Genelec Japan recently held a vibrant local launch event for the 8381A and introduced our new UNIO Platform and 9320A Reference Controller. To give you some insight into the experience, Genelec Strategy Advisory Officer Lars-Olof Janflod has gathered a few highlights below.
“Key team members from both Genelec Japan and our headquarters in Finland joined forces in Tokyo to officially introduce the 8381A Adaptive Point Source Main Monitor to Japan, with a well-attended hands-on listening event at the city’s legendary King Records Sekiguchidai studio complex. King Records, founded in 1931, were one of the very first studios in Japan to invest in our 1035A monitors, which they installed in the early ‘90s. Today, all four of their suites are equipped with 1035s.”
“The event, held in Studio 2 and led by Genelec R&D Director Aki Mäkivirta, ran over two afternoon sessions and gathered over 80 highly knowledgeable attendees. Aki started us off by shedding light on the design ideas behind the 8381A, and we followed up with a hands-on control room demo where each participant was invited sit at the desk and choose their reference material. The group of participants featured a healthy mix of mostly younger generation engineers alongside a few well-known and highly respected industry veterans. It’s safe to say that, across the board, reactions were very positive indeed.”
“Following the 8381A’s introduction at King Records, a separate session was held at Genelec Japan’s office and Dolby Atmos suite to introduce our new UNIO Platform and 9320A Reference Controller. Aki, once again, led the way for a similar mix of young and more-experienced engineers, who relished the opportunity to form a greater understanding of UNIO and try out the unique, highly consistent listening experience it offers between in-room and headphone monitoring.”
As a bridge to UNIO, our compact 9320A Reference Controller enables you to create, optimise and manage a single, liberating workflow – for professional loudspeaker and headphone monitoring options, from stereo to immersive, which are easy to access, trust, and cross-reference, wherever your work takes you.
We’re extremely pleased to report that, once again, Genelec has been shortlisted in the globally respected Mondo-DR Awards for AV – this time in the Sustainable Company category for our strong sustainability credentials and Retail & Leisure category for our collaboration with Informationsteknik on the AV installation at Jacy’z Hotel & Resort in Gothenburg.
Receiving recognition for our approach to sustainability – a matter we prioritise equally alongside sound quality and profitability – is always a very proud moment for us. When we were founded back in 1978, we were already treading lightly, building only long-lasting, serviceable loudspeakers and nurturing employee well-being. Since then, we’ve continuously expanded on these values to make Genelec a global leader in sustainable loudspeaker solutions. For this award, Mondo-DR’s expert panel will consider – among other aspects – our successes in working culture, environmental management, sustainable supply, communication of credentials, sustainability reporting and developmental goals. You can find out more about our sustainability credentials by clicking here.
Our second nomination this year is the elegant installation at ESS Group’s luxury Jacy’z Hotel & Resort in Gothenburg, Sweden, which was planned and executed in close collaboration with AV integration specialists Informationsteknik. With over 130 Genelecs, from both our analogue 4000 Series and more advanced Smart IP family of networked installation loudspeakers, Jacy’z is able to offer a premium sound experience that honours the high expectations of its visitors. Before the panel make their final decision, they’ll measure this project’s prowess in terms of aesthetics, ease of installation, sonic performance and customer satisfaction. To see the installation for yourself, you can watch our video here.
The MONDO-DR Awards – run by Mondo-DR Magazine – were first launched in 2017 to reward the best new fixed installation projects around the globe. Now in its seventh year, the winners across all categories will be chosen by an expert panel of independent judges and previous award winners.
We’d like to extend a very warm thanks to Mondo-DR, Jacy’z, Informationsteknik and our own team for making these nominations possible – and we’ll be hoping for a great result at the forthcoming awards ceremony, which is held on the 14th of June at the InfoComm show Orlando, Florida.
The Genelec 8381A Adaptive Point Source Main Monitor system with Smart Active Technology empowers engineers and creators to perceive every sonic detail, offering true-to-life sound level and dynamics – with the full flexibility of free-standing monitor placement and advanced room adaption.
Interacting with our Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) software, the 8381A monitor system intelligently adapts its response to the monitoring room in the optimal way. This offers great flexibility to tackle even the most challenging environments – delivering precise presentation, including low-frequency reproduction that integrates perfectly with the complete sound content.
The 8381A has been engineered to deliver the complete audible content, with a response extending to frequencies beyond the standard audible range – and fully aligned in the time domain – it delivers precise understanding of all the minute details in recorded waveforms. With its high SPL capacity, the 8381A makes even very low-level details audible, creating an uncompromising tool for monitoring.
