Little Dragon Performs At UK’s Somerset House With HARMAN Soundcraft Vi3000 Digital Console

LONDON, United Kingdom – Having attained international prominence, electronic pop band Little Dragon took to the stage at London’s major arts and cultural center Somerset House, utilizing the mixing capabilities of a HARMAN Soundcraft Vi3000 console. The 3,000-capacity venue is constructed with an open courtyard in the middle of a Victorian-era building, a true acoustic test for the latest Soundcraft digital console.

With almost a decade of audio engineering experience and several years working with the Soundcraft Vi Series, Little Dragon’s monitor engineer Marco Cruneri sees the Vi3000 as the best choice for the band.

“All Vi Series consoles have nice layouts and great sound, but the features on the Vi3000 are what attract me the most as they are excellent for monitor engineers,” said Cruneri. “I love the flexibility and versatility of the desk, it allows me to work as I would like. The fact that all the I/O is at the back of the desk makes it really compact.”

During its tour throughout the UK, Little Dragon faced multiple technical challenges including limits on the weight of the trailer and time restrictions during sound checks. Thanks to the ergonomics of the Vi3000, and the ability to complete sound checks with the iPad ViSi Remote App, Cruneri found it extremely easy to complete sound checks in the short time allocated.

“The iPad App means that I can work faster and more efficiently. I found that unlike some other brands, Soundcraft offers a straightforward console that touring engineers can pick up and immediately mix on, shown by intuitive features like FaderGlowTM.”

Cruneri plans to continue using the Vi3000 console for Little Dragon’s performances within the UK, and use it again during the upcoming winter tour. Greatly appreciating the simplicity and effectiveness of the console, he is able to bring out the “dense and punchy sounds” of the band.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014.

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Alex Clare Rocks the V Festival with HARMAN Soundcraft Vi6 Digital Consoles

LONDON, United Kingdom – Singer-songwriter Alex Clare headlined the Future Stage at the recent V Festival in Celmsford Essex, with The Old Lion Touring Company providing a pair of HARMAN Soundcraft Vi6 digital consoles for FOH and monitors.

According to Alex Clare’s FOH engineer Harry Devenish, Clare’s performances showcase a human approach to electronic music. “Alex’s performances fuse the weight and power of electronic records with live elements,” he said. “A lot of that is due to the bass setup—the bass guitars trigger a synth and a sub, creating a heavy, dynamic sound on stage.”

Devenish has significant depth of experience with the Soundcraft Vi6, having used one of the first models several years ago. “I come from more of an analog background and was slow to embrace digital, but I’ve always been comfortable with the Vi6,” he said. “It has a very intuitive surface, with hands-on encoders and two layers, it’s very flexible. You can do a lot on the Vi that you can’t do on other digital desks.”

“Vi Series consoles are so easy to work on,” said Tim Boardman, Tour Manager for The Old Lion Touring Company. “I’m from the studio world but I can walk up to the Vi6 and make it work, which is saying something!”

This fall, Old Lion will provide a Vi3000 and Vi6 console for a 10-week tour with Clare, where Boardman and Devenish plan on using the Soundcraft Realtime Rack library of plug-ins from Universal Audio. “We’re really excited about using the Realtime Rack library,” Boardman noted. “Bringing those effects that are predominantly used in studio settings to live performances makes a lot of sense.”

“Realtime Rack will be massive for us!” Devenish remarked. “The Vi6 is already a convenient console to work on and this will take the performance up another level.”

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014.

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FIFA World Cup Stadiums Feature World-Class Audio with HARMAN Professional

Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil
(Photo Credit: Gabriel Smith)

BRASILIA, Brazil – With hundreds of thousands of fans in the stadiums, not to mention the billions who tune in from across the globe, making sure the sound is perfect for the 2014 FIFA World Cup is no small undertaking. When faced with challenge of delivering the most sophisticated, world-class audio experience possible, from the Amazon basin in the north to the banks of the River Guaiba in the south, eight of the major stadium venues in Brazil’s 12 host cities featured HARMAN’s wide range of audio solutions. In addition, a wide variety of Studer Vista consoles were used for television broadcast of the games.

“From inception through delivery, each component in our family of brands is designed to provide a sophisticated, integrated and affordable audio solution,” said Robert Klesser, National Sales Manager, Install & Cinema, HARMAN Brazil. “As soccer transcends sport and becomes an expression of culture, we are honored to be the brand of choice for so many of the venues hosting matches during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.”

While the components installed vary by venue, popular products include HARMAN’s IDX communication systems, AKG microphones, BSS signal processing, Crown amplifiers, Soundcraft digital consoles and JBL loudspeakers. The range of stadiums equipped with HARMAN audio solutions is diverse in terms of size, location and age.

Beginning on a plateau in southeastern Brazil, on the Atlantic Coast, Arena de Sao Paulo hosted the opening match between Croatia and Brazil. Built specifically for the World Cup, the facility seats 68,807 and will serve as the new home for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. Systems integrator Johnson Controls and audio integrator Soundvision outfitted the facility with the IDX communication system, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown CTs amplifiers, JBL Control Contractor ceiling loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Expression digital consoles.

Surrounded by mountains in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which is inland from Sao Paulo and Rio, Estadio Mineirao is a national monument that will host not only World Cup matches but also numerous matches during the 2016 Summer Olympics as well. Built in 1965, the venue seats 57,400 and recently underwent an extensive renovation that took three years. Johnson Controls systems integrator and Soundvision audio integrator equipped the landmark stadium with an IDX communication system, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers, JBL ceiling loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Compact digital consoles.

