists, including Cheap Trick, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Los Lobos, Patti Smith, The Smithereens, Fab Faux, John Eddie and Exit 105. Celebrating the park's historic 30th anniversary, the purpose of the event was raise funds to benefit The Friends of Liberty State Park, a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and improving the park for free public use.

NORTHRIDGE, CA–The Moreleta Park Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria, South Africa recently commissioned a new JBL VerTec DP Series powered line array system with JBL DrivePack technology and HiQnet networking for their new 7,200-seat auditorium. The church serves a growing worship community that now includes over 17,000 members. With three balconies and a new presentation stage nearly the size of the congregation's entire previous church building, a sound reinforcement system was required to complement the unique modern design of the venue and to serve a broad variety of applications, including worship services, live broadcasts and contemporary music concerts. Chris Leeson of Claasen Auret Inc. Consulting Engineers and Chris Jonker, Technical Director for the Moreleta Church, collaborated on the design specifications for the networked audio sound system.

OLD LYME, CT–Rachel Vaclavik was promoted to the newly-created position of marketing communications specialist at SEnnheiser, while Gregory Pizzi was hired as the graphics and new media project manager.

CALUMET, IL–With more than 10,000 seats and 200,000 square feet in total floor space, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago's new $50 million worship facility and neighborhood activity center more closely resembles a concert/sports stadium than a traditional church sanctuary. That impression is further bolstered by the fact that three regulation-sized basketball courts can be revealed when the main seating area is cleared, not to mention that there are two giant 19 x 11-foot video screens in the venue as well as several dressing rooms and an onsite ticket box window.

HOLLYWOOD, CA–Soundelux has introduced the U99S, a switchable version of the award-winning U99 microphone. Designed by David Bock, the U99S combines the performance of two high-grade tube condenser microphones in a single unit, giving users the choice of selecting "Normal" or "Brite" sonic signatures at a flick of the switch.

AUSTIN, TX–Audio-Technica has created the new Artist Series–inspired by extensive market research and consultations with leading touring artists and FOH engineers. The new versions of these microphones offer broad frequency response and extremely low handling noise in a durable design. Handheld vocal models include the ATM710 cardioid condenser, ATM610 hypercardioid dynamic and ATM410 cardioid dynamic.

KATY, TX–PGF Integrations installed multiple SLS Loudspeakers in the 1,000-seat sanctuary of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy, Texas. The new sound system will be utilized during worship services, youth group meetings and community events.

TORONTO, ONTARIO–Canadian Music Hall of Famers, The Tragically Hip, showed why they have become Canadian rock legends at four consecutive sold out dates on their latest North American tour, putting Adamson true line source arrays to use for the gigs. Complete production was provided by Towers Productions based in Toronto, Canada. The shows took place between June 17th and June 24th. Artpark in Lewiston, NY played host to the first show, GRCA (Grand River Conservation Authority) in Guelph for the second, and the last two were held at Historic Fort York in Toronto.

MUKILTEO, WA–John Garbutt has recently been appointed to the newly created position of National Sales Manager of Contracting and Tour Products for Rane Corporation.

BURNSVILLE, MN–A Ministry show is not something an audience forgets in a hurry: Al Jourgensen and company take the stage to administer a riot of intense energy, insanity-inducing lighting and massive SPLs, all driven by a relentless barrage of industrial rhythms layered with roaring samples and instrumentation. In this most extreme sonic environment, wireless failure is not an option. For the current Ministry world tour, guitarist Tommy Victor and bassist Paul Raven are relying on the EV RE1 wireless systems to get the job done.

BARNEGAT, NJ–In 2000 when Bayside Chapel in Barnegat, New Jersey was making plans for a new church building, Bayside's technical director Bob Seibel put in a call to consultant Tom Young of Electroacoustic Design Services in Oxford, Connecticut. Six years later, the church completed the long journey of fundraising, breaking ground and construction by installing a new sound system featuring Danley Sound Labs loudspeakers which went live in June 2006.