Tailored precisely to your room
Interacting with our Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) software, the 8381A monitor system intelligently adapts its response to the monitoring room in the optimal way. This offers great flexibility to tackle even the most challenging environments – delivering precise presentation, including low frequency reproduction that integrates perfectly with the complete sound content.
The 8381A has been engineered to deliver the complete audible content, with a response extending to frequencies beyond the standard audible range – and fully aligned in the time domain – it delivers precise understanding of all the minute details in recorded waveforms.
Imaging you can trust
Quickly arrive at the right mixing and mastering decisions through uncompromising imaging detail. The point source operating principle of the 8381A offers the unique advantage of maintaining precise sound colour and imaging at all listening distances, enabling exceptional freedom of placement, and removing the vertical sound colour change typical of larger monitors.
The carefully designed Directivity Control Waveguide ensures clean off-axis sound colour, reducing the impact of the reverberant sound in the monitoring room on mixing decisions, while improving the accuracy and reliability of monitoring work in all rooms.
Standing on the floor, the 8381 locates the soundstage at the natural listening height, while supporting traditional high main monitor positions with the included incliner system. This enables the acoustic axis to be optimally configured towards the listening position for all installation heights.
With its high SPL capacity, the 8381A makes even very low-level details audible, creating an uncompromising tool for monitoring.
ApexPro and Sound Reference join Genelec’s global distribution network.
Genelec has significantly strengthened its distribution network in the MEA region through the signing of two new distribution agreements. Johannesburg-based ApexPro are handling the distribution of Genelec’s Pro and AV loudspeaker ranges across Southern Africa, while Dubai-based Sound Reference will be servicing the Home Audio market throughout the GCC group of countries. Both appointments signal Genelec’s commitment to what has become an increasingly important region in the global loudspeaker market.
ApexPro is part of South Africa’s well-established Prosound Group of companies, which over the last fifty years has established a close affiliation with clients in the professional broadcast, music production and Pro-AV verticals. The distribution agreement covers the Southern African region – comprising South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe – and with satellite offices in Durban, Cape Town and Gaborone, ApexPro will focus on the distribution of Genelec Professional loudspeakers via the dealer channel, while AV Worx – part of the same Prosound Group – will provide value-added distribution by concentrating on supplying Genelec Professional and AV solutions to system integrators working in audio-visual production, music production, AV applications plus education and research.
Founded in Dubai in 2021 by Muhammed Amras, Sound Reference will be supplying Genelec loudspeaker systems to the Home Audio market across the GCC nations: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Supported by General Manager Suresh Thadani – who himself has over 25 years of audio distribution experience – Sound Reference will be working with a network of dealers across the region, while supporting sales in the UAE via its impressive Genelec Experience Centre in Dubai.
“Genelec is the standard by which all other loudspeakers are judged by professionals in the global audio industry,” comments ApexPro director Mark Malherbe. “Ensuring reliable and supported access to Genelec’s class-leading products is an essential part of delivering on our commitment to provide world-class technology and solutions to our growing pro audio industry in Southern Africa. We’re confident that our extensive network of broadcast and production professionals, AV integrators and end users in the entertainment, commercial and education markets will embrace all that Genelec has to offer in the years ahead.”
Sound Reference’s Muhammed Amras adds: “We have a very close relationship with Farooq Pasha, who’s company – Audio Video People – has had great success as a Genelec Home Audio dealer in Bangalore, India. Working with Audio Video People, we recognised the opportunities that representing Genelec in the GCC region would create – it’s a fast developing market, and the booming tourism industry is generating significant demand for high quality loudspeaker solutions in the Home Audio and AV segments.”
Genelec International Sales Director Ole Jensen concludes: “We can see the growth potential that the MEA region represents, and we’re extremely excited about working with ApexPro and Sound Reference, both of whom have high levels of experience and professionalism. It also showcases the fact that Genelec’s strong studio & broadcast customer base is now being supported by a growing number of discerning customers in the AV and Home Audio markets. This really underscores the fact that exceptional sounding, sustainable, aesthetically beautiful loudspeaker solutions are in demand everywhere – whatever the application.”
ApexPro and Audio Visual Worx partner with Genelec to distribute their exceptional product throughout Southern Africa.
The collaboration between ApexPro, Audio Visual Worx and Genelec is expected to bring cutting-edge audio technology advancements, providing customers in Southern Africa with enhanced audio solutions and pushing the boundaries of sound reproduction.