Estadio Nacional, in Brazil’s capital city, Brasilia, opened in 1974, was renovated in 2013 and seats 68,009. Systems integrator Siemens and audio integrator Loudness equipped the massive facility with an IDX communication system, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, JBL ceiling loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Compact digital consoles.

Estadio Castelao is located in Fortaleza, Brazil, considered a “fortress” port on the country’s northeast coast, more than 1,500 miles from Rio. The facility, which opened in 1973 and reopened in 2013, seats 58,000. For sound, systems integrator TODO and audio integrator Telem equipped the stadium with an IDX communication system, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown CTs amplifiers, JBL PD5000 Series loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Compact digital consoles.

Arena da Amazonia is in Manaus, Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas and, at 2,659 miles from Rio, the furthest north of the host cities. The stadium, which opened in March 2014, seats 42,374. Systems integrator Johnson Controls and audio integrator Soundvision equipped the facility with AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers and JBL Control Contractor Series ceiling speakers.

Arena Pantanal, which opened just two months before the World Cup, is 1,200 miles from Rio, near the Bolivian border and close to the center of South America, in Cuiaba, Brazil. It seats 42,968. Systems integrator Canal Livre and audio integrator Soundvision equipped the facility with an IDX communication system, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown I-Tech HD amplifiers, Crown DCi amplifiers, JBL PD5000 Series loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Expression digital consoles.

Arena Pernambuco is in an economically deprived area on the outskirts of Recife, Brazil, more than 1,400 miles from Rio. With a seating capacity of 42,800, the stadium was opened in 2013 with the hope that it will act as a catalyst for local regeneration long after the World Cup. Systems integrator NEC and audio integrator Telem installed an IDX communication system, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, JBL ceiling loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Compact digital consoles.

Finally, the oldest of the World Cup venues, Arena de Baixada is in Curitba, Brazil, south of Sao Paulo and about 500 miles from Rio. Originally built in 1914, the stadium was completely rebuilt in 1999 and then renovated again for the World Cup. It seats 41,456. Systems integrator NEC and audio integrator Telem equipped the facility with a HARMAN lineup that includes IDX communications systems, AKG microphones, BSS BLU-800 networked signal processors, Crown CTs amplifiers, JBL AWC weatherized compact loudspeakers, JBL PD5000 Series loudspeakers, JBL Control Contractor loudspeakers and Soundcraft Si Expression 3 digital consoles.

HARMAN Professional also had a strong presence in the broadcast elements of the World Cup, with multiple Studer Vista consoles in use for television broadcast of the games. In Rio de Janeiro, a Studer Vista 9 digital console was used to broadcast all 64 games via the TV Globo Network to the Jardim Botanico area. In addition, TV Globo’s OB Van HD3 used a Vista 9 to specifically feed games from Maracana Stadium for live transmission to Jardim Botanico. Projac, the main center of television production for TV Globo, also used a Vista 9 in its OB Van HD8 for live shows related to World Cup events. TV Globo also utilized a pair of Vista 8 digital consoles for television broadcast of live performances centered on the World Cup.

In Sao Paulo and Brasilia, TV Globo’s OB Van HD1 was equipped with a Vista 8 console for the games that were hold in those two cities. A Vista 8 and a Vista 9 were also used in Sao Paolo for live performances related to the World Cup.

Lastly, RCN in Colombia used its OB Van, equipped with a Studer Vista 5 digital console, to broadcast the entirety of the Colombian National Team’s games in the World Cup.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014.

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Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene Elevates Its Sound System With HARMAN’s JBL Loudspeakers and Soundcraft Digital Consoles

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene has served its parishioners since 1941, with roots going back to the first group of Nazarenes who congregated in the region in 1912. Like many houses of worship, the church had been making do with an inadequate, practically antiquated sound system until it brought in Spokane, Washington’s Hoffman Pro Systems and HARMAN Professional for an audio revival.

“The sanctuary literally had two wall-mounted speaker boxes to provide coverage to the entire main floor, balcony, under balcony and the church’s extended side wings,” said Hoffman Pro Systems general manager Dave Kenagy. “To say it was insufficient for the church’s current needs, which include providing sound for a full praise band, would be an understatement.”

Not so for the current system, specified by designer/installer David Lewis which features a Soundcraft Si Expression 3 digital console, Crown XTi 2 Series amplifiers, JBL VRX Series and additional loudspeakers, dbx PMC16 Personal Monitor Controllers and AKG K240 MKII headphones.

The Soundcraft Si Expression 3 has a MADI card installed and provides 32 inputs from the floor as well as local inputs at front of house for playback from various audio sources. A Soundcraft Stagebox is located at the front of the pulpit/stage area, linked to the console via a HARMAN BLU-Link card. Two dbx PMC16 Personal Monitor Controllers connected to the front of house via Cat6 cable enable the drummer and guitar/bass player to control and balance their own individual monitor levels, which Kenagy notes helps to keep the overall stage volume lower and easier to mix.

The Si Expression 3 handles the front of house and all monitor mixes. “The church volunteer staff had to make the move from their old analog console to digital,” noted Kenagy. “Although they’re not audio professionals, the board’s straightforward control layout and ability to store and recall snapshots made it easy for them.”

Three JBL VRX 932LA-1 Constant Curvature loudspeakers and two VRX918S subwoofers are hung as the main center cluster. Two VRX928LA loudspeakers are used for balcony fill, with three AC18/26 wall-mountable loudspeakers employed for under-balcony fill. Two AC18/95 wall-mountable loudspeakers are used for front side fill where the seating wraps around the front corners of the stage. In addition, an AC26 compact loudspeaker is mounted on stage and aimed back at the choir area. The loudspeakers are powered by a total of five Crown XTi 6002, XTi 4002 and XTi 1002 amplifiers.

