ApexPro is proud to announce its partnership with leading professional audio technology manufacturer, HH Electronics.
A Legacy Partnership
ApexPro, a leading distributor of professional audiovisual equipment for the sub-Saharan African region, has recently cemented a partnership with UK-based HH Electronics, a leading manufacturer of professional audio from within the Headstock Group, UK.
“We are extremely excited about our partnership with HH Electronics,” says ApexPro Director, Justin Acres. “The entertainment, tourism, and live events sectors in Southern Africa are poised for a much-needed comeback following the restrictions on business imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. As new venues open, and those that survived the lockdowns look to attract new patrons, the demand for high-quality, low-cost, expandable professional audio systems is on the rise. We can’t think of a better manufacturer to fill this gap than UK-based HH Electronics.”
Technical Director at ApexPro, Mark Malherbe concurs, stating that: “The iconic 1984 Concert in the Park was powered by HH Electronic power amps, a gig I remember well. HH Electronics has a much-deserved reputation, established over more than half a century, for innovation, excellence, and affordability across its product range. The systems designed and engineered by the HH Electronics team are ideal for our market, and I am confident that our clients will agree.”
More About HH Electronics
HH Electronics was established in 1968, by Mike Harrison, an electronic engineer who identified a gap in the market for solid-state amplifiers for the then rapidly expanding TV broadcast network market. Under Harrison’s leadership, HH Electronics sold its iconic TPA amplifier to nearly every TV studio across the UK as well as to many recording studios in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1970, the BBC published stringent requirements for a new amplifier, and HH Electronics responded with the AM 812 Amplifier, which became a global standard for broadcast corporations for decades to come.
At the same time, the live music industry was exploding across the world, providing greater opportunities for innovation in live sound for mega concerts. HH Electronics broadened its scope by creating solid-state guitar and bass amplifiers, and PA systems. The company was soon recognized by artists, including the incomparable Pink Floyd, for creating lightweight, low-cost, expandable systems that were every bit as good as a tailor-made rig but at a fraction of the cost.
In 1989, HH Electronics became a part of the Headstock Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of musical equipment and professional audio products in the UK and Ireland. HH Electronics is currently focused on two key areas, according to James Laney, CEO of the Headstock group. “Our emphasis today and into the future is line array and portable PA for live sound, and professional audio solutions of the installation market.”
HH Electronics Cements Its Footprint in the African Market with ApexPro
Ian Wright, International Sales Director for the Headstock Group stated: “We are extremely happy to be announcing this new relationship with ApexPro and we look forward to working closely with them as they develop the HH brand within the African market. Apex Pro has a long history in the African Pro Audio industry with an understanding of all vertical markets. They are truly a wonderful company that provides great service, support, and training, and their knowledgeable staff is equipped to handle the most challenging of projects thrown at them. We are proud to be working with them and alongside the other quality brands they represent, and we are excited about the future and all that we can achieve together. A long-term solid relationship has begun and we wish them all the very best.”
“HH Electronics, under the Headstock Group, offers high-quality, low-cost professional audio solutions that are ideally suited for installations in the sub-Saharan region. We have every confidence that bringing HH Electronics’ products to venues across the region will provide just the right balance of quality, durability, and affordability that our customer base deserves.” Justin concludes.
Stadium/Shed System from UltraSound Anchored by 72 PANTHER Loudspeakers
Dead & Company is back on the road for their 2022 Summer Tour which kicked off in mid-June at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. As they carry on the Grateful Dead tradition of using the latest innovations in sound reinforcement, the tour is powered by a system featuring Meyer Sound’s new PANTHER large-format linear line array loudspeaker. The band further augmented its seemingly limitless repertoire of tunes while UltraSound — decades-long audio provider for the Grateful Dead and successor ensembles — assembled the largest system of PANTHER loudspeakers in North America, and the first to roll out on a USA tour.
To cover expansive audience areas in a mix of sports stadiums and larger sheds, UltraSound is carrying a PANTHER inventory that allows reconfiguration for venue size. For stadiums, a typical deployment is four identical arrays — two main front and two side — each comprising fourteen PANTHER loudspeakers, with four PANTHER-W wide coverage versions flown under 12 PANTHER-L long-throw versions.
Mixing the band for PANTHER’s North American touring debut is FOH Engineer Derek Featherstone, who also serves as tour director and UltraSound CEO.
