September 2008
a ZED for your studio
Delivered fresh in the last few days, the new A&H ZED R16 recording mixer has taken prime position on our mixer table right up the front of the showroom.
For more info, check out A&H's page on the R16, or come in and a have a look/feel for yourself. We're suitably impressed, and won't be surprised if you are too!
And just in case you've got nothing to do something specific to look for, here's a link to the great Zed range from A&H.Audio milestones - just a few
We don't stop and sit down for too long at Factory Sound, and we've just realised that our original favourite Behringer product has turned 15. For anyone who doesn't remember, the old MDX8000 (multi-band compression) was a terrific studio tool that is almost un-findable thesedays. It was deleted by Behringer sometime in the 1990's...and there are never too many around for sale, but nontheless we remember you. Happy birthday Combinator!
If you stop and look back at the last 15 years of professional audio innovations and milestones, plenty has happened:
The home studio explosion - amazing how many musicians (and stand-alone engineers) have incredible studios in their own homes. The quality of gear versus cost is simply astounding. Besides, there's currently not enough enough spare water in Australia to justify digging up your backyard for a swimming pool...so spend your hard-earned on a studio!
The powered speaker revolution - we're now well-and-truly into the 2nd wave of powered speakers having paid for themselves several times over. Notables along the way included JBL Eons seemingly everywhere at the start, and then RCF Art300A going louder and harder to become a real alternative for many small bands. EV, FBT, JBL and RCF are all now so far ahead of where they started with powered boxes. Just look at JBL PRX series, or RCF TT series to see how much sound you can easily get from one little box!
Changing of the guard (effects) - About 10 years ago, just about any 'soundguy' could turn up to a gig in and around Melbourne (and probably anywhere else in the world), and know that they could pull up their favourite preset on the house SPX900 or SPX990 Yamaha. But then TC Electronic came out with the twin powers of M-One and D-Two, and it was all over. Within six months of their release in Australia, M-One had all but replaced SPX990 as the effect of choice for mid-level PA systems, and D-Two was a perfect companion. Of course now both TC Electronic and Lexicon are very popular for both live and studio applications.
Moving operations to China - We're sure that the Behringer motto was never 'Keeping the bastards honest' but that is what happened when the German company founded by Uli Behringer moved to China for its manufacturing.
We spoke with Behringer Australia's GM (Michael Jago) who has been with Behringer since it was first imported into Australia (originally through a company called Musiclink). He agreed that Behringer had driven the price quite seriously downwards, making it much easier to either make a start, or to simply get heaps more gear with your budget. "I have found our old (Music Link) 1999 catalogue....This product could be your story. The MX802A (pictured above) was $499 in the 1999 catalogue. Then when Behringer Australia started in 2002 it come down to $299.99. It's closest current day replacement would be the 1202. It has the 4 mic pre's and has a 2008 RRP of $159.99 Quite a price drop from $499 to $159 in 9 years. Young blokes today don't know how good they've got it"
That's quite true...and Behringer has had a far-reaching (positive) effect on our industry. It is without question that Behringer products offer maximum bang for buck. Manufacturers such as DBX have been kept honest by Behringer's pricing policy, and have since lowered prices to a level we would never have imagined 10 years ago. There are many manufacturers based in China, but only the ones who have invested time, energy (and lots of $$$) are consistently producing products for our market that just seem to work.
Have you seen this clip produced by Audio Technology magazine?
Watch part 2 here...
There have been so many other audio milestones: like Neutrik winning the connector armwrestle, Shure & Sennheiser going head-to-head and leaving the other live mics in their wake while doing it, the rise and rise of Rode microphones...
We'll come back to this one.
CX300B headphones put through the wringer
Well, kind of. We caught up with one of our tippers from Factory Sound Footy Tipping $2008 last weekend - Ivabiggin was his tipping alias. Anyway, he was a bit spewin because he'd left his favourite pair of iPod headphones - Sennhiser CX300B - in his pants (we're amazed there was any room left, with a name like that), and put them through not one, but two wash cycles. They also went through a tumble dryer, until the pants were ready for Iva to pull on in public again.
So...Iva packs the CX300B headphones, and brings them in, ready to say "can you order me another set of these". He told us the story, and being the inquisitive types we asked him what they sounded like now.
"I don't know, I haven't plugged them in" he said. So he whipped his shuffle out of the other pocket, and plugged them in. Shortly after, he broke into laughter.
They still work perfectly. Nice one Sennheiser.
Read full postNew blingCON from Neutrik
We've always trusted Neutrik for two things...connectors that 'sound' good (don't adversely affect the audio path), and connectors that are built like a brick dunny.
But now, seemingly after getting stars in their eyes courtesy a few too many nights watching Liechtenstein Idol, perhaps coupled with a nice bottle of Apfel Schnapps, Neutrik has come up with a way of helping stage performers not only sound great, but look the part too.
Introducing the crystalCON range of connectors (we thought they were going to call it blingCON).
The 3 members of the range are: NC3FXX-B-CRYSTAL for that special singer in your life, who would simply love to dazzle under the bright lights even more than usual, NC3MXX-B-CRYSTAL for the metro-audiovisuals among us who firmly (but not too firmly) believe that males should be allowed to dress as nicely as females, and lastly (yet, probably most importantly) the NP2X-B-CRYSTAL, just perfect for a lead guitar solo played with one foot on the wedge, with the beautiful crystals picking up and tossing in all directions the light coming from the guitarist follow-spot operator.
We're told that we're not allowed to supply NP2X-B-CRYSTAL to bass guitarists. Unless they can prove that they will be wearing a purple lycra jumpsuit with silver cape when they will be using the connector.
Seriously, if you need a new lead for your microphone or guitar...ask about having one of these sexy new connectors put on the relevant end. It may just be the extra conversation starter you need for those all important moments straight after the show....
Our night at the AVPA 2008 awards
Factory Sound at the 2008 Australian Video Producers Association Awards...
Tone & Artie stepped out for a ripper night of awards, celebrating another year of the AVPA looking out for its members by, like any mate should, coming together and lending a hand for whatever is needed. The night was made even more special this year, as AVPA was celebrating 20 years since its inception.
We had a few beers while watching a vast array of category winners' clips. Of course, we were secretly hoping we'd get a surprise award for the latest episode of Factory Sound TV.
Some of the categories included: TV Commercial Over $10,000, CORPORATE Over $40,000, DOCUMENTARY, SHORT FILM, MUSIC VIDEO (sponsored by Factory Sound), and Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was a highlight, because it was awarded to Ric Stone, voiceover extraordinaire. For anyone who grew up with a tv commercial that began with "this man is a dentist...so we can't show you his face", that was Ric (the voice, not the dentist).
The coveted MUSIC VIDEO award this year went to Guy Barwood of Glass Eye View, for his production 'You never know' - The Fry Brothers. Guy was a finalist in the same category last year.
Artie & Tone throwing their arms around flanking Tim Fry (inside L) and Guy Barwood (inside R) of Glass Eye View.
We talked with many people throughout the night, and it was good to get so much positive feedback. Seems that many video producers come to Factory Sound because they know (i) there's usually the items they need in stock all the time, and (ii) the right advice is backed up with a great price.
We're not sure who was the first video producer to come in all those years ago, but the word has certainly spread since then, so thank you!
No stopping this solder station
Hayden is especially happy...we guess it's because, with these great-performing solder stations, he's hoping there will be a rush of DIY-techs ready to solder up their own leads. It's not that he doesn't love his work, there's just so much of it at the moment!
For tech's on the run, up ladders, or working in tricky spots - look no further than Weller's Pyro Pen, for 'wireless' (butane powered) soldering.
For even more tools, check out this part of our website. You won't find any leaf blowers or chainsaws, just a small gathering of very useful tools for studio maintenance, live sound repairs on the road, and general audiovisual tech work. Oh, and a set of metric or imperial hex-keys to re-tighten that bit of furniture that came flat-packed and is looking like it may end up back that way...
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