Concert touring veteran and EAW Application Support Group Representative for the EMEA region Moray McMillin passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 58.

What follows comes from personal remembrances compiled by Moray's friends and colleagues in the UK, primarily Sean Martin and Kevin McNally. Please visit our Remembering Moray McMillin page on Facebook to leave your remembrance.

Moray McMillin, Born 20 July 1953 at Hertfordshire, England.

The mid -seventies saw Moray start his Audio career with as a 'school leaver' with the Kinks and then with UK sound rental company Tasco in Marshallsea Road, London. He earned his on-the-road stripes here working for Tasco's Joe Brown.

By the turn of the decade he crossed the Atlantic to take root in Los Angeles, honing his production skills for the English hard rock invasion of Black Sabbath, Saxon and a solo Ozzy Osbourne. His formative and learning years culminated with his appointment as front-of-house engineer on Motorhead's legendary Ace of Spades tour.

He returned home to the UK as a freelance engineer and took up FOH duties with many bands such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and David Coverdale's Whitesnake. However it was as Deep Purple's engineer over a 10 year period that Moray made his indelible mark, touring the planet with an EAW loudspeaker system and making many industry friends along the way.

It was this affection for the EAW brand that convinced him in 2005 to make the huge leap from a life on the road to a comfy seat in the UK sales office, selling EAW loudspeaker systems and visiting the very companies for whom he once worked. A few years later, he joined EAW's Application Support Group as EMEA representative. This more technical role suited him down to the ground where he flourished designing sound systems for a variety of venues in many of which he had toured. Moray loved meeting customers and discussing their requirements. A skilled linguist, he often communicated in their native tongue, something that always made them remember him.

Moray was a tireless worker; pound for pound the strongest man in the company! And he was a stickler for detail. Moray could an impression with his personal charm or his professional abilities, but more often than not, it was both. A great example is that just this year Moray charmed his way into and out of France without a passport, just to get to the ISE trade show in Amsterdam!

Moray was diagnosed with cancer in early 2010. He fought it both homoeopathically and also through traditional methods, drawing strength from his friendship with fellow cancer sufferer and Black Sabbath band member Ronnie James Dio as they encouraged each other through their illnesses. Moray was proud he could attend to Ronnie's funeral in Los Angeles last year and under the circumstances, also pleased that he was able to meet many of his old touring friends there. He was very involved in Ronnie's funeral arrangements, including a live concert by Queensryche in the cemetery in front of 1200 fans. He was also honoured to be one of the coffin bearers when the fans had gone and the coffin was laid to rest.

That was Moray, a true gent who would travel to the other side of the world to see off an old friend in style. At each stage of Moray's treatment he wouldn't rest until he found the information or person that could help him fight his cancer.

Typical Moray, he got his responsibilities for the UK's big tradeshow PLASA out of the way before he passed. Despite his hard rock heritage, one thing many people didn't know was that he was fond of a dance!

Moray is survived by his wife Antonella and two sons.

Posted by EAW at 11:18 AM | Permalink

EAW's Shanghai demo day with distribution partner Sanecore attracted some 200 audio professionals from a wide range of application sectors to the Qing Qing Hotel in the SongJiang in southwest Shanghai. The full day of education and product demonstration comprised a series of modules each of which started, appropriately enough, with the basics of acoustical physics. Next, it showed how those principles affect loudspeaker design, and then demonstrated those loudspeakers with appropriate program material.

Below - Jerrold Stevens presenting EAW loudspeaker systems "We're trying to connect the dots between physics, core technology and implementation in a product," said EAW president and general manager Jeff Rocha. "Sometimes people get worried that it's going to be a whole day of physics, but once they see that it quickly gets into the real world, they get it and like it. These folks sure did."

Below - Hands-on KF740 training with Joe Fustolo

Application Support Group Director Jerrold Stevens, who presented along with Rocha, has delivered educational seminars around the world, earning well-deserved praise for his innovative techniques. In Shanghai, placed simple loudspeakers on a turntable in doublet arrays at tuned distances, and then, while playing pink noise, rotated the turntable so the audience could hear the lobes and nulls while looking at a spectrogram. "Get the physics into their eyes and ears first, then into their brains," said Stevens. "It's an experience not soon forgotten."

Below - KF740 line arrays flank an NTL720 line array

Program material for the product demonstrations came from all corners. In particular, the QX594 demo showed that product's versatility, using a tenor and orchestra at some length followed immediately by Infected Mushroom's electronic dance music. "It solves so many problems," said Alan Ho, vice president of Sanecore and front-of-house engineer for the demos. "It has the refinement we need for the performing arts and it has the raw power we need for a dance club. Plus, it's so small. EAW at its best."

Posted by EAW at 7:17 AM | Permalink

• QX564
• NTL720 array
• KF740 array
• NTL720 array
• QX564
• KF394NT
• JF29NT
• SB1002 (suspended)

Posted by EAW at 2:22 PM | Permalink

Visit Halle 8 Stand C46 from April 6 - 9 2011 to experience EAW's newest additions to the renowned JF and KF Series. These 2-way and 3-way loudspeakers have redefined the concept of application flexibility and are ideal for a wide range of applications including performing arts venues, houses of worship, ballrooms, theaters, theme parks and more.

Don't miss the opportunity to check them out along with the other new EAW products featured at the show:

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Ultra Compact. Precise Directivity. Maximum Flexibility.
The QX Series is the optimal three-way solution for installed system applications that require precise directivity in a powerful compact form.

Passive and bi-amplified, all full-range models have square, symmetrical, dual-trapezoidal enclosures for unlimited array flexibility.

A centrally located MF/HF horn and a quartet of 12-inch LF transducers team to create a naturally sounding loudspeaker with excellent pattern control and low distortion.

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High Output. Seamless Coverage. Tight Pattern Control.
Optimized for the widest possible range of touring and installation applications, the KF740 line array system provides output capabilities similar to the much larger KF760 but in a more compact package.

The symmetrical design, large horn and spaced woofers provide exceptional pattern control while EAW Focusing and EAW Resolution software further enhance system performance.

A full KF740 array provides seamless coverage from directly below the array to hundreds of feet in front making it ideal for mid-sized venues.

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Arrayable. More Power. Small Footprint.
The high output yet incredibly compact SB2001 dual 21-inch cone driver subwoofer represents a notable upgrade to the SB1001/1002 -- providing greater impact, power handling and air-moving capability than its older sibling.

The unique driver mounting of the SB2001 maximizes cone area and allows the integration of an extremely low turbulence port while minimizing frontal area, delivering the acoustic performance and physical configuration needed for creating large subwoofer arrays.

The SB2001 is ideally suited for concert touring, arenas, large houses of worship, large auditoriums, theaters and large dance clubs.

Posted by EAW at 7:24 AM | Permalink

Eurohire Sound and Light, a long established turnkey supplier for Europe's events and entertainments industries, recently expanded its EAW® inventory with the addition of 16 KF740 Three-Way Line Array Modules. The Basingstoke, Hampshire, England-based company is the latest professional sound and lighting company in the U.K. to add the KF740 modules to its extensive inventory of products, which also includes EAW KF760/KF761 Line Array Modules, KF850 Series Virtual Array™ Modules, KF853 Three-Way Virtual Array Modules, SB850z High-Output Subwoofers, BH853 Virtual Array LF Systems, SB250z Medium-Format Subwoofers, MicroWedge Series MW15 and MW12 Stage Monitors, and UX8800 Digital Signal Processors.

"When EAW's UK Sales Manager Kevin McNally first mentioned they were coming out with the KF740 and gave us the rough dimensions of the box, being smaller and more manageable than some of our current inventory, I knew this would be something we would be interested in," stated Eurohire Owner Mervin George. "We've had the KF760's for some time, which are great for outside in the summer, long-range or arena-type shows, but we wanted to get into a new system opening up the possibility of an additional client base -- and I thought the 740 could be that box."

After finally hearing a KF740 system at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke, both Mervin George and Eurohire's Operations Manager Jools Warren were significantly impressed. "When we heard the 740 system, I was really taken aback, really surprised," stated George. "One of the benefits I see is that although it's only a three-way box, the low-end on the 740 is particularly strong, going down to 50Hz according to EAW, yet when I heard it, it sounded even lower to me. That is a real benefit, because some shows, some acts, where you've got sight line problems and you only want a little bit of sub, you can just put the 740 system up and away you go."

"Outside of the clean sound, I'm amazed at the amount of sub-bass when you just run the box three-way. The amount of bottom-end out of the boxes is phenomenal," commented Warren. "We already have the 740 system booked starting next month for the European tour of Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. And the great thing is he will be doing venues that range between 800- to 3200-seat capacity, mainly theaters indoors. With the 740's, we can fly them in certain venues, and if they need to be used in a ground-stack configuration, we know that regardless of the venue, we're covered."

Eurohire initially purchased 16 KF740's, but George feels expansion is inevitable. "We're starting off with 16 boxes, but we're hoping to get up to 24, which is where we want to be. The clarity of the 740 is excellent, absolutely excellent, and I'm really, really pleased. I think as we play with the 740's more, we're going to be even more surprised and pleased."

Established over 25 years ago, Eurohire has in recent years provided equipment and services for such varied events as rock and pop concerts by UB40, Status Quo, Katherine Jenkins, Steve Winwood, Dionne Warwick, The Kooks and classical showcase by the likes of the Royal Philharmonic and NSO, along with a number of festivals, musicals and corporate events.

Posted by EAW at 8:13 AM | Permalink

LOUD Technologies Inc. ("LOUD") today appointed Jeff Rocha, Vice President and General Manager, EAW and Anthony Taylor, Vice President and Managing Director, Martin Audio. In these newly expanded roles, Rocha and Taylor will assume P&L responsibility for their respective brand, as well as manage all engineering, product development, marketing, manufacturing and sales efforts. In addition, Rocha will lead the EAW design and manufacturing facility in Whitinsville, USA, while Taylor will lead the Martin Audio design and manufacturing facility in High Wycombe, UK.

"EAW and Martin Audio are strong brands with their own unique personalities and reputations for service and innovation," said Mark Graham, LOUD CEO. "Both Jeff and Anthony are veterans of their brands and have already improved the speed and accuracy of brand-level decision making. This increased autonomy will allow us to unlock even more potential and ensure our customers are supported to the highest level possible. And when you combine that with recent new products that are starting to hit their strides, EAW and Martin Audio will deliver industry-leading growth in 2011 and beyond."

Posted by EAW at 10:00 AM | Permalink

EAW is currently attending ISE Europe in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Stand 1J101 has been busy with people stopping by to check out the latest JF and KF two-way and three-way loudspeakers. In addition to these products, we are showing the KF740 line array and the much-applauded SB2001 dual 21-inch subwoofer.

If you are at ISE, go ahead and swing by our stand and talk to the members of the EAW team. Sean Martin, Moray McMillin, Kevin McNally, Bernie Broderick and Kenton Forsythe are all there to answer your questions!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Posted by EAW at 10:01 AM | Permalink

Peak Hire Ltd., based in Cheltenham in Gloucester, England, continues to expand its EAW® inventory with the addition of 18 KF740 Three-Way Line Array Modules. The announcement was made by Peak Hire Managing Director Karl Ashman and signifies the first U.K. order of the critically acclaimed sound reinforcement module. Formally established in 2007, Peak Hire is one of the U.K.'s leading sound and lighting contractors, providing sound, lighting, rigging, power, set and stage equipment, as well as skilled technical support for productions, concerts, theaters, conferences, outdoor events, etc., The addition of KF740 modules from EAW, a world leader in audio system technology, was part of a strategic plan for Peak Hire's expansion and the company's ongoing commitment to their market sectors and clients.

"We bought a KF730 system about four years ago after extensive evaluation, and it became our first line array," stated Karl Ashman. "Moray McMillin, who was EAW's U.K. Sales Manager at the time, and is now involved with EAW's Application Support Group, sold us the system after some live demos, and it was great. But eventually, we reached a point with our 730 system where, although we were achieving very good results in the situations we were using it, we needed to take the next step to be hired for larger venues and shows. Then the 740 came along. EAW's Kevin McNally arranged a demonstration at North Weald Air Field in Essex, and once we heard the 740 with its increased low-end and further throw, we were sold that this is the box we needed."

Peak Hire's EAW arsenal was already sizeable, including 16 EAW KF730 Compact Line Array Modules, eight EAW SB730 Compact Line Array Subwoofers, 16 EAW MicroWedges, eight EAW KF850 Series Virtual Array™ System Modules, and 16 EAW SB1002 Large Format Flyable Subwoofers, along with a good stock of EAW JFX88 Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers, EAW JFX200i Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers and EAW SBX220 Compact Subwoofers.

"Aside from the outstanding sound quality, I was particularly impressed with how far the throw is of the 740," said Ashman. "At the air field trials, we had EAW engineers mark out the field with distance markers, and they expected it to project accurately to about 100 meters -- but it went far beyond that. The coverage pattern was also impressive."

The addition of the KF740 modules will help Peak Hire continue to expand its business, and already the KF740 system has been used at a large outdoor event at the legendary Mallory Park Circuit (The Little Circuit with the Big View). "Triumph Motorcycles employed us to put on a concert for their anniversary at Mallory Park, and we used the 740 system on an outdoor stage for 10,000 people with the Stranglers and Mumford & Sons. And the visiting engineers were very pleased with the system, our crew was very pleased it, and it just worked flawlessly. It performed exactly the way we knew it would, partly because of EAW's Resolution software, which we plotted beforehand. The 740 is a joy to work with."

Posted by EAW at 8:47 AM | Permalink

The EAW speakers deployed at the Plaza Gaudí included 24 KF760 Long-Throw Line Array Modules, eight KF730 Compact Line Array Modules, eight KF650 Compact Array Loudspeakers and four KF750 High Output Array Loudspeakers, all under the control of four UX8800 Digital Signal Processors. For additional coverage, including delays, FOCUS provided 24 KF760, 24 KF750, 28 KF650 and 68 JFX260i Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers, all managed by a 21 UX8800 processors.

"The major challenge when we were appointed to supply an outdoor sound system at the Sagrada Familia for this event was that we had to provide coverage for around 60,000 people," said Pepe Ferrer of FOCUS S.A. "Right from the start we saw that the best solution was without doubt the EAW KF Series."

Ferrer elaborated, "People were located in different streets close to the Sagrada Familia, which forced us to create a different system for each location. Most of the streets had a system composed of eight KF730 modules, assuring a coverage area of 80 meters [260 feet]. We installed three arrays, each of eight KF760s, in front of the Sagrada Familia. We completed the system with KF750s for the delay, and KF650 and JFX260i units to cover the rest of audience."

He concluded, "Thanks to the fantastic team and the awesome advantages of the KF Series from easy set up to quality, everything was a great success."

Both the EAW and Lab.gruppen products were supplied to FOCUS, S.A. by locally based Pro3 & Co. One of the most reputable pro-audio distribution companies in Spain, Pro3's highly experienced team represents both brands on an exclusive basis in Spain.

Posted by EAW at 11:36 AM | Permalink

The BAM (Barcelona Acciò Musical) Festival, which runs concurrently with the Spanish city's traditional La Mercè celebrations, attracted 120,000 music fans last year to a jam-packed schedule of free, mostly open-air concerts throughout the downtown area. This year's 18th annual BAM Festival included a host of European and American rock, hip-hop and dance artists, such as Goldfrapp, OK Go, Anti-Pop Consortium, Belle & Sebastian and El Guincho, and featured substantial Lab.gruppen-powered EAW® P.A. systems on the MTV-BAM and Electro-BAM stages at the Parc del Fòrum.

Additional ground-stacked EAW subs boosted the low end. "It was a pop rock festival, so we designed a cardioid configuration with a 'double line arc' with 16 SB1000z [Large Format Subwoofers], which delivered an incredible punch in the central area, where most of the audience was located," said Pepe Ferrer of FOCUS S.A. The system also included an infill of KF750 High Output Array Loudspeakers in a left-right configuration with four KF730 modules for mono voice front fill.

The entire EAW system was powered by Lab.gruppen's tour-honed FP+ Series and fP Series amplifiers. Twelve FP 10000Q and pair of FP 13000, along with several racks each of FP 4000 and fP 3400, provided over 80 ultra-reliable channels of superior sound for the main FOH system, including the additional ground stacked subs. Additional racks containing a mix of FP+ and smaller fP Series models handled the infill and sidefill arrays and mono voice front fill with ease.

Chosen by FOCUS for their renowned continuous reliability, ability to endure severe stress and high power density, Lab.gruppen's FP+ Series is an ideal system partner to drive the EAW loudspeaker elements, ensuring superior audio quality from source to audience.

Elsewhere, FOCUS deployed EAW's new KF740 3-Way Full-Range Loudspeakers on the Electro BAM Festival stage. FOCUS designed a system with eight KF740 speakers and four KF730 modules per side, together with 16 SB850z Dual 18-Inch Subwoofers in an "end fired" left-right configuration, with two UX8800 processors handling signal management. Eight KF730 modules provided out fill coverage with an additional two KF730 modules carrying front fill.

The main FOH system was powered by a mix of Lab.gruppen FP+ Series including 8 FP 6400 and 2 FP 13000, alongside 4 racks of fP Series (fP 3400 and fP 2600). The out fill and front fill KF730 elements were all powered by an additional 3 FP 13000.

"I think the EAW KF740 really complements the legendary KF Series," commented Ferrer. "The KF740 combines the powerful capacity of the KF760 with the versatility of the KF730, and you can see the evolution from the KF750. Plus, like all EAW line arrays, it's so easy to hang and set up. From my point of view, it's an excellent product for a wide variety of events and applications, and it's the perfect partner with the KF760 for large events."

A pair of SB730 Compact Line Array Subwoofers and four JF260z 2-Way Compact Loudspeakers under the control of a single UX8800 processor and driven by four Lab.gruppen fP 3400 amplifiers, provided onstage side fill. Eight JFX260i Compact Full-Range Loudspeakers, again driven by Lab.gruppen amplification, were deployed for onstage monitoring.

Ferrer was keen to underline his preference for Lab.gruppen amplification when it comes to powering the EAW system. He stated, "I always use Lab.gruppen amplifiers, because I think they are the best in the market right now, for their supreme reliability and lower electrical consumption to deliver that sort of power and sound quality. It's a simple fact that our systems achieve the best quality of sound when we use Lab amplifiers."

"The final result was brilliant...awesome...superb!" continues Ferrer. "We received many congratulations and e-mails thanking us for the sound quality that our systems provided."

Both the EAW and Lab.gruppen products were supplied to FOCUS, S.A. by locally based Pro3 & Co. One of the most reputable pro-audio distribution companies in Spain, Pro3's highly experienced team represents both brands on an exclusive basis in Spain.

Posted by EAW at 12:32 PM | Permalink

The new EAW® KF740 Three-Way Full-Range Line Array module recently made its German debut at a historic concert in Berlin that featured one of the best-known oratory works by world-renowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Berlin-based Hacksound Veranstaltungstechnik provided the multi-zone P.A. system, comprising all EAW speakers powered by Lab.gruppen amplification, for the performance of "Canto General" at the Max Schmeling Hall on November 13, 2010.

Hacksound supplied a main left/right flown system composed of nine KF740 speakers plus two KF730 Compact Line Array Modules, for down fill, per side. A dozen additional KF730 speakers, in two hangs of six, provided out fill to the audience on either side of the stage. Five more KF730s were positioned to provide front fill. Three hangs each of six KF730 speakers, plus a pair of SB730 Compact Line Array Subwoofers, were employed for left, center and right delay. Lab.gruppen amplifiers supplied power to the entire system, which was under the management of EAW UX8800 Digital Signal Processors and Lab.gruppen's Lake LM 26 Digital Audio Loudspeaker Processors.

Hacksound's engineers were particularly struck by the user-friendliness of the new KF740, which shares the hallmark premium, high-output, three-way performance of the KF series, in a compact, easy-to-use package. According to Stefan Knetsch, technical director for Hacksound for the event, "A system with, for example, nine KF740 speakers a side does an excellent job, covers large listening areas and does not even exceed 500 kg (1,110 lb) in weight. If needed you can fly it on a single point - and you can leave your protractor at home."

The superior sound projection of the KF740 over greater distances reportedly also stood out. Daniel Hack, owner of Hacksound, commented, "At a rock music event we would have done without any delay. Classical music, however, typically includes very low sound levels in large parts of the music, so we wanted to play safe and set up delays. But in the end we barely used them. The KF740 was perfectly precise, even over the longer distances."

Altogether, according to the Hacksound engineers, the KF740 line array system proved to be flawless in every respect. The sound was "flat," high-definition and dynamic - as it characteristically is for EAW - and left a positive impression with all of the operators, and no doubt the audience, at the Max Schmeling Hall.

Posted by EAW at 1:35 PM | Permalink

USAG Schinnen provides Army base operations services to joint, interagency and international communities in support of America. The base, which hosts various events throughout the year called upon XYMIO, a renowned Holland-based EAW sound company, to provide a mobile sound system for events taking place at the base. 

"USAG Schinnen was looking for an easy-to-use system that offered a high-powered solution without sacrificing sound," stated Paul Pelen of XYMIO. "They needed a system that was extremely powerful yet versatile enough to accommodate multiple venues and applications."

XYMIO provided a JFL system that included six JFL210's and two JFL118's powered by Lab.gruppen amplification. The compact size combined with the easy rigging and great audio quality exceeded their expecations.

      "We utilzed our NEW audio system for our Native American Heritage celebration event, with about 100 participants. Everything worked perfect."

Posted by EAW at 2:59 PM | Permalink

EAW's Japanese distributor, Onkyo Tokki Ltd. exhibited at Inter BEE 2010 November 17th and 18th. Inter BEE has established itself as an international exhibition showcasing top-level domestic and overseas broadcast, video, audio and lighting equipment as well as peripheral applications and solutions all under one roof.
Onkyo Tokki had their usual impressive booth, with an entire section devoted to new EAW products.

