Final preparations for the 4th annual Style in Stereo rock'n fashion show presented by WUAG 103.1 FM are in progress NOW for the show tonight at the Flying Anvil in downtown Greensboro. It starts promptly at 7 PM and the price of admission is $7 at the door. There are still tickets available but this show has always sold out so come early. It's part Rock concert - part fashion show.

This is CareySound's 4th year as a sponsor of the WUAG Presents Concert Series. We finally have an excuse to take a Dynacord Cobra into the Flying Anvil. They are in the middle of sound check right now and for all of you that thought that the Anvil was a terrible place the HEAR a show you need to make sure you come tonight to hear the difference a Cobra makes. The score: Cobra - 100 Yorkville - 0 Sorry Yorkville - you were the weak link.

I very rarely get to go to a show as a patron. Last Saturday was of those rare occasions. Money, Power Moves, Respect 2.0 B-Boy Battle was a great event. Teams from all up and down east coast participated in this breakdance competition. It was better than a three ring circus. I was blown away by the camaraderie of the participants. Take the showmanship of professional wrestling, add the athleticism of olympic gymnastics and add a little attitude and you get an amazing show. I give it a full five SoundMan rating.

The last B-Boy Battle held at the Anvil this past summer taped by Greensboro's Kourthouse Media on New Garden Road. They have made it into a DVD that is well worth the $10 they are asking. You can find them online at www.kourthousemedia.com .

Now for the sad news. The Flying Anvil, voted Best Live Music Venue by GoTriad Readers Choice Awards for 2006, is closing at the end December if they can't find a new owner. This is a venue that was begged for by Greensboro citizens as the missing premier live music night spot and unfortunately there was just not enough support to keep it open. So if you had always meant to go you'd better get there quick. There aren't many events left. You can go to their website www.theflyinganvil.com to see the remaining schedule.

WUAG Presents
The 4th Annual "Style in Stereo"
Saturday, December 9th
@ The Flying Anvil
Doors Open @ 7pm
Tickets are $7
Tickets can be purchased at The Flying Anvil

This event gets bigger and bigger every year.  This year's extravaganza will feature over 20 models wearing student made conceptual designs and walking to the sounds of three very diverse but gifted musical acts.  Performing will be Health (Good time folk rock from Greensboro), The Royal Sun (tight knit jazzy indie pop with electronic elements), and Nicolay (Hip Hop producer extrodinaire from the Netherlands.  He is the man behind the critically aclaimed overseas collaboration The Foreign Exchange).  Nicolay will also be performing at the After Party which will also occur at The Flying Anvil.  For more information about this WUAG fundraising event please call 336-334-4308. 

CareySound is proud to be a sponsor of the WUAG Presents concert events.

Dear Soundman - Hi! I'm a local soundguy from Norway, and I've been searching internet for some info about Dynacord systems. I can see from the Harmony Central forums that your company operates the Xa2 system. About a year ago, I had a demo on a singel Xa system with the 2 Xa amps, but I was not convinced about the sonic quality of the system. I therfore wonder if it sounds better with the 244 conroller and different amps. - Yours Bjørn

Step Two - Stack left side.

Step Three - Chain speaker cables from cabinet to cabinet starting from the top, then...

Step Four - ...plug each stack into amp rack.

Step Five - Plug in power to the rack and turn on.

One final note - rent the system for a gig. You'll never know what the system is capable of with a salesman hanging over your shoulder at a "demo". Take it out and crank it up.

Cobra, Carolina, Christmas, CareySound

Festival of Lights 2005 - 32° F

Festival of Lights 2006 - 72° F

Last year the temperature was 32° for the Greensboro Downtown Festival of Lights and it was celebrated outside in Hamburger Square. This year it was 72° and it was held inside the Carolina Theater.

Outside - Inside - Cold - Hot - Snow - Rain. Whatever the circumstances CareySound is there to help celebrate the season.

Let It Rain, Let It Rain, Let It Rain

Dear SoundMan - So I bought this new EV DX 38 system processor and got the optional RS485 card installed but how do I connect it to my computer. - What Am I Missing -

Today was master class day at CareySound. We covered the difference in various audio measurement tools, their usefulness, their limitations, their application to live audio and Smaart Live software basics. We are planning a series of audio classes in the following months and we would love to get an idea of how much interest there would be for such a series and what topics and at what experience level they should be. PLEASE contact us and let us know if you are interested.

