6 News SIA Acoustics Expands with West Coast Office LOS ANGELES — SIA Acoustics LLC, an acoustical design firm based in New York City, now spans both coasts with the opening of a new office near Hollywood, Calif. “Our West Coast expansion is the next step to allow us to better serve our music, film and architectural clients on the West Coast,” states Sam Berkow, founder OXNARD, Calif. — Radiohead, a longtime L-ACOUSTICS user, has returned to the road this summer in support of its latest album, In Rainbows. Firehouse Productions of Red Hook, N.Y., is serving as the sound provider for the U.S. tour legs, with Wigwam Acoustics of Heywood (Manchester), UK handling the European dates. The tour’s <strong>FOH</strong> loudspeaker configuration, designed by freelance system engineer and L-ACOUSTICS-certified V-DOSC engineer Sherif el Barbari, features left and right arrays each comprised of 15 V-DOSC cabinets with three dV-DOSC hung below for front-fill. These loudspeakers are complemented by two additional arrays of 14 V-DOSC plus three dV-DOSC to address both the far left and right seating areas. For low-end punch, the system features 32 SB28 subwoofer enclosures, all driven by L- ACOUSTICS LA8 amplified controllers. and partner of SIA Acoustics, who will be managing the Los Angeles office. Partner Steve Sockey will manage the New York City office. Recent projects include acoustical design and consulting for The Pearl at the Palms Hotel and Casino, The Clive Davis Department of Record Music at “With the exception of two shows at Bercy in Paris, all of the concerts are outdoor shows — stadiums, sheds, green fields or amphitheaters, which make the sound design very challenging,” notes el Barbari. “However, I am impressed by the power of the 32 L-ACOUSTICS SB28 subwoofers driven by LA8. We have also used the SB28 in cardioid configuration on several shows now and the results are impressive.” Jim Warren, Radiohead’s <strong>FOH</strong> engineer from day one, adds, “I still sometimes find myself going to switch off my nearfield monitors in an arena show, only to find that they are off already. The clarity and precision of the V-DOSC system continues to surprise me even after 10 years of using them in just about every live sound environment there is.” AUGUST 2008 www.fohonline.com New York University, The Botnick Mixing Facility, and special events at Madison Square Park, Lincoln Center’s New York State Theatre and the Esplanade Theaters On The Bay in Singapore. Other notable clients have included Hollywood Bowl, the Grand Ole Opry, AirShow Mastering, Sound Stages at Paramount Studio, Faith Community Church and many others. Berkow and Sockey believe that the expansion of SIA Acoustics benefits both existing and new clients. “By having staff on both coasts, we will be able to respond even more quickly and reduce travel time to reach our clients,” states Sockey. Radiohead Storms the Globe Three 6 Mafia Amplified at Miami Nightclub Radiohead in concert NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Clair Showco of Lititz, Pa., recently provided a Studer Vista 5 SR console for country music star Keith Urban’s U.S. tour. The multi-city tour featured Studer Vista 5 SR digital audio consoles in use for both <strong>FOH</strong> and monitor mixing applications. The Studer Vista 5 SR was chosen by Urban’s mixing engineers who went through a vigorous evaluation process prior to the selection of the console, but chose the Studer after it met all required criteria: sound quality, flexibility, ease-ofuse and reliability. <strong>FOH</strong> engineer Steve Law and monitor mixing engineer Jason Spence evaluated numerous brands of sound consoles before the tour. Spence noted he had never felt as comfortable with a new desk as he did during the week he was trying out the Studer Vista 5 SR. “When choosing a console, I have three criteria,” said Spence. “It has to sound good to the artist on stage. If it doesn’t, there’s not much point in continuing. Second, I have to be able to get around it quickly. With the ‘inline design’ of the input and output strips, the Vista 5 SR feels very ‘analog.’ I’m able to have control and access to all the parameters at my fingertips. There are not multiple pages to plow through to gain control of any particular feature. Lastly, it needs to be reliable and not crash. It seems that with other brands, I could get one, maybe two of my criteria met; however with the Studer, I got all three.” MIAMI — Three 6 Mafia performed at the tin Audio’s LE1200 were perfect due to the Miami club Sobe Live to promote the group’s small stage size but high levels needed for new CD "Last 2 Walk." Production company, the concert. The was a rap show with an Drummer Boy Sound, which does sound for internationally known rap group, and the Sobe Live, was in charge of the sound with stage monitors were so important." Harold Cummings of Drummer Boy (<strong>FOH</strong>/ Cummings concludes, "Michael had monitors) and Michael Foster, Three 6's en- never heard the Martin Audio LE1200 monigineer handling the audio chores. tors before, but told me they sounded amaz- The club's in-house system includes ing. He went on to say that on the current Martin Audio amplification and an LE1200 tour we were the first production company stage monitor, along with a Dynacord Alpha to get the stage sound and mic levels right system, four flown top cabinets, four dual and so quickly. He was impressed by the 18” subs and Crown Macro-tech 3600 and 5000vz amps. Drummer Boy Sound supplied a APB- LE1200 and wants to use them again.” DynaSonics H1020 mixing console, Klark Teknik DN-370 EQ (house), Klark Teknik Square One EQ (monitors), and Shure UHF- R/Beta 58A wireless mics. According to Cummings, "The Artist Rider requested high-powered stage monitors and Mar- Sobe Live nightclub 2008 Parnelli Award Nominations Now Open continued from cover Part of the prestige of the Parnellis lies on their foundation as a peer-recognized award. To win a Parnelli, a person or firm is first nominated by their peers. Their peers then vote on these nominees and a winner is declared at the Parnelli Awards ceremony. The ceremony will take place this year at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 24. For more info, visit www.parnelliawards.com. Consoles Meet Tough Criteria for Keith Urban Tour Additionally, Crown Macro-Tech 3600 amps and a Lexicon M480L Reverb Effects Processor were in use as part of Clair Showco’s custom JBL-loaded loudspeaker system for the Keith Urban tour. Keith Urban’s <strong>FOH</strong> engineer Steve Law and monitor engineer Jason Spence with the Studer Vista 5 console Emerging Artists Supported IRVINE, Calif. — Ultimate Ears has announced that it is reducing the price of the company’s dual-driver UE-5 Pro to better accommodate a larger user base within the emerging artist community. The custom-fit UE-5 Pro, now available for only $600 — a $100 price reduction — is the original dual-driver personal monitor with a two-speaker design and passive noise cancellation. The low- and high-frequency speakers in each ear deliver a clear sound experience for live stage performance, recording or personal listening. “We believe that this significant price reduction will allow budget conscience customers to gain access to a fully customized in-ear-monitor with a detachable cable,” said Mindy Harvey, president and co-founder of Ultimate Ears. “In the past, custom sleeves were an acceptable alternative to Ultimate Ears’ custom-fit products, but they are problematic and can significantly alter the audio signature of the product they are placed upon. Now we can offer a much better value for customers seeking a totally integrated custom-fit earpiece.” Each pair is handcrafted from ear impressions made by a professional audiologist or hearing aid center. The earphones are available in any color with a choice of detachable cables and can be customized with personal artwork or “tattoos” to show off individual style. The first Ultimate Ears earphones were born out of a special request from Alex Van Halen, founder of Van Halen. The company boasts major clients, including The Eagles, Metallica, Madonna and Gwen Stefani.
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