There was a hang of seven KF740's playing throughout the show, with a technical support representative with them at all times to demonstrate the system capabilities to interested attendees. Also playing were the new KF and JF Series loudspeakers.

Kenton Forsythe, who attended the show, said that it was well attended and the feedback on the EAW gear was positive. "Everyone loved hearing the KF740 and the JF and KF products. They were taken aback by the power of the QX Series."

Posted by EAW at 3:52 PM | Permalink

The owners of The Opera, a nightclub located in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, recently turned to EAW® for a complete sound system upgrade. Regional EAW distributor ProAktiv Systems supplied the EAW loudspeaker systems and Powersoft amplification, which is now installed in the main theater and VIP areas throughout The Opera.

The clubbing experience at The Opera is enhanced by daily "Cirque Nouveau" performances featuring acrobatic and circus troupes high above the main floor in the three-story, 10,000-square-foot theater. The main stage regularly features performances by dance, gymnastic and martial artists. In addition, the club frequently showcases recording artists, bands, DJs and video DJs.

The main audio system in the theater, which is modeled after grand European opera houses, comprises four EAW MK5396 two-way full range compact installation loudspeakers. The four-inch voice coil, 15-inch drivers are complemented by four SB1002 dual-18-inch high-output subwoofers installed at floor level. Two MK2326 compact installation loudspeakers and a pair of VRS18 subwoofers supply under-balcony fill and delay. The main EAW system is powered by a combination of Powersoft K3 and K8 amplifiers with K2 and KF3 model amplifiers for the fill system.

EAW MK2396 loudspeakers, supplemented with VRS18 subwoofers, provide coverage in the luxury VIP area, which offers a commanding view of the main floor and stage. Four EAW compact two-way JFX290i speakers provide in-fill while SMS5 speakers deliver coverage to the main corridor. Two Powersoft Digam LD3004 four-channel amplifiers supply the power.

According to appointed system integrator Bina Teguh, "The owners of the Opera were very unhappy with the previous system installed so I was specifically asked to install an EAW system. Time was of the essence, and when I contacted ProAktiv Systems, a proposal with a complete solution was submitted within 24 hours. I was very impressed."

"In fact, the entire system was ordered and installed within two weeks of the order being made. Given the high ceilings and many varied zones, this was a hard application to get right, as we weren't working with a blank canvas here. However, the support and responsiveness that I experienced from ProAktiv Systems was a novel experience for me, having worked many years in the installation business and dealing with so many different suppliers and distributors."

Posted by EAW at 3:37 PM | Permalink

Every year, thousands of revelers travel from mainland Iceland to Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) to celebrate the anniversary of the country's inhabitation at the national festival Þjóðhátíð (Thjodhatid). This year, local EAW® distributor EB Sound and Lighting Systems provided and ran a flown EAW main speaker system together with an onstage EAW monitor setup.

As much a social gathering as a music and dance festival, and typically extending beyond the official three-day weekend of 24/7 activities, the event attracted a record 17,000 attendees this year to Vestmannaeyjar, more than tripling the island's population. The festival, which opens early Friday afternoon and runs through the early hours of Monday morning, typically features entertainment of all descriptions, including such traditional events as a massive bonfire, a huge firework display and a hillside sing-along of Icelandic folk songs. This year the entertainment on the main stage at Iceland's wildest outdoor party included Icelandic music stars such as Dikta, Haffi Haff, KK & Ellen and Bubbi Morthens.

Delivering crystal clear sound and pumping bass throughout the weekend festivities was an EAW rig comprising a main hang of 12 KF760 and four KF761 line array modules, together with 16 BH760 subwoofers. Ten EAW SM15 wedges handled onstage monitoring for the artists, with eight KF730 small line array modules, supplemented by four FR250z dual-15-inch subs, supplying side fill coverage. Four EAW JF26 compact full-range speakers were put into service as near fills.

A pair of EAW UX8800 4-input by 8-output digital processors provided speaker management. Noted Dagur Hilmarsson, sales/project manager for EB Sound and Lighting Systems, "The UX8800's proprietary EAW Focusing helped to optimize system performance. The coverage was great. All were thrilled with the sound of the EAW loudspeakers and subs."

Posted by EAW at 1:16 PM | Permalink

  Singapore-based ProAktiv Systems supplied and installed an EAW® speaker system with Powersoft amplification at the Elements Club and Lounge in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

The club area, where the music is typically a mix of hip-hop, house and funk, features a pair of EAW Avalon Series DC2 three-way loudspeakers horizontally mounted above the raised dance floor. Four SB1002 dual-18-inch subwoofers provide additional low frequency coverage down to a floor-shaking 28 Hz. Powersoft Digam LD3004, D2002 and K3 amplifiers provide the power to the club sound system. Two ultra-compact EAW UB82e loudspeakers powered by a Powersoft LD2004 amplifier ensure even coverage to the DJ and VIP areas.

Chandan Mahtani, Managing Director for ProAktiv Systems, stated, "This is the only club in Cambodia that can boast to be the best in the country. The owner did not compromise on the décor or the sound and lighting system. He had visited TAO in Vegas some years ago and wanted something similar for his club."

The lounge area at Elements, where locals and visitors can retreat for chilled drinks and relaxed conversation, is served by a distributed system of 13 compact, full range EAW VR62 dual-six-inch loudspeakers, together with a single SB150z subwoofer. EAW CAZ1400 and CAZ2500 amplifiers power the lounge's background music speaker setup. Downstairs, in a smaller lounge area, ProAktiv Systems installed a pair of SMS5 loudspeakers and three SBX220 subwoofers. The systems integrator also installed two EAW UX8800 digital signal processors to handle speaker management and system optimization throughout the nightclub.

Posted by EAW at 2:55 PM | Permalink

EAW will introduce 20 new products to the European market at PLASA 2010 in London. Visit Stand 1-F4 to check out the following new products:

The new JF Series of 2-way loudspeakers redefine the concept of application flexibility. All JF models feature premium neodymium components and legendary crossover design in an ingeniously adaptable package that offers unprecedented utility. The JFNT models additionally feature 1500W of amplification, EAW Focusing processing, software-accessible DSP and the proprietary U-Net network. The new KF Series of ultra-compact, three-way loudspeakers deliver premium performance in designs that offer a lightweight solution. The complete range includes two externally powered models (90 × 45 and 60 × 45) and three comprehensively integrated models (NT versions of the two previously described, and a 10 inch / 8 inch coaxial model). At the heart of the new KF Series product line is a core cabinet philosophy that allows users to utilize universal hardware accessories to tailor their KF product to meet the specific needs of their application. The new QX Series is the optimal solution for installed system applications that require precise directivity in a powerful compact form. This series is comprised of the QX544, QX564, QX566, QX594 and QX596. All full-range models have squared, symmetrical, dual-trapezoidal enclosures to provide unlimited array flexibility. A centrally located MF/HF horn and a quartet of 12-inch low frequency transducers team together to ensure that the entire frontal area contributes to horizontal and vertical pattern control capability.

Visit space 1-F4 at PLASA 2010 to see these new products.

Click Here to Register Now!

Posted by EAW at 11:22 AM | Permalink

The official cheering club of South Korean soccer, "The Red Devils," named Seoul's COEX Mall as its official 2010 FIFA World Cup cheer venue. To accommodate the 100,000+ fans, Seoul officials closed off The COEX to automobile traffic and installed LED screens, stages and sound systems. Despite the inner-city venue's challenges, crowds enjoyed great sound, thanks to EAW®'s critically acclaimed KF740 and KF760 loudspeakers systems.

Elan Korea and TFOS Plus, two leading touring companies in Korea, called upon Chung-Bo Sound Inc., EAW's Korean distributor, to provide sound for the event. "EAW was used on two of the three stages. We needed to provide an incredibly high-output system that could intelligibly broadcast play-by-play action to the sea of red-faced fans," stated Hyungjoon Jee, General Manager for Chung-Bo Sound. "These EAW units delivered beautifully."

To meet the demands, TFOS Plus used EAW's new KF740, eight per side, all powered by EAW's UX8800 Digital Processor. Elan Korea, on another stage, deployed an EAW KF760 line array rig consisting of eight KF760's per side (left and right) and six EAW BH760 Bent Horn Subwoofers per side (left and right). They also used two EAW KF730's for center fill and 10 EAW SM84's as monitors, all powered by 12 Lab.gruppen FP1000Q's.

"Everyone doesn't just watch the game on TV at home. They go out to the streets to support their teams as a family," remarked Jee. "The attendees deserve great sound, and we are happy to service them with great EAW loudspeakers. Both Elan Korea and TFOS Plus are great fans of EAW and agree that the equipment is very easy to set-up, especially the KF740."

Posted by EAW at 2:15 PM | Permalink

EAW was recently selected as the loudspeaker of choice for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia's Moomba Festival. The Festival is the continent's largest and longest-running event of its type, held annually since 1954. While the Moomba Festival is not a music festival, in recent years, the show organizers have introduced a free music stage where popular Australian acts play for those attending the festival. This year, performers included popular recording artists Vanessa Amorosi and GRAMMY® winner Colin Hay. For event P.A., organizers selected several EAW models for their durability and sound quality. As it turned out, the 2010 Moomba Festival saw some particularly bad weather conditions, but EAW loudspeakers more than passed the test, keeping the music going after Melbourne's worst storm in half a century and performing flawlessly well after the weather had moved on.

The loudspeaker configuration included 16 EAW KF740 3-Way Full Range Line Array Modules, arranged eight per side, and eight EAW SB1002 Large Format Flyable Subwoofers, arranged four per side. The entire P.A. was powered by Powersoft K10 amplifiers. Ben Clarke, System & Projects Manager for Production Audio, EAW's Australian distributor, stated "We ran the KF740 system completely full range, and deployed the SB1002 array in a cardioid fashion on the deck. The system ran in true stereo, with no aux-fed subs or other enhancements. There was much concern and disbelief about our placement instructions, but when the system was phase aligned and balanced, which took less than 10 minutes, it resulted in unanimous jaw-dropping - a very effective festival configuration."

Graeme Stevenson, Managing Director for Production Audio, stated, "During the festival, Melbourne had its worst 'superstorm' in 50-plus years. Hailstones up to four inches in diameter, flash flooding and up to three inches of rain fell within a few hours on Saturday. Still, the festival stage was a big success, despite the storm, and everyone was impressed and thrilled that the system performed so perfectly while being subjected to these conditions,"

Colin Hay's FOH Engineer Mike "Ace" Baker, who has also worked with Sammy Hagar, Aretha Franklin and Hay's former band Men at Work, was impressed with the durability of the system. He stated, "Wow. We had no sound check, it was pouring rain and it was the first day of our tour. But who cares?! The rig sounded amazing and seemed to chase the rain away. EAW once again retains its spot on the top of my riders."

As the popular saying goes, the show must go on. Stated Stevenson, "After the system was dried out from Saturday's storm, it performed flawlessly on Sunday and Monday, running for a good ten hours straight on both days."

