Archive for April 19th, 2012

Santa Monica, CA, April 19, 2012– Antelope Audio will introduce Rubicon, a groundbreaking 384 kHz digital audio preamplifier which integrates the world renowned 10M Rubidium atomic clock. Rubicon caters to the ever-increasing interest in high-resolution audio, addressing the specific needs of high-end consumer electronics enthusiasts for accurate audio representation and detailed soundstage of both analog and digital recordings. The new device will be presented to the public during the Munich High End Show, May 3rd – 6th.

Rubicon is the first DAC to integrate a Rubidium atomic clock, which is 100,000 times more stable than a traditional crystal oscillator. Coupled with Antelope’s 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking technology, the Rubidium achieves a breakthrough in jitter management, improving the sound quality in an unprecedented way. The same technology is implemented in the company’s flagship master clocks used for scoring blockbusters such as Avatar and available at the best recording and mastering studios around the Globe.

“I find the idea of an audio enthusiast being able to hear his/her favorite recordings clocked by the world’s most stable clock very exciting. I believe this will bring the music appreciation in the home environment to a completely new level compared only to the precision and sonic detail representation available at the finest professional listening rooms,” shared Igor Levin, CEO and founder of Antelope Audio.

Housed in a sturdy, machined-aluminum enclosure with a vintage Art Deco design, Rubicon incorporates a discrete phono preamp, ultra linear, dual stage headphone drivers and Antelope’s renowned gold-plated relay volume control.

The transformer-based, ultra-low noise, discrete JFET phono preamp is a complement that will be highly appreciated by many vinyl lovers. In addition to the 384 kHz DAC, Rubicon also includes ultra-high sample rate A/D conversion. These functionalities together with the high resolution USB recording capability provide the users with the sublime experience of digitizing their favorite tracks, still keeping the depth and the warmth of the original analog recordings.

In addition to the 384 kHz USB streaming, Rubicon offers extended flexibility and smooth user experience provided by the implemented DLNA capability. The DLNA streaming gives users the opportunity to wirelessly push audio files from their smart phone, PC or NAS (Network-attached storage) server and play the content through the high-sample rate DAC.

Rubicon inherits the D/A conversion technology from 384 kHz Zodiac Gold DAC – the 2012 winner of the Audio Excellence Award in Japan and often described by reviewers and prominent sound engineers as “future-proofed”, “clean”, “neutral” and “accurate”. The A/D circuit comes from the 2011 winner of the Audio Media Gear of the Year award, high-end professional mastering converter Eclipse 384.

Antelope Audio plans to present the Rubicon for the first time to the public and the media during the Munich High End Show, in hall 3, booth A 04, at 2 pm, on May 3rd.

Rubicon features

– 10M Rubidium Atomic Clock, providing 100,000 times more accurate reference;
– 64-bit Acoustically Focused Clocking jitter management technology;
– Ultra low noise phono inputs with custom audio transformers, discrete JFET preamp design;
– 384kHz A/D & D/A converters;
– Gold-plated stepped relay volume attenuator matched to 0.05dB for all volume levels;
– Ultra-linear, dual stage headphone amps;
– De-jittered audio S/PDIF output;
– Custom USB 2.0 chip streaming up to 480 Mbits/384kHz with recording option;
– DLNA streaming capabilities through an Ethernet interface

Specifiations:
Analog Inputs
1x PHONO Input on RCA
3x Inputs on RCA
1x HiZ Input on RCA
1x Combo Balanced Input on XLR/¼ TRS

Analog Outputs
1x Balanced Output on XLR
1x Unbalanced Output on RCA

Digital Inputs
2x S/PDIF
2x TOSLINK
1x AES/EBU
Word Clock Input
Ethernet port

Digital Outputs
2x S/PDIF De-jittered outputs

Las Vegas–April 19, 2012 – Audio specialist Sennheiser [booth C2632] was presented with an ACE (Awesome Cool Exhibit) Award by the NAB Show on Wednesday during a special ceremony. The peer-driven award recognizes NAB Show exhibitors for innovations in booth design and execution. Sennheiser captured the ‘medium sized’ booth category, which is defined as being between 200 and 900 square feet.