The Music Center Presents
Lynn Donovan in retirement
An evening of celebration honoring 16 years as Music Center Director
& 30 years with The City of Greensboro

Lynn will retire from the City of Greensboro in November 2006
We hope that you can join us to celebrate Lynn.
You may also send your written thoughts which will be placed in a memory book for her.

Saturday, November 18, 2006
Greensboro Cultural Center 2nd level atrium
200 N. Davie Street
7-8 PM light hors d’oeuvres 2nd level atrium
8-9 Program Music Hall level 1
9-11 PARTY 2nd level atrium

Tickets: $15 adults, $10 children 12 & under
$50 max per family
(for food & gift, donations over ticket prices will go toward Lynn’s gift)

Please help spread the word! Everyone is invited.
Questions: Call Susan Gallimore 373-2547 or e-mail at
susan.gallimore@greensboro-nc.gov

Nope. Load-out at Homestead.

The mission of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is to offer public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world, helping students develop imaginative thinking, creativity, curiosity, a positive self image, and a respect for their own and others' cultural heritage.

The Institute's, highly regarded Jazz in America programs are tailored for middle schooland high school students to help develop an understanding and appreciation of jazz music. The series has traveled to over 20 states over the last two years and strives to share the positive aspects of jazz with young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn about this great national treasure.

CareySound was honored to be asked to provide production for the series as it traveled through North Carolina this last week. It was six stops in five days. A scaled down Cobra system with a Dynacord CMS mixer, EV Sx300 monitors and KT equalization provided quick setup and flawless performance in a variety of venues.

Brandon Potter, head audio production guru of First Assembly in Winston, smiles when he discovers how versital, sonically superior and affordable the XL8 system is.

Call us NOW to find out if you are MIDAS material.

David Coble, hands down the best live SoundMan in the region at the helm.

Hey Randy, check out the EQ curve - smoooooth.
Oops, I forgot that I wasn't going to reveal names. Sorry.

The BOSCH Gnome in line array mode.

The BOSCH Gnome as Flux Capacitor.

And to question, who won the contest?, everybody there of course.

Friday, September 15, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. - midnight, downtown Winston-Salem

Rock and Roll Stage: Featuring the Dynacord Xa System - Corner of Liberty & 3rd St - Michael Slawter & The Saving Graces, Autopassion, The Finks, Easybake

Country/Bluegrass Stage: Featuring the Dynacord Xa System - Sawtooth Center Amphitheater - Timber Ridge, Bo Stevens, Avett Brothers

Beach Music Stage: Featuring the Dynacord Cobra System - Corner of Cherry & 3rd St -Doubletake, Jim Quick & The Coastline Band
Jazz/R&B Stage: Featuring the Electro-Voice Qrx System - Corner of Poplar & 4th St -Chris Paul; Brenda Morie & the Fourth Street Band, featuring Calvin Napper; Martha Bassett's Camel City Swingers