PANTHER is a very responsive system and reacts quickly to change. The vocals tend to lead nicely, staying up front in the mix better than with last year’s system. I’ve altered some vocal compression to take advantage of this.”
Derek Featherstone UltraSound CEO and Dead & Company Tour Director/FOH Engineer
Weighing in at 150 lb (68 kg), the PANTHER loudspeaker nevertheless produces greater than 150 dB peak SPL. The compact size and reduced weight save on transportation costs while the new Class D amplifier dramatically reduces power consumption. PANTHER is the first line array system to offer AVB Milan™ protocol network connection directly to the loudspeaker cabinet.
As tour director, Featherstone appreciates the added flexibility afforded by PANTHER’s power-to-size/weight ratio.
“We’re using the same count of PANTHER as we had for LEO last year, but the reduced size and weight allowed us to carry more subs and deploy them more effectively. Recovered truck space allowed us to bring the VLFCs, while PANTHER’s reduced weight makes it easier to do more end-fire sub-arrays in stadiums within the same total weight limits.”
For larger venue deployments, PANTHER arrays are bolstered in the bass registers by 18 flown 1100‑LFC low-frequency control elements plus 12 700-HP high-power subwoofers on the ground. Ten VLFC very-low-frequency control elements extend response down to a subsonic 13 Hz.
A dozen LEOPARD compact line array loudspeakers are deployed singly for front fill, and a total of eight GALAXY Network Platforms provide system drive and optimization. The stage foldback system comprises 10 MJF‑210 and two MJF-212A stage monitors along with two JM‑1P loudspeakers for side fill and two 1100-LFC elements as drum subs.
“We invested in PANTHER for three reasons,” says Featherstone. “We needed additional inventory, we were confident that the fidelity would be as expected from Meyer Sound, and we would benefit from the added versatility. We are already getting a good deal of interest from other tours and events after Dead & Company wrap up next month.”
In addition to Featherstone, the Dead & Company tour is supported by Michał Kacunel (system engineer), Ross Harris (recording engineer and ground PA tech), Lonnie Quinn, and Ian Dubois (monitor engineers), along with crew members Sean McAdam, Aaron Lauzier, and Reilly Williamson.
The band’s 2022 tour proceeds eastward with 20 shows scheduled in 16 cities, wrapping up at Citi Field in New York on July 16. Of the tour venues, four are Major League Baseball stadiums, one an NFL stadium, and one college football stadium, with the balance at larger sheds.
Dead & Company was formed in 2015 when the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Bob Weir joined forces with artist and musician John Mayer, Allman Brothers’ bassist Oteil Burbridge, and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, and has quickly become one of the most successful touring bands year over year. Since its formation, the band has completed six tours playing to millions of fans and became a record-breaking stadium act when it broke Wrigley Field’s all-time concert attendance record, which still holds to this day. Having toured consistently since its 2015 debut, the band has grossed $300 million and has sold more than three million tickets across 172 reported shows.
The recent Level 42 UK tour called on the versatility of Electro-Voice and Dynacord equipment to ensure that every audience had the best possible experience, no matter what kind of venue the band was performing in.
The British jazz-funk band toured with an Electro-Voice
The British jazz-funk band toured with an Electro-Voice X2 system as its main PA, driven by Dynacord TGX amplifiers with control from SONICUE sound system software.
The tour marked the first time that the band’s FOH engineer, Mark Clements, had moved away from Level 42’s usual equipment supplier for 25 years. However, the band had been working with Merlin PA on overseas and festival packages, and it became a natural move to tour the UK with the rental company too.
NEAL ALLEN, MERLIN PA’S
“The percussive and transient nature of Mark King’s style really shone through with the use of the X2’s 12” driver on the Mid Band Hydra.”
A further reason for the switch was to move to Electro-Voice’s X2 system, which Clements had heard several times. The solution’s size and form factor made it the perfect choice for a concert hall tour, but the technical qualities of the X2 also made it a strong choice for Level 42.
“The percussive and transient nature of Mark King’s style really shone through with the use of the X2’s 12” driver on the Mid Band Hydra,” explains Merlin PA’s Neal Allen. “That’s what the technology in the MBH allows you to deliver.”
