JBL has come to the table yet again!

The new 4886 is a 110 x 15 degree adjustable line array cabinet that weighs just 34lbs.  As part of our packaging, we can fit 12 of these guys in a standard CTS Audio cable trunk.  What a great speaker for a trailer tour when you just don’t have a lot of space.  We took delivery of these speakers last year and are continually impressed with all that you can do with such a small speaker.

When you do have space I would recommend the newest kid on the block, the VTX series.  With 3 new products just released in this series this box brings some serious volume when you are looking for that extra bit of level.  The VTX25 is the mid-hi box that brings some new technology with dual diaphragm drivers as well as a newly designed wave guide for smoothing out problem areas.  Add to that the new S28 and G28 (Flyable and Ground) cardioid-arrayable subs with deep excursion drivers and this PA goes toe to toe with any PA on the market.  We look forward to adding these to our inventory in the near future.

For more on the VT4886:

http://www.jblpro.com/catalog/general/ProductFamily.aspx?FId=21&MID=4

For more on the VTX25:

http://www.jblpro.com/products/tour/vtx/index.html

The long wait is over and the console has arrived.

After groundbreaking consoles like the PM1d and the PM5d, Yamaha has delivered again.  The release of the new CL5, CL3 and CL1 digital mixing consoles comes at the perfect time.  With a partnership with Rupert Neve, Yamaha has put together the complete console.  Everything you have ever wanted a digital console to do, sound warm, easy to operate, great sounding effects, small packaging, modular, easy record ability, digital capability and the reliability you have come to expect with the Yamaha name is here with this console.

We had the pleasure of demoing these new consoles this week, and the response from our engineering team and customers has been well received.

Read more about it here:

http://www.yamahacommercialaudio.com/ca/uk/10_news/40_product/archive/2012_03/21_cl_series/index.html

As soon as we take shipment of the new consoles, we’ll let you know so can come by and see it for yourself.

CTS Audio recently completed another project for long time client, Meadowbrook Church of Ocala, FL.  This year’s task was upgrading the lighting and video systems for their 2200 seat sanctuary as well as an upgrade to HD for their television and internet broadcasts.

Every year, Meadowbrook provides a breathtaking series of Christmas programs that have grown to be loved and anticipated by the entire Ocala community. This year was no different, and in order to constantly bring a higher quality experience, the church pushed to have everything installed on time.

The previous video projection system was installed before the time of cost effective HD projection technology and so it utilized standard definition 4:3 projectors and screens. With everyone moving to HD, they began scaling the projection images in order to output a 16:9 image without the HD resolution. This caused the projectors to lose brightness and create a dim image on their screens. Meadowbrook decided that HD costs had come down significantly and it was time for true HD.

CTS worked directly with Mike Quistad (Production Manager at Meadowbrook) and his team to develop a plan to transition all video capture, generation, control and projection to full HD resolution. Three Christie Digital 8,000 Lumen 1920×1080 DLP DHD800 projectors were chosen and installed. The Christie projectors were able to bring the screens to life with greater brightness and clarity. Now, stunning image magnification and content adds to the development of the worship environment.

Phase two of the transition to HD included upgrading cameras and moving the entire front end of the video system from FOH to a controlled production suite. The video feed to the production suite is driven by (2) Ross Carbonite One M/E 16 switchers with Miranda Routers. The difference in creative and operational flexibility for the system and crew was immediate.

Meadowbrook was looking to upgrade their lighting controller to a new platform and expand their lighting fixture inventory.  For previous Christmas programs, the church had rented additional lighting and a control console and now it was time to make a permanent move.  Jands Vista controllers were selected for their versatility, scalability, and efficient operating platform. The Jands Vista T2 met all of their needs and Mike and his team made the transition.