Saga of the Electro-Voice Model SP13.5TRBXWKRearaxial Softspeaker Data SheetBy Jim Long, July 20, 2004,for KahnVention VI Souvenir Booklet - This is primarily from my recollection and samples of three different variations of this no-doubt-famous data sheet created by the late, lamented and brilliantly clever Dean Nordquist, former EV sales and advertising man and, later, the EV rep in the Pacific Northwest. The model number is a takeoff on the EV convention of the 1950’s, in which high-fidelity component loudspeakers sported monikers such as 12TRXB, SP15B and 15WK. Figure 13 shows a line drawing of the device, which reveals it to be rather ahead of its time, being both powered (note ac cord) and evidently capable of acting as a standalone PA system (note ribbon microphone).Three Different Versions - The SP13.5TRBXWK data-sheet variations with which I have been familiar turn out to be the two later ones, identical except for an updated format for the last version. A couple of years ago, Jon Kelly, a kingpin in the EV hi-fi businesses of the 1960’s and early 1970’s, pointed out that there was an earlier, first version, different not only in format but also in copy and in the Figure 5 testimonials from satisfied customers. The four testimonials themselves are unchanged but the first three customers are different. Jon explained that the copy and customer names contained thinly veiled references to competitors of the day. According to Jon, Al Kahn, founder and president of Electro-Voice until 1968, and in my view a true audio gentleman, took offense to these references and ordered them changed.In July 2004, Jon not only sent me an original of the first version but also supplied interesting comments about the competitive references. I have reproduced the text of his e-mail message below (slightly edited):Here is what I can recall/deduce about Dean's arcane references in the data sheet, and later mods. Front side: Feathers good-luck charm and stylus pressure gauge: obvious reference to Paul Weathers, who had a one-gram-tracking phono pickup when most others were still at 6 grams or so, and a cute, simple and accurate gauge. FEATURES: lavatories instead of laboratories seems pretty innocuous, but Al must have been using his highly sensitive good-taste filter. Bob N.: it was changed so must have been a reference to someone, but I don't know who.  Maybe George remembers. Miss Myriam S.: a reference to Myriam Simpson, a factotum at Masco, amplifier manufacturer.  (My first "component" amplifier was an 8-watt Masco, circa 1952.) Walter S: not certain, but could well be Walter Stanton, the phono-cartridge manufacturer. Back side: Kensico Ave.: it was changed to North Southwestern Ave. in the revised version.  Allied Radio in its heyday was at 100 North Western Avenue.  Kensico may have been the address of someone else more "sensitive," but I don't know. Large Barrington: High Fidelity magazine was headquartered in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in those days. Faith and Charity, Ark: obvious pass at Klipsch, in Hope, Arkansas. Madglockenschpielergongenemoryclothenlab: because it is spelled "emory," it is a reference, I think, to Emory Cook, early maker of audiophile recordings.  Hope this helps.  Funny...I can't remember what happened yesterday, but this old stuff is still retrievable.

EMF Update

It's a rare event that SoundMan gets to attend a concert as a patron and one such event was just a little over a week ago. To celebrate the occasion he has consented to giving us the following review.

It's one of the SoundMan's worst nightmares, dueling guitars fighting a death mach for dominance in a small cement room and both of those guitar amps were for the same Legendary guitarist.

Now don't get me wrong, SoundMan likes his sound BIG, but there is big and then there is painful and 113 db SPL of screaming guitar for over an hour was more big than the SoundMan could stand. I would have given anything to have borrowed the 'cone of silence' from the TV show Get Smart for the night (OK -so I'm giving away my age with that reference). Now just in case you were one of those that blamed the house sound-guy for the carnage to your ears, think again. The only channels turned on in the PA during Johnny's set was his and the drummers vocal microphone when they sang or spoke. The only name on the nuisance complaint should read JOHNNY WINTER. Believe me, the PA in that club is not able to compete with that much guitar. You could have just left. There was no one blocking your exit.

As for the opening act - I'm sure they were good - I just can't remember much about them after Johnny performed. Dain bramage I'm afraid.

Now for the morel to the story - I saw no one leave until after the concert but that does not mean it wasn't painfully loud, it just means that the audience was willing to be assaulted with sound to SEE Johnny Winter perform. There were plenty of complaints to go around AFTER the show. If your band is not Johnny Winter and you want anybody to stay to see you play other than a few deaf friends and family members then keep the level on that guitar rig turned down. When you are playing a small room use a small amp or put it outside with a mic on it and if you are lucky enough to play the coliseum I'm sure Johnny will let you borrow his rig.


The Flying Anvil - You were great hosts, really, and the SoundMan applaudes your vision, but even though you did not have control of Johnny's guitar level, the News and Record is already calling you the Boom Boom Room or something like that. If the rumors are true and the big corporate entertainment machine, RX International, swoops in and takes over the N Club and Sky Bar you might want to squash the noise NOW and fix the room acoustics.

The Band is all rehearsed and in place...


The Dynacord Cobra System is ready, thousands of spectators are filling the stands and the fireworks company is standing by...

Ok, now just wait for it...

wait for it...


NOW - Run for your cars.
There is nothing more predictable than a lightning storm for the fireworks concert on the
Fourth of July.
Four years and counting.
Maybe 2007.