The capabilities of the X12-128 dual-18” subwoofers were also an important factor for the performance. “This tour was one of the first where we consistently used a cardioid sub arrangement in almost every venue,” recalls Allen. “Due to the nature of the stage setup, some venues required a super-cardioid sub design, which dramatically cleaned up unwanted resonance onstage for Mark King.”
In addition to the X2 main PA, compact 8” two-way XLE cabinets were called into action to provide further support. “XLE was required to provide extra intelligibility and consistency,” says Allen. “This was particularly important at Sheffield City Hall, which is a notoriously tricky venue to contain with a full house when you need to cover all three floors.”
A further aspect that enhanced the tour was the Dynacord electronics and software that drove every performance. “TGX amplifiers and SONICUE sound system software provided the backbone power to the Electro-Voice system,” notes Allen. “The intuitive nature of SONICUE enabled us to make effortless on-the-fly changes at different locations, while also providing an overall picture of all aspects of the system.”
Pata Pata Beer Garden in Johannesburg’s Maboneng precinct has been equipped with a new sound system based on equipment from Electro-Voice and Rane. The solution was designed and installed by Prosound.
Maboneng precinct itself is currently undergoing a transformation into a new cultural hub for the city. Situated in the old diamond district, the area is now home to a variety of arts centres, entertainment venues and retail stores. As part of this process, Pata Pata has set itself out to be a multipurpose entertainment venue for live bands, DJs, sporting events and corporate functions. The venue approached Prosound to design a solution that would meet the various needs of these differing uses while keeping within a specified budget.
The main challenge for the project came from the 500-capacity venue itself. It is a large, hangar-style building with a raised mezzanine level to the rear which combined to create a number of audio issues. To tackle these, Prosound pro audio sales specialist, Lucky Lande, provided a bespoke solution to fit within the client’s budget while also overcoming the acoustic challenges.
The system comprises Electro-Voice EKX passive loudspeakers powered by the German manufacturer’s Q-series amplifiers. Processing is handled by a Rane HAL1. ‘The design provided great flexibility in allowing the client to plug into the system from various positions in the venue,’ said Mr Lande.
The audio system installation ran alongside a general renovation at Pata Pata, which created its own set of challenges. However, according to Mr Lande, ‘the installation was a great success, with the client very happy with the outcome and commenting that this is the best system he’s heard, and worked on, in a long time’.
On the 21st of February Audio-Technica South Africa, distributed by ApexPro, officially launched the ATUC-50, an innovative new offering from Audio-Technica in the conferencing space. Audio-Technica’s Conference Business Development Manager EMEA, Sandra Kellerman, came all the way from Denmark to officially launch the exciting new ATUC-50 Digital Discussion System and offer in-depth training on its use and features. The event was held at the picturesque Blandford Manor conferencing venue in northern Johannesburg.
This new entry-level system has raised the bar for sound quality and speech intelligibility with its 24-bit/48kHz uncompressed digital audio and is extremely easy to use along with plug and play functionality. With a 5 year warranty the ATUC-50 offers reliable, clear and intelligible communication to significantly increase meeting efficiency and effectiveness.
Aadil Matwadia, National Sales Manager for ApexPro had this to say; “I really found the training to be very informative. It was very useful to see what we are up against in the market place with this system. The ATUC-50’s ease of set up and sound quality were the highlights for me”.
After two very successful training sessions in Johannesburg, Sandra went on to Cape Town where customers were again very enthusiastic about the system. We predict that the ATUC-50 will find many fans in South Africa as an easy to use, highly adaptable and great sounding system in the entry-level tier of conferencing.
Victor Vermaak, Prosound’s church audio specialist, worked closely with First Love Generation in Ruimsig to design an audio system that would fulfill their requirements for their overflow/lecture room. In the end, he met and exceeded their expectations with an Electro-Voice solution incorporating Zxa1 powered speakers.
The system will serve to provide sound for video playback as well as audio from the main church. They went with the EV Zxa1’s to keep the same sonic character of the EV EKX used in their main church.
Other Prosound supplied equipment includes a Midas M32 console, Audio-Technica 3000 series wireless belt pack systems with DPA D-fine headset mics as well as Audio-Technica 3000 series handhelds.
Victor Vermaak, Prosound’s church audio specialist, worked closely with First Love Generation in Ruimsig to design an audio system that would fulfill their requirements for their overflow/lecture room. In the end, he met and exceeded their expectations with an Electro-Voice solution incorporating Zxa1 powered speakers.