Posted by EAW at 3:23 PM | Permalink

Soccer fans at four official FIFA Fan Fest™ venues in South Africa followed the games taking place at the main stadiums in the World Cup competition via EAW® speaker systems provided by Surgesound, EAW's South African distributor. The systems consisted of 48 KF760 and 12 KF761 line array modules, including a complement of 48 SB1000z subs, with 48 KF730 compact line array modules and 48 SB730 subs providing in-fill. Monitoring was performed with EAW SM12 units, and 24 UX8800 Digital Signal Processor units provided processing. Surgesound recently delivered a large complement of EAW speakers to Johannesburg-based The Sound Corporation, one of the biggest professional audio production houses in South Africa, in time for installation at the fan parks.

The Sound Corporation installed EAW speaker systems at Soweto (Johannesburg), Rustenburg, Bloemfontein and Nelspruit. It was the only production company to be awarded more than two official FIFA Fan Fest sites out of the total of nine fan parks across South Africa.

For the thousands of eager football fans not lucky enough to get tickets for the big matches, FIFA Fan Fest areas provided the perfect alternative, allowing people to share in the football fever and take in the match on giant screens supported with world-class audio systems. According to official FIFA attendance figures, 300,000 fans gathered at the country's Fan Fest venues, including 75,000 just at the Soweto Johannesburg location, for the month-long competition's opening match between South Africa and Mexico.

Andrew Rowan, Founder of Surgesound, commented, "The Sound Corporation has been a great client for many years and currently has the biggest EAW system in Africa." The Sound Corporation recently welcomed the arrival of 60 EAW KF760 large-format line array speakers and 48 EAW SB1000z subwoofers.

Surgesound additionally supplied amplifiers from Lab.gruppen, with whom EAW recently announced a strategic partnership, to power the EAW speaker systems at the four fan zones. "We are extremely proud that a production house of The Sound Corporation's caliber can trust EAW and Lab.gruppen products with their high-profile gigs," said Rowan.

Posted by EAW at 2:59 PM | Permalink

EAW®, a world leader in audio system solutions, had exactly the solution needed by Norwest Productions, Australia's largest audio services provider, for this year's Playground Weekender music festival. The renowned EAW KF740 line array was used for one of the festival's six main stages, hosting artists including Bjorn Again and Orbital, and was chosen for its combination of great sound, pinpoint accuracy and ease of rigging.

The Playground Weekender is a uniquely Australian music festival that has emerged as an eclectic gathering featuring a diverse mix of international and local artists, coupled with a relaxed outdoor atmosphere featuring multiple music stages, cabaret acts, a cocktail bar, a healing area, yoga and an array of international food and market stalls. The P.A. system had to cover a large area with great sound but also needed to be well integrated into the visual presentation, and to go up quickly. The KF740 fit all of these requirements.

The main system consisted of 24, high output, 3-way KF740 modules flown in two line arrays on either side of the stage using 12 KF740 modules each. These were augmented with eight EAW SB1002 Large Format dual-18 Subwoofers and 16 EAW SB1000z Large Format Subwoofers, as well as four EAW KF650z Compact Array Loudspeakers offering 60-degree horizontal dispersion used as front fills. Powersoft DIGAM K10 amplifiers powered the KF740s, and Lab.gruppen FP6400 amps were used to power the system's subs. The Norwest crew had the entire system flown in under and hour.

"One of the advantages of using this array is that it isn't as heavy as some other arrays, and still packs a lot of punch," observes Scott Harrison, Audio Systems Engineer at Norwest Productions. "As we were hanging [the system off] of the stage roof superstructure, weight was very important. Given the short time frame we had to get the P.A. in the air, the easy rigging was a great advantage. With input from EAW's Resolution software, we got a hang that looked like what the computer said it should, and covered all the area it needed to. From start to finish we had both of our 12-box hangs flown in under an hour." The KF740's highly efficient use of power also helped keep weight down. "We were also able to keep the rig down to one amp rack per side, plus a sub rack," says Harrison.

Every mixer and technician who worked that stage at Playground Weekender had nothing but positive comments about it. "All the engineers who came to mix were impressed with the sound of the P.A.," says Harrison. "In particular, I had comments about how even the sound was, in both planes - left to right, and the transitions between boxes front to back - how it had a great presence without being overpowering, and how well it carried right out past 250 feet from the stage." And the KF740 worked as hard and flawlessly as the performers themselves - Harrison notes that the rig operated at medium-to-high SPL during the weekend for an estimated crowd of approximately 10,000 people. "We never saw a sign of a clip light or any signs of speaker stress," he says, noting the diversity of artists using the system, ranging from 3-piece bands to 25-piece orchestras, as well a choir. "The tonal character of the system was considered excellent. I thought the SPL and clarity of the boxes was great, and when combined with the weight/size combo and the easy rigging, it goes up fast, and doesn't disappoint. I'd definitely use it again."

Posted by EAW at 3:48 PM | Permalink

The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival has become one of the world's largest and most comprehensive music festivals. The 2010 event, which took place March 5th through March 7th, saw over 100,000 music fans come to hear almost 200 performances by artists including John Legend, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Toni Braxton, George Duke, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and more. Regardless of the genre of music, the EAW® stages sounded full and clear thanks to world-class sound from the renowned KF series of line arrays.

This year, the festival took place at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran (JIE), which presented an acoustical challenge. But those challenges were overcome by the exceptional sound offered by the KF Series speakers. "JIE is an exhibition venue," Andre Supryanata from Sumber Ria Sound, the pro audio rental company in charge, was quoted as saying. "But it fits perfectly to accommodate the festival's growing audience. What we have to do now is present the best audio system that can cover up the lacking acoustic treatment of the building."

In total, P.T. Kairos Multi Jaya, EAW's Indonesian distributor, working closely with Sumber Ria Rental Company, outfitted six of the event's eight stages with over 88 EAW KF760 Line Array Modules, which included the recently-unveiled KF740 3-Way Full Range Line Array Loudspeakers as delays at two of the stages. Halls D1 and D2 were the main stages of the event, using the KF760s configured in L-R clusters of 12 cabinets per side, and 20 EAW SB550L vented subwoofers provided massive amounts of clear and punchy bass. In Halls A2 and A3, Sumber Ria slightly altered that configuration, using 10 KF760s per side. Jonathan Steiner, the FOH mix engineer for the opening night at Hall D1, notes that, "The show went on brilliantly, possibly better than ever." Pratama Budiman, also with Sumber Ria, echoed that sentiment, adding, "The EAW KF Series simply sounds great. That's the way the FOH mixers and everyone else felt."

Posted by EAW at 3:33 PM | Permalink

Strengthening ties between students and the pro audio industry, Republic Polytechnic of Singapore and ProAktiv Systems recently invited local audio professionals and students to presentations from the Mackie and EAW design teams, and to visit the Republic Polytechnic facilities.

RP's desire to forge relationships with local businesses was well timed for Mackie and EAW, who had planned a roadshow encompassing Bangkok, Singapore and various venues in Malaysia, and ending in Jakarta at the Java Jazz Festival. With Republic Polytechnic and ProAktiv Systems keen to collaborate on bringing students and the industry together, the event was a good platform and a promising beginning to more of its kind.

Damien Lock, assistant director, School of Technology for the Arts, Republic Polytechnic, said: 'We run a diploma course called Sonic Arts, which is music technology blended with audio engineering. Our aim is to graduate students who are trained problem solvers who can hit the ground running when they start work. To this end, students are encouraged to work in the industry as part of their pre-employment training.'

There are a number of industry attachments and hands-on training in the workplace to achieve this goal, and RP actively solicits feedback from the pro audio industry as to what skills are needed, so the course syllabus can be adjusted accordingly to meet the changing requirements of the industry.

Having worked closely with RP on a number of projects including the installation of five recording studios, ProAktiv Systems was delighted to coordinate the event and create a forum of networking and discussion and education. ProAktiv Systems MD, Chandan Mahtani, explained: 'We are always keen to have the opportunity to meet industry professionals to get a better understanding of their needs and what products and technology they are looking for. We also want to meet students as well, as these are the industry professionals of tomorrow. We hope this will be the first of many joint educational product promotion events, where we can introduce products and technology in a relaxed and informal environment.'

More than 50 audio engineers, systems integrators, students and industry professionals attended the event; headlining the presentations were Mackie product specialist James 'Woody' Woodburn, and Dave Raneses, product manager for EAW Commercial. Mr Woodburn did AB comparisons of the TH-15A, TH-18S with JBL's Eon 315 and 518S, and SRM450 V2 with QSC's K12 and K Sub. The audience was then treated to a demonstration of the top-of-the-range HD series, HD1521 and HD1531, HD1801 and HD1501. The HD 'high-definition' series is a flagship range, boasting high-definition audio processing providing clarity and performance. The processing combined with class-D amplifier technology means they have significant power, and have an efficient switch-mode power so the amplifiers are always well fed.

Mr Raneses introduced the EAW DX1208 matrix mixer, the JFL210 line array module and the companion JFL118 sub, which were all carefully chosen for their relevance to the local markets. He showcased the DX1208 feature set and demonstrated its high flexibility. For many installations, the DX1208 addresses DSP/matrixing needs while providing auto-mixing capabilities in the same fixed-architecture device. It is simple to programme, via DX Navigator software, which means installers can quickly set up a DSP solution. Equally, the JFL210/118 is a flexible solution for installations that require line array technology. The JFL210 is regarded as one of EAW's innovative line array technologies in a compact, light weight package and thus a suitable solution for small and medium-sized applications, and portable and installed audio solutions.

Whilst last year was tough for many, Loud Technologies swam against the tide by expanding operations in the Asia-Pacific and delivering double-digit growth. Davwinder Sheena, director of international sales (Asia-Pacific), said: 'Loud is showing its commitment to Asia Pacific by participating in events like this one at RP, and running the first of many road shows throughout the region'.

Article Courtesy of Pro Audio Asia Magazine:
http://www.proaudio-central.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1821:mackieeaw-roadshow-at-republic-polytechnic-singapore&catid=7:news&Itemid=17

Posted by EAW at 10:47 AM | Permalink

Come stop by Booth RA-B4 on Tuesday April 27 and Wednesday April 28 at The Royal Armouries, in Leeds, London to check out the latest offerings from EAW.  Kevin McNally and Moray McMillin will be on-site to walk you through the KF740, SB Series and much more.

Hope to see you there!

Register Here

Posted by EAW at 2:29 PM | Permalink

EAW announces the appointment of Ibbenbüren-based firm TRIUS Vertrieb GmbH & Co. KG as exclusive distributor for Germany. Effective immediately, TRIUS will handle distribution for EAW's products, interfacing with EAW's European Sales Director Sean Martin, EAW Application Support Group EMEA representative Moray McMillin and other key members of EAW's team in Europe. The announcement was made by Jeffrey Cox, V.P. Pro Audio, on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, at the Musikmesse Show in Frankfurt, and further underscores EAW's ongoing commitment to the German market.

