Category Archives: Pro Audio

Pro Audio

A Tale of Two Processors – Sound Forums

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It is widely known that different Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) sound different. I have heard this difference ascribed to everything from sample rate to the quality of the limiters, whatever that means. Certainly there is a difference to be found, but I suspect it is not going to be discovered using audiophile words like “warmth” […]

Source: A Tale of Two Processors – Sound Forums

Pro Audio

Alcons Audio Delivers Super Sound At Super Bowl LII Events

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Every year Super Bowl, the annual climax of the NFL American football season, makes global headlines – both about the game itself and the legendary halftime entertainment. National and international broadcasters also cover many of the lead-up events throughout the preceding week. For Super Bowl LII, Alcons Audio delivered a winning solution for celebrated events on both sides of the Atlantic.

Super Bowl LII took place at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Philadelphia Eagles beat the reigning champions New England Patriots. For the week before the game, the ballroom at the Minneapolis Hilton hotel hosted a range of events which generated huge US media interest. An audio system that could deliver speech and music of equal high quality over a large area was vital – just the task for the Alcons LR7 pro-ribbon micro line-array.

Packed with reporters, one of the highest profile events was the announcement of Justin Timberlake as the Super Bowl halftime entertainment. With the eyes and ears of the world on the announcement, press conference and Q&A with Timberlake, the sound had to be flawless.

Alcons @ SuperBowl 2018

Global production company Freeman AV delivers most of the sound and video requirements for Super Bowl. Despite the company’s huge inventory of audio systems, Martin Reeves – the technical audio lead who works closely with Freeman AV’s Director of Client Solutions, Warren Cruickshank – always insists on Alcons.

“The Minneapolis Hilton was a challenging space that we had to cover with even, quality sound for a range of very high-profile events,” says Martin. “Horizontally it was around 150ft wide by 200ft deep, but with the added difficulty of a low ceiling that we needed to prevent audio reflections from. In addition, with three tiers of broadcast camera risers, we had to maintain sightlines, so the system needed to be both compact and highly directional.”

The Alcons system comprised six flown LR7 and one ground-stacked BF181 compact subwoofer per side, plus SR9 ultra-compact in-fill monitors for frontfill, QR24 modular line-source array columns for outfill and VR8 compact versatile monitors providing foldback.

“It was a very small package for a very big room, yet the fidelity, clarity and throw were exceptional,” he continues. “It was a difficult and high-pressure production, both because of Super Bowl’s profile and with media crews from all over the world.

“Everything has to be fantastic, which is why I specify Alcons pro-ribbon systems. I know they will always deliver a superb result.”

Meanwhile in Europe, Austrian private broadcaster PULS 4 hosted what it called ‘Europe’s biggest Super Bowl Party’ for 4000 fans at the Albert Schultz ice rink in Vienna. Supported by ils medientechnik GmbH, Alcons distributor Pro Performance Wolfgang Sauter provided 54 LR18 compact mid-sized line array modules, with 12 BC543 very high output cardioid subwoofers. Including VR8 and VR12 versatile monitors with BQ211 compact high output subs, the Austrian system was powered by 24 Sentinel10 amplified loudspeaker controllers.

Alcons SuperBowl Vienna hall

Back in the US, Alcons Audio North American sales manager David Rahn notes, “We have worked with Warren, Martin and the Super Bowl team several times and the result is always the same – incredibly satisfied clients and operators. The LR7 is becoming a really popular and flexible tool for the corporate AV market. It works seamlessly with complex video and lighting installations and delivers incredible coverage and intelligibility from a very compact enclosure.”

In closing, we at Alcons Audio would like to thank Warren, Martin and the entire team at Freeman AV for choosing Alcons for their most critical events. Despite the demanding requirements of such an important client and event, it is always a pleasure to work with the incredible team that Freeman brings together for the Super Bowl.”

For more information, please visit www.freemanav-ca.com and www.alconsaudio.com .

Pro Audio

Alcons Audio Plans High Profile Presence At Prolight+Sound 2018

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At Prolight+Sound 2018, Alcons Audio will have its highest profile presence yet. With major demonstrations, new products, commitment to immersive sound and a significant anniversary, Alcons aims to be the word on every sound professional’s lips.

A major highlight of Prolight+Sound is the Production Resource Group’s (PRG) demonstrations in the Festhalle. This year an Alcons LR28 large format pro-ribbon line array will deliver the soundtrack to the spectacular hourly presentations. Complemented by further Alcons products, including the BC543 high-output cardioid subwoofer, the system will show that great sound can be every bit as impressive as great visuals.

The system will also be an important part of Prolight+Sound’s annual opening event, the PRG Live Entertainment Awards, on 9th April. An Alcons LR18 line-array system, with BQ211 21″ subs, will also be used at the Awards after party.

Highlighting Alcons commitment to immersive sound for cinema, studio, live audio and installations, the company’s Stand B36, Hall 3.1 will be connected to live immersive sound specialists Astro Spatial Audio (ASA). Alcons and ASA have collaborated on many demonstrations voted ‘best of show’ and an Alcons system will again be showcasing ASA demos that literally have to be heard to be believed.