Lewis noted that the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene is “extremely happy with the new system. Aside from the fact that it’s a night and day difference from their old setup sonically, for the first time it enables the church to mix the praise band the way they should be heard and it gives the pastor and the speakers the freedom of wireless movement.”

Another benefit which was unforeseen by Lewis and the church’s staff: the sound quality is so clear throughout the entire sanctuary that fewer people are using the church’s assistive hearing devices.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014.

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Philadelphia Funk Authority Displays True Multitasking Skills With HARMAN Soundcraft Si Expression 2 Console

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – Catering to weddings, private events, festivals, clubs and concerts in and around the tri-state area, Philadelphia Funk Authority comprises hardworking individuals whose passion is playing funk, soul and R&B music from the ‘70s to today. Since the band’s members all maintain regular jobs during the day, it opted for a HARMAN Soundcraft Si Expression 2 console to mix its shows from the stage, foregoing the need for extensive technical training on a difficult-to-use console.

Heading up the technical department for the band is Andrew Kowal, a trumpet player who has been a musician for 30 years. While taking on the responsibilities of an onstage mixer, he needed an intuitive console that allowed him and the band members to simultaneously control the sound dynamics of the show and their own performances. The Si Expression 2 was chosen for its effortless workflow, flexible outputs, and the ability to mix on the fly.

“While onstage, I can operate the console and other band members can tweak their monitor mixes, meaning that we required an intuitive solution that could keep up with our dynamic pace,” said Kowal. “Having 24 channels is very comfortable for a 9-piece band with four lead singers and three horns, but having the flexibility to mix five discrete monitors at the same time while playing music is great!”

After acquiring the Si Expression 2, the band members noticed how much less gear they needed to transport to each show. With the Si Expression 2, no longer were they required to juggle additional racks and outboard equipment, resulting in a setup time of less than an hour. Even an extra feed into a house PA system only takes a couple of minutes to set up.

“I love everything about the console, especially the FaderGlowTM feature, because it’s so nice to light up only the faders that are in effect, so I don’t need to waste time on finding the right faders,” said Kowal. “I like having instant access to the graphic EQ, filters, compressors, as it makes everything so much easier and faster. Basically, everything improved for us overnight.”

For more information on Philadelphia Funk Authority, please visit http://www.phillyfunk.com/

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.3 billion for the twelve months ended June 30, 2014.

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Phonophobia Adds HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi3000 Digital Console to Expanding Hire Fleet

KENT, United Kingdom – After recently investing heavily in HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi platform, Mark Chant’s Kent-based Phonophobia has now added a next-generation Soundcraft Vi3000 digital console to its inventory. The console was sold through Sound Technology Ltd., HARMAN’s UK and ROI distributor.

“Having MADI and Dante built into this desk gives Soundcraft a massive advantage as does the additional functionality, with the local ins and outs on the board,” Chant observed.

The Vi3000’s first high-profile appearance was at a University of Kent Summer Ball in Canterbury, attended by around 4,000 students and headlining Ella Eyre, supported by several DJs. Phonophobia’s Vi1 was down at the stage and the company also brought its Vi rack, running 60 inputs over 30 outputs.

“Visiting engineers patched in through Dante or MADI, and since we have a lot of riders now showing Vi1 or Vi6, most seemed excited to be using the new desk,” Chant added. “They turned up with their show files and used the Universal Audio plugins.

“Although it was a stressful gig, none of my headaches came from the console—we could leave it and just walk away from it,” Chant said.

Summing up, Chant said, “This feels like a Vi desk—but is vastly superior, and the Vi3000 will be out constantly. Since we have advertised it on our website, we have received a steady flow of inquiries and the interest has been incredible.”

For more information on Phonophobia, please visit www.phonophobia-online.co.uk

For more information on Sound Technology, please visit www.soundtech.co.uk

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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SSE Audio Group Adds HARMAN Soundcraft Vi3000 to Extensive Inventory

Chris Courtney mixing monitors for Travis
at the Isle of Wight Festival with SSE’s new
Soundcraft Vi3000.

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom – HARMAN Professional has announced that SSE Audio Group has been appointed a Soundcraft Vi Select Dealer, and immediately purchased one of the first Soundcraft Vi3000 digital consoles off the production line, sold through HARMAN’s UK distributor Sound Technology.

SSE Sales Director, Alex Penn, confirmed, “We have a long history with Soundcraft’s Vi Series. We saw the Vi3000 for the first time at Frankfurt Prolight & Sound; it sits neatly between the Vi1 and Vi4 and offers many new features, which will secure the longevity of this series, which has always been popular with engineers.”

Marking a massive technological upgrade to the groundbreaking Vi Series, the Vi3000 offers many advantages, including the much-requested access to Universal Audio’s plug-ins via Soundcraft’s Realtime Rack plug-in engine—both points picked up on by Penn.

“The Realtime Rack can also be used with our existing Vi6 inventory,” Penn continued. “We have a pool of sound engineers who are existing Vi users and it will be useful to let these guys know about the new facilities on offer with Realtime Rack.”

“We also see a lot of potential in SSE sales and installations for the Vi3000, with its very competitive price point and new facilities,” Penn added. “This is the first time a large-format Vi control surface has been available to the market at this level and the Vi3000 will integrate very neatly and cost-effectively into venues with existing analogue infrastructure via the I/O on the back of the surface. Onboard MADI and Dante interfaces as standard are also a huge bonus as well as upgraded DSP and new graphics.”

