Designed with durability and versatility at the top of its requirements, the kits will fill a vital role for sound professionals. “We are excited to share these new solutions with our industry colleagues,” says Helga Volha Somava, Product Management Director, DPA Microphones. “We have listened to and taken notes from experienced sound engineers within multiple industries to correctly define which mics are most critical for each application. With the flexibility to easily upgrade the mics, tools and accessories, we aimed to provide audio professionals with the best starting point to reach their end goal.”
Offering an ideal microphone and accessory selection for touring sound engineers, the DLK4000 Live Microphone Kit features 20 mics and capsules, along with a multitude of useful accessories that will enhance sound quality, clarity and consistency. Included in the kit are mics for lead and backup vocals as well as instrument mics for close-miking any live instrument. To further equip the entire live stage, the kit’s lineup features various pencil mics, which are ideal for spot-miking instrument groups or capturing ambient sounds. Accessories such as extension cables, mic clips, mounts and wind screens ensure easy set-up and breakdown no matter the instrument.
For those miking more in the studio than on the stage, the DSK4001 Studio Microphone Kit offers a premier solution for small home studios and large professional spaces alike. The brand’s prestigious, high-quality condenser mics that are provided are ideal for recording bands, vocals and anything in between. This medium-sized kit contains both instrument and vocal mics, as well as a wide variety of helpful clips and holders, allowing for simple setup when close-miking a single instrument or spot-miking an entire group.
The DRK4001 Ultimate Recording Kit features even more top-of-the-line professional microphones to make a trip to the recording studio a breeze. Over two-dozen DPA condenser microphones and close to 100 functional accessories sit within this case, making it possible to mic any instrument imaginable. No other kit available can handle miking a full-service recording studio in such style. As DPA prioritizes versatility, the DRK4001 can additionally aid in live-stage recordings.
This adaptability also shows in the DLS4000 Location Sound Microphone Kit, which features all the standard TV/film production solutions, along with cables, holders, concealers, adapters, clips and more. From shotguns for booming to micro-shotguns for discreet plant-miking and a range of lavaliers for close-miking, each microphone included in the kit has been specifically chosen based on input from professional sound engineers, to prepare users for whatever task is thrown their way.
Previously introduced at NAMM 2023, the DDK4000 Drum Miking Kit is designed to deliver a clear and natural reproduction of the low-frequency, high SPL instrument. With consideration for durability at the forefront of this solution, the microphones have also been rigorously tested to perform flawlessly for all types of music genres and instrument types, and to withstand the demands of life on the road.
Each of the new DPA Microphone Kits is now available for purchase. For more information, including pricing and a full listing of type and quantity of mics in each kit, please visit HERE.
Music Matters Again Selected as Audio Provider for Cadence Bank Amphitheatre
A new reinforcement system, based around Meyer Sound PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeakers, has landed for a summer residence at the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre in North Atlanta’s Chastain Park. The summer concert series is promoted by Live Nation, and Music Matters Productions was again selected to be the audio supplier for the season.
“We supply the ‘stacks and racks’ of the system, while most touring acts bring their own front end and monitor packages,” notes Music Matters Senior Account Manager David Lowell. “All acts are required to use our house system, so our new PANTHER rig will be up for every show until the summer series ends in October.”
The 2023 summer shows kicked off on May 6 with the multi-talented Jill Scott, but no other Live Nation shows were scheduled until singer-songwriter Charlie Puth on May 28. In the interim, Music Matters’ new PANTHER system travelled to the University of Georgia at Athens for commencement ceremonies at Sanford Stadium on May 12. On May 20 and 21, the rig was deployed at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta for back-to-back concerts, first with Hank Williams, Jr. and the following evening with the Atlanta Symphony performing the works of John Williams.
One reason for selecting PANTHER line arrays for Atlanta’s Chastain Park venue, according to Lowell, is the touchy issue of noise control in a largely residential area. “It’s a delicate balance, getting enough level for rock and R&B acts while containing most of the sound inside the venue,” he says. “The precise pattern control was a big selling point for PANTHER. We’ve only done a few shows so far, but at this point, everybody is pleased with the results.”