The judging criteria for the NAB’s ACE Awards are as follows:

– Creativity: use of color, sound, light and other creative elements
– Effectiveness: how well the booth draws in and engages the visitor
– Overall structure: quality of the build and innovative use of materials
– Peer review: overall “look and feel” as judged by other exhibitors

The NAB Show booth design is based on Sennheiser’s new global booth concept that was debuted at the CES and NAMM shows earlier this year and providesa tangible experience of the audio specialist’s brand values, inviting exploration and interaction. The interior space presents Sennheiser’s products in a series of ‘focused islands,’ each concentrating on a particular theme and providing visitors with a ‘hands-on’ experience. A sophisticated lighting concept spotlights each product and optimizes visibility.

This new booth design is yet another milestone in the audio specialist’s premium brand strategy. The design concept, developed by the German design agency Syndicate, was first brought to life two years ago in Sennheiser’s point of purchase program that was executed worldwide. Sennheiser is now consolidating the presentation of its brand profile at shows and trade fairs throughout the world.

“Our team is very proud to have been recognized by the NAB with the ACE Award,” commented Greg Beebe, President of Sennheiser USA. “Our U.S. team was the first to execute this important global concept from Sennheiser, and we have received a great deal of positive feedback from booth attendees — both during NAB Show and at other important U.S. trade shows.”

Over the coming year, the new concept will be used at all Sennheiser leading shows and trade fairs in the Consumer Electronics, Installed Sound and Professional Systems markets.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada … One of the key aspects of any successful business is its ability to listen to its customers. Such is the case at Noble Street Studios, Toronto’s newest premiere downtown recording studio. With a varied clientele covering a wide range of projects, the studio’s ability to provide the tools that musicians and others deem essential to their recordings is critical. This is precisely why—at the request of numerous clients—the prominent studio recently added an SF-24V vacuum tube stereo ribbon microphone and two R-122 active ribbon microphones from Royer Labs to their microphone locker.

Donny Da Silva, Studio Manager at Noble Street Studios is involved in all aspects of the studio’s operations. In addition to coordinating bookings and managing the facility’s personnel, he is also actively engaged in equipment procurement. With 8,000 square feet that encompasses two studios, there’s a lot to keep track of—particularly when it comes to making certain the clients have access to the specific equipment they’ve requested. more

RTW TM7 TouchMonitor to be Integrated into Calrec’s Range of Digital Audio Consoles

LAS VEGAS, APRIL 19, 2012 — RTW (C1844), a leading manufacturer and distributor of professional audio metering and control devices for studio recording and radio and TV broadcast applications, and Calrec Audio, LTD (C1746), manufacturer of high-quality audio products, are jointly announcing at the 2012 NAB Show that the RTW TM7 TouchMonitor will be fully integrated into Calrec’s line of digital audio consoles.

As a result of this partnership, RTW will provide the OEM version of the TM7 TouchMonitor touch screen loudness meter to be built into Calrec’s full range of digital consoles, including the Apollo, Artemis Shine, Artemis Beam and Artemis Light consoles. The TM7 will be integrated into the upstand of the consoles, providing various metering options. For example, on the Artemis consoles, both single and double meters layouts are available. The benefit of the double meter option (one above the other) is to show moving coil emulation along with a separate vector scope

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement with RTW,” says Henry Goodman, head of sales, Calrec Audio. “We have enjoyed a good relationship with RTW for many years, and this agreement enables us to continue to provide our customers with the right tools to meet the highest standards of broadcasting, as well as the ability to comply with new broadcast regulations.
 
“Given the lack of availability of traditional moving coil meters, and the demand which still exists, the TM7 also allows us to continue to provide our customers with the facilities they expect in professional broadcast facilities. We look forward to many more years of enterprise between our two companies.”