SSE’s Vi3000 had had its first major outing at the recent Isle of Wight Festival where it was used by SSE regular Chris Courtney to mix monitors for Travis. Courtney had previously used a Vi6 for the band, but for this festival run, the reduced size and lack of rack requirements made the Vi3000 a more attractive proposition.

For more information on SSE, please visit www.sseaudiogroup.com

For more information on Sound Technology, please visit www.soundtech.co.uk

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Rockdale Town Hall Upgrades to State-of-the-Art Audio System with HARMAN’s JBL Loudspeakers and Soundcraft Digital Console

SYDNEY, Australia – In a project designed to reinvigorate the city’s regional arts and cultural hub, systems integration firm The P.A. People recently upgraded the audio system at Sydney’s Rockdale Town Hall. The new state-of-the-art system features HARMAN’s JBL VRX Constant Curvature loudspeakers and a Soundcraft Si Expression 1 digital console.

The new audio components at Rockdale Town Hall provide fresh life to the historic complex and provided Sydney with a world-class venue that can accommodate a varied array of events from musical concerts and variety shows to business, community and social events. In addition to the new PA and communications system, the auditorium’s beautiful Art Deco detailing has been restored.

To avoid intruding on the classical aesthetics of the venue, an unobtrusive yet powerful PA system was required and Brett Steele, project manager for The P.A. People, immediately thought of the JBL VRX Constant Curvature loudspeakers. Hung in a left/center/right configuration, the VRX932LA loudspeakers deliver extraordinary power handling, clarity, flexibility and, of course, stunning JBL sound in an attractive, easy to handle and affordable package.

“The VRX loudspeakers are configured to ensure maximum coverage and cater to the widest range of applications from musical theater to simple speeches,” Steele said. “The VRX rigging made it easy to install and the system is performing well.”

The PA is controlled through a Soundcraft Si Expression 1 digital mixing console, which is ideal for a venue that has to accommodate a wide variety of uses.

“This easy-to-use console from Soundcraft has the flexibility to accept local inputs in the control area, such as radio microphones and playback sources, as well as accepting microphone and line level inputs via the mini stage box located on the stage,” Steele added. “This is a great general purpose console for this venue.”

The reopening concert received a warm reception from both the crowd and in particular, the council.

“The Rockdale Town Hall reopening concert proved the sound system, specifically designed for this unique 1940s Art Deco auditorium, has the dynamic range to cater for any type of performance from opera to basic public speaking” endorsed a Council spokesman. “It complements and supplements the existing natural excellent acoustics of the Hall. Rockdale City Council is very happy with the end result.”

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Paul Hatt Takes HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi4 Console On The Road With Paolo Nutini

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom – Heralded as one of the top voices in modern soul”, Scottish singer/songwriter/musician Paolo Nutini has quickly hit the big time since his 2006 debut album These Streets reached 5-times platinum in the UK. His 2010 follow-up Sunny Side Up reached Number One on the UK charts, as did his latest 2014 release Caustic Love. Nutini is currently touring worldwide in support of Caustic Love with monitor engineer Paul Hatt, working behind a HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi4 digital live sound console. Hatt has been with Nutini for the past six months, relying on the Vi4 to deliver monitor mixes to Nutini and his 11-piece band that includes guitars, bass, drums, a 2-piece brass section, backing vocals and more. In addition, Hatt’s company, CS Audio, has been providing a control and monitor package for the tour.

“Paolo has a wonderful dynamic range and we’re doing a nice mix of rock and some softer tunes,” Hatt pointed out. “The Vi4 sounds equally clear and musical whether Paolo and the band are quiet and subdued or rocking away at full bore—the console never sounds strained or harsh no matter what we ask it to do.”

Hatt notes that Paolo and the band are so tight they don’t need a click track: “This is the first band I’ve done in years where I don’t have to hear that click in my ear all the time and can just concentrate on the mix. The vocal and instrumental balances are always varying and changing with a band of this size and with the Vi4 I can easily store hundreds of cues if I like and easily keep up with anything Paolo and the band want to do, even on a moment’s notice.”

Hatt finds the expanded monitor mixing capabilities provided by the Soundcraft Vi4’s latest Version 4.8 software to be especially useful. Version 4.8 offers a number of significant new features including the ability for all 32 of the console’s mix busses to operate in stereo mode, to allow use as in-ear mixes. A number of new signal routing, panning and processing options are also provided. “I give Soundcraft credit for improving their already-excellent consoles with an update that adds new features to make life easier,” he said.

“The Vi4 is now even more suited to live performance thanks to the expanded bus structure,” Hatt said. “It’s nice to know I can keep adding stereo mixes and not run out of them, which happens with some other consoles.”

Hatt has also been working with the Soundcraft ViSi Remote iPad app, which enables remote control of Soundcraft Vi Series or Si Compact consoles from an iPad. Hatt takes his iPad with ViSi app on the road to EQ the monitor wedges from various locations across the stage, finding it extremely useful in dialing the sound of each monitor without having to constantly run to and from the console to the stage. “To say this speeds up the process of fine tuning and ringing out the monitors would be an understatement,” he noted.

Hatt had been using Soundcraft digital consoles for a few years before signing on with Nutini. “I have to say the Vi4, along with the Vi1, has been my favorites of any live sound consoles.”

In Hatt’s estimation, the Vi4 and Vi1 are the most intuitive to operate and combine all the control, signal routing, instant setup and recall, built-in processing and other benefits of a digital platform with unexcelled sound quality. “With the Vi4 I often forget I’m using a digital board, but when I go back to other brands I can feel the difference in ease of use,” he concluded. “The Vi4 is by far the best and easiest console out there for live concert mixing.”