Music Matters committed to an investment in PANTHER even though, at the decision point, the company principals had yet to hear a system. “We had a tight deadline to meet, having ordered the boxes in February and with a show the first week of May. But they arrived on May 1, we flew them on May 3, and everything went up and tuned perfectly. We were ready to go.”
As configured for the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, the system comprises left and right main arrays of 8-each PANTHER loudspeakers with 2 LEOPARD compact linear line array loudspeakers per side. For centre coverage, they are using two short arrays of three each LEOPARD loudspeakers flown with 4 LEOPARD loudspeakers being used as front fill. Deep bass is augmented by four flown 1100‑LFC low-frequency control elements per side. The speaker system is driven and processed by two Meyer Sound Galileo GALAXY 816 processors via the AVB Milan protocol.
For the events at the larger Ameris Bank Amphitheatre and at Sanford Stadium, the system was expanded to 12 per side PANTHER arrays and, for the music shows, 12 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements.
Prior to the opening shows at Cadence Bank Amphitheatre, Meyer Sound tech support came on-site to assist in initial system tuning. “That’s one thing I love about Meyer,” says Lowell. “You don’t have to beg them. You know they will come in and be there for the first gig to make sure everything is right from the start.”
The new PANTHER system represents the fifth generation of Meyer Sound loudspeakers used to power concerts at the Chastain Park venue since the early 1980s, according to Lowell. Provided by Music Matters since 2018 and other regional Meyer Sound partners before then, the prior systems were based on MSL-3 and MSL-4 loudspeakers followed by MILO and LYON line array loudspeakers.
A cross-section of other concerts scheduled for the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre in 2023 includes The Indigo Girls, Barenaked Ladies, John Fogerty, Jason Mraz, The National, Sting, and Chicago.
First opened in 1944 as the North Fulton Park Amphitheater, the 6,900-capacity venue is owned by the City of Atlanta and has been known as Cadence Bank Amphitheatre since 2019.
Music Matters Productions, with offices in Atlanta and Salt Lake City, is a diversified supplier of event production services and technologies, including audio, video, lighting, and staging as well as creative conceptualization and permanent installations.
Life can be tough for aquarium-bound fish. Their days are spent patrolling the confines of their tank, staring back at the young faces pressed against their glass walls. On the upside, there is companionship, regular meals, and freedom from predators. For the denizens of the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium in Omaha Nebraska, there is the added bonus of a stunning environment and a spectacular after-dark light show, controlled by ETC’s Mosaic system. The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) added Special Citation for Playful Use of Integrated Color to its outdoor lighting award, and it’s easy to see why.
The playful element starts with the re-designed entry canopy that established the aquarium as the focal point of the Omaha Zoo. Blue stainless-steel panels with a rippled surface texture and a front canopy of perforated metal suggest a coral reef seen from underwater. The theme carries upwards to a roof decked with eight stainless-steel wave sculptures. The stainless steel oceanic-inspired structures reflect sunlight in daytime and become a pallet for dynamic lighting after hours.
Lighting designers Steve Gollehon and Jeff Frank of Morrissey Engineering were part of the original project team. “As we got into it, we realized that color changing effects would play a key role in the final design,” says Head Designer Steve Gollehon, “and this led us to the ETC Mosaic control system.” Power and control for the color-changing fixtures is provided by a 50-universe Mosaic Show Controller X, 15 Response Mk2 DMX Gateways, and an Echo Relay Panel. A Mosaic Tessera touchscreen controller acts as the user interface.
“For added effect we imported custom video content into Mosaic to support the standard effects. We had fun creating the effects of waves crashing, bubbles forming, and fish swimming and a couple of bio luminescent themes that caught the attention of passersby.”
– Head Designer Steve Gollehon
Nine custom shows were created to cover the various social functions that the aquarium hosts. “The ETC wireless interface proved essential as we experimented with the effect of light and video on the diverse surfaces we were dealing with,” says Gollehon. “We were able to color-correct on the fly.”
Heartland Scenic, with Michele Yindrick as project manager, provided the ETC control elements. The one-year time frame for construction and installation allowed the team to test full-scale mockups in Kansas City and design the custom touch screen for show control. “The main challenge was integrating the multi-manufacturer lighting fixtures and keeping track of it all,” says Yindrick. But ETC’s Mosaic system provided a clean, comprehensive interface that got them all working in harmony. “This was a smooth project,” finishes Yindrick.