Mike also wanted to add new LED fixtures in order to expand the flexibility and range of the lighting system.  Not only did the fixtures need to be versatile, reliable and cost effective, they also could not have any fan noise because of the broadcast.  (28) Chauvet COLORado 1-Tri Tour LED fixtures were the perfect choice, giving them an infinite amount of color washes and combinations. These fixtures were immediately tasked in the Christmas service to create the warm, dramatic environment Meadowbrook and their attendees were looking for.

“The difference is night and day,” says Mike. We always enjoy working with Mike and Meadowbrook Church, but when our work benefits the church and its outreach to the community through excellence in both ministry and production, it’s truly icing on the cake.

You ever sit at a football game wishing you could hear the referee make a call?

How about sitting in church trying to hear the lead pastor give a softly spoken sermon?

Recently Yamaha partnered with Rupert Neve on a series of products, some already released, others to come.  The first one to make its arrival in the market is the Portico 5045.  This one space rack mountable piece is the answer for unwanted background noise that bleeds into mics.  Whether you have a lead pastor who speaks softly or a stadium full of rowdy fans and a referee on a lavalier mic, this device is simply magic.

Look, I am not going to pretend to know what exactly it does to make gain changes possible by up to 15db, but I will attest to it working.

Looks like this year we will all hear the message, loud and clear.

CTS was recently given the opportunity to begin providing audio support for Joe Nichols.  Joe, who is up for “International Artist of the Year”, through the CMC Music Awards needed an upgrade to handle his increasing stage needs.  Michael Houlihan, Joe Nichols’s Tour Manager, came to CTS Audio to see if we could help alleviate the ever growing needs at the monitor console and to see what options they may have.  Knowing that this system had to fit into a trailer behind a bus, we knew we would have weight and space issues already.  CTS had recently purchased a fully loaded Venue Profile and no sooner had we assembled this package, we able to find a client that fit the system perfectly.  CTS Audio was able to deliver the upgrade to monitor engineer Josh Collins from an Avid SC-48 to an Avid Profile giving Josh the outputs and plug-in capability needed to handle such a complex band.

Using a minimal amount of plug-ins and having basically no output needs, FOH engineer Eric Elwell was able to do what he needed on an Avid SC-48 to help keep the truck pack down in size.  We then sent in a few of our technicians to see how we could help with some of the patching and multi cable connections to simplify the process.  What we came up with was a system that can be handled by 2 Technicians and be set and ready for a show with a minimal effort.  “After working 16 hour days consistently through the week, we need to keep our focus on the boss.  CTS Audio makes it easy to focus on the job at hand, not how the gear fits together and whether it will work”, says FOH Engineer Eric Elwell.

When we get new clients who are carrying stage and console packages and need to adapt to different venues consistently, we really get creative in creating a package that fits them exactly.  We made a lot of custom pieces for this tour, and I feel very proud of the system they are touring with.  There is no standard cookie cutter approach that should be taken to an artist; each system needs to be designed to fit their specific needs.  That is something that makes us clearly different than today’s large conglomerate companies, and something that will continue to define where we are going with our clients.

We were recently given the opportunity to upgrade some of our inventory this winter.  When CTS Audio made a leap to go with the Crown I-Tech 6000 a few years ago, we noticed a huge increase in the way we were powering our Vertec cabinets.  Well, that increase seems to have happened again.

Over the fall and winter, we were able to roll over 150 of our Crown I-Tech 6000 amplifiers into a newer model, the Crown I-Tech 12000HD.  Not only have we noticed a huge boost in power by going to a larger amplifier, we noticed a different beast was unleashed once Harman came out with Version 5 tunings.  “What this amplifier is capable of is astounding”, said Jon Schwarz, CTS Audio’s lead system designer.  “This amplifier naturally does what I have been trying to emulate in the field for the last few years.  People are going to be blown away with how this system now sounds; it truly is a game changer.”

With this new system in place for all of our fall and winter tours, we have experienced ZERO failures with this new amplifier.  I have to tell you that when you are sitting in the position of a sales person, having equipment that just works consistently is a piece of the puzzle that many people don’t talk about.  A bigger piece of that puzzle is having it work and perform at a high level which makes us very proud to be supporting Harman.