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Engineer John Delf Puts HARMAN’s Soundcraft Realtime Rack Plug-in Engine to the Test on 5 Seconds of Summer World Tour

SYDNEY, Australia – Having toured the United Kingdom, United States and Australia with Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, front of house engineer John Delf was one of the world’s first professionals to put the HARMAN’s Soundcraft Realtime Rack to use. Delf has been using his Soundcraft Vi4 digital console in conjunction with the Realtime Rack—a massive library of plug-ins from Universal Audio, compatible with all Soundcraft Vi Series digital consoles.

“I have been using the Soundcraft Vi desk range for many years now so I was very excited when they announced the release of the Realtime Rack,” Delf said. “I had heard great things about the Universal Audio plug-ins, so the thought of using these in combination with the Vi4 that I was using on the 5SOS tour was a very exciting prospect.”

According to Delf, the Realtime Rack has opened up a new world of possibilities. “The onboard dynamics and effects on the Vi range are exceptional but to be able to scan through the entire UAD catalogue and insert other extremely tasty emulations is so cool,” he said. “I am able to put two or three different compressors and pre's into all my important channels and switch between them, trying out which ones are best for each application.”

In addition, the Realtime Rack enables Delf to create processing and effects combinations that would not be practical if he was using outboard hardware. “At one point I was running three compressors on my kick drum microphone and it sounded great—not something that would have been practical using actual outboard gear,” he noted. “The advantage of the virtual emulations is that I can create chains that in the real world I could only ever dream of.”

Of equal important is the Realtime Rack’s ease of use—a crucial benefit on tours where every second is at a premium. “Once the Realtime Rack is cabled up to the Vi it’s very easy to add the effects to your existing channels and you can still use them in combination with the onboard desk dynamics and effects. All internal connections are done though the MADI interface so once you have the ins and outs sorted in the Realtime Rack, it’s very simple to link those into the channels.”

According to Delf, the diversity of effects at his disposal gives him a virtually limitless sonic array to choose from. “A kid in a sonic sweetshop probably best describes using it,” he quipped. “The only downside is that once you have used the Realtime Rack you will really miss it next time you have to do a show without one!”

“It just adds that extra bit of magic to your mix that was only previously available to studio engineers, but is now quite literally at the fingertips of the live engineer, via a great touchscreen. Thank you Soundcraft, I really loved using this piece of kit.”

For more information on John Delf’s recording studio, please visit www.theedgestudios.co.uk

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Third New Hope Baptist Church Purchases HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression 2 Digital Console For New Campus

DETROIT, Michigan – Third New Hope Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan now featuring Sunday services at their three locations (Main, West and Northwest Campuses), recently purchased a HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression 2 console for its newest Northwest campus in Farmington Hills, which seats approximately 300 people. The church is known to offer a mixture of styles when it comes to its services, ranging from traditional hymns to contemporary Christian rock.

As the Lead Sound Engineer for the church, Derrick Holmes travels between all three campuses to manage the sound installations and train volunteers at each location. Having started his own live sound company for local bands called D&G Sound, he temporarily installed a Si Expression 3 console at the Farmington Hills campus. The church was so impressed with the console that it led to the purchase of its own Si Expression 2, which marks another step towards implementing the latest audiovisual technologies at the new campus.

“Based on my past experience as a live sound and studio engineer, I can confidently say that I’m impressed by the Si Expression Series,” said Holmes. “They’re user-friendly, and they hide well behind a screen. I can sit in the theater seat with an iPad and it feels great to control everything remotely. When I am on the board, the FaderGlowTM illumination makes the operation more intuitive than other boards, especially when using the console in dark theater environments.”

The Farmington Hills campus has a modern venue that is also used as a theater, so the Si Expression 2 was the perfect choice to highlight the acoustics of the venue, and to help volunteers transition out of their analog background.

“It’s easy to teach people with relatively little experience to use the board, because it’s so intuitively designed and it sounds great!” said Holmes. “Considering the price-point, you get high quality in sound and construction. The layout is very organized, so it wasn’t hard to transition people out of analog.”

For more information, please visit www.thirdnewhope.com

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets.   With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Studio Metronome Reinforces Location Recording Business With HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression 3

BROOKLINE, New Hampshire – Aside from album production, mixing and mastering at Studio Metronome in Brookline, New Hampshire, House Engineer and Studio Manager Brendan Connors also records live shows at remote locations. Recently, the business upgraded to a HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression 3 console for higher-quality sound, portability and a smaller footprint. Having worked with world-famous artists such as The Pixies, Peter Frampton, Black Eyed Peas and Warren Haynes, Brendan accordingly requires world-class equipment.

Studio Metronome needed a more space-efficient digital console to minimize its outboard gear, allowing for a lighter load-out when traveling to and preparing for live shows. In addition, a MADI option card makes the Si Expression compatible with the existing MADI-based infrastructure of the studio’s location recording and studio equipment. When ergonomics, channel count and price were added to the mix, the 32-channel console made a compelling argument for the engineers at Metronome.

“I’ve been quite happy with this console, as I just used it at the Unifier Festival in Connecticut,” said Brendan. “While I plan on exploring more MADI remote control options, I am already impressed with many of the digital capabilities of the Si Expression 3. It sounds better and with a smaller footprint than other brands within this price range, and the other boards I’ve tried also did not have recall capabilities that are as robust as those of Soundcraft.”

Brendan also creates real-time broadcast mixes while multi-tracking the concerts for touring artists, allowing him to deliver properly mixed and mastered CDs immediately after the show. Audience members often have the chance to take home the live recording of the show they just attended or purchase it online. Hence, ergonomics are critical for delivering flawless mixes and keeping track of every element of the recording.