Four Shows - Two Days - One Dynacord Cobra

More Powerful - Smaller - Lighter

PowerH From Dynacord

Bosch Group Aquires Telex Communications

Dear SoundMan, Just exactly what is the secret to your SoundMan powers? - Batman -

Comment Successfully Posted

Please, your captive audience wants to know where leg #1 goes. Also where does the neutral really come from, if not from the, er, neutral? Brandon | 05.11.06 - 9:44 pm | #

Now that wasn't so hard was it. My neutral is indead connected to the first hot leg in this three phase pannel. fortunately all of my Dynacord amplifiers survived with just two internal blown fuses. For the record you can use the amps with 220V if you configure it ahead of time. Any one know of a possible advantage to running the amps with 220V? And by the way - to all of those who gave me the wrong answer - you are not allowed to tie my power in. SoundMan- SoundMan | Homepage | 06.23.06 - 2:24 am | #
Brandon - Call to collect your Prize.

What's wrong with this picture?

I've got a special prize for the first person to help this electrician out
and tell him where he went wrong.

Small town charm, big city music. Greensboro's celebration of jazz & blues.

Pete, Brian and Andrew, partners in the Flying Anvil, are great guys with a great vision and deserve your support.

The two, 888 pound, eight-box XLc127+ hangs were powered with 10-EV CP3000S amplifiers and controlled with 2-EV Dx38 system processors. An incredibly even ± 1.5 db sound field was achieved throughout the sanctuary with a 110 peak SPL.

Ex Nihilo - Mad Dog Trio Mastered by Jeff Carroll. Engineered by Steve Graham. Alternative Rock with a Jazz influence. Fat Rock/Jazz sound. Loud, but not squished sound at -9 dB monitor gain. Definitely compressed with an attitude. www.maddogtrio.com, MD3032102, ©2002

.

Highlights of the system include - MIDAS Venice FOH w/ KT Helix EQ - Dynacord DRP 10 digital effects processors - MIDAS Verona MON with KT SquareOne Graphics for monitor EQ - Zx5 floor wedges - Zx5/QRx 118 side fills - SxA 100/7SbA 760 Drum Fill - Dynacord ampifiers - EV and Earthworks microphones

The XL8’s total DSP processing power is 48 GigaFlops (Gflop)
 That is 48,000 billion mathematical calculations per second
 We believe this is the most powerful audio processor in the world 
There are EIGHTEEN other high performance control processors in the XL8
 More than 200 Mbytes of software has been written for the XL8
 
 
The XL8 is the worlds’ most powerful and flexible audio processing system. It is a complete solution for any audio mixing and signal distribution application in a live sound environment.
 
The first XL8 in the US is scheduled to be installed right here in Greensboro, NC at Westover Church in their new sanctuary in the next couple of months.

Click here to download more information.

After years of research and development MIDAS once again sets the standard for live audio mixing and announces their new digital mixing system the new XL8. We've been dying to reveal details on this monumental project and we are finally allowed to talk about and take orders on this new mixing system.

A new standard for live mixing.

[Revolutionary - rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y adv. adj : markedly new or introducing radical change;]

The XL8 live performance system is truly revolutionary and heralds Midas’ entry into the digital mixing realm. However, this is not merely another digital mixing console. XL8 offers an incomparable design combining exemplary sound quality, flexibility and reliability with an ease and familiarity of use unrivalled by other digital control surfaces. XL8 is the first of a new generation of open-architecture, cross-platform, integrated audio control and distribution systems, which brings control of not only audio, but other aspects of a live performance to a single, intuitive control centre.

As well as offering classic Midas audio quality and superb reliability, XL8 actually improves upon the performance of the analogue consoles, which have established Midas as the number one choice of sound engineers the world over. XL8 represents a new generation of networked systems, requiring only mics, amps and speakers to provide a complete audio system.

The XL8’s open architecture ensures that both third-party hardware and software, including “plug-ins” can be easily integrated into the system. The very latest in high-speed networking technology ensures that XL8 will conform to all the classic Midas brand values of sound quality, reliability and longevity; it will not be obsolete in a few years.

• Failure-tolerant of any single failure of hardware or software
• Proven, stable, Linux operating system
• Dual redundant master control processors
• Five individual bay control processors
• 24/7 global telephone support
• Midas customer service and support centers World Wide
• Three year factory warranty
• Rugged design, tolerant of physical abuse

Sure, I'll be right there! I've got the perfect microphone for it. Earthworks to the rescue.