Thanks to the whole Harman family and Vision 2 Marketing for making this upgrade possible.

In February, multi-platinum recording artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith teamed up for a multi-city U.S. tour that reunited the two iconic singer/songwriters for the first time on the road together since the early 90’s.  CTS Audio was chosen to provide audio production for this landmark tour.  To ensure that fans in every seat were able to thoroughly enjoy this reunion of talent, CTS Audio flew a JBL Vertec 4888/4880/4886 Line Array powered by I-Tech HD 12000 amplifiers.  A Digidesign Profile Console was deployed for FOH, along with a Yamaha PM5D for Monitors.  Representing one of the first audio companies to do so, the CTS team beta-tested the Performance Manager by System Architecture.  In addition the audio crew applied the brand new Version 5 Tunings software (provided by Harman) to monitor and adjust the individual zones within the array.

The Spring portion of the tour visited 20 cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Omaha, Minneapolis and Columbus (Ohio), among others and was such a raving success that a fall route was put together to extend the tour.  There are still a few remaining fall dates and tickets are available.  For more information or for tickets, visit: http://amygrant.com/tour/

Important, is the method of communicating the timeless truth of Jesus within an ever-changing culture, no? In some Christian circles, the “show” not only contains the message, but attracts those who may not otherwise hear it. I attend a church whose leadership has a healthy respect for programming’s value in relationship building. And that’s really what we’re talking about here, isn’t it?  It’s a valuable tool – not the objective. It’s a style, not the focus. With its goal being to enhance the message of relationship and redemption – not dilute it. That message is the basis from which three vital relationships are launched: community with insiders, influence with outsiders and intimacy with God. Might it be said, then, that this message deserves our very best effort in presentation and communication?  Be it with all the bells and whistles or with just a platform on which to speak. If life change is the goal, and relationships are the means by which life change occurs, let’s allow ourselves the creativity to explore the mediums available – show or no show. The relationships are worth it.

We recently have had the pleasure of being part of a few large scale shows simultaneously.  While selling those shows can be difficult, with shrinking budgets, I can always count on the quality of work that we deliver.   Most of my sales require me to be at home after meeting with our clients.  Having a trusted team of well trained audio engineers helps me to feel well rested and confident that we are providing the best possible customer service possible.  The thing that helps differentiate our team from other companies is that we use mostly in house engineers.  That means that our crew is well trained in all of the equipment that we send on the road.

When our crew leaves the shop and heads out for the road, they can rest knowing that they, or their group of peers, have personally tested their systems before they are out in front of the client.  That gives them a huge advantage when it comes time for the last minute adjustments that come with doing a live show.  Our team proudly and seamlessly helps deliver the message to our audiences, every time.

I am very proud to have a team of men who are the very best at their craft.  They make what I do possible.  They deliver what I sell and that is immeasurable.

The People’s Church in Spring Hill. TN., along with the CTS Audio Installation team, recently completed the renovation of a vacant Kroger and repurposed all of its humpteen million square footage into a modern worship environment. And making the transition from their Sunday set up/tear down location to the renovated grocery store was their tried and true Yamaha M7CL. And throughout that expansive roof surface, can you guess where the one, single leak surfaced? [Enter Mr. Murphy] The FOH position sat directly below the leak. More precisely, the water stream fell directly into the console. “Like a good neighbor, state farm is there!” you declare. Take up a special console collection, maybe? Certainly it’s not going to work….right? Well, according to Dustin Lemler, People’s Visual Arts Director, “It was no problem. We just drained a quart of water from it, and it fired up without any problems.” The decision to purchase a Yamaha? A good decision, indeed. The other phrase you’ve all heard before may also apply, “Don’t try this at home.”

Asked if he had any ill feelings toward the HVAC units, Dustin aptly replied, “Nah, it’s all water under the (meter) bridge.” Kidding…pretty good line though.