NEWS
AUDIOLOGIC LAUNCHES CONNECT BRAND Audiologic, the UK provider of professional audio equipment, has announced a new sister brand, Audiologic Connect. The essence of the brand is to supply high-quality cables and connectors to the retail and trade sectors of the AV industry, although its remit is perhaps somewhat wider than that basic premise, Audiologic says. Included in its framework are racks, stage boxes, DI boxes and other ancillary products that are all essential to the success of any AV installation, large or small. Consistent with Audiologic’s desire to communicate closely
with its customers to ensure their requirements are met, Audiologic Connect will offer a similarly ‘engaged’ approach to customer service, inviting clients to discuss their needs in detail and, where necessary, offer bespoke solutions. Andy Lewis, sales and marketing manager at the Essex-based distributor, explained the virtues of the new venture: “There’s no getting away from the fact that by any standards, cables and connectors could hardly be described as the sexy side of the AV business,” he said. “Equally, there’s no escape from the reality that very little of the vast array of hi-tech hardware
NEXO A SUPERB CHOICE FOR SKODA
German production house SHOWEM is the latest company to invest in a Nexo STM M28 system, which made its inaugural appearance recently at the launch of the new Skoda Superb. Both the car and the modular line array system were unveiled at the Forum Karlin auditorium in Prague, Czech Republic, where a new symphony was premiered to 500 invited media guests. Performed by a 50-piece orchestra, the symphony was written to symbolise a new era for the 120-yearold car manufacturer. SHOWEM’s technical production manager Dieter Mantzel wanted to mark the occasion with a different PA system to those typically used for new car launches, and therefore opted for STM. “We’d been waiting for Nexo’s new M28 modular line array, and this was the perfect opportunity to purchase it,” said SHOWEM CEO Christian Eck, who took delivery of the system a
8
April 2015
week before the event. “The compact M28 is just right for our company; a 2 x 8-in system is exactly the size we need. The Dante redundancy and Lake control options provided by the NUAR (Nexo Amp Rack) convinced our client that the M28 was right for this event.” L/R arrays of nine M28s and three B112 bass modules were flown each side of the stage in the multifunction auditorium, which accommodates nearly 3,000 people. Three S118 subs per side, running in cardioid mode, were flown behind the main hangs; the system was powered by four NUARs. The M28 system handled a varied programme including speeches from Skoda designers and executives, film footage of the company’s history and details of the car’s evolution. After the presentations, legendary soul singer Chaka Khan and Danish vocalist Aura Dione took to the stage with a live band. www.nexo.fr
out there is much use without these absolute essentials. “Audiologic Connect has been set up to cater for the specific requirements of integrators and end-users, whether that’s half a dozen tailor-made speaker cables for a club or the multi-faceted requirements of a large integrated AV installation. Whatever the project, we are able to advise on the best choices, configurations and combinations, in order that the customer achieves the most technically and economically effective solution possible.” Audiologic Connect offers Quartex and Procab cabling, to cater for all bulk, bespoke and pre-made requirements,
complemented by Neutrik connectors and Caymon stands and racks. Lewis concluded: “These are highcalibre products – reliable connection underpins every successful AV application and our aim with Audiologic Connect is to properly identify what’s required for a job and go above and beyond simply reeling off cable.” www.audiologicconnect.uk
THE MUSIC GROUP GAINS NEW NEVES The Music Group, a newly remodelled studio in Edmond, Oklahoma, has invested in Neve Genesys and Neve Genesys Black consoles for its 10th anniversary. Vintage King provided the equipment package for the facility, which is the first in the world to install both desks. “We picked the large-format Neve Genesys for our A studio, a perfect fit because it’s geared towards largescale tracking and mixing,” explained producer/engineer and studio co-owner Chris Freels. “I grew up on 2in tape and large-format desks and I wanted to have that feeling here. Our B studio has the Neve Genesys Black, which is our Pro Tools overdub studio with a signal path geared more towards DAW projects.” The studio’s other co-owner, LG Hamilton, added: “Neve has always been a trusted brand and Ryan McGuire at Vintage King basically guided us through the options and after looking around it was natural for us to narrow it down to
those particular desks. He also helped us in picking out our new Burl A-D/D-A converters and Shadow Hills mastering compressor.” In 2005, two successful Oklahoma studios, West 2nd Recording and Hamilton House Studio D, merged to form what is now The Music Group. The new three-studio recording facility was constructed from the ground up and designed by George Newburn of Studio 440 in Hollywood, California. “We do traditional album projects for independent artists and major labels, we do advertising work, film soundtracks – a little bit of everything,” explained Freels. “Each of us here works a little bit differently and the Neve consoles are perfect for our various projects and workflows. There’s not another studio in the region that’s equipped like this and we wanted to have the highest sonic standards possible.” www.ams-neve.com
Picture (L-R): Chris Freels, LG Hamilton, studio manager Addie Rice and staff engineer/chief tech Bryce Zabric