“I enjoy the layout, and it’s been a pleasure to work on such an ergonomic board,” said Brendan. “Coming from a Yamaha console, I really enjoy the intent behind the layout. I basically mixed a show with the Si Expression one-and-a-half hours after I took it out of the box. Also, I love the FaderGlow™ feature, because it makes it easy for me to separate monitors from effects with just a glance. The intuitiveness of the board allows me to provide more comprehensive services for my clients.”

For more information on Studio Metronome, please visit http://StudioMetronome.com

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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HARMAN Professional Provides Refreshing Sound For Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival

LONDON, United Kingdom – Taking place in Dalston, a northeastern district of London, the Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival will run for a full month from 2nd July until 3rd August, featuring a complete sound reinforcement system comprising HARMAN’s AKG microphones, Crown amplifiers, JBL loudspeakers and Soundcraft mixing consoles all provided in partnership with HARMAN Professional’s UK and Ireland distributor Sound Technology Ltd. Sponsored by the UK’s premium cider brand Kopparberg and promoted by MAMA & Company, the Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival mixes Scandinavian and London cultures to provide audiences with a vibrant array of events.

Ranging from night clubs to street art, the Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival is a unique social gathering where the local food and cider is as refreshing as the summer music that is being played through JBL VTX line arrays. The main PA features eight JBL VTX V20 loudspeakers, four S25 subwoofers, complemented by two VTX F15s plus VTX F12, VTX F18S and STX812M stage monitors. The system is powered with two Crown VRack 4x3500 HD systems and an I-Tech 5000 HD amplifier.

With a huge lineup of musicians, DJs and MCs, MAMA & Company is also relying on AKG for world-class microphones, including a range of AKG models including the D12VR, C1000S, D40, D5, DSR700 V2 and DHT700 D7 microphones. FOH and monitors are being mixed through a Soundcraft Si Performer 2 digital console, which is also controllable via the Soundcraft ViSi Remote app, enabling iPad control of the console via a single wireless network.

Working closely with London-based charity and venue The Bootstrap Company, Kopparberg will help facilitate their work to support local creatives and social microenterprises and represent the best that East London has to offer. As part of this support Kopparberg will be paying for two interns from the Bootstrap Company to learn about event management during the five-week run of the Kopparberg Urban Forest. When the Urban Forest closes its doors, Kopparberg will also be gifting its trees and greenery to The Bootstrap Company for distribution amongst its projects.

“The Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival is a dynamic event featuring a wide variety of performers and styles,” said Joe Roberts of MAMA & Company. “Therefore, we need an equally dynamic audio system to accommodate the range of talent onstage, and we found the most comprehensive and high-performance audio components through HARMAN and Sound Technology.”

“This event will showcase HARMAN’s ability to provide world-class components across the audio signal chain, from AKG microphones and Soundcraft consoles to JBL loudspeakers and Crown amplifiers,” said Ed Jackson, Application Engineer, Tour Sound, EMEA, HARMAN Professional. “It is also exciting to be working with the charity Bootstrap and to be part of helping provide the production for a charitable event!”

The event features over 50 artists including: We Were Evergreen, Lucy Rose, Little Dragon, Gaz Coombes and New Young Pony Club.

For more information on the Kopparberg Urban Forest Festival, please visit www.kopparbergurbanforest.com


For more information on MAMA & Company, please visit www.mamaco.com & www.mamacolive.com

For more information on Bootstrap Company, please visit www.bootstrapcompany.co.uk

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Johnny D’s Serves Up A Superior Sound Experience with HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression 3

SOMERVILLE, Massachusetts – For a 300-seat nightclub that is 45 years old and doubles as a restaurant in David Square, Somerville, Massachusetts, Johnny D’s required a renovation of its outdated sound system. While MJ Audio integrated the front end of the new system, which features HARMAN’s Crown amplifiers and BSS signal processors, Technical Manager Dana Westover has installed a Soundcraft Si Expression 3 to improve upon its existing analog consoles.

Given the popular area in which Johnny D’s is situated, its stage enjoys many touring bands and guest engineers in addition to local artists. Therefore, Westover needed a reliable console that is not only within the venue’s budget and able to accommodate the various performers, but also one that is user-friendly for the various engineers working at the club.

“We’ve been running analog mixers up until now, and have had a slow transition towards digital technology, because we get a lot of guest engineers who come from the analog world,” said Westover. “However, the Si Expression 3 is perfect as an upgrade, because it helps people transition to digital due to its logical layout and ease of use. For example, we had a guest engineer who has never worked on a Soundcraft board before, and within 15 minutes, he was ready for the show.”

The room housing the new equipment contains no parallel surfaces, thus leading to unique acoustics and an intimate layout of the venue. With a Soundcraft Si Expression 3 console, a sound engineer can ensure that guests enjoy the most distinctive sounding shows. In addition, FaderGlowTM illumination of the faders prevents any unwanted mistakes in dark club environments that might hamper the audio experience.

“I think the audio quality is very solid, especially considering the price of the console,” said Westover. “I’m very happy that we have a great sounding venue, and now we have a great sounding board that any traveling engineer can do well with. I especially like how FaderGlow allows me to identify everything clearly, but I can also adjust the intensity of the LED’s depending on the lighting of the venue.”

