Integrator Brad Schield installs a complete HARMAN audio and lighting solution to provide exceptional sound quality, flexibility and ease-of use for a broad range of performances

BERKELEY, Calif.—Brad C. Schield and Associates (BSA) recently designed and installed a complete audio and lighting system by HARMAN Professional Solutions in Cornerstone, a newly opened live music venue, restaurant and beer garden in Berkeley.

Cornerstone hosts performances by local bands, tribute acts and national touring artists, including The Offspring, Jefferson Starship, Third Eye Blind, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and many more. In order to deliver an exceptional audio and visual experience for both music fans and artists, Cornerstone owner Alex Popov hired BSA to install a cutting-edge networked audio and lighting system for the 600-capacity venue.  BSA selected a complete networked HARMAN audio and lighting solution made up of JBL Professional speakers, Crown amplifiers, AKG microphones, Soundcraft consoles, BSS and AMX audio video control systems and Martin lighting fixtures for their professional performance, seamless integration and intuitive operation.

“HARMAN is an industry leader in innovative audio technology,” said Brad Schield. “They can provide me with a complete solution from microphones and mixers to speakers and amps, and it all works together seamlessly. I know I can shop one source, and there’s not going to be a weak link in the chain. HARMAN has been doing this longer than anyone—it’s an integrator’s dream.”

The audio system includes a main hang of 18 JBL VT4886 line array speakers, 6 JBL VT4883 subwoofers in the air, 4 JBL STX828S subwoofers built into the stage, and JBL SRX Series powered speakers for stage monitors. JBL SCS8 speakers deliver full-range audio inside the restaurant, while JBL AWC82 and JBL SB2210 speakers are installed in the beer garden. The entire system is powered by Crown I-Tech Series amplifiers and optimized by JBL V5 speaker presets. The system also includes a comprehensive collection of AKG microphones to handle any live sound scenario. To ensure maximum audio coverage in 13,000 square feet of venue space, BSA used JBL VERTEC Line Array Calculator II software to meticulously map out speaker placement and arrangement.

Plus Four Marketing commissioned, supplied and tuned the HARMAN system at Cornerstone. By using a single distributor and a complete HARMAN solution, BSA was able to streamline the installation process and complete the project quickly and efficiently.

“The HARMAN system installed at Cornerstone was near-perfect right out of the gate and needed very little EQ adjustment,” said Keith Erickson, Tour Sound & Large Venue Specialist at Plus Four Marketing. “The Soundcraft consoles are set up with preset recalls that allow audio to flow from either side of the venue. The audio is also synced with an AMX video system. The entire system is networked via Dante, without copper cable. It makes it very easy for the owner to operate the system. Plus, Alex was also able to use HARMAN's Finance program, which allowed to him to purchase all of the equipment he needed at one time. This made the installation much more streamlined and efficient.”

Soundcraft Vi2000 and Si Performer digital live mixing consoles not only provide unparalleled mixing power, they can be linked together via built-in Dante and BLU link interfaces to enable easy multi-track recording and flexible network routing options. Utilizing the Dante network and a BSS BLU link-equipped eight-channel Crown DC-I amplifier, audio can be routed to eight different zones throughout the restaurant and outdoor beer garden. The Dante network allows audio to be sourced from multiple locations in the facility. Separate shows can take place simultaneously in the venue and beer garden, or audio from the main venue can be routed to restaurant and outdoor patio, allowing guests to listen to the live performance from anywhere in the facility.

BSA also installed a lighting rig, consisting of 13 Martin RUSH MH6 CT and 4 Martin MH7 Hybrid fixtures. Controlled by Martin M-PC software, the lighting rig has more than enough flexibility for local acts and serves as a great foundation for touring acts that bring their own lighting package.

“We have the flexibility to provide a complete audio experience in every area of our space,” said Popov. “The audio systems work together seamlessly. When we were researching the sound system, we travelled to different venues around the country. I can’t think of a single place we visited that sounds better than the HARMAN system we have at Cornerstone. When The Offspring played here, they told us how great the room sounded. They’ve played some of the biggest and best venues in the world, so that was major validation of the HARMAN system. It was a great experience.”

Acclaimed performance from the G20 Hangzhou Summit deploys cutting-edge audio solutions by JBL, Soundcraft, Crown and BSS for its highly anticipated public debut

HANGZHOU, China—Impression Wonders Arts Development Co., Ltd.  recently deployed a complete HARMAN Professional Solutions audio system for the public debut of “Most Memorable Is Hangzhou.”