The TM7 will include the standard Multichannel, Loudness, SSA Surround Sound Analyzer and PPM software modules and custom meter presets offering loudness metering that meets the EBU R 128 and ITU BS1770 standards as well as traditional bargraph- and moving-needle metering to comply with additional international standards. The TM7 will also be available for retrofitting.

“RTW is very proud to partner with such a reputable manufacturer as Calrec Audio,” says Mahmoud Chatah, director of marketing and sales, RTW. “RTW and Calrec have enjoyed a long history together and this new agreement provides both companies with the opportunity to supply our customers in the broadcast industry with the modern technology necessary to fully comply with current loudness regulations now and in the future.”

The TouchMonitor is RTW’s response to growing demands in modern production, post-production and broadcast environments. With its high-quality 7- or 9-inch touchscreen and intuitive user interface, the TouchMonitor breaks new ground in professional audio analysis for accuracy, performance, efficiency and flexibility.

RTW’s entire TouchMonitor family of loudness metering products will be on display during the 2012 NAB show at the company’s booth (C1844). Executives from RTW will also be on-hand to discuss this new partnership with Calrec.

About Calrec Audio, LTD.
Calrec Audio, part of D&M Holdings Inc., is exclusively dedicated to excellence in audio mixing for on-air and live production. A broadcast specialist for more than 40 years, Calrec has developed a range of digital and analog consoles relied on by the world’s most successful broadcasters. For putting sound in the picture, broadcasters put their trust in Calrec. More information is available at www.calrec.com.

About RTW
RTW, based in Cologne (Germany), has more than 40 years of experience in designing, producing, and marketing advanced audio technology for professionals. The company’s core competence is based on tools for visual signal analysis and loudness metering that is in use in the leading recording studios as well as by radio and TV broadcasters worldwide. The current product portfolio includes, among others, the TouchMonitor range (TM3,TM7,TM9) combining highest flexibility and modularity with an intuitive user interface and touchscreen-based multichannel-analysis, and the SurroundControl series (11900, 31900, 31960) with a full set of comprehensive features for monitoring, controlling and distribution of Stereo, Multichannel and Surround signals. Both products integrate exceptional surround-signal visualization using the unique and groundbreaking Surround Sound Analyzer. In June 2008, RTW was certified for the internationally accepted DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 quality-management standard.

For more information, visit www.rtw.de or www.facebook.com/rtw.de, or call +49 221 709130.

Christie® has signed a technology co-operation agreement with Park Road Post Production Ltd. (“Park Road”) and Weta Digital Ltd. (“Weta”) to work together to advance the state of the art of digital cinema production and projection, with an emphasis on high frame rate (HFR) delivery – the industry’s most exciting new technology. For its part, Christie will supply a combination of ‘direct to engineering’ technical support, Christie Solaria® Series DLP Cinema® projectors and early access to prototype projection technologies, including laser projectors, that Christie is developing.

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As part of the agreement, Park Road and Weta will upgrade their current facilities with Christie projectors and provide Christie with review, testing and feedback on new hardware and software developments related to high-bandwidth interfaces and HFR technology, as well as sample movie content (consistent with the content owner’s permission) for Christie to use in testing its projectors and integrated media block (IMB) units.

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“The team at Park Road has a strong and long-standing relationship with Christie and we are delighted that this will continue into the future,” said Cameron Harland, General Manager, Park Road. “We hope that our joint research and knowledge exchange on high frame rates in particular will benefit filmmakers, studios, exhibitors and most importantly the movie-going audience.”

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Kathy Gruzas, Chief Information Officer, Weta Digital Ltd said, “Christie shares a common vision with our facility and Park Road – that is, to be on the leading-edge of world-class developments in digital cinema – and we look forward to combining the sum total of our collective experience and knowledge to thrill cinema audiences in the upcoming, new world of 3D and HFR.”

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“We are delighted to be teaming up with these two legends in the post production and visual effects world,” said Don Shaw, senior director, Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, “and look forward to pushing the envelope with Park Road and Weta on this exciting endeavor.”

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Park Road
Park Road is a premier post production facility located in Wellington, New Zealand. Visit http://www.parkroadpost.co.nz/.

