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.
Sound Designer Kai Harada Credited on Two Nominees for Best Musical
New York, New York – The Company | Paul Kolnik
The 76th annual Tony Awards celebration, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theater Wing, will be held on June 11 at the historic United Palace in the Washington Heights district of New York. Two productions nominated for Best Musical — New York, New York and Kimberly Akimbo — employ main reinforcement systems of Meyer Sound loudspeakers. Both systems are the work of noted sound designer Kai Harada, and his personal contribution to New York, New York is recognized by a nomination for Best Sound Design of a Musical, an award he garnered in 2018 for A Band’s Visit.
New York, New York – The Company | Paul Kolnik
Two productions receiving Best Sound Design of a Play nominations, Life of Pi and Prima Facie, also benefit from an audio system predominantly from Meyer Sound. The respective Sound Designer nominees are Carolyn Downing and Ben & Max Ringham.
The two Tony-nominated musicals with systems designed by Harada share similarities despite significant differences in both the venue sizes and the content of the productions. To craft the ideal balance of coverage, power, and bandwidth for each show, Harada was able to draw on a broad palette of 15 different Meyer Sound loudspeakers, both current and legacy models, with nine of those models specified for both productions.
Kimberly Akimbo: Victoria Clark, Justin Cooley, Michael Iskander, Olivia Hardy, Nina White, and Fernell Hogan | Joan Marcus
“Kimberly Akimbo is playing at the Booth Theater, a relatively small Broadway house seating around 800, while New York, New York is at the larger St. James, with a capacity of over 1700,” says Harada. “Kimberly is more of a chamber musical, with a smaller cast and smaller orchestra, but still the show’s score still requires a big dynamic range so there are a lot of loudspeakers in the space. I scaled up the same approach for New York, New York, which is a bigger and brassier dance-oriented show. Although the orchestra is in an uncovered pit — a rarity these days! — it was important to me to have a system that gave me a lot of dynamic range and complete coverage for all seating sections.”
When selecting loudspeakers for his designs, Harada places a high value on consistency. “When I spec Meyer Sound cabinets for my main PA, I know what to expect with the sound quality and coverage,” he says. “We had done Kimberly Akimbo off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre — also with a Meyer Sound system — so we knew what the show was, musically speaking, and had a sonic goal in mind. For New York, New York, we had done only one workshop of the show, so there were a lot more unknowns. In that case, I needed to know that the system I specified was going to sound good so that I could concentrate on all the other variables.”
Current Meyer Sound products used in both productions include the LINA® very compact linear line array, ULTRA-X40™ compact loudspeaker, and UPM-1P™ ultra-compact loudspeaker. Legacy loudspeakers used for both include M1D™ line arrays, UPQ-1P™, UPA-2P™, UPJ-1P™, UPJunior™, and MM-4™ loudspeakers as well as the 500-HP™ subwoofer.
Meyer Sound’s discreet LINA line arrays are major contributors to the sound for both productions. “The LINAs just sound good, and they are small,” summarizes Harada. “That makes it easy to collaborate with the visual designers to get good speaker locations because they don’t take up much space — but I still get a lot of granular control.”
His most recent favourite is the ULTRA-X40 compact loudspeaker. “It’s such a smooth-sounding box that requires so little EQ. I can’t imagine doing a show without ULTRA-X40s anymore!”
The system for Kimberly Akimbo encompasses a total of 77 full-range loudspeakers plus nine subwoofers. A total of 108 full-range loudspeakers and seven subwoofers are deployed for New York, New York. The complete audio systems for these two productions were supplied by Masque Sound of East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Other productions currently running in New York deploying Meyer Sound loudspeakers as their main systems include Tina, Monsoon Wedding, A Transparent Musical, Dancin,’ Once Upon a One More Time, and Gatsby. Major tours with Meyer Sound Systems include 1776 and Les Miserables. All of these systems were supplied by Sound Associates of Yonkers, New York.
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.
Electro-Voice EKX and ZLX loudspeakers provide the ideal combination of professional sound quality and compact form factor
Dynacord L series DSP amplifiers allow user-friendly system management.
The system serves double duty for daytime BGM and nighttime live sound.
A new Electro-Voice loudspeaker system with power and processing from Dynacord is delivering state-of-the-art sound quality in a compact format for patrons at Naimuang Station, a leading regional restaurant known for its live music scene, in Chai Nat, Thailand.
The restaurant’s management was determined to elevate the audio experience at the venue to the next level. In addition to top-notch sound quality, a key prerequisite was controlled coverage to keep the output contained in the venue and minimize any noise pollution into neighbouring properties. In step with this consideration, the system also needed to sound great at lower volume levels for daytime guests. And, of course, it all needed to be reliable and easy for the staff to manage.
To deliver on this vision, a system comprising passive EKX and powered ZLX series loudspeakers was specified. The main PA includes four EKX-15 and four EKX-12 full-range boxes to cover the dining/audience area, with low-frequency support from four EKX-18 subwoofers. Four ZLX-12BT boxes serve as stage monitors. Both the EKX and ZLX series models feature Signal Synchronized Transducers (SST) technology, which, in addition to allowing for a more compact speaker enclosure, helps to time-align the low- and high-frequency drivers and allows for a larger waveguide and port to fit inside the enclosure, yielding enhanced pattern control and bass response.
The main EKX system is powered by Dynacord L Series DSP amplifiers, designed for live/mobile applications: three L3600FD (2x 1800 W) and two L2800FD (2x 1400 W). Dynacord’s remote control software allows Naimuang Station to wirelessly manage and monitor system settings such as volume and EQ without the need for additional speaker processing. For example, the audio can be adjusted to provide the perfect ambience with background music for diners during the day, with higher output for live shows at night. Being able to configure the system quickly and easily completes a solution that combines user-friendly convenience with professional performance.
ApexPro is the premium distributor of Electro-Voice and Dynacord equipment and services in sub-Saharan Africa.
The HH Electronics Tessen Line Array recently made a splash at the Tzaneen Pastors Fraternal Worship Conference, held at the AFM Fountain of Life Church.
The ground-stacked configuration of the HH Electronics TNA-1800S, TNA-2120SA, and TNA-2051 delivered exceptional sound quality that impressed attendees.
According to Chimmy Machimana, the Front of House sound engineer for the event, “The HH Electronics Tessen Line Array blew me away. The sound was crystal clear with a very punchy low end, and the coverage was impressive. More impressive is what we were able to achieve in a room with very challenging acoustics. As you can see, the space is only at the tail end of a construction effort. The sanctuary is yet to be carpeted and treated for sound. “
Pastor Frank Ntlemo, a Pastor and musician at the conference, was equally impressed with the line array, stating that they planned to secure funds to have it installed in their new church building. It’s a testament to the quality of the Tessen Line Array that it left such an impression on attendees.
Dr Pat Malungani, owner of Mbhetse Productions, a sound hire company, also had positive feedback about HH Electronics. He praised the clarity of the TRE-1201 model and its ability to deliver pristine sound even in challenging acoustic environments. We used the TRE-1201 on stage as monitors for the speaker and lead vocalist with exceptional results.
Overall, the HH Electronics Tessen Line Array was a standout at the Tzaneen Pastors Fraternal Worship Conference. It’s a powerful tool that can elevate any worship experience and is sure to impress anyone who hears it. We are excited by the overwhelmingly positive response to the brand in the region and are confident that our efforts to support our local retail partners to promote it will yield great results.
ApexPro is the sole distributor of HH Electronics in sub-Saharan Africa. Contact us to book your demo.
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.