Staged with Hangzhou’s famous West Lake in the background, “Most Memorable Is Hangzhou” was originally created to welcome visitors to the opening gala of the 2016 G20 Hangzhou Summit. The G20 performance became an international sensation and even received praise from Chinese President Xi Jinping for its innovative visuals, breathtaking stage design and stunning musical performances.

Thanks to strong interest from the public, Impression Wonders Arts Development and director Zhang Yimou created a new version of “Most Memorable is Hangzhou” with enhanced visuals, interactive effects and an updated audio system design by Mr. Jin Shaogang, a legend in the Chinese audio industry.

The production presented several unique challenges. The seating capacity for the public performance increased from 1,200 to 2,000 with the addition of 800 retractable seats. Additionally, the seating was distributed sporadically throughout the venue, making it difficult to achieve consistent audio coverage. Furthermore, the audio system was deployed on the water in two boats, so it needed to withstand the elements.

Shaogang selected JBL VTX Series speakers, JBL AE Series speakers and JBL EON Series speakers to deliver a premium audio experience that would match the show’s stunning visuals. The entire system was powered by Crown I-Tech HD Series amplifiers, and mixed using Soundcraft Vi Series digital mixing consoles and BSS digital audio processors. HARMAN distributor ACE provided the audio solutions.

An integrated HARMAN AV solution provides sophisticated systems control and premium audio performance for five-star hotel staff and visitors

HEFEI, China—The Wanda Vista Hefei, located in Binhu New District of Hefei, China, is a luxury, five-star hotel known for its elegant atmosphere, traditional Huizhou architecture and harmony with “Hui” culture.

In addition to 205 private rooms and suites, the hotel features a lobby, 4,900-square-foot banquet hall, eight conference rooms, restaurants, fitness center, swimming pool and spa. In order to provide audio coverage for such a wide range of areas with different functions, the hotel hired Shenzhen Hongzhe Intelligent Systems Engineering Co., Ltd. to install a complete HARMAN AV solution consisting of JBL Professional speakers, Crown amplifiers, AKG microphones, BSS audio processing and AMX AV systems.

“As a five-star hotel, we strive to maintain an elegant atmosphere, and a portion of that ambience comes from the music that plays throughout the hotel,” said Mr. Chen Xiaojun, Director of AV Operations. “Our audio equipment needs to be top of the line to meet the hotel’s high standards and overcome acoustic challenges created by the traditional architecture. JBL Control Series ceiling speakers are integrated seamlessly into the hotel’s foyer and high lobby ceilings. They are unobtrusive and blend in aesthetically, while providing excellent clarity and pleasing sound quality. We also use JBL EON Series powered speakers when we host events that require portable sound reinforcement.”

The sophisticated HARMAN AV system allows the Hefei Wanda Vista staff to produce a wide range of successful events. An AKG WMS470 wireless microphone system provides smooth and intelligible speech in the grand ballroom and meeting spaces. Utilizing a BSS PDP-DSP public address processor and CobraNet network, audio signals are routed to Crown CTs Series amplifiers and configured to combine (or isolate) the speakers in each room or zone. Operators can discretely make volume adjustments in each meeting space with BSS BLU Series control panels. For convenience, an AMX NX-3200 central control panel enables remote control of all AV equipment using a wireless tablet.

“To uphold our reputation as China’s most prestigious hotel brand, it’s imperative that every guest has a memorable, top-class experience,” related Xiaojun. “When we host high-profile events, such as when Wanda Group recently held their annual shareholder’s meeting in our grand ballroom, it’s important for our AV equipment to consistently deliver the highest quality sound. Thanks to the reliability and flexibility of the integrated HARMAN solution, we can be certain that our AV experience will exceed all expectations.”    

Products Used:

AKG Wide-Band UHF Antennas
AKG Gooseneck Conference Microphones
AKG Wireless Microphones
AMX NetLinx Integrated Controllers
BSS BLU Wall Control Panels
BSS System Processors
JBL Contractor Control Series Speakers
JBL CSS Commercial Speakers
JBL EON500 Series Speakers
Crown CTs Series Amplifiers
Crown XLS DriveCore Series Amplifiers

AV-industry leader adds AES67 support to multiple HARMAN product families to provide improved compatibility between networked AV devices

InfoComm (Booth #3201), ORLANDO—HARMAN Professional Solutions, the global leader in audio, video, lighting and control systems, including networked AV, today presented support of AES67 across HARMAN networked AV product families to the U.S. market at InfoComm 2017. AES67 is a standard to enable high-performance audio-over-IP streaming interoperability between various IP-based audio networks.