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Weta Digital
Weta Digital is a five-time Academy Award® winning visual effects facility based in Wellington, New Zealand. Visit http://www.wetafx.co.nz/.
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Christie’s Commitment to HFR
The two main goals of Christie’s HFR activities are to help the industry develop the best HFR content and the best delivery system for HFR content. The first goal involves assisting leading-edge filmmakers and post-production companies in perfecting HFR movie creation, so the industry has the most engaging, entertaining content possible. The second goal is to assist exhibitors in showing these 3D HFR movies in all their glory. To these ends, Christie is helping create the standards for 3D HFR movies through formal and informal technology-development alliances with major producers and directors, post production facilities, studios and technology partners. On the exhibitor’s front, Christie provides one stop shopping for all the hardware, software and services that enable exhibitors to deliver a filmmaker’s vision in stunning 3D HFR quality. For more information visit http://info.christiedigital.com/lp/higher-frame-rates

Military simulation show highlights renewed focus on raising performance and reducing cost of ownership.

Norway’s projectiondesign® returns to the ITEC Defence, Training, Simulation and Education show this year with the most comprehensive line-up of products it has ever offered to the defence training and simulation market.

FS33 IR makes its debut
Making its worldwide debut at ExCeL, London from 22-24 May is the FS33 IR, the company’s latest LED-illuminated projector to stimulate Night Vision Goggles (NVG) for unrivalled simulated night-time vision. Built around the manufacturer’s ReaLED™ solid-state illumination platform, the FS33 IR adds a fourth LED to the conventional red, green and blue light sources, emitting infra-red light beyond the range visible to the human eye. This produces brighter night-vision imagery when stimulated by NVGs and provides a completely constant light output over time, eliminating the need for recalibration, reducing the maintenance and total cost of ownership to an absolute minimum.

The FS33 IR offers a brightness of unprecedented 1200 ANSI lumens, being by far the brightest projector available that’s capable of realistically visualising night-time and limited visibility scenario, visible day-time or pitch black scenarios from one single channel input. The FS33 IR is optimised for NVGs of all generations, including Generation 3 and Generation 4, as well as versions using specific IR stimuli.

FL35 ReaLED™ line-up of LED projectors
projectiondesign now offer the FL35 ReaLED illumination projectors in three resolution variants (WQXGA, WUXGA and 1080p). The FL35 wqxga is the world’s highest-resolution LED projector and on the projectiondesign stand at ITEC 2012, it will be demonstrated in a breathtaking immersive dome display. Offering 100,000 hours of typical service life and double the brightness of projectiondesign’s previous LED models, the FL35 enables the deployment of higher acuity systems and reduced channel counts, making it an ideal visual platform for multi-channel simulation environments.

Immersive displays and breathtaking images
projectiondesign will be showing their F35 AS3D high-resolution active stereoscopic 3D projector in a maritime training and simulation scenario. The F35 AS3D projector will be integrated with 3D submarine content provided by TechViz and motion capture and systems from Vicon.

Additionally, projectiondesign’s F82 sx+ projectors will be integrated to showcase command and control monitoring. SXGA+ resolution users of systems that require 4:3 or closer to 1:1 aspect ratios optimise the usage of pixels. SXGA+ resolution has traditionally been hard to find in three-chip projection. It is particularly useful in simulation and training to address the burgeoning update market where many manufacturers’ legacy projectors require replacement due to age.

ITEC show wide support
As well as taking its own stand, projectiondesign is supporting a number of partners at ITEC, among them Simulation Displays, a division of Paradigm AV Ltd (Stand L100) – all of whom will use the manufacturer’s projectors as part of real-world simulation and training solutions. projectiondesign will also support the ITEC event with the provision of F12 projectors for the ITEC Keynote Welcome Speech held in the Platinum Suite, and breakout conference tracks in the North Gallery Rooms. All projectors on the projectiondesign booth will be displayed using the finest screens from Projecta.

