CareySound has been featured in an article in the latest edition of System Contractor News. SCN is a prestigious Audio Video Systems Integration trade publication.The article covers the three major installations at North Carolina A&T State University here in Greensboro, NC that we did last August. Aggie Stadium - Corbett Sports Center - Robeson Theater. You can go to the article by clicking here.

Tonight's What's Happening was Chairman of the Board with General Johnson at the Statesville Civic Center at a dance for the city's Parks and Recreation department. Our Dynacord Cobra system was on hand for the event providing flawless beautiful sound for the crowd of over 500 dancing party goers.

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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

This is a picture taken yesterday of the front door to the first CareySound store location and in fact it was the also the fifth location. There are even product stickers still on the window. On August 1st CareySound will celebrate it's 28th anniversary. Anybody know where this first location was?

The Frankfurt Music Messe trade show in Germany is now in its second day and the MIDAS booth with the XL8 has been packed with admirers. The booth has been so crowded that they have had to shut it down several times in an attempt to control the throngs trying to get a look at the new Mixing System.

I've been informed that (how do they say it - from a well placed inside source) only 18 desks were scheduled to be built this year. This represents world wide distribution. I am personally aware of three consoles that are already sold and I predict that the entire first year production schedule will be gone before the end of the show in Germany. Rumor has it that Metalica is scheduled to use the console in an upcoming show and that Paul McCartney's engineer has already placed an order for one at the show. I think it's safe to say that the new system already has achieved legend status. I expect the XL8 will be on allocation very quickly. The XL8 at the show is a preproduction model and final production systems are not even scheduled to start shipping until late May at the earliest.

The first question on most peoples minds is HOW MUCH? Pricing has not been finalized but I think it is safe say that it's not cheep. Since this is a mixing system rather that a mixing console there are many pieces to the system that must be considered in the final price. All you need to add to make an entire audio system is microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers.

We will give quotes only to serious customers. You must first have the financial means and be ready to buy a system before we will give you a quote. First come first served. We will however be more than happy to answer all of your technical questions about the system.

The US introduction tour is being put together as we speak and we will let you know when it is coming to Greensboro.

Click here to download more information.

The MIDAS XL8 was unveiled today at the Frankfurt Music Messe trade show in Germany. This is not a new mixing console; it is a new mixing system.  There are many elements to this, of which the control surface is but one. The XL8 live performance system consists of a control surface and a number of 19” rack modules, inter-connected by a networked data system.  The network carries both proprietary control data and open architecture AES50 digital audio, and uses readily available standard CAT5, CAT6 and fiber-optic cabling and connectors.

Here are a few tidbits:
 

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

You will find the official product brochure in our Tech Download section to the right.

Wake Forest University's Student Union in Winston-Salem will play host to Ben Folds at Wait Chapel on Wednesday evening March 29th at 8:00 PM. CareySound has a long history with Ben. We met him in late 80's when he rented equipment for his band Majòsha. He was the first customer to rent from us that paid for the horn diaphragms they took out during their show.

It's been a year since we worked with him at Davidson College and are looking forward to working with him again on Wednesday. Tickets are available to the pubic for $25.

Once again CareySound shows it's support for WUAG Radio's WUAG Presents Series. This show was held in the Faculty Center on the UNC Greensboro campus. Man Man and The Drift were the featured bands.


Man Man is perhaps one of the most unique bands out there today.  Often hard to describe without hearing them. Terms like "Art Punks" or "Drunken Sailor Music" are used to describe these guys. Opening for Man Man was the breathaking instrumental band, The Drift from San Francisco on the Temporary Residence label. Their use of stand up bass and trumpet help to create even more beauty in their sound.

John was on hand with our new Zx1/Sba760 rental system. The new EV Blue Raven vocal microphones preformed flawlessly. "Where are you hiding the speakers" was the reaction by the bands to the system's incredibly compact size.

The Barn Dinner Theatre has been entertaining guests since the early sixty's and is the oldest continually operating dinner theatre in America. CareySound is proud to be part of that tradition. Nicole performed system maintenance at the theatre recently and they had some nice things to say about us that we would like to share.