When being hosted by Clifford Pereira and the Genelec team in Finland, I was struck by their unique and inspiring company culture; they have an emphasis on staying true to their roots and founding principles but at the same time being forward-thinking, investing heavily in R&D and their people. In a highly commoditised, global environment, it was refreshing to be in the company of industry professionals with a genuine passion for technology, audio and music,” says Justin Acres, Director of ApexPro.
Together, ApexPro, Audio Visual Worx and Genelec are poised to shape the future of the audio industry and deliver unparalleled audio experiences to professionals and enthusiasts alike.
“ApexPro specialises in distribution within the music retail market, primarily focusing on delivering a wide range of audio equipment and solutions to meet the needs of musicians, performers, and music enthusiasts.
Audio Visual Worx provides solution-based systems in the audio-visual industry, focusing on delivering comprehensive audio-visual solutions for various applications, including corporate settings, installations, and professional broadcast projects.
“Having these two distribution arms, we can effectively cater to the diverse needs of both the music retail market and the solution-based systems sector, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored approach to audio distribution,” Acres explains.
Genelec is renowned for its exceptional professional audio speakers, highly regarded in the industry for their outstanding sound quality, accuracy, and reliability. Specifically designed for critical listening environments like recording studios and broadcasting facilities, Genelec speakers incorporate advanced technologies, such as the Directivity Control Waveguide, ensuring consistent and transparent sound reproduction across a wide frequency range.
Additionally, Genelec offers a range of Audio Visual (AV) speakers, which cater to any vertical market that requires an installation speaker, from hospitality, corporate and architectural. With Genelec’s newly released IP range of speakers, the company combines their outstanding audio quality with network connectivity, allowing for flexible and scalable audio solutions in various environments.
With features like PoE (Power over Ethernet) and advanced control options, Genelec’s IP speakers offer seamless integration into networked audio systems for easy management and distribution of audio content.
Audio Visual Worx product specialist, Dwaine Schreuder, adds that “in the studio and broadcast market, Genelec doesn’t need an introduction as they are globally recognised and extensively used by industry professionals. Building on this solid platform, we are thrilled to introduce Genelec’s range of IP install speakers to Africa, which is not a vertical historically associated with Genelec in the region.
“Audio Visual Worx is uniquely positioned to offer value-added designs to studio and broadcast professionals,” Schreuder adds. “We not only have an impressive Genelec Showroom, but we have also incorporated Genelec’s IP range of speakers throughout our Johannesburg-based headquarters.”
ApexPro and Audio Visual Worx are proud to be associated with Genelec and look forward to sharing this exceptional product with you.
Existing Genelec clients will be pleased to know that Audio Visual Worx has been appointed as an authorised Technical Service Center.
To book your Southern Africa Genelec Experience, please contact dwaine@avworx.africa.
Award winners were announced Thursday, April 13, 2023, at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Genelec, the leader in active monitoring technology for over four decades, has won two Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards at the NAMM TEC Experience, held on Thursday, April 13, at The 2023 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Genelec’s GLM 4.2 GRADE™ (Genelec Room Acoustic Data Evaluation) won for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Production Essentials category, and the 6040R Smart Active Loudspeaker won for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Studio Monitors category. Finalists from the 22 categories were selected by industry professionals across major music, sound, and game audio associations, along with pro audio-focused media groups.
Will Eggleston, Genelec Inc. Marketing Director, stated, “We are filled with gratitude to this year’s TEC Awards voters, who have recognized our GLM 4.2 GRADE technology for outstanding technical achievement. Each year, the industry gathers at The NAMM Show to recognize the year’s triumphs, and we are proud to be honored alongside the audio community’s very best.”
Presented annually by NAMM, the TEC Awards recognizes the individuals, companies and technical innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and multimedia. Now in its 38th year, the Awards are widely recognized as the highest honor dedicated to the pro audio and sound recording industry. It’s where the most outstanding products in the worlds of music making, live performances, video games, television and films are recognized and where creative luminaries like Les Paul, Peter Frampton, Quincy Jones, Joe Perry, Pete Townshend, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Carol Kaye are celebrated for their musical contributions.
Through its Hall of Fame, the TEC Awards honors the pioneers of audio technology and the music industry’s most accomplished producers and audio technicians. The Les Paul Innovation Award pays tribute to musical artists and others whose work has exemplified the creative application of audio technology. TECnology Hall of Fame celebrates innovations and groundbreaking technical achievements of the past.