For over two decades, TRIUS has been a German leader in the worlds of live sound/touring, installations, recording and M.I., having established itself through consistent and comprehensive sales results for several of the industry's major brands. The TRIUS organization has respective specialized departments for sales and support, service and technology, marketing and IT, and logistics. The company's infrastructure, innovative sales approach and decades of practical experience make them the ideal choice for EAW distribution in Germany.

Kai Boeckmann, TRIUS Manager Director, stated, "TRIUS has been a German market leader for several decades, having built successful business relationships throughout the region, and we look forward to using our experience and contacts to lead EAW's sales initiatives in Germany. EAW produces high-quality products, and with their manufacturing facilities and European warehouse, they are in a position to offer highly price-competitive speaker models with a short delivery time. For these reasons, EAW fits perfectly in our client portfolio, and will help TRIUS maintain our status as a go-to full line supplier, both for rental companies and installers."

"TRIUS is one of Germany's largest and most prestigious distributors for pro audio products, and we are excited to have them exercise their top-tier position in the region's marketplace and act as a key member of our EAW team in Germany," stated Sean Martin, "With several new and innovative EAW products hitting the market this year, we look forward to utilizing TRIUS's expertise in Germany's pro audio market to enhance and expand EAW's presence in the region."

Posted by EAW at 3:15 PM | Permalink

The inaugural Rayli International Jewelry and Culture Festival was recently held on the Rayli Riverbank Square in Yunnan Province, China. Rayli Riverbank Square is one of the most beloved and unique performance venues in the region, designed in such a way that approximately 12,000 attendees, some directly across the river in neighboring Myanmar, can enjoy the space’s performances. Chinese firm Hunan Tian Yin Art Performance Company selected EAW products to serve as the event’s loudspeakers and subwoofers.

EAW products selected include the KF750 High Output Array Loudspeaker and the BH760 Bent Horn Subwoofer. Twenty-four KF750’s were flown, with twelve on each side of the stage in four layers of three speakers, for long throw and mid-distance throw. Each side of the stage also had six BH760’s (12 total) with two additional KF750’s stacked on each side.

The festival took place from December 2^nd through December 5^th, 2008, featuring an elaborate opening ceremony headed by the area’s International Jewelry Committee and the “Happy China Travel” cast. The ceremony focused on the Yunnan people’s minority culture and the strong ties of friendship the area shares with Myanmar.

Davwinder Sheena, EAW Director of International Sales, Asia/Pacific Rim, stated, “EAW provided the perfect sound for this event. All involved were quite pleased. It demonstrated to everyone’s ears what real sound is.”

Posted by EAW at 8:45 AM | Permalink

Extremely popular Austrian folk music band Lechner Buam recently chose to purchase a new system headed by EAW NT Series self-powered loudspeakers to utilize for sound reinforcement at all of their public performances - up to 70 concerts a year. The new rig was recently used at two distinctly different events by the band, with similarly excellent results.

The first event was a concert for more than 3,000 in a huge hall, while the second event, marking the band's 25th anniversary, was held in a tent with about 1,500 in attendance. EAW's distributor for Austria, SAC Schneider Audio Concept Vertriebs, headed by Christian Muhm, worked closely with the band on the new system, including providing NT Series systems for live evaluations that confirmed the band's decision to make the upgrade. Specifically, the band utilizes 2 x NT59, 2 x NT56 and 4 x NTS22 subwoofers.

"We're so happy - we've been searching for just such a PA over many years," states Willi Grafeneder, the band's leader. "Every instrument and the vocals are so clear, exact and transparent. It's amazing that these small and lightweight speakers bring such a punchy, fresh, and airy sound. And, this is achieved with no laborious DSP programming and EQing for different environments - just plug and play. The sound - from the front to the back - is always the same, and since we've starting using the system, no audience has argued that sound is either too loud or too low."

Posted by EAW at 9:44 AM | Permalink

This year - 2008 - marks EAW's 30th anniversary. It's been a fun and certainly never boring ride, and one that continues apace.

Starting with a humble loudspeaker operation in Massachusetts in 1978, co-founders Kenton Forsythe and Ken Berger steadily built a global force in sound reinforcement.

Three decades later, Kenton "keeps on keepin' on" as the heart and soul of the EAW Engineering department, a group that has consistently turned out some of the most innovative technologies and product designs in professional audio - most recently exemplified by the NTL720 small self-powered line array, UX8800 digital processor, and many others. (Kenton's pictured at right.)

Now under the LOUD Technologies banner, EAW continues to further the exciting future of professional audio, under the direction of EAW Brand Group Vice President Jeffrey Cox. And the synergetic relationship with LOUD has contributed mightily to the development of products that expand EAW's reach, such as the recently released UMX.96 digital console.

We'll be presenting more of the history of EAW since its founding in 1978 as the year progresses, but in the meantime, start with these resources for a good overview of the EAW story: Who We Are, What We Do, Milestones, and Technologies.

Posted by EAW at 1:37 PM | Permalink

Production Audio Services, EAW's distributor serving Australia and New Zealand, will be hosting EAW Smaart School sessions in four locations throughout Australia in May, June and July 2008.

Smaart School provides introductory as well as continued/advanced training in the use of Smaart software for sound system engineering, optimization and acoustical analysis.

Sessions & Dates:
May 28-29, Melbourne
June 4-5, Brisbane
June 25-26, Sydney
July 8-9, Perth

For more information and to register, contact Production Audio Services by calling (03) 9264 8000 or via e-mail at info@productionaudio.com.au.

Posted by EAW at 10:53 AM | Permalink

The ongoing “Somewhere Back in Time" world concert tour by Iron Maiden, featuring an all-EAW main loudspeaker line-up, has come to North America, with the major portion of this tour leg kicking off on May 21 in San Antonio. (Click here to view the latest itinerary.)

ML Group continues to serve as the sound company for the tour, with a very large EAW KF760 Series line array contingent - optimized with EAW UX8800 digital processing - being the primary components of the large-scale sound reinforcement system.

ML Group Managing Director Gary Marks is coordinating system issues with partner companies around the globe, such as Norwest Productions of Sydney, Australia and Brantley Sound Associates of Nashville. (Thanks to Norwest Productions for the photo that accompanies this report.)

Posted by EAW at 12:50 PM | Permalink

Every year for two weeks, the small city of Vinarós in Castellón, Spain, is transformed with the celebration of the Carnaval de Vinarós, a huge fiesta featuring vibrant shows with various themes, with sound reinforcement for this year's recently concluded Carnaval led by EAW line arrays and subwoofers.

E.J.R. SYSTEMS S.L, a sound & lighting rental company based in Benicarló, headed the sound reinforcement effort, and they collaborated with production supplier Dodinuf, who provided a main system featuring 24 KF730 line arrays joined by and 12 EAW SB1000z subwoofers.

Further, Yapadú Produccions, provided Dodinuf with 8 more KF730 and 4 more SB1000z to complete the main system. Amplification was all Lab.gruppen - 10 fP6400, 8 fP3400 and 2 FP13000, with processing from Dolby Lake.

”Day after day, I honestly enjoy my job more," states Eduardo Soriano, Yapadú Produccions co-owner and sound technician specialist. " I’m working with an unbeatable team of world-class brands in EAW, Lab.gruppen and Dolby Lake. They are all exceptional - great to use, and the quickest and easiest set-up and adjustments I’ve ever experienced.

"For this event, we had a clear goal: excellent sound with a great sound pressure level. And we got it, as well as the congratulations from the organizer of the event,” Soriano adds. (Thanks very much to EAW distributor Pro3 & Co. S.L. for this report and the excellent photos.)

Posted by EAW at 8:20 AM | Permalink

The new Shuttle Launch Experience at Kennedy Space Center in Florida was recently awarded a TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, with EAW selected to play a significant role in sound reinforcement for the attraction.

Conceived and designed by BRC Imagination Arts, the Shuttle Launch Experience is a $60-million project incorporating a wide range of production elements. Techno-media Solutions LLC provided technical AV systems integration, with the Shuttle Simulation Theater featuring an audio system incorporating EAW SB850z subwoofers, three EAW KF695z main loudspeakers, two more KF695z's joined by two EAW KF300z's for four surround sound channels, and an overhead channel with two EAW MK Series loudspeakers.

The project is the subject of an in-depth feature article written by Judith Rubin that appeared in the March 2008 issue of Sound & Communications magazine. Click here to check it out.

Posted by EAW at 8:17 AM | Permalink

Hugos Lounge and Skyy Bar of Sydney has been named "Nightclub Of The Year" at the recent 2007 Seventh Annual Australian Bar Awards, and a huge key to this success must be attributed to sound design and installation by DJW Projects.

Headed by Dave Coxon, DJW Projects is one of Australia's leading club sound providers, and they oversaw the system conversion to world-class status as Hugos transformed from a restaurant-oriented venue to one of the hottest nightspots in Sydney.

The large-scale system project encompasses Hugo’s Lounge, the cocktail bar, Skyy Bar one and two, as well as the entire outdoor balcony area and a private room.

"We didn't cut any corners as we fit the entire venue with an array of EAW loudspeakers, ranging from Avalon Series DC5 and DC6 boxes for the dance floor, through to JFX88 as room fill and CIS400 ceiling loudspeakers for the balcony," explains Coxon. "Skyy bar has been fitted with cabinets from the MK Series range, and all aspects of the system are backed by sophisticated digital processing and zoning."

Other high-profile Sydney clubs outfitted with EAW loudspeakers by DJW Projects include Norths Rugby League Club, The World Bar, The Barclay, Springfields, Trademark Hotel, The Piano Room, and W-Bar.

Posted by EAW at 7:49 AM | Permalink

Proaktiv Systems just finished up a prestigious installation headlined by EAW Commercial loudspeakers and power amplifiers at the Singapore Changi International Airport Terminal 3, which opened to great fanfare earlier this year.

The $1.75 billion Terminal 3 is able to handle more than 2 million passengers a year, offering a multitude of facilities for travelers, including 140 retail shops and F&B outlets spread within the public and transit areas. Proaktiv Systems was awarded the contract to specify, supply, install and commission an Emergency Overriding system for numerous shops - Coach, Bvlgari, Vertu, Harry’s at T3 (a F&B outlet) and Luxury Fashion among them.

Proaktiv chose EAW Commericial components for the system, including CIS50 ceiling loudspeakers and SMS3 surface-mount loudspeakers driven by CXA160 power amplifiers. (The system also includes a Tapco Mix.120 mixer.)

“As the coverage areas are small, we used EAW models that were small and compact yet did not compromise sound quality," explains Chandan Mahtani, managing director of Proaktiv Systems.

Proaktiv, which has offices in Singapore as well as Malaysia, Indonesia, Moscow and Central Asia, worked closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on the project, as they've done previously. As a result, they were well aware of the stringent requirements and ensured that every specification was met with. With the EAW Commercial components already in their inventory, the company was able to deliver the project very quickly - within about a week from start time.

(Thanks to Proaktiv Systems for the information and photos, and to see more photos of their work at Changi International Airport Terminal 3, click here.)

Continue reading "Proaktiv Systems Selects EAW C For Singapore Airport" »

Posted by EAW at 10:58 AM | Permalink

A very good account of sound reinforcement for the European tour of the legendary Joe Cocker is provided in a recent issue of Die Referenz (The Reference), a leading German pro systems publication.

The report, presented in German language, was filed by Tom Becker, who also did the photo work. Tom details the system for the tour that was supplied by leading hire company Concert Sound, featuring EAW KF760 Series and KF730 Series line arrays, as well as other EAW loudspeakers. Click here to read the report. And, if you missed our initial report on the system for this tour, go here.

Posted by EAW at 1:49 PM | Permalink

The beautiful new Club Hotel in Thessaloniki, Greece, features a dynamic sound system headlined by EAW Avalon Series club loudspeakers courtesy of Eurosound S.A., EAW's distributor serving Greece.

The 500-square-meter nightclub features a wide range of entertainment as the newest premier nightspot in Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region.

Already one of the most prestigious (and largest) venues in the city, Club Hotel features an all-EAW loudspeaker line-up to meet all sound reinforcement needs. The system is headlined by six Avalon DC2 larger-format full-range loudspeakers spaced throughout the club, joined by six more Avalon DC4 smaller-format full-range loudspeakers, with both models featuring cutaway upper-rear cabinet corners that allow them to tuck up next to the ceiling while being angled downward to provide optimum coverage.

Dual Avalon DCT1 supertweeter arrays (4 x 1.33-inch-exit tweeters) with an inverted pyramid configuration delivering optimized 360-degree horizontal high-frequency dispersion from centrally mounted locations. Low-frequency energy to fill out the sonic spectrum are supplied by six EAW SB1000zR dual-18-inch-loaded subwoofers. All loudspeakers are driven by Lab.gruppen amplifiers.

"The management of the club had first heard the EAW components in another club, and as a result of that dynamic demonstration of EAW quality, selected them for their own venue," notes Apostolos Kanakaris. (Our thanks to Eurosound for the excellent photos as well as the details in this report.)

Posted by EAW at 7:57 AM | Permalink

A recent evaluation process highlights the dramatic performance gains that can be realized by utilizing recent EAW technologies to enhance an existing sound reinforcement system.

The evaluation took place at Crossway Baptist Church in Victoria, Australia, which hosts worship services and other activities in an 1,110-seat, fan-shaped auditorium. The current house sound reinforcement system, installed in 1995 and still going strong, features a pair of EAW KF650E three-way full-range loudspeakers installed per side above the edge of the front platform, with a single EAW SB1000E subwoofer per side on the floor.

Four EAW JFX200 compact loudspeakers along the front of the stage offer fill when needed, and they can also be utilized as spare stage monitor wedges (other monitoring is supplied by IEM systems). Additional front fill comes via four two-way loudspeakers mounted directly beneath the KF650E mains.

The system is under the direction of Media Pastor Peter MacLean, who is heading the evaluation process for possible upgrade of select components. Working closely with Production Audio Services Pty. Ltd., EAW’s distributor for the Australian pro audio marketplace, and also based in Victoria, a new EAW UX8800 digital processor was first implemented, in place of the system’s current digital processor. (Peter is shown at right in the above photo, with Graeme Stevenson and Ben Clarke of Production Audio Services.)

Continue reading "UMX.96, UX8800 Enhance Crossway Baptist Church System" »

Posted by EAW at 10:32 AM | Permalink

A new maintenance update of Smaart is now available for download here at EAW.com.

The maintenance update - Smaart 6.1 - offers a comprehensive list of user-visible (and some not-so-visible) changes, including:

- Named Pairs feature streamlines switching measurement inputs on multi-input devices, and provides a true Swap (invert) function for Frequency Response data
- Numerous user-driven usability tweaks to the legend dialog to make working with store traces faster/easier
- Horizontal Spectrograph option
- Continuous Impulse Response measurement
- ASCII-to-reference import feature
- Optimized painting and update scheduling for reduced CPU loading
- Improved compatibility with Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and Windows Vista
- Improved overall stability
- And much, much more!

Click here to access the download of Smaart 6.1. And as always, visit the EAW Smaart Forum here at EAW.com to get further information from the Smaart users community.

Posted by EAW at 2:25 PM | Permalink

The new EAW SB1002 is a large-format dual-18-inch-loaded subwoofer that can be groundstacked or easily flown via an integral rigging system, making it ideal for a wide range of high-output live and installed sound applications.

Following in the footsteps of the legendary EAW SB1000z subwoofer, the new SB1002 offers a direct radiating design, with driver mounting that maximizes cone area and minimizes frontal area. The result is acoustical performance and physical configuration well suited for creating large subwoofer arrays.

The two 18-inch drivers – designed specifically for the SB1002 - offer very large (4.5-inch) voice coils as well as powerful neodymium magnet structures that also reduce weight. The operating range of the SB1002 is 27 Hz – 161 Hz (+/-3 dB), while maximum sound pressure levels are 129 dB (average) and 135 dB (peak).

Continue reading "New EAW SB1002 Large-Format Dual-18 Subwoofer" »

Posted by EAW at 11:31 AM | Permalink

Gracias to EAW distribuidor PRO3 & Company of Barcelona for a muy bueno overview of the new EAW NTL720 line array autoamplificado en Espanol.

Características técnicas and muchas fotografía also included. Click here to view the pdf file.

Posted by EAW at 1:48 PM | Permalink

The craze already starting to sweep the globe: MicroWedgin'!

It's about taking a stand (literally) to make a definitive statement of exuberant solidarity with the world's greatest stage monitors - the new EAW MicroWedge Series.

Inventor Dave Rat set the MicroWedgin' standard (at left), and others have taken the stand, as seen at the recent Prolight+Sound and Musikmesse convention in Frankfurt, Germany.

(Click to get a bigger view of the images.)

Make your MicroWedgin' stand and we'll feature it here on EAW.com, as well as the other web home for MicroWedge on Myspace. (Send your images via e-mail to EAW's Keith Clark by clicking here.)

Posted by EAW at 9:51 AM | Permalink

The 2008 Prolight+Sound Musikmesse last week in Frankfurt, Germany, proved to be one of the most memorable (and enjoyable) trade conferences at which we've had the privilege to exhibit in recent memory.

It's almost impossible to say what new EAW products garnered the most attention. Was it the UMX.96 digital console? (Moray McMillan is shown at right giving one of his constant demos to a crowd of interested audio pros.) Was it the new MicroWedge MW12, particularly when attendees had the opportunity to hear these wedges?

Or, was it the growing line of great new EAW Commercial products under the direction of Dave Raneses? Or, how about the new NTL720 self-powered line array? Or the UX8800 digital processor? Or Smaart v.6? One thing is certain: Jürgen Bachthaler and the EAW Germany team were superior hosts, and everyone really enjoyed their time in beautiful Frankfurt. (Click here to see more from Prolight+Sound 2008.)

Continue reading "EAW At 2008 Prolight+Sound Musikmesse - What A Show!" »

Posted by EAW at 10:30 AM | Permalink

The North Bondi RSL club in Sydney was definitely the place to be recently, with FOH Engineer Dave Coxon mixing the renowned Martini Club band as it worked the 2,500 (full) capacity turnout into a frenzy through the new EAW NTL720 (BLAM) self-powered "baby" line arrays that also feature revolutionary Gunness Focusing technology.

Coxon, of DJW Projects, says the heat coming off the dance floor was incredible and literally had water dripping off the walls. DJW Projects is a solution-based boutique service company based in Sydney, specializing in premium end, customized audio-visual design, install, and production.

Only four NTL720's per side were required to get the entire venue absolutely rocking. Amazingly pristine audio from self-powered loudspeakers that weigh under 22 kilograms (48 pounds) each!

Thanks very much to the team at Production Audio Services, and Brendan Phillips in particular, for this report and photos.

Posted by EAW at 2:08 PM | Permalink

The March 2008 issue of
CX Magazine provides outstanding in-depth coverage of the systems technology being deployed for the current Iron Maiden "Somewhere Back In Time" world concert tour, in an article written by Andy MacKenzie.

The Iron Maiden concert system is headlined by EAW KF760 Series line arrays as well as UX8800 digital processing, with all sound design, equipment and technical support provided by ML Group. For the Australian shows, ML Group is working with Norwest Productions of Sydney, with Ewan McDonald of Norwest providing the first-hand system overview to MacKenzie.

Click here to read the entire article in pdf form. For more than 17 years, CX (short for Connections) Magazine has served as the leading voice of the entertainment technology industry in Australia and New Zealand. It is published by Juliusmedia, headed by Julius Grafton. We sincerely thank Juliusmedia for allowing us to present this coverage to you.

Posted by EAW at 1:31 PM | Permalink

Production Audio Services, EAW's distribution firm serving the Australia customer base, recently put on quite a "show within a show" at ENTECH '08. Recognized as THE entertainment technology show for the entire region, ENTECH includes the latest professional audio, lighting, broadcast, audio visual and staging products, supplies and services.

Held this year in mid-February at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour, ENTECH attracted a huge crowd of professional technology users, and Production Audio Services had a fully stocked booth ready to provide them with a close look at the latest EAW and EAW Commercial products.

Just a few of the highlights included the new EAW NTL720 (BLAM) baby line array modules, CIS Series ceiling loudspeakers, UX8800 dual-mode digital processing with Gunness Focusing technology - and much more.

The Production Audio Services staff worked the booth throughout the run of the show, offering expert insight into the new EAW products and technologies. It was topped by a booth presentation of exceptional professionalism.

Click here to find out more about Production Audio Services.

Posted by EAW at 3:11 PM | Permalink

At the end of January, more than 300,000 descended upon Zocalo de la Ciudad de Mexico, the main square in Mexico City, to attend a rally regarding agricultural policies in Mexico - with leading sound company Consorcio Audiovisa S.A de C.V providing EAW KF730 Series line arrays as part of a comprehensive sound reinforcement package.

In fact, Consorcio Audiovisa of Mexico City - a member of ELAN and owned by Alejandro and José Luis Morales - deployed 56 EAW KF730 Series line array modules (driven by Crown I-Tech amplification) to serve six different regions/stages of the massive Zocalo area, including the four main streets leading to the square. Frontfill for one of the regions was supplied by EAW LA215 loudspeakers.

"We were able to attain great sound pressure levels throughout the square and its surrounding area, which was the primary goal," notes Alejandro Morales. Click here to see more of the system and event in photos supplied by Alejandro.

Continue reading "KF730 From Consorcio Serves Massive Mexico City Rally" »

Posted by EAW at 12:53 PM | Permalink

You’re invited to participate in upcoming EAW Smaart School sessions in Montreal, March 5-7, 2008.

The intensive three-day training package will be presented at EAW Canadian market distributor SF Marketing’s Dorval, Quebec facilities as well as at Salle Claude-Champagne (l’Université de Montréal). (SF Marketing is the organizer of this educational event.)

Smaart Fundamentals and Applications will be covered the first two days, with the third day devoted to an Advanced User Seminar. Click here to find out more and to get cost/registration details.