And this is just the start, because Alcons will be showcasing no less than five new products. These will include the VR5 ultra-compact versatile monitor, previewed at the Amsterdam ISE show in February. The VR5 is the first professional audio monitor that features the Alcons patent-pending waveguide technology, which allows any dispersion to be achieved in the vertical / coupling plane. The VR5 features a 90º x 60º dispersion pattern, all the way up to 20kHz.

More new developments to be announced will include extensions of the L-series true line-arrays and the company’s next-level VHIR processing.

If all of that wasn’t enough, the company will be continuing the celebrations of its 15th anniversary, including hosting a special dealer event on the evening of Thursday 12th April.

“2018 is a major year for Alcons Audio, with Prolight+Sound a key platform for us to highlight that to the European live sound industry,” says company co-founder Tom Back. “With a rapidly expanding user base and product portfolio, we are really looking forward to demonstrating how far we have come in 15 years.”

Prolight+Sound 2018 takes place at Frankfurt Messe from 10th – 13th April.

More information on Hall 3.1, stand B36 and http://www.alconsaudio.com .

loudspeakers, Pro Audio, Pro-Ribbon Experience Roadshow, Sound, Tour Market

Alcons Audio Provides Sound System for k.d. lang Tour

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IMG_0540

Alcons Audio is honored to provide the sound system for

The k.d. lang Ingénue Redux 25th Anniversary Tour

Location and venue information below.

Ingenue Redux - Image

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the GRAMMY®-award winning, critically acclaimed album Ingénue, k.d. lang has announced a nineteen city concert tour that will bring a live performance of the platinum-selling record to venues across the United States.

As part of this tour lang will perform songs from Ingénue – including the GRAMMY® -award winning hit “Constant Craving” – along with hits from her 2004 album Hymns of the 49th Parallel. The tour’s summer 2017 Canadian & Australian run had critics talking:

“lang’s performance proved that, even after a quarter of a century, [Ingénue] is still an album to fully immerse yourself in… But it was the startling power of that impeccably controlled mezzo-soprano voice, which can veer from melodramatic and anguished to nuanced and jazzy in a beat, that stole the show.” – Calgary Herald

“Lang’s unwaveringly even voice is more dynamic live than in her pitch-perfect recordings… The singer interspersed feats of vocal prowess with moments of humour and playfulness.” – Sydney Morning Herald

“The majesty of lang’s instrument can’t be captured on record. For full appreciation, you simply must experience lang live.” – The Music AU

“This once-jumpy Prairie girl is now and forever on exactly the same level as the nation’s greatest performers, armed with a voice one can recognize from space. All this to say the sold-out show… was basically perfect.” –Edmonton Journal

“If you have never seen k.d. lang, you need to see this show. If you have previously seen k.d. lang you must see this show.” – Noise 11

This tour follows the release of a re-packaged, re-mastered Anniversary edition of “Ingenue,” released by Nonesuch earlier this year. The two-disc set includes eight previously unreleased live performances from lang’s 1993 MTV Unplugged episode, recorded in New York City’s famed Ed Sullivan Theater. Watch her performance of “Constant Craving” HERE.

We hope to see you there!

Date Location Venue Tickets

Feb. 23, 2018

 Vashon, WA
United States		 Vashon Center for the Arts

Feb. 24, 2018

 Vashon, WA
United States		 Vashon Center for the Arts

Feb. 26, 2018

 Seattle, WA
United States		 Moore Theatre

Feb. 27, 2018

 Portland, OR
United States		 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Mar. 01, 2018

 Carmel, CA
United States		 Sunset Center

Mar. 02, 2018

 Stanford, CA
United States		 Bing Concert Hall

Mar. 05, 2018

 Los Angeles, CA
United States		 The Theatre at The Ace Hotel

Mar. 06, 2018

 Santa Barbara, CA
United States		 Lobero Theatre

Mar. 08, 2018

 Chandler, AZ
United States		 Chandler Center for the Arts

Mar. 09, 2018

 Santa Fe, NM
United States		 The Lensic Performing Arts Center

Mar. 11, 2018

 Denver, CO
United States		 Paramount Theatre

Mar. 13, 2018

 Kansas City, MO
United States		 Uptown Theater

Mar. 14, 2018

 Minneapolis, MN
United States		 State Theatre

Mar. 16, 2018

 St. Louis, MO
United States		 Peabody Opera House

Mar. 17, 2018

 Akron, OH
United States		 Goodyear Theater

Mar. 19, 2018

 Red Bank, NJ
United States		 Count Basie Theatre

Mar. 20, 2018

 Lancaster, PA
United States		 American Music Theatre

Mar. 22, 2018

 Boston, MA
United States		 Orpheum Theater

Mar. 23, 2018

 Glenside, PA
United States		 Keswick Theatre

Mar. 25, 2018

 North Bethesda, MD
United States		 Music Center at Strathmore

Mar. 26, 2018

 New York, NY
United States		 Beacon Theatre
Submit your contact information below if you would like more information or to schedule a meeting with an Alcons Audio representative.