“We’ve received incredible feedback since implementing AES67 protocol between HARMAN AV solutions, and we’re very pleased to share this development with AV professionals and thought leaders at InfoComm 2017,” said Tom Lureman, Large Venue Electronics Solutions Manager, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “Using AES67, audio can now be digitally streamed from AMX Networked AV encoders to a Soundweb London system to AMX Networked AV decoders. This allows Dante functionality to be preserved between HARMAN processors, amplifiers and other compatible devices.”

New Soundweb London BLU-806DA, BLU-326DA and BLU-DA devices will support both Dante and AES67 natively and will replace the BLU-806, BLU-326 and BLU-DAN devices respectively. The Crown DCi-DA Dante amplifiers will also support AES67 through a forthcoming firmware update.

In addition to the new Soundweb London DA processors and Crown DCi-DA amplifiers, new AMX Networked AV N2000 and N1000 Series Video encoders and decoders will be released with support for AES67 providing networked audio compatibility with BSS and Crown products. The model numbers of these encoders and decoders will be identified by the suffix A, denoting AES67.

Support of AES67 by HARMAN video, processor and amplifier products brings interoperability with other AES67 compatible systems and more options to facility upgrades.

The newest release of HiQnet Audio Architect includes the new Soundweb London devices and updated firmware for the Crown DCi-DA amplifiers. The same release also includes a firmware update for the existing Soundweb London BLU-806, BLU-326 and BLU-DAN devices, bringing AES67 functionality to devices already deployed in the field.

Solutions from JBL Professional, Crown Audio, BSS Audio and Studer featured in partnership with Avid, Dolby Laboratories, DTS and All Mobile Video

NAB (Booth C146, Listening Room S218LMR), LAS VEGAS—HARMAN Professional Solutions today announced it is partnering with key industry leaders to demonstrate innovative broadcast and production solutions at NAB 2017. Avid, Dolby Laboratories, DTS and All Mobile Video will all showcase HARMAN solutions at their respective booths to provide attendees with a firsthand look at the industry’s latest broadcast and production technologies. These solutions include JBL Professional sound reinforcement systems, Crown amplifiers, BSS Audio processors and Studer mixing consoles.

“We are pleased to partner with other industry leaders at NAB 2017 to deliver the industry’s most innovative and advanced solutions for broadcast and production,” said David McKinney, Vice President of Hospitality and Broadcast, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “Not only does HARMAN provide complete end-to-end systems, our solutions integrate seamlessly with other leading technologies to provide customers with greater choice, flexibility and power.”

HARMAN Professional Solutions products will be featured by the following partners at NAB 2017:

Avid
Avid delivers the most comprehensive tools and workflow solutions to create, distribute and monetize the most watched, loved and listened to media in the world. Visit the Avid booth to learn about cutting-edge audio production workflows in the Dolby Atmos format. The Avid main stage will feature a full Dolby Atmos production presentation using a complete HARMAN audio system, including JBL AM7212/00 loudspeakers for screen channels, JBL AC28/26 speakers for surround sound, JBL ASP6125 subwoofers, Crown DCi multi-channel network power amplifiers and a BSS Soundweb London BLU806 signal processor.

A second Dolby Atmos production demonstration will feature the award-winning Avid Pro Tools | S6 modular control surface, a Pro Tools | HDX system, and a full JBL audio system with JBL 7 Series master reference studio monitors, a JBL Intonato monitor management tuning system, JBL subwoofers and Crown DCi multi-channel network power amplifiers. (Booth SU902)

Dolby
Dolby Laboratories creates audio, video, and voice technologies that transform entertainment and communications in mobile devices, at the cinema, at home and at work. Dolby Atmos delivers moving audio—sound that can be precisely placed and moved anywhere in three-dimensional space, including overhead. It brings entertainment alive all around the audience in a powerfully immersive and emotive experience.

Stop by the Dolby booth to experience the latest in audio innovation from Dolby with a full Dolby Atmos demo, featuring JBL 7 Series master reference studio monitors, JBL subwoofers and Crown DCi multi-channel network amplifiers. (Booth SU1702)

DTS
DTS is a leading provider of audio solutions for mobile devices, home theater systems, cinema, gaming, automotive and beyond. With its technology integrated in more than two billion devises globally, DTS provides incredibly high-quality, immersive and engaging audio experiences to listeners everywhere. DTS will be conducting demos of their DTS:X immersive audio technology using an 11.1 JBL system every day of NAB between 12:00–2:00 p.m. in the Capitol Room of the Renaissance Hotel.

All Mobile Video
All Mobile Video is one of the industry’s preeminent audio/visual production companies, with a fleet of innovative mobile production trucks that are equipped with the most advanced equipment and technology on the market. Visit All Mobile Video to see Zurich, their largest and most powerful HDR and 4K production truck. Zurich is equipped with a 72-fader Studer Vista X with an Infinity core processor, built-in Lexicon processing, and three Studer compact stage boxes. The console also includes 11 MADI cards and 2 Dante cards. (Booth N302VR)

Technology West Group installs a complete networked audio system made up of JBL Control 300 series speakers, Crown DCI amplifiers and BSS networked audio systems

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—Technology West Group recently designed and implemented a complete audio system by HARMAN Professional Solutions at MGM National Harbor, a recently opened resort and casino. MGM requested a networked audio system for the casino that would enable flexible and independent volume control across a wide range of audio zones, while also requiring minimal training and maintenance for staff. Leveraging years of experience with casino audio systems, Technology West Group deployed a complete HARMAN networked audio system consisting of JBL Control 300 Series speakers, Crown DCI Series amplifiers and BSS networked audio systems. The complete HARMAN solution offers exceptional sound quality, flexibility and ease of operation, enabling the MGM casino to control the audio for different gaming areas and easily expand the system as their needs evolve.

“Walking into National Harbor, we knew it was going to be HARMAN products,” said Richard Reisig, General Manager at Technology West Group. “In an MGM project, everything is designed around the idea that it has to be managed and maintained with the minimal amount of capital, training and staff. It costs a lot of money to train people, and they didn’t want to work with different platforms for the amplifiers, speakers and DSP systems. HARMAN’s integrated platform was the key decision factor for implementing a complete solution.”

In the past, each MGM property was in charge of designing its own sound system. Around four years ago, Technology Group West met with the MGM multimedia division and came up with a plan to standardize audio systems across all properties. They began looking for a technology provider that could provide cost-effective end-to-end networked audio systems that could be managed with very few staff. After careful consideration, they decided to standardize using HARMAN solutions across the board.

The system TWG designed for MGM National Harbor is made up of JBL Control Contractor Series speakers, with approximately 500 Control 328CT in-ceiling loudspeakers and 70 Control 312CS in-ceiling subwoofers installed in the casino. The system is powered by Crown DriveCore™ Install Series amplifiers, with BSS Networked Audio Systems for signal processing and routing. There are more than 1,500 JBL speakers throughout the entire National Harbor facility.

The casino floor is divided into separate zones, which are controlled by BSS Soundweb London BLU-806 signal processors. The amplifiers and processors are installed in dedicated spaces below the casino floor, with wall-mounted control panels. The idea was to create a DMARK point, or a centralized technology hub, that enables the casino to rearrange the gaming floor without completely renovating the audio system and easily upgrade the system as their needs evolve. The entire audio system is connected via Dante AV networking, and is integrated with the video system using core networking services.

“We use lots of amp channels to create very small, manageable zones, which is a change from how casinos historically cover a space,” said Reisig. “First, it provides lots of level control options between slots and table games. Second, casinos are always rearranging the floor and moving slots, table games around, expanding or reducing poker. Giving them lots of smaller zones with independent level controls provides them the flexibility to rework the casino floor, without having to make massive renovation changes to the AV system.” 

Historically, casinos typically relied on a traditional audio system design made up of a series of high-powered amplifiers driving a chain of 60-70 speakers. This approach provides even audio coverage across the entire gaming floor, but also poses several problems. Casino staff have no way of adjusting the volume for different gaming areas, so the music may be too loud in one area and too quiet in another. For example, the music near the poker tables needs to be much quieter than the slots area, since the poker players need to concentrate and communicate clearly during games. Furthermore, casino floor layouts are often rearranged annually, and any adjustment to the audio system usually requires major renovations.

“In older properties, you’ll often see traditional audio system designs that don’t work very well for the way a casino typically operates,” said Reisig. “We run into a lot of property owners who hate the way the audio system sounds. When we really dig in, it comes down to sharing speaker zones between slots and table games, or transitions between high ceilings and low ceilings. The table games need different volume levels from the slots, and even within the table games area, the customers playing blackjack might want to listen to different volume levels than the customers playing the craps tables. With MGM, we made an effort to solve those issues.”

Products Used:

JBL Control Contractor Series Speakers
Crown DriveCore™ Install Network Series Amplifiers
BSS Networked Audio Systems