Continue reading "Smaart School Slated For March 5-7 In Montreal" »

Posted by EAW at 8:12 AM | Permalink

Dubai-based Smart Vision LLC a leading Middle Eastern systems integrator, has recently commissioned an EAW-based system at the stunning new Elegante Club, already becoming the hottest nightclub in the region since its December opening.

With a capacity of more than 1,000, Elegante Club (housed within Dubai's prestigious Royal Ascot Hotel and managed by the Executive Group) presents diverse entertainment, including live music, special stage shows, top DJs of the region and renowned international DJs once a month. .

"Elegante Club is unique, appealing to its clientele by featuring a one-of-a-kind light and laser grid, state-of-the-art liquid nitrogen Kryogenifex effects systems and of course, the absolute best sound system design and technology. It all combines to make for the latest evolution of nightlife artistry," explains Oussama Mansour Abou Faraj, who manages Smart Vision LLC as well as HI FI SERVICE of Beirut, Lebanon.

With excellent support from EAW Executive Audio, the Smart Vision LLC team members, including Khaled Abu Rislan (sound system installation) and Tony Mattar (lighting and video system installation) were crucial to the project.

Continue reading "Smart Vision Implements EAW For Dubai's Elegante Club" »

Posted by EAW at 2:07 PM | Permalink

Leading hire company ML Group will be supplying the largest EAW KF760 Series line array contingent ever to tour Europe as key components of a large-scale sound reinforcement system for the upcoming Iron Maiden “Somewhere Back in Time" 2008 world tour.

Kicking off in India early in February, the tour will visit more than 30 countries on several continents in the coming months. ML Executives Managing Director Gary Marks is coordinating system issues with partner companies around the globe, such as Norwest Productions of Sydney, Australia and Brantley Sound Associates of Nashville. Michael Hackman (pictured below) is serving as the KF760 Series line array system technician for the tour, also performing system analysis and optimization at each stop with an assist from EAW Smaart.

"For the stadium tour in Europe, we'll be supplying four main hangs of 18 EAW KF760 modules and two EAW KF761 wide dispersion modules," explains Marks. "So, that's a total of 80 cabinets on the main four hangs, plus 24 EAW SB1000 subwoofers per side. Also, because the stages will be very wide, we'll use six more KF761 modules flown in the center to serve as a vocal fill."

We'll be providing updates on the progress of the system and tour as it goes along. Click here for the official tour itinerary.

Posted by EAW at 7:43 AM | Permalink

You’re invited to participate in upcoming EAW Smaart School sessions in Vancouver, February 6-8, 2008.

The intensive three-day training package, presented by veteran Smaart School instructor Arthur Skudra, will be conducted at the beautiful Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (CCPA), located at the University of British-Columbia (UBC).

Smaart Fundamentals and Applications will be covered the first two days, with the third day devoted to an Advanced User Seminar. Click here to find out more and to get cost/registration details.

Continue reading "Smaart School: February 6-8 At Chan Centre, Vancouver" »

Posted by EAW at 12:42 PM | Permalink

Leading U.K. hire company Concert Sound just finished up providing a large-scale sound reinforcement system for the latest European concert tour by the legendary Joe Cocker, including extensive EAW line array and loudspeaker sets.

Concert Sound worked closely with FOH Engineer Chris Madden in formulating the system, which traveled throughout the European continent in support of the 2007 release of the acclaimed Hymn For My Soul album. The scalable system, under the care of System Engineer Dave Dixon, was comprised of left and right main hangs of up to 20 EAW KF760 Series large-format line array modules, with EAW KF730 Series small-format line array modules on the deck for front-fill.

Side-fill came from up to eight EAW KF750 Series three-way concert loudspeakers flown per side, with a low-frequency contingent of up to 18 EAW SB1000z dual-18-inch-loaded subwoofers split left and right. “I loved the consistency of this system – it sounded great every day throughout the 13-week tour, performing in a widely differing variety of venues,” noted Madden. “The system also provided very fast load-ins and load-outs, and further, it didn't suffer a single component failure during the whole tour.”

A portion of the system as well as key sound team members are pictured above. Left to right - Ben Byford, Adrian Fitzpatrick, Chris Madden, Niall Slevin, and Dave Dixon. And, thanks to Moray McMillan of EAW Europe for the great photos!

Posted by EAW at 5:44 AM | Permalink

Stage Audio & Lighting Productions of Longwood, Florida, recently provided sound reinforcement and technical support at all venues for this year’s Florida International Festival in Daytona Beach, highlighted by a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), featuring a concert system based upon a variety of EAW loudspeakers line arrays and EAW digital processing.

Headed by Phillip Kovacevich (pictured below), Stage Audio & Lighting Productions is a leading live event company celebrating its third decade of serving touring artists and corporate event planners in the Eastern U.S. and the Caribbean, and the company counts live orchestra sound reinforcement as one of its specialties.

Veteran free-lance audio professional Jeremy Goldstein, based in Orlando, brought his talents to the event as well. In addition to helping with system management throughout the festival, he also provided the live mix of the first half of the LSO concert.

The LSO show featured a “Pops” style that paid tribute to motion picture soundtracks, with “Darth Vadar” making an appearance to guest-conduct the “Star Wars” theme.

The large-scale system assembled to serve the audience filling the 46,000-square-foot, multi-level Ocean Center arena in Daytona included EAW KF760 Series large-format line arrays optimized with the new EAW UX8800 dual-mode digital processors with Gunness Focusing technology.

Continue reading "Stage Audio Serves London Symphony With EAW" »

Posted by EAW at 10:22 AM | Permalink

EAW has established a new operation – exclusively focused on the EAW brand – that dramatically upgrades our ability to serve the crucial European professional audio marketplace.

The new EAW Europe, which officially opens its doors on January 2, 2007, is based in Wickford, Essex, UK, and is headed by veteran European Sales Manager Sean Martin (shown at right). He is directing a team of six full-time, highly experienced professionals who will work in support of the EAW brand and its European customer base.

The new operation offers the complete inventory of EAW products on the European continent in order to dramatically shorten delivery times. An expansive inventory of repair and replacement parts are kept on hand as well, with an EAW Product Service Centre also instituted in Wickford, in very close proximity to the offices of EAW Europe.

Continue reading "Dramatic Enhancement In Serving European Market" »

Posted by EAW at 1:27 PM | Permalink

Noted harpist Vincenzo Zitello, recognized as one of the finest Italian musical artists, performs live in concert with sound reinforcement by EAW NT Series self-powered loudspeakers with Gunness Focusing.

Also widely respected for his skills as a composer, Zitello's compositions have often been played in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome to accompany special worship services.

For live performances, Zitello utilizes his own custom sound reinforcement system that even includes special microphones installed in his harps, along with several premium Neumann overhead mics.

The system, under the direction of Vittorio Sorrentino, Zitello's sound engineer, is led by NT26 loudspeakers, sometimes joined by NTS22 subwoofers. Sorrentino (pictured below) selected the NT Series following an evaluation of numerous loudspeakers.

"The EAW NT26's are very high quality loudspeakers, and are the only ones that can reproduce the unique sound of the harp with all the harmonics and the complete dynamic range, without any coloration or distortion," explains Sorrentino. "We use two or four NT26, depending on the venue size. They are coupled with NTS22 subwoofers when Vincenzo performs with other musicians.”

In January, 2008, Zitello will be performing at Théâtre Max Jacob in Bretagna-France, a high award for an Italian artist to play Breton music in its homeland. (To learn more about Vincenzo Zitello, click here. Our thanks to Edoardo Ravelli of Exhibo for this information and the photos.)

Posted by EAW at 2:58 PM | Permalink

Leading hire company Canegreen of London recently deployed its EAW KF760 Series line array inventory for a series of events at London's ExCel Arena, the largest indoor arena venue in the U.K.

The multi-day event series included a live festival for Islam television, followed by Tamil Remembrance Day and then the two-day Nigerian Festival of Life, with attendance sometimes approaching 30,000.

Canegreen was able to achieve excellent sound reinforcement with a main system headed by left and right line array hangs comprised of 10 KF760 modules above two KF761 wide-dispersion modules, and a dozen SB1000z subwoofers on the deck.

Renowned FOH Engineer Roger Lindsay provided the house mix for all three events (as he did last year), with Canegreen's Paul "PK" Knight and Ace McGrogan on hand throughout to provide expert system engineering and technical support. (Roger, PK and Ace are pictured directly above, left to right.)

Posted by EAW at 2:17 PM | Permalink

The accolades keep on coming for the UMX.96 digital console as it continues its tour with FOH Engineer Don Dodge in support of Foreigner's international tour.

The latest notice comes from Audio Pro International magazine, based in the U.K., which is featuring an exclusive interview with Don on his experiences with the UMX. Sample comment from Don: "The console has a ‘warmer’ sound to it than others, with analog pre amps and VCA section and a very analog layout.”

Be sure to check out the entire interview here.

Posted by EAW at 12:56 PM | Permalink

The online version of Harry Brill Jr's excellent article regarding tips and tricks for EAW Smaart v.6, written exclusively for Mix magazine, has now been posted in the publication's online edition.

In the article, Harry (shown at right handling Smaart duties at the recent ET Live) shares valuable information gained from his experiences with Smaart, including use of certain features that might not be readily apparent to some users. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to get the most from Smaart v.6. Click here to go directly to the article.

Posted by EAW at 7:50 AM | Permalink

EAW's Moray McMillan (UK Sales Manager) recently caught up with Foreigner FOH Engineer Don Dodge as he travels Europe with the UMX.96 digital console - the board's maiden voyage across the pond. Don reports all is going exceptionally well, both with the tour in general as well as the performance of the console. Moray sends along the recent photo he took at right, showing Don prior to a recent concert at Shepperds Bush.

More dates remain on the Foreigner swing through Europe. Click here to see where and when the tour is appearing in the coming weeks.

Posted by EAW at 5:23 AM | Permalink

Leading UK hire company Concert Sound continues to keep its EAW KF760 Series line arrays very busy, as evidenced by the recent two-day “Live ‘07” show by the Scout Association of the UK at the new 20,000-seat O2 Arena inside the London Millennium Dome. The dynamic event featured a wide range of live entertainment, including a 20-piece band, 90-piece orchestra and 30-plus member choir. (More than 140 inputs were required.)

Concert Sound elected to go with a main concert system headed by several arrays of KF760 Series modules, also including KF761 wide-coverage modules to attain extended dispersion in nearfield regions. The arrays easily delivered superb full-range output to every seat in the large-scale arena.

Key system personnel working the event included Simon Wooler (FOH engineer), Matt Mannasse (orchestra engineer), Tim Peeling (system engineer) and Gary Sylvester (monitor engineer).

Concert Sound’s efforts at Live ’07 follows up their successful work with the Scout Association in support of the World Scout Jamboree this past summer, attended by more than 40,000 scouts from around the globe. (Credits for the excellent photos posted here to EAW’s Moray McMillan and the Scout Association.)