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Christian Worship Center Upgrades with HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi6 Digital Console

MANTECA, California – The Christian Worship Center in Manteca, California recently purchased a HARMAN Soundcraft Vi6 digital console to better accommodate the Sunday and Wednesday services at its 2,000-seat venue. While most of the Center’s previous equipment was analog, current Lead Sound Engineer Bill Clark relayed how the construction goal was to implement state of the art sound reinforcement gear through digital technology. Hence, the church set stringent design requirements for the new console and with the assistance of San Francisco’s Novo Group and consultant Art Yeap, it was determined only the Vi6 could satisfy.

As a serviceman with 35 years in the U.S. Army, the last 18 in the Army Music Program, Clark is also responsible for the sound reinforcement of his Army unit, the 191st Army Band in Dublin, California. Having experienced Soundcraft as one of his first digital consoles in the past, he appreciates the brand and recommends Vi Series consoles for their channel capacity, rich feature set and cost-to-performance ratio.

Additionally, the Christian Worship Center plans to create a production company utilizing its current platform for theater and music. In order to suit the audio needs of artists and actors, the owners required a well-polished MADI implementation of the new console. The Vi6 can more than provide for this need, as Clark recently demonstrated with the recording of two albums so far.

“We wanted to do a lot of things with our new console, and we went with the Vi6 because it’s superior in many ways,” said Clark. “Whether used for touring or fixed installation, from a safety and logistics standpoint, it cuts the weight and equipment count by so much, allowing us to replace all those equipment racks with onboard features. With regards to capacity, we never reach the limit with our 64x32 mono-outs, despite having a big worship team of eight vocalists, a full-sized band with a horn section and 18 channels of wireless handhelds and body-packs.”

All the feeds are routed into a PC, which gives Clark the ability to come back later and audit the mixes. As an additional benefit, this allows him to train new volunteers more efficiently, leading to more consistent operations of the intuitively designed console. For example, training a student who is obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in music production was as easy for Clark as training his own son, who has had limited sound engineering experience.

“Not only does the console run continuously with no problems [I’ve tested it multiple times on 16 hour runs non-stop], it sounds great!” said Clark. “There are a lot of subtle things that my ears don’t hear anymore, but with a digital signal path, the marvelous compressors and the onboard effects, I can definitely hear the improved clarity. Frankly, it all sounds nothing short of astounding.”

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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HARMAN’s Soundcraft Launches Online “How To” Video Series

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom – HARMAN’s Soundcraft is pleased to announce that it is offering its “How To” instructional video series on its website, www.soundcraft.com. The videos focus on the Si Series of digital consoles and include a variety of topics from basic operation to advanced tips and tricks.

The “How To” video series offers practical instruction on how to get the most from a Soundcraft Si console in live sound, recording and fixed-installation applications. “The video series offers real-world information and depth of subject matter for a broad spectrum of users, whether they’ve never had their hands on a Soundcraft console before and need to get up and running quickly or have mixed hundreds of shows and want to dig deeply into a console’s feature set,” said Keith Watson, Marketing Director, Soundcraft Studer.

Alongside the “How To” videos, there is a video vault covering every Soundcraft console range including the Vi Series, Si Expression, Si Performer and analogue consoles. A wide variety of topics is offered, from basic operation and configuration, gain structure, channel assignment and using EQ and effects to Soundcraft-specific features like the Vistonics II™ colour touchscreen interface and FaderGlow™ illuminated, colour-coded faders.

“At Soundcraft we’re dedicated to providing our users with the educational tools they need to get the most out of their consoles,” said Watson. “We’d like to think our video series is the next best thing to having a front of house engineer standing next to you behind the console.”

The videos can be viewed at http://www.soundcraft.com/support/videos.aspx?c=15

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Strictly Audio STL Counts on HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si Expression Consoles For Regional Festivals

ST. LOUIS, Missouri – Running a small production company in the heart of Missouri, the owner of Strictly Audio STL Bob Walther provides his services to cover local festivals from St. Louis all the way to southern Illinois. While his HARMAN Soundcraft Si Expression 3 console is temporarily installed alongside the integrated HARMAN audio system at the Atomic Cowboy nightclub, his newly purchased Si Expression 2 is responsible for mixing the sound at some of his region’s most popular festivals.

The owners of the nightclub, which has a capacity of 700 people, were sold on the fact that the Si Expression’s core functions can be remotely controlled via the Soundcraft ViSi Remote 2.0 iPad app. This added functionality allows the 32-channel Si Expression 3 console to be stored away behind a barricaded space, freeing up precious room for customers, while the operator roams free through the crowd.

Besides the console, the audio system at the Atomic Cowboy features one JBL STX825 loudspeaker on each side of the stage and two SRX728S subwoofers under the stage, powered by two Crown I-Tech 6000 amplifiers, as well as three JBL SRX712M monitors powered by two Crown XTI2002 amplifiers. The sound is further enhanced by a dbx DriveRack, which provides optimum control of equalization and loudspeaker management.

“The evening after the installation was completed, a show took place that exceeded the expectations of the club owners and myself,” said Walther. “I knew that going with a full HARMAN setup would eliminate guesswork and result in good synergy, but we couldn’t believe how good the system sounded right out of the box. The owners praised the equipment that was chosen for the club, as the clarity and detail were fantastic. The Crown amplifiers provided plenty of headroom at front of house and the monitors made the band very happy.”

“I was pleased with the performance and audio fidelity of the Si Expression 3, which were my main reasons for purchasing a Si Expression 2,” Walther added. “The Si Expression Series remains far better than anything else within this price range. The lower channel count of the Si Expression 2 is more than sufficient for most of our local festivals and events, whereas the Si Expression 3 is used for regional touring groups, when not in use at the Atomic Cowboy.”

Having cut his teeth on analog equipment, Walther is averse to the cluttered menus found on some of the digital consoles in today’s market. However, the Soundcraft Si Expression consoles are designed with an appreciation for common sense; features such as FaderGlow™, the illuminated and color-coded fader-strip, speed up workflow and improve efficiency of operation.