ApexPro is the sole distributor and supporter of ETC lighting technology in Southern Africa.
Dynacord electronics have been used to power over 200 Electro-Voice loudspeakers at the impressive new stadium at Tizi Ouzou in Algeria.
The recently completed 50,000-seat venue is the home of soccer team JS Kabylie and has been built adhering to the latest UEFA standards, covering everything from the pitch to the technical equipment. The Dante audio-enabled sound system with integrated redundancy was designed by Turkish partner Atempo and meets the sporting requirements, but also provides flexibility to host other events.
A total of 112 EVH-1152D/94 cabinets have been arrayed in clusters of three and flown from the stadium roof to cover the various bowl seating areas. A further 102 EVID-S5.2T provide the under-balcony fill to ensure an even sound level throughout the stadium, and four EVID-S8.2 complete the system. 12 Dynacord IPX10:8 power amplifiers drive the EVH and EVID-S5.2T loudspeakers for the bowl; the EVID-S8.2 models are powered by a pair of L1300FD amplifiers. An MXE5 Matrix Mix Engine provides powerful DSP processing, with SONICUE Sound System Software used for efficient setup and control.
Electro-Voice EVC Vari-Intense loudspeakers help to tackle challenging acoustics while blending into the architecture at Binh Thuan Roman Catholic Church
Dynacord L-Series amplifiers provide power and processing for extensive new sound system
Electro-Voice hanging microphones ensure that harmonization in the choir can be heard throughout the sanctuary
A sound system solution comprising Electro-Voice loudspeakers and microphones and Dynacord amplifiers has enhanced audio intelligibility for the congregation at Binh Thuan Roman Catholic Church in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The solution was installed by Duy Hoa Phat Corp and was specified to overcome the reverberance inside the church.
Established in 1966, Binh Thuan church is a notable religious site within Vietnam‘s Catholic community and one of the biggest churches in Ho Chi Minh City. Since its original construction, the church has been through several renovations and expansions. However, as the church building has grown, its existing sound system, which had been selected more for its aesthetic than acoustical properties, has not been able to keep up.
The church decided it was time for a new audio solution that could deliver high-quality sound across the whole chancel with absolutely no delay or echo – a challenge, since the reverberation time there is more than four seconds. In addition to this, the loudspeakers needed to blend into the church’s bright interior design to be visually unobtrusive.
The answer was found in white versions of models from the Electro-Voice EVC family of compact loudspeakers for fixed installation. A pair of EVC-1122-VI Vari-Intense 12” two-way loudspeakers address the main congregational seating area, supported by seven EVC-1082 8” two-way loudspeakers. The EVC-1122-VI has a unique asymmetrical horn design which allows uniform coverage of rectangular spaces, ensuring sermons can be heard clearly by every member of the congregation during services. In addition to the EVC models, a pair of EVID S4.2TB and a further two Bosch LB2-UC30-L1 compact installation cabinets complete the solution. Power for the audio system is provided by five Dynacord L1300FD 2x 650 W DSP amplifiers.
Electro-Voice microphones ensure an equally high standard of audio quality at the input end of the signal chain. Four wired ND96 dynamic supercardioid vocal mics are joined by an equal amount of RE3 UHF wireless systems featuring ND96 handhelds. Completing the microphone selection are 12 RE92HW cardioid hanging mics to capture the harmonies of the choir.
This combination of equipment precisely addresses the church’s needs, especially in delivering the highest level of clarity for speaking and singing voices. And, importantly for a worship application, the durability and quality of Electro-Voice and Dynacord products mean that Binh Thuan Roman Catholic Church will be enjoying the advantages of its new audio solution for many years to come.
Raisbeck Auditorium Transformed into Multi-Purpose Venue
Cornish College of the Arts, situated only a few blocks from Amazon’s global headquarters near downtown Seattle, is surrounded by some of the nation’s highest-priced real estate. As one consequence, when the school first proposed expanding into a new performance and learning facility, maximizing the utilization of the space was a top priority. Fortunately, by implementing a Constellation acoustic system by Meyer Sound, the recently opened Raisbeck Auditorium can provide the optimum aural ambience for lectures, drama, film screenings, and dance recitals as well as concerts spanning all musical genres.