Posted by EAW at 1:47 PM | 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

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

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

“Smaart has been one of our best investments as a sound company - we call it 'audio for our eyes'. And new Smaart v.6 is even better. The 'Repeat' feature is great for obtaining polarity information, saving a lot of headaches. Easily storing snapshots of frequency response is another invaluable feature, allowing us to conveniently keep all of our inventory 'in check' from show to show, year after year.”

Brent Milton
Owner, Pacific West Sound
Bakersfield, CA

Posted by EAW at 1:33 PM | Permalink

The September '07 issue of
Front Of House (FOH) Magazine includes a "Road Test" review of new EAW Smaart v.6 filed by Mark Amundson, the publication's technical editor.

Mr. Amundson concisely spells out his favorite features on v.6, and doesn't find much fault. At the outset, he poses the apt question, "Why upgrade?" and then proceeds to inform readers in very clear terms about the numerous advantages, in his view, of v.6.

We thank FOH magazine and Editor Bill Evans for publishing the piece, and also thanks to Mark Amundson for taking the time to check out Smaart v.6 and share his observations. Click here to read the review.

Posted by EAW at 12:52 PM | Permalink

Creative Events, a leading sound reinforcement company serving the Middle East, recently added EAW UX8800 digital processors with Gunness Focusing technology, as well as EAW KF760 Series and KF730 Series line arrays, to its growing inventory of top-flight professional audio equipment.

Creative Events is one of several companies of Creative Communication Group (CCG), a thriving full-service event management and production venture based in Qatar. Under the direction of Managing Partner Jalal Dudin (shown in photo above), Creative Events provides sound reinforcement systems and services to numerous high-profile concerts, theatrical productions, festivals and other events held throughout the Middle East.

For example, a notable Creative Events project was supplying all audio, video and technical support at more than 110 sports venues during the 2006 Doha Asian Games. In addition, they’ve supported first-time concert tours in the Middle East by performers such as Lionel Richie, Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti, among many.

“After extensive research and consultancy from our experts in the events business, we decided not to waste our time or money with any brands other than EAW for our audio supply,” states Jalal Dudin. “EAW is a worldwide technological leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance professional loudspeaker systems.”

Creative Events is a member of ELAN (EAW Line Array Network), a valuable association network provided by the company that allows members to promote their inventories as well as secure additional EAW inventory when needed. The UX8800 and KF Series line arrays join other EAW components utilized by Creative Events, including SB Series subwoofers, LA Series loudspeakers, SM Series stage monitors and more.

Posted by EAW at 6:57 AM | Permalink

Last weekend (September 15, to be exact), Mexico celebrated its national independence day, and our friends at Consorcio Audiovisa S.A de C.V. of Mexico City were on hand to provide EAW KF730 Series line arrays as the primary components of a sound reinforcement system for a civic ceremony in Tlalnepantla, one of the most important cities in the state of Mexico.

More than 15,000 converged on Tlalnepantla's Plaza Cívica Dr. Gustavo Baz for the ceremony, which featured remarks by the city president as well as a host of traditional festivities. To provide coverage throughout the plaza, Consorcio Audiovisa, a member of ELAN and owned by Alex and José Luis Morales, supplied 24 KF730 modules as well as 16 EAW SB1000z subwoofers as the key aspects of the system, backed by full technical support.

All of these EAW loudspeakers were divided evenly into four groundstacked sets of six line array modules and four subwoofers, spaced equidistantly across the front of the plaza.

They were the exclusive source for all spoken-word presentations, and were also used to significantly bolster coverage for various musical performances, including Mariachi bands.

"Sound pressure levels generated by our system measured 105 dB at 60 meters," notes Alex Morales. "Overall, the results were amazing, with perfect coverage to every zone in the plaza."

Posted by EAW at 6:20 AM | Permalink

We're very pleased to welcome Andy Jordan as the newest member of the EAW Application Support Group (ASG) team, headed by ASG Manager Joe Fustolo.

Andy brings 10-plus years of working with EAW Engineering in hands-on loudspeaker design to his new role with ASG. Specifically, he flourished as the Technical Services Coordinator, responsible for leading a group of technicians in carrying out a variety of tasks in building and facilitating the overall documentation and testing of BTO and standard EAW products.

"We're confident that Andy's vast working knowledge of the engineering process and the internal workings of virtually all EAW loudspeakers is going to make him a highly valuable asset of ASG, allowing us to take another important step in further being able to assist and troubleshoot customer issues with even greater accuracy and efficiency," Joe explains.

The addition of Andy now means the ASG team includes four sound system designers, three phone technical support specialists, and a special projects coordinator.

Posted by EAW at 1:05 PM | Permalink

Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW) is pleased to announce that it will be the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the renowned MicroWedge Series of stage monitor products under the terms of a new agreement between LOUD Technologies Inc. and MicroWedge developer Rat Sound Systems Inc. of Oxnard, CA.

The Perpetual License agreement between the two entities calls for current products to be branded “EAW MicroWedge,” fully supported by the resources of EAW. Further, Rat Sound Founder Dave “Rat” Levine, creator of MicroWedge and other acclaimed sound reinforcement designs, will be working closely with the EAW Engineering Department on the development of new MicroWedge models as well as other EAW touring products.

“In securing this preeminent floor monitor line for our worldwide customer base, EAW is once again demonstrating its commitment to true performance audio by bringing the best in both design and talent to the EAW brand,” explains Jeffrey Cox, Vice President of the EAW Brand Group, shown in the above photo with Dave Rat. “We continually populate the EAW family and brand relationships with experienced, talented visionaries who combine their unique skills to push audio forward. Our partnership with Dave is a prime example of this philosophy.”

Continue reading "EAW To Manufacture, Distribute MicroWedge Series" »

Posted by EAW at 1:38 PM | Permalink

Be sure to check out the cover story of the September '07 issue of InAVate magazine for the full story and great photos on a recent system project at a new large-scale stadium in Europe featuring a wide range of EAW and EAW Commercial loudspeakers.

Click here to go directly to the on-line edition of InAVate, and then click on the article noted in the table of contents that begins on page 38. The publication, with Chris Fitzsimmons serving as editor, does a fine job of covering AV technology, systems and applications, certainly exemplified by the September 07 cover story.

Posted by EAW at 12:35 PM | Permalink

Last week (September 9), Stock Audio & Light provided a high-end sound reinforcement system featuring dual EAW UX8800 digital processors in tandem with KF760 Series line arrays for a memorial concert by the Limburg Symphony Orchestra that marked the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II.

The concert, held on the grounds of the American Battle Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, the Netherlands, was highlighted by a performance of Verdi’s Requiem, accompanied by the Vocal Collective, a 60-member choir from Belgium.

Stock Audio, based in Geleen, the Netherlands, worked with the concert’s front-of-house engineer, Jo Smeets, to assemble a system providing enough headroom to reach a coverage area spanning beyond 150 meters (approximately 500 feet), while also capable of presenting a very natural sonic signature.

The sound team responded with a main system featuring dual line arrays, each comprised of six EAW KF760 modules above two KF761 wide-dispersion modules, flown stage left and right.

Low-frequencies were reinforced with eight EAW LA400 subwoofers with bent horn technology, groundstacked in groups of four beneath the main arrays. All loudspeakers were driven with LabGruppen fp6400 power amplifiers, with a DiGiCo D1 serving as house console and a Midas XL4 for monitors, largely for pre-mixing string instruments.

Holland PA, EAW’s distributor for the region, supplied two EAW UX8800 digital processors with Gunness Focusing for evaluation with this system. During soundcheck the day prior to the concert, Stock Audio Owner Paul Pelen immediately noted the significant upgrade in sonic performance provided by the UX8800 units, and in fact, decided on the spot to purchase them.

Continue reading "Stock Audio: UX8800 Success Story At Orchestra Concert" »

Posted by EAW at 11:13 AM | Permalink

Jeffrey Cox, Vice President of the EAW Brand Group, is the subject of an exclusive interview in the current issue of Production Partner, the noted German professional audio publication. (Jeffrey is shown at left with Jürgen Bachthaler, who heads up EAW's offices in Germany.)

The discussion covers a wide range of topics, and is also tied into the recent EAW B4 Roadshow and educational training sessions that appeared across Europe.

Our thanks to Peter Brüning for arranging and coordinating this interview, conducted by Detlef Hoepfner.

There's only one catch - readers fluent in the German language will really enjoy the interview, while those of us who are not must be content with the nice photos. Click on the pdf links below to access the full interview.

Jeffrey Cox-Production Partner Interview, Page 1
Jeffery Cox-Production Partner Interview, Page 2
Jeffrey Cox-Production Partner Interview, Page 3

Posted by EAW at 3:26 PM | Permalink

On the list of unusual installed sound reinforcement situations, the Olympic Oval in Calgary ranks toward the top, as evidenced by a recent project that saw the venue’s original sound system replaced by a widely distributed, multi-zone design to serve a decidedly unconventional indoor arena.

Constructed for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, the venue offers a structure of pre-cast, pre-stressed concrete that completely covers a 400-meter long-track speed skating oval encircling two international sized ice rinks for short-track speed skating and ice hockey. The long-track is surrounded by a 450-meter running track, with other track and field amenities including a 110-meter sprint track, pole vault box and long jump pit.

Spectator seating for more than 10,000 runs along one of the long sides of the oval, continuing around the curves a good distance, with portable grandstands able to be staged where needed along the hockey rink and short track.

Known as “the fastest ice on earth” for hosting an unprecedented number of speed skating world records (attributed most frequently to its rare status as a climate-controlled venue combined with the effects of high altitude), the Olympic Oval continues to serve as a premier speed skating site and training facility.

In addition, it hosts hockey games, track and field competitions (and practices), and, located adjacent to the University of Calgary, is connected both with that institution in general and specifically with its sports medicine and kinesiology programs. Constantly in use seven days a week, it’s also open at select times for public skating and a wide range of special events.

Continue reading "Profile: AX, MK Series Key System At Olympic Oval" »

Posted by EAW at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Here's a handy roster of links to access Martyn "Ferrit" Rowe's blog entries as an EAW UMX.96 digital console makes its inaugural tour with Foreigner and FOH Engineer Don Dodge.

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Note From Don Dodge

Posted by EAW at 9:05 AM | Permalink

We just received the following note from FOH Engineer Don Dodge, who's been utilizing the EAW UMX.96 digital console on its maiden touring voyage with Foreigner this summer. Don and Ferrit are pictured at left.

"The console is working out like a dream - I’m totally loving it! We’re blowing everyone’s mind with this board. It just sings. So many people coming up after shows to tell me how good it sounded.

"Ferrit has been incredible - what a fantastic guy. It’s really easy to learn from him, and he’s so smart it blows your mind. He’s been such a great help.

"Thanks very much to EAW and Jeffrey for trusting in me enough to run with your new 'baby'."

- Don Dodge

Posted by EAW at 6:14 AM | Permalink

EAW's Martyn "Ferrit" Rowe is providing us with live reports as an EAW UMX.96 digital console makes its inaugural tour with Foreigner and FOH Engineer Don Dodge.

Verizon Center, VA Beach
August 18, 2007