We were putting things back in order after last week's rentals and discovered this odd EQ setting that was left on the first of four Sx 300 monitor mixes (we have blurred out the name to protect the guilty). The other three were left flat. Hmmmmm, I'm not sure this was a good EQ setting for monitors which brings up the following helpful hint. We REALLY want your rental to be the best it can be. We will be glad to give you help if you get lost. All you have to do is ask. We assume that when someone rents something that if they do not ask any questions that they must know what they are doing. If it's too embarrassing to ask, you can find help in our Tech Downloads section or The Help File archive that you can find in the links to the right.

A Dynacord Xa System with a Midas Verona console, KT Helix EQ and EV monitors & mikes were pumping out the Rhythms at tonight's event with Randy Hart at the helm.

Request

Fun Link

- I was digging through the Electro-Voice site doing some reasearch the other day and stumbled into an archive of data sheets on an amazing amount of old technology. Click here for a LINK to the index.

Dear SoundMan, What is in your mic drawer?

I'm not sure how these press releases from Telex slipped by me since they exclusively feature several installs we have done our the past couple of years. The first one covers the Cobra/MIDAS/Klark Teknik installation in Calvin Gilmore's (of Carolina Opry fame) Tribute the Concert theater in Myrtle Beach, SC. This system still sets the benchmark for audio on the Carolina coast.

The second article centers around Church audio and how we solved the new expectations of house of worship audio excellence with MIDAS consoles in a variety of local churches including Cathedral of his Glory and Westover Church in Greensboro. Churches present a unique audio challenge in that the message is paramount and any bad audio that stands in the way of this communication is unacceptable. MIDAS is at the leading edge of pristine audio mixing and they now have consoles that cover all price ranges. There just aren't any more excuses for bad audio, not even small budgets. But, don't just take my word on it. I dare you to call me now and make me prove it by setting up a demo in your venue.

Both of these articles (Carey_Tribute & Carey_Verona) can be found to the right in the Tech Download section.

"Nicole, thank you so much for the time you spent with me and the kids at the sound board, and thanks for the emergency replacement mics too, we couldn't have had such a success without them!   Your six mics worked perfectly.  We put them on the Beast and Belle and other important leads so we could feel confident that at least they could be heard every time." Dana Lowell - Technical Director, Center for the Arts

Dear Soundman - Both when testing on the floor and with the one now hanging in the gallery, I’m noticing a pretty hot little 10 or 15 degree zone in more or less the center of the horn that seems to have a significant 1-2K peak. Is this typical of the QRX horns? Having a hard time getting those frequencies out to the seats around the center of the coverage area without killing the people in the center with 1-2K. Any tricks? -B-

Jay, this one is for you. We have added a new section in the About CareySound section. The Wayback Machine page will be an odd assortment of old pictures and remembrances and you can find it in the list to the right or click on Mr. Peabody.

click here to download file

... a microphone as distinctive as you are.

We’ve been working with Carey Sound for nearly 20 years and have a very positive experience every time!  Carey Sound has provide sound reinforcement, lighting and staging for a number of events, indoors and out, ranging from our Courtyard Concert Series, an intimate group of 20-30 people listening to acoustical act to bands such as Little Feat, with several thousand people.  CareySound always delivered what they promised, often more, for the price quoted.  I would recommend Carey Sound without hesitation!  Jamey Kerr - Operations Manager WKRR-FM/WKZL-FM

Carey Sound has supplied us with great service over the past two decades.  Most recently, we’ve employed Carey Sound for our “Courtyard Concert Series” which has featured such acts as “Lifehouse”, “Natasha Beddingfield” and “Collective Soul”.  In fact, I heard Ed Rolland, lead singer with Collective Soul say that the sound quality for their performance at Natty Greene’s (provided by Carey Sound) was “great” and one of the best sounds they’ve had on their local tour circuit.  From recording artists to record label representatives, when we book an event for these folks, Carey Sound is who we have and will continue to call.  No hesitation! Dave Aiken - Promotions Director -Dick Broadcasting Company - WKRR/WKZL

Dear SoundMan, Here's the issue: should we buy a dedicated CD burning recording system or could this be handled with existing equipment and electronics and recorded using a networked PC? - Neale -