By Nathaniel Hecht
May 10, 2002 12:00 PM,
Nathaniel Hecht
NSCA 2002 in Denver was a great success for both manufacturers andattendees. Most manufacturers reported that they received manyqualified leads, despite the number of attendees being down by 12percent from 2001’s figure. It was surprising that the numbersweren’t much lower than that, considering the travel apprehensionmost people still feel in the aftermath of September 11. Those whotravel for business may not be aware of the trepidation out there, butplanes are still not full. Many people I spoke to at the show had nottraveled by plane since before September 11. When you consider that theshow was located in the largest sales territory in the country (theRocky Mountains), which only accounts for 3 percent BPA for mostmanufacturers (generally regarded as the smallest grossing territory),you could see how it would be a disaster when 97 percent of thebusiness is done by people who had to fly into Denver. However, theshow was fantastically well attended, which shows the industry’sstrength on several fronts. Business is generally acknowledged as goodby contractors in our segment—despite the economic downturn andresultant slow recovery. Despite the naysayers, NSCA’s regional conceptof locating the show in different sectors of the country—insteadof landing the show in either Las Vegas or Orlando—has proven tobe a good one for manufacturers and attendees (if the show is beingjudged on the quality of leads). Next year’s show in Dallasshould be even more widely attended (terrorism not withstanding). Aslong as the NSCA figures out how to serve food on the first day of theshow—unlike what happened this year—all will be well forthose with schedules too busy to leave the show floor, let alone thebuilding, in search of lunch. Speaking of how busy we were at the show,thanks to Steve Filippini, Daniel Ari and Mark Smith from the S&VCstaff for their eyes and ears on the show floor. At only 2 1/2 days,the NSCA Expo is way too short (sorry for those who disagree), andwithout their help the magazine would not have been able to cover theevent properly. I have drawn up a general list of things that wereunique and new at the show this year; it hardly covers all theshow’s highlights. Please see the ongoing coverage in S&VCover the next few months for more product highlights, more articlesabout what went on at the show (Filippini’s coverage of the LifeSafety Seminar in particular) and more news about what NSCA is doingfor each and every one of you.
Bose
had a number of interestingofferings for the pro contracting market. The company announced theMA12, which is the first Bose line array speaker consisting of 12closely spaced proprietary 2 1/4-inch drivers in a particularlywell-built, narrow and sleek housing. The MA12 ‘s narrow andcontrolled vertical dispersion and wider horizontal coverage makes itgreat for voice reinforcement for installations that require anunobtrusive footprint. Adding the Panaray modular bass system gives itthe extended low range for more bass-heavy requirements. Two other newproducts were the FreeSpace Model 16 full-range loudspeaker and theFreeSpace 3 Series II system. For more details visit Bose’s Website at bose.com.
Listen Technologies
announced its new ListenSQwireless audio listening system, which features a higher level of audioquality and 100 percent digital and frequency agile technology. TheLR-100 stationary receiver/power amplifier allows any speaker system tobecome a wireless delivery system remotely when used with any Listentransmitter. Check out Listen’s Web site at listentech.com.
Meyer Sound
introduced some innovative products for thecontracting market at NSCA, particularly the M1D and M2D CurvilinearArray Loudspeaker. This small array is only 22″(W) X 7.1″(H) x 8.5″(D)prompting most people who saw it to believe mistakenly that is was somekind of scale model of the larger M3D line array, the design on whichit is based. It is actually an amazingly small self-powered packageweighing in at only 30 pounds, with a maximum output punch of 123dBSPL. Additionally, the uniquely small MM-4, which is a powerful 4-inchcube, ultracompact wide-range loudspeaker, is unobtrusive and loud at110dB SPL maximum output and includes a swivel mounting bracket. Learnmore about the products at meyersound.com.
Yamaha
debuted itsnew networked amplifier technology with three new CobraNet-enableddigitally controllable products, the PC4800N and PC9500N amplifiers,the NHB32-C network hub bridge and the ACU16-C amplifier control unit.The ACU16-C amplifier control unit is can monitoring as many as 32amplifiers using a PC via RS-232 or USB. The ACU16-C communicates withamplifiers through an RS-485 bus with CAT-5 cable using CobraNet as aninput. The NHB32-C network hub bridge allows 32 channels of AES/EBU tobe converted to CobraNet. For more details about the products, go toyamaha.com/proaudio.
Earthworks
introduced the new Flex seriