EV Delta Max feature film

Electro-Voice's DeltaMax system has been with us since 1988 and has acquired a worthy reputation in the world's major touring circuit as well as amongst fixed installation sound companies. Now after years of liasing with their valued clients, sweating over new designs, and experimenting with new space age materials, Electro-Voice have decided to quit speaker manufacturing and make clingfilm. Not just ordinary clingfilm but clingfilm that, although sticking to the food, and stretching nicely across containers, won't immediately adhere to itself when you pull it out of its box. That's right, with EV's new Cling Thing, common kitchen tasks will be made 23 percent quicker, while still locking in all the freshness of your leftovers.

Calm down, I'm afraid not even Electro-Voice can achieve the impossible, but what they have done is upgrade the DeltaMax Series making it "louder, clearer, smaller, and lighter". This is made possible by fitting the new DeltaMax DMS Series with new drivers, woofers, and horns, new cabinet configurations, new hardware, new rotatable horns in two models, and redesigned electronic controllers. All the rigging on the next generation DeltaMax has been converted to that used on the Electro-Voice MT line, providing more options while being both stronger and less expensive than on previous models. New electronic controllers for the new DeltaMax system feature LF shelving EQ filters, optimised crossover frequency, optimised EQ, and reduced electronics noise.

Mark IV PAG Direct. (Contact Details)

Yamaha 03D new digital dimension

Looks as if Yamaha has done it again. Another groundbreaking digital mixer that looks to offer some incredible features at an incredibly low price point; and like its predecessor, the 02R, it would be silly to categorise it under 'recording console' without seeing what it can do for you in a live sound environment.

Providing the same "sonic transparency" and digital interface capabilities as the 02R, the Yamaha 03D offers the power and flexibility of built-in dynamic automation and snapshot memory functions in a smaller format console — a combination of features that makes the console well-suited for small to mid-size sound reinforcement applications.

26 input channels and a possible total of 18 outputs, include eight assignable digital outputs and both digital and analogue stereo outputs. Yamaha's proprietary DSP3 chip has been utilised extensively in the 03V to provide impressive digital signal processing capabilities in a small format digital mixer. Every input channel and every output buss in the 03D is equipped with four-band fully parametric equalization — a total of 160 bands of EQ! Every input channel and output buss in the 03D also includes a high quality dynamics processor — a total of 40 dynamics processors providing compression, gating, ducking, expanding, etc. Two 32-bit DSP internal effects processors are also included, utilising Yamaha's very latest effects algorithms, including those from their top-of-the-range ProR3 digital reverb.

The same large fluorescent graphical display as fitted on the 02R provides real-time representation of all console parameters, EQ, effects and dynamics libraries, and metering. There is also the added option of connecting a standard PC mouse to assist with parameter selection and control.

The suggested retail price of the 03D system will be under US$4,000 with delivery planned for the coming months.

Yamaha-Kemble. (Contact Details)

You have the power

Kelsey Acoustics are busy addressing the worldwide mains socket shortage. The Kelsey PD Series of AC Power Distribution panels offers either BS4343 16 or 32 Amp inlet and output connectors to allow linking to other units; an AC trip to allow fast restoration of power in the event of overload with optional retrofit RCBO facility; enough outlets to power most racks and an AC Status Indication System to monitor Input AC.

Kelsey Acoustics Ltd. (Contact Details)

Universal appeal

New from Barcus-Berry is the 3500A Universal Interface impedance matching preamp, featuring treble and bass equalization. It also accepts all magnetic and piezo crystal pick-ups, delivering a strong signal to a mixer, tape recorder, or amplifier. Recommended for use with both acoustic and electric instruments; the 3500A has an internally adjustable gain control, offering an additional 12dB, which enables users to boost even the weakest of signal levels.

Also from Barcus-Berry are two new piezo-based transducer pick-ups. The DISQ-IS Soundboard Transducer is recommended for installation inside all types and sizes of acoustic stringed instruments, equipped with soundboards such as classical and steel string guitars, mandolins, and dulcimers etc, while the DISQ-OS is similarly recommended for all exterior installations.

Strings & Things. (Contact Details)

Go Kart

Brand new from Kart-A-Bag, and aimed at anyone who needs to kart a bag, is the Kartmaster HD 500. Featuring the company's patented telescopic construction, the handtruck also converts to a flatbed cart. Weighing in at 18kg, the streamlined and aerodynamic, extruded aluminium and stainless steel unit (also available in matt 'rock'n'roll' black) can carry up to 227kg of equipment in the upright mode when supported by pneumatic tyres or can be converted to the four wheel flatbed mode. It's light, strong, versatile, and folds away easier than an ironing board.

CP Cases. (Contact Details)

Animated performance

UK loudspeaker manufacturer, Animation, announces the introduction of the 500 Watts C1 bass system. C1 is the ideal partner to your existing full-range system for a bit more bottom end welly. The C1 utilises a single 15-inch woofer and works on the 40 - 200Hz region of frequencies. Applications include medium and small scale sound reinforcement, pub, club, and discotheque installations.

Animation. (Contact Details)

Sabine's 2020 vision

Sabine introduce the latest in their proven FBX range: the FBX-2020 Dual Feedback Exterminator, an upgrade from the FBX-1802. The two-channel FBX-2020 automatically senses feedback, determines its frequency, and places a super narrow notch filter precisely on the feedback frequency — blowing the sucker away! The FBX provides more gain before feedback and automatic feedback control without damaging sound.

In addition to standard FBX features such as lockable fixed filters and switchable one-tenth and one-fifth octave filters, the FBX-2020 offers valuable new features. It has improved 20-bit performance, providing better dynamic range, signal-to-noise and frequency response. It offers 10 feedback filters per channel, giving the unit more feedback elimination power. The FBX-2020 also provides an automatic clip level adjust, for easier setup, and an internal power supply.

Sabine Inc, USA. (Contact Details)

VOX give guitarists a boost

Vox has announced the introduction of the new AC15 Top Boost Reverb, 15 Watt, all-valve guitar amplifier with a number of features including a spring reverb. The AC15 faithfully reflects Vox's vintage heritage, covered in black basket weave vinyl with the original grille cloth.

We are informed that the AC15 is portable, yet powerful, and pays homage to Vox's famous pedigree with a single preamp channel that's identical to the Brilliant channel on vintage AC30 Top Boost amps. The preamp is mated to a power section, which utilises two EL84s and a 5Y3 rectifier tube.

Controls include Volume, Treble, Bass, Cut, Master Volume, Reverb Depth. Tremolo Speed, and Tremolo Depth. High and Low Sensitivity inputs are also incorporated, as is a Standby switch. The new AC15 TBR from Vox is equipped with 'vintage' tremolo circuitry and a three spring reverb. Players can choose between 1 by 12-inch or 2 by 10-inch speaker configurations and a Vox 'Blue' model 12-inch speaker is also available.

Korg UK ltd. (Contact Details)

AMPSAP a C Audio strength

C Audio have announced the launch of an exciting new generation of amplification, which opens a new chapter in the Cambridge company's fortunes. The SRX Series amalgamates C Audio's top of the range SR and XR models into one series. The arrival of the SRX 3601, SRX 3701, and SRX 3801 — 650W, 800W, and 1200W respectively per channel into 4 Ohms — signals the demise of the successful SR 404, SR 606, and SR 707 workhorses, and the popular XR 3801.

According to International Sales Manager Richard Moore, the range will be further extended next spring, with an "innovative higher power product", which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Musik Messe. He described the SRX Series as "a 3U rackmount, high-power amplification range, all with continuous 2 Ohm capability".

The new amplifiers will incorporate an Advanced Multitasking Primary Signal Access Port (or AMPSAP) — an unfortunate acronym admittedly, but an innovative feature. AMPSAP allows access to all the signals in the amplifier that could need manipulation or monitoring. With the launch, analogue cards (with stereo limiter and crossover functions) will be available, making it a cost-effective signal processing solution for many applications.

Moore described C Audio's latest move as a 'strategic one', stating that the company were as yet reluctant to rush headlong into the technology of digital networking systems. But he hinted that by the 1997 Fair in Frankfurt, they could be ready to show their hand. Stay tuned, watch this space, and don't touch that dial.

C Audio. (Contact Details)

Fuzion go Technomad

If you don't know about Technomad, they are an American company that pride themselves in making 'military' grade loudspeakers, designed to intimidate a Sherman tank in a show of strength, and more likely to survive a thermonuclear strike than a cockroach. Technomad are now in this country and are being distributed in the UK by Fuzion. The speakers are very high-spec, and due to their resistance to the likes of water, sand, temperature, and Chanel No. 5, they have become popular on film sets, theme parks, cruise ships, and scout jamborees.

More news on Technomad next month.

Fuzion plc. (Contact Details)

JBL PAKs a punch

JBL has extended its range of EON portable PA systems with the addition of EON 15 PAK — a complete all-in-one speaker PA system with its own built-in amplifier and mixer.

The JBL EON 15 PAK design is lightweight, portable, and powerful. It weighs in at only 40 lbs, uses 180 Watts of internal bi-amplification, which should be sufficient for most venues that the solo or duo artist will encounter and is well-suited to keyboard-based combos.

As you would expect, the EON 15 PAK is fast and easy to set up. All the necessary controls are on the speaker's back panel including four-band EQ, two line-level inputs with individual master controls, an XLR input, effects loop, and a line-level output. Getting the system up and running in a typical vocal, keyboard, and drum machine configuration, for example, takes no time at all. There's even a headphone jack that lets you check levels or practice without using the speakers.

Harman Audio. (Contact Details)

KC & the sunshine sound

Roland have given us some new keyboard amps to think about. The KC-500 and the KC-300 hope to provide the quality of sound that does the latest in synth and sampling technology justice.

KC-500 has been with us for a short while and features 150 Watts of output power, a two-way (15-inch woofer) speaker configuration and a four-channel stereo input/output mixer. The KC-500 has an Output Select Switch to choose the destination of the fourth stereo input — either Speaker, Line Out, or Phones. This allows you to monitor backing clicks from a sequencer via the KC-500's speaker and/or headphones without sending the signal to Line Out, particularly convenient for a sync performance. The amp in itself may not be stereo but by using a Stereo Link In/Out allows you to connect two KC-500S, via a shielded cable. Overall well-suited for small to mid-size venues or PA monitoring.

The KC-300 is brand new and incorporates all the essential feautres of the KC-500 in a smaller package. The KC-300 is a 100 Watt amplifier, with a two-way (12-inch woofer) speaker, and a two-channel stereo input/output mixer.

Roland (UK) Ltd. (Contact Details)

Picking up on the Acoustic Lead

Robert Rickey Music announces the launch of the Acoustic Lead, a 'new concept' in acoustic instrument preamps. Based on Robert Rickey's previous effort, the Active Lead, the Acoustic Lead starts with an impedance matching electronic buffer in the instrument jack — designed to capture harmonics which are normally lost by 'ordinary' cable. The next stage is a four-band semi-parametric EQ section. The filters aim to clean up and enhance the harmonics of any piezo or magnetic pick-up by rounding off the sharp edges of the signal waveform. The signal is then delivered to the mixing desk or amplifier without the need for further EQing.

The EQ section consists of four switchable band-pass filters. The centre frequencies of the top end are chosen to avoid the harshness often characteristic of Piezo pick-ups. For bowed instruments, a soft notch can be created to reduce annoying bow scrape. There are no knobs to get knocked off or out of position and no additional jack points between the instrument and the amp to add noise. The Acoustic Lead also drives pedals and effects units with a strong, clean signal for an 'amazing improvement' in sound character.

Acoustic Lead is also made with stage use in mind, since it fits in the instrument case or gig bag, as well as offering freedom of movement. The Acoustic Lead is available in standard lengths of six and 10 metres.

Robert Rickey Music. (Contact Details)

BBE's direct action

New from BBE, the DI-10 active direct box can be inserted between an instrument preamp and mixer/recorder, or between an amplifier, speaker, and mixer/recorder. With a flick of a switch on the front panel, the DI-10 engages a speaker simulating filter, which effectively mimics the frequency response characteristics of a loudspeaker. The DI-10 can be powered by a 9 volt internal battery, 9 volt power supply, or 48 volt phantom power supply, internal circuitry automatically scans the unit before locking onto the strongest source and shutting down access to the other two sources to prevent possible damage. According to BBE, the unit which is backed by a full five year warranty, works especially well for directly injected electric guitar but can also be used with electric bass and other instruments. Who said DI boxes were deadly dull? No sir, not this little beauty.

BBE has also launched the 262, a new, compact version of its popular Sonic Maximizer. Housed in a 16 gauge steel case, the unit is equally at home on a stage floor, tucked inside a combo amp, sat next to a mixing board, or wedged between your back molars for immediate, if painful, access. Designed to appeal to musicians, project studio owners, DJs, and home stereo owners, the BBE 262, with independent 'process' and 'lo contour' controls on each channel, will add clarity and definition to all types of music.

Sound Technology Plc. (Contact Details)