Greater Faith Deliverance Church of God in Winston-Salem, Pastor John C. McClurkin, is enjoying their new video system. The system features two 42" NEC Plasma Monitors and a three thousand lumen SANYO video projector . An Electro-Voice MA 1212 distribution amplifier and 6 EV 8" ceiling speakers provide the audio.

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

We answered the call from our partners, Sterling A/V in Winston-Salem. The RiverRun International Film Festival needed audio for their award show Sunday evening at the Stephen Center in Winston-Salem. The Festival is presented by the North Carolina School of the Arts and its School of Filmmaking. RiverRun presents a wide variety of feature length fictional and documentary films, along with live-action, animated, experimental, and student short films.

The Closing Night Event caped four days of 77 screenings. Following the award ceremony was the featured screening of Douglas Fairbanks 1927 silent film, The Black Pirate (the first film to use Technicolor) accompanied by the world renown Alloy Orchestra. Bedpan, flute, synthesizer, accordion, metal tubes & sheets, clarinet and percussion... count me in. Audio doesn't get much more exiting than this.



The Dynacord Cobra system provided the foundation for the audio with MIDAS and KT providing the console and system EQ.

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.

CareySound provided the production for a benefit concert tonight to help raise medical funds for Mike Staples. It was hosted at the Ramada Convention Center in Roanoke, Va. Roanoke is a hotbed of funk and R&B musicians. Performing tonight were such notables as Danny Wood, Gloria Evens, Kelly Gravely, Archie Bell and members of Shades of Black, UBU, and Black & Blue.

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

- I've been asked for a printable version of the SoundMan Puzzle so click here for a downloadable PDF version.

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?

We've all thought about it at one time or another. If your house were on fire or a tornado was headed toward it or it was about to be flooded or whatever (you get the idea) and you only had the ability to save one thing, what would it be? I realize it's the kind of cheesy question they might ask a beauty queen during a pageant, but go along with me for the moment if you will.

Considering that my kids are all grown up and my wife still has the use of her arms and legs, after all they would be dragging out their own keepsakes, and somehow if that would relieve me from any moral dilemmas in my dash to save what I could, then I would definitely save my microphones. Food? No. I could stand to loose a few pounds. Water? No. I could collect rain water or something. Cash? Well I don't have any (hmmmmm... guess I must have spent it all on microphones - sad, I know). Yes, I realize that tells maybe too much about me. But there, I've said it. Yep, absolutely my microphones.

Now don't jump to any extreme conclusions at this point. I don't go to Star Trek conventions dressed as a Borg. Yes, I have seen all of the TV episodes and movies including the crappy final season, but I couldn't even tell you any of the numbers of any of the Enterprises. I don't stay up at night wearing a tinfoil hat worrying that aliens are trying to read my mind. I'm not stark raving obsessed. Let's just say I hold my microphones to only the esteem and respect they deserve and nothing more. I might have bought a mic or two (or maybe even three) on Ebay, but I NEVER paid more than it was worth.

Now with that out of the way, let me get back to the question at hand. What is in my microphone drawer?

One might say I have a reasonably large collection to choose from and I am always experimenting, so the following list may very from time to time. This is what I am taking out at the moment to do shows, demo's, and clinic's with - in other words, live audio. Also, this is my personal mic package so I'm not concerned what the neighbors might think. These are all about my personal choices. It's a collection that makes me happy. That said - on with the list.

Download the rest of the article by clicking here or select 'whatsinyourmicdrawer.pdf' in the Tech Download section to the right.

Across
3. Pink noise is equal energy per _______.
6. Soundman Says...
8. Interferance between overlaping loudspeakers causes this.
11. The soild state version of a tube.
12. Catheral of His Glory and Westover Church both in Greensboro have this is common.
13. They made the worlds first stackable line array.
16. 746 Watts = one ___________

Down
1. Another name for a tube.
2. In 1978 Careysound started in my ___________.
4. You can find the latest firmware upgrade for the EV Dx 38 system processor here.
5. When direct sound energy equals reverberant field energy.
7. Another name for switched mode power suppliy.
9. When considering the cost of ownership of a wirless microphone system, don't forget the ____________.
10. The bass effect you get from a close miked directional microphone.
14. A remote powering scheme for condenser microphones.
15. Calvin _________ owns two theaters in Myrtle Beach including Tribute the Concert.

Click here for a printable PDF Download of this months puzzle.

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.