The new venue, seating about 160 for most uses, is housed in a new high-rise, mixed-use development known as The Ivy on Boren, sharing the ground floor with an art gallery.
“When we examined our curriculum about five years ago, one principle that emerged was shifting to a multi-disciplinary arts education,” says Pinky Estell, director of creative services and event spaces for the college. “It followed that this new space had to be multi-functional, and we knew from the outset that a primary challenge was the difference in acoustical requirements. We needed a movie theater, a black box theater, a lecture hall, and a concert hall. And with music, the acoustics ideal for jazz are very different than, for example, taiko drums.”
The brief for both audio-video system design and acoustical design for the auditorium was handed over to the consulting firm of Jaffe Holden, with Associate Principal Steven Schlaseman assigned to acoustical design and project management.
“Cornish has a very forward-looking music department, so they didn’t flinch when we proposed a system of active acoustics,” says Schlaseman. “And that was really our only option for changing the acoustics as the room dimensions were absolutely fixed. Although we could dampen sound reflections by adding physical absorption, there was no way we could expand the room volume to extend reverberation as would be optimum for many uses.”
In the early planning stages, a new Constellation system recently had been completed for Octave 9 at the Seattle Symphony. However, the room configuration and uses there were significantly different. Consequently, Estell and other key decision-makers flew down to Meyer Sound in Berkeley to hear demonstrations in the similar Pearson Theater.
“We were more than impressed,” recalls Estell. “What I heard with Constellation was remarkably cleaner than what I was expecting. It did not sound at all digitized, which was almost a shock in itself!”
The as-installed systems at the Raisbeck Auditorium comprise a total of 110 Meyer Sound loudspeakers, deployed in four sub-systems. The Constellation and Atmos-capable cinema surround system includes 70 small full-range loudspeakers (Ashby‑8C, HMS‑5, MM‑4XP) and 16 MM‑10XP subwoofers. 64 miniature condenser microphones are arrayed around the space for ambient acoustical sensing. The primary reinforcement system utilizes six UP‑4slim and three ULTRA‑X40 loudspeakers augmented by a center-flown cardioid array of three USW‑210P subwoofers. Three Acheron 80 cinema loudspeakers carry the screen channels with LFE assigned to a trio of X‑800C cinema subwoofers. Six MJF‑208 stage monitors are available for artist foldback.
All Meyer Sound systems, along with video projection and extensive audio recording facilities, were supplied and installed by Morgan Sound of Lynnwood, Washington. In addition to a DiGiCo SD-10 console, QLab show control, and Aviom personal monitoring, Morgan Sound also provided an ample selection of premium microphones from Neumann, Royer, Shure, and Sennheiser.
“This is easily the smallest theater with this much technology that I’ve ever been involved with,” remarks Morgan Sound Project Manager Steven Weeks. “And when we did the initial demo session for faculty and donors, everybody was impressed with what they heard. And not just Constellation. The stellar sound reinforcement system is flat and musical. And when we ran the cinema system with Atmos content, everybody was blown away by how good it sounds.”
Cornish College has been known as a cutting-edge arts institution for decades, notably during the years when iconoclastic composer John Cage was in residence. “We have a tradition of innovation, and we always urge our students to push forward,” says Pinky Estell. “It may take some time for students and faculty to become familiar with the technology in this room, but we expect they will use it to stretch the boundaries of creativity in acoustical environments.”
Classes hosted in the Raisbeck Auditorium include jazz performances and new trends in composition, with concerts to date ranging from punk rock to taiko drumming. In addition to student film showings, talks are underway to form partnerships with local film festivals.
“It’s been a delightful experience working with Meyer Sound and Morgan Sound,” summarizes Estell. “We look forward to pushing the limits of what Constellation can do over the coming years.”
Other key contributors to the Raisbeck Auditorium project include theater consultant Robert Smulling of PLA Designs and overall construction consultant Jen Creighton of Brightpath Consulting. The venue is named in recognition of philanthropists James and Sherry Raisbeck.
Founded in 1914 as a music school, Cornish College of the Arts now also offers programs in fine arts, dance, and drama. Notable alumni include choreographers Merce Cunningham and Robert Joffrey as well as Ann Wilson of the rock band Heart.
