Should you use a wireless reference microphone with Smaart? The quick answer might seem to be "no" - but - there's at least one wireless option that many veteran Smaart users can endorse.

Click here to check out the discussion in the very active Smaart section of the EAW Forums.

Posted by EAW at 8:46 AM | Permalink

The EAW UMX.96 digital console is making its European touring debut as the Foreigner tour and FOH Engineer Don Dodge move "across the pond" for the next two months, beginning with a show in Glasgow, UK, this coming Friday (November 9). The tour will make about 20 stops in the UK, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Austria, and there will also be a few dates in South Africa.

Click here to go directly to the Foreigner tour itinerary.

Posted by EAW at 8:23 AM | Permalink

Attention all UX8800 users: a new version of EAWPilot software (v1.0.46.52) has been posted and is now available via the Downloads page here at EAW.com.

With this new version, the "Reset Input Channel Settings" dialog only comes up if the greybox selection is changed - not for amplifier or listening distance adjustments. Also, spin controls are fixed on both delay and greybox high-pass and low-pass filters (for real, this time), while disabled low-pass filters now have the frequency "greyed" out.

Further, compressor threshold handles are once again available in system mode, front panel setting changes now display correctly, and auto-assign works in several more scenarios. Click here to go directly to the Downloads page.

NOTE: Several of these fixes will only work if you update to firmware
build 52!

Posted by EAW at 11:18 AM | Permalink

At ET Live, held in conjunction with LDI 2007 in Orlando next month (November), EAW will be unveiling a wide range of exciting new and pending product developments – all working together as a full-scale live concert reinforcement system!

The fun starts with the newest loudspeaker design from EAW (more about this soon), which will be joined by flown KF730 Series line arrays as well as prototypes of another new loudspeaker, with Gunness Focusing and all other DSP courtesy of UX8800 dual-mode digital processors.

Low-end will be provided with new, soon-to-be-released EAW SB Series subwoofers. Filling out the loudspeaker complement will be KF650z sidefills and SM12 stage monitoring. The entire system will be driven by Lab.gruppen amplification and tuned with new Smaart v.6; in fact, Smaart has been designated as the official measurement system for the entire event. (The scene at ET Live in Las Vegas last year is shown in the photo at left.)

The fun doesn’t stop there, with Dave Rat also on hand to lend his expertise in providing the house mix on the coming EAW UMX.96 digital console, and he’ll have a couple of MicroWedge stage monitors at the mix position as well. Dave will be mixing performances by legendary Led Zeppelin tribute band Physical Graffiti.

Specific performance/demo times:

Friday, November 16 at 12:10 pm and 3:40 pm

Saturday, November 17 at 12:15 pm and 3:45 pm

Sunday, November 18 at 11:30 am

Note that demos are limited to these times only!

A wide range of key EAW personnel will be on hand throughout the event. ET Live, which will be held behind the West Building of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando (site of LDI 07), is available to all LDI attendees with show badges. For additional information about passes, contact your EAW rep.

Posted by EAW at 7:26 AM | Permalink

Karl Reed has joined us as the new EAW art director. He brings more than 15 years of professional graphic design experience to the position, working for a variety of leading advertising agencies and corporations, Honeywell among them.

Karl is responsible for graphic design and production for all facets of the EAW Brand Group (EAW, EAW Commercial and so on) including ads, collateral pieces, logos, web graphics, tradeshow graphics, and more.

Welcome aboard, Karl!

Posted by EAW at 8:01 AM | Permalink

So, just how many ties does EAW's Jeffrey Cox have in his closet? Answers to these and other pressing questions are featured in the October '07 issue of Front Of House (FOH) magazine's "Vital Stats" feature.

The interview, by writer Kevin Mitchell, covers a wide range of topics, both business and personal, offering a glimpse into some of the things EAW is working on now and for the future, as well as Jeffrey's unique and interesting background and perspective. Click here to go directly to the interview.

Posted by EAW at 12:11 PM | Permalink

Big touring news in Europe, where EAW's Moray McMillin reports that four large-scale tours are set to hit the road with EAW concert components in the very near future. U.K. hire company Canegreen will be providing EAW KF760 Series line arrays, as well as new EAW UX8800 digital processing, for a tour by Harry Connick Jr.

Canegreen will also be supplying KF760 Series line arrays for the Gypsy Kings as they tour the U.K. Further, U.K. hire company Concert Sound is supplying the legendary Joe Cocker with an extensive loudspeaker set for his upcoming tour, including KF760 Series joined by KF730 Series compact line arrays and KF750 Series three-way concert loudspeakers.

And, the EAW UMX.96 will be making its European touring debut as Foreigner and FOH Engineer Don Dodge make their way across the pond for a series of dates. (Click here to read more about the UMX.96 with Foreigner.)

Updated itineraries for these tours should soon be available at Pollstar.

Posted by EAW at 8:54 AM | Permalink

Want a discount on new Smaart v.6? Then visit the ongoing Mix Foundation TEC Awards Music & Sound Auction and put in a bid on a copy of Smaart v.6 donated by EAW!

The auction features new products, instruments and treasured music memorabilia, with proceeds benefiting foundation partner House Ear Institute in support of the Sound Partners Hearing Conservation Program and the House Ear Institute Teen Outreach Campaign "It's How You Listen that Counts".

The auction lasts for about another 24 hours, ending at noon (U.S. Eastern time) on Thursday, October 11. Update: The Smaart v.6 auction is now closed, with the winning bid coming in at $720.

Posted by EAW at 10:43 AM | Permalink

"Smaart has long been an invaluable tool for our company. It allows us to quickly and accurately align a PA system with repeatable and reliable results. To me, it’s definitely the best tool in the box.

And it’s a tool that’s gotten even better with the release of Smaart v.6, which is so much faster and very user-friendly."

Michael Hackman
System Technician
ML Executives
London & Miami

Posted by EAW at 8:30 AM | Permalink

We're saddened to hear the news that Avalon Boston is closing its doors. The club, and of course, its owner John Lyons, were extremely instrumental in the development of EAW's landmark Avalon Series purpose-designed club loudspeakers. (Some of the original Avalon loudspeakers at the club are pictured at right.)

Based on design criteria developed by Lyons, the Avalon Series offers a fresh look at the balance of subsystems within a loudspeaker system. Techno-industrial dance music presents a relentless, pounding beat, so to address this issue, the Avalon line comprises bottom-heavy systems with double the number of woofers per system to deliver the beat as a physical concussion.

"We took a blank sheet of paper, began with technologies that we knew would be an excellent starting point, and then developed new ideas that would result in superior dance club loudspeakers," explains Jeff Rocha, EAW vice president of engineering. "The fact that a lot of meaningful input came from club professionals, and that the products were created and critically evaluated in real conditions at Avalon Boston, resulted in something special."

Posted by EAW at 8:39 AM | Permalink

EAW is pleased to announce three new U.S. sales representative firms supporting EAW and its customers. Effective immediately, CM Sales is serving Michigan, AV Marketing is serving Indiana and Kentucky, and North Coast Marketing is serving Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.

“We’re very pleased to be working with these firms, especially because all three have established an excellent track record in the professional systems marketplace,” notes Scott Pizzo, EAW director of U.S. sales. Click here for contact information for these three firms as well as all EAW U.S. sales reps.

Posted by EAW at 5:55 AM | Permalink