“This console translates so well from the analog world, because it is designed in a very logical fashion,” Walther stated. “With some digital mixers out there, I almost feel like I’m translating a foreign language when attempting a live mix. With the Si Expression, I don’t even have to look at my hands, thanks to FaderGlow and the intuitive layout. Also, the onboard effects and compressors eliminated the need for a 4-foot-tall effects rack, which saved me a lot of room in the truck.”

Walther has recently used the Si Expression 2 in events such as the annual Crawfish Boil in downtown, where Cajun food is accompanied by a healthy dose of local musical acts. The Si Expression 3 temporarily installed in the nightclub will enjoy more spectacles such as the upcoming Mound City Music Fest over the weekend.

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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Pick Of The Hits - HARMAN in InfoComm Show Daily, June 2014

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Lydvaesenet Snaps Up Denmark’s First HARMAN’s Soundcraft Vi3000 Digital Console

Henrik Kjærgaard, Lydvæsenet

AARHUS, Denmark – LydRommet A/S has confirmed its first sale of HARMAN’s Soundcraft’s Vi3000 next-generation digital mixing console to concert touring and festival specialists, Lydvæsenet—run by Henrik Kjærgaard. The delivery was the first of three Vi3000 sales confirmed by Lars Christensen, Sales Manager at LydRommet, HARMAN Professional’s territory distributor.

He confirmed, “We began promoting the Vi3000 as soon as the first pictures were up in cyberspace and immediately received a number of inquiries. Henrik was one of the first people we approached.”

The momentum grew further during the presentation at this year’s Prolight+Sound Show in Frankfurt, and having taken delivery of its own demo console, LydRommet’s participation at local promo events, supported by HARMAN Professional’s Dom Harter and Dave Karlsen, further spread the word.

Both Lars Christenesen and Henrik Kjærgaard—a vastly experienced sound engineer in his own right—say there is much to commend the first of Soundcraft’s new console, pinpointing the Dante/ MADI interfaces for recording/plugins; 96 mix channels; 24 stereo or/mono busses; the built in local rack; the high-quality local mic pre’s; the additional screen and control for the price; the 36 faders, and in particular “the fantastic audio quality.”

“Most of our customers just say ‘wow’ and can’t believe what they are getting for the money,” continued Christensen. “The Vi3000 is certainly introducing the Vi quality to a broader range of productions.”

Lydvæsenet is no stranger to the Soundcraft platform and already has a number of Si Expressions, Si Performers and a Vi1 in its inventory. “All were chosen because of the audio quality, facilities and ease of use,” confirmed Kjærgaard.

There were several reasons for the latest purchase, he said. “The main reason was the I/O capacity of the Vi3000, which we needed to take on certain tour productions. But all the other cool features like onboard MADI/Dante, UA plugins, upgraded DSP and graphics certainly helped to make the decision.”

The first tour of duty for the Vi3000 was with Lis Sorensen, an evergreen Danish pop artist at the Jelling Musik festival.

In summary, Lars Christensen stated, “We are proud to count Henrik as one of the most enthusiastic users of Soundcraft’s entire range of digital consoles. He needed the enhanced capacity that the Vi3000 could offer—and the RealTime Rack and access to UA plugins certainly didn’t hinder the decision!”

Speaking generally, he believes the Vi3000 would make a perfect partner for every sound engineer and rental company. “Unofficially, the Vi’s are the preferred digital consoles for a festival stage—and this will be enhanced with the Vi3000 with all its facilities, integration with the UA RealTime rack and the overall price point.”

He also noted that trends in live mixing are changing, and audio quality and ease of use are again taking top priority. “We believe people are reverting from mixing on screens to mixing on their ears, so consoles with the most direct access and control will gain market share, and those based on menus will decline,” he predicted.

HARMAN designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and integrated control solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson ®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a global workforce of 15,200 people and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last 12 months ended March 31, 2014.

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HARMAN’s Soundcraft Integrates Award-Winning UAD Plug-Ins From Universal Audio With Vi Series Consoles

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – At InfoComm 2014, HARMAN's Soundcraft is demonstrating the new Soundcraft® Realtime Rack--a library of over 70 award-winning UAD plug-ins from Universal Audio compatible with all Soundcraft Vi Series digital consoles. The Realtime Rack is a 1U (one rack unit) enclosure capable of processing up to 16 channels of a MADI stream, while additional units can be added for 32, 48 or 64 channels.

There are two versions of the Soundcraft® Realtime Rack: the Core comes preloaded with 14 classic HARMAN and UAD plug-ins, while the Ultimate comes fully loaded with 72 plug-ins including emulations of legendary analog hardware from industry-leading brands such as Studer, Lexicon, dbx, Neve, Manley and more.

The Realtime Rack software runs on a Mac computer providing all the control needed to insert UAD plug-ins on individual channels, auxiliary channels, and master busses as easily as real hardware. A comprehensive snapshot system allows total recall of all plug-ins and their settings. Tight network integration with Vi Series consoles ensures that all settings of the plug-ins are stored inside a Soundcraft Vi console. One Realtime Rack can run 16 channel strips each with up to eight plug-ins inserted. Realtime Racks can also be daisy-chained to up to four units processing 64 channels simultaneously.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures, and markets a wide range of infotainment and audio solutions for the automotive, consumer, and professional markets. It is a recognized world leader across its customer segments with premium brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, and Mark Levinson® and leading-edge connectivity, safety and audio technologies. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of 15,200 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.1 billion for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2014.

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