Innovation Showcase and ITEC show hospitality
Additionally, on Wednesday 23 May as part of the ITEC Innovation Showcase, Håkon Andersen, projectiondesign’s Visual Simulation Specialist for APAC and EMEA, will present a paper titled ‘Solid State LED Projection For Full Mission Simulators’ – highlighting the end-user benefits of the latest LED technologies and applications.

On the same day, projectiondesign will participate in the exhibitor hospitality evening, serving traditional Norwegian delicacies and entertainment to ITEC attendees.

Maria Dahl Aagaard, Product Marketing Manager, projectiondesign, enthuses: “ITEC has always been a great platform from which to launch new initiatives in the military training and simulation space, and we are confident that our solutions will again be well-received by this demanding but receptive audience.

“We are looking forward to three days of exacting product demonstrations, productive partner initiatives, and informed conversations with attendees keen to learn more about how projectiondesign’s visual technology know-how can offer them new simulation solutions while simultaneously reducing their operating costs.”

projectiondesign will be on Stand H110 at ITEC from 22-24 May 2012 at the ExCel in London, UK.

Less is more for the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in San Diego, where Christie Managed Services has implemented cost effective boothless projection systems, powered by low-maintenance Christie digital cinema projectors, the most powerful and most trusted name for exhibitors joining the digital revolution. Boothless systems eliminate the need for traditional projectionist booth space and require no human operator.
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Located in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center in Carmel Valley, Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas features two traditional auditoriums and six with boothless projection systems, seating up to 74 guests, 3D and surround sound technologies, reserved seating options, and high back reclining leather chairs for the ultimate in viewing comfort. Designed and installed by Christie Managed Services as part of a complete customized solution, the boothless systems free up space for an additional row of seating that would normally have been taken up by the projection booths. Christie provided an all-inclusive, turnkey solution for a special lift system that enables the Christie CP2220 DLP Cinema® projectors to be positioned out of the way during normal operation and lowered for maintenance. The Managed Services Team at Christie also installed the audio system, screens, processing equipments, lighting, drapes, library management systems, playback and projection systems, in addition to designing and deploying the boothless capability. Recently, an additional six auditoriums were installed with Christie boothless projection systems at the Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas La Costa location in Carlsbad.
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“While we are South America’s largest theater chain, this is our first entry into the U.S. market, and it was critical that every aspect of our patrons’ movie-viewing experience was as perfect as possible,” said Carlos Wellman, managing director of Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas. “We selected Christie because they bring more than 80 years in the exhibition industry, and perfectly understand the old-world traditions of the finest movie houses and the next generation of digital technology to meet the sophisticated demands of today’s moviegoers.”
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Matthew Heyman, a Cinépolis consultant on this project added, “Christie’s boothless lifts create the space for Cinépolis to transform its theaters into a unique movie-going experience. These boothless concepts, like the ones Christie designs and installs, are transforming the digital cinema environment.”
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“Exhibitors are looking for solutions that enable them to reduce construction costs, while offering the design flexibility to transform older facilities to the look and feel of the luxury cinema,” explained Sean James, vice president of Managed Services for Christie. “Our customers need the benefit of technology without the complexity of integration or the burden of support to accomplish their design and cost reduction goals. We designed and built boothless systems that provide the right environment for the projector and isolate the audience from the noise and heat the projector and server generate while allowing the projection booth to be removed.”
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Christie Managed Services provides end-to-end solutions for projection and audio in the cinema environment as well as digital signage solutions for theater lobbies. It also offers service packages that provide exhibitors with support that range from 24/7/365 remote monitoring and technical phone support to on-site preventative maintenance/emergency service and fast, local access to spare parts centrally coordinated from Christie’s Network Operations Center.
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Cinépolis patrons agree that the theater chain got everything right. They rave about the ultra-comfortable high-back recliners and ushers that serve food and alcohol right at their seats in the 21+ theaters. The recliners also have buttons to call for additional service, and special menus are offered to match the theme of the movie.
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CinemaCon attendees can view a video that includes the boothless concept at the Christie booth #2111, and speak with a representative of the Christie Managed Services team.

— Pacific Northwest’s Only Avid Pro School Training Center, GO Media, Upgrades to the Latest PhantomFocus™ System Technology in their Carl Tatz Design (CTD) Studio —

Nashville, TN: “Any professional educational facility should take serious notice of the PhantomFocus™ System (PFS),” instructs Glenn Martucci, CEO of Olympia, Washington’s GO Media. “We strive to offer our students the best possible learning environment and feel that it would be a disservice to our students not provide them with the tools required to hear the truly accurate and sonically enveloping monitoring that only the PFS delivers.”

“We were immediately transported inside the recording,” recalls Martucci about the GO Media staff members’ first PhantomFocus System experience when they visited one of Carl Tatz Design LLC’s studios in Nashville. He goes on to talk about his new PFS at GO Media: “Hearing is everything, and with the PFS you save so much time not having to constantly second guess the accuracy of your mix – no more running out to the car or needing to listen on another set of speakers.”

GO Media is another recent example of a custom application of the new Carl Tatz Design Signature Series by Auralex acoustic treatment for control rooms (soon to be available) that emulates the company’s award-winning acoustic designs. GO Media offers on-site as well as on-line Pro Tools certification by uniquely qualified instructors who have been teaching since its conception in the ‘90s. Their new Carl Tatz Design LLC studio is a testament to their passion and commitment to continuing to be Avid’s premiere Pacific Northwest Pro School Training Center.

Martucci points out, “A student could take a whole course in audio production and never hear what a good mix sounds like. Our students know they are hearing what some of the industry’s top engineers and producers are hearing. The CTD PFS renders the accuracy and confidence to inspire our students creatively.”

Video URL: http://youtu.be/IZ9QWbDa7ko
Video Caption: GO Media Owner/CEO Glenn Martucci discusses his Carl Tatz Design and PhantomFocus™ System experience.

— Highland Park, Illinois, and Tucson, Arizona, are the latest Guitar Center stores to expand operations with embedded lessons facilities —

Westlake Village, CA (April 18, 2012) – In the first quarter of 2012, Guitar Center expanded operations at two of its stores – Highland Park, Illinois, and Tucson, Arizona – by adding Guitar Center Studios, an in-house, state-of-the-art lesson facility, which will create unrivaled opportunities for area musicians of all ages and skill levels. Guitar Center Studios provides music lessons from beginner to advanced featuring certified instructors teaching world-class curriculum as well as one-on-one courses on Pro Tools, Logic Pro and GarageBand. Guitar Center Studios is now the most modern and affordable lessons facility in the area.

“The opening of our new GC Studios at our Highland Park and Tucson stores is an important moment for musicians in these areas,” commented Gene Joly, Guitar Center Executive VP of Stores. “As arts programs are consistently being downsized at schools across the country, we feel it’s important to create these opportunities for the next generation of musicians. Many of our recent store openings over the last year-plus have featured GC Studios, and those facilities have been a huge success across the board. We look forward to serving the music communities of these areas in this increased capacity.”
Guitar Center Highland Park is open seven days a week. Store hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Guitar Center Tucson is open seven days a week. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Guitar Center Studios hours at both locations follow the same schedule as their respective stores.

LVL Studios, a leading service design company providing technology that drives interactive television experiences, has launched Purple – a comprehensive solution for creating, managing, publishing and deploying content for multiscreen experiences. The Purple platform provides the technology backbone for broadcasters, studios, cable operators, telecommunication companies, content owners and device manufacturers that unleashes the power of social TV, second-screen apps, and interactive viewing experiences. Today’s content is inherently multipurpose, and unfolds against the backdrop of the rise of second screen. Purple makes it easy for rights holders and creators to package and extend both the value and reach of their content.

Purple provides a full slate of features that enable content to be extended in a number of ways. The process begins with ingest of the material ready for customization, using existing Purple templates or custom-designed models. A Content Management System (CMS) delineates what material is used, and then accurately applies updates and changes. Its publishing capabilities provide flexibility in selecting which devices or media infrastructures to deliver the assets. Then, Purple deploys this packaged content, optimized for each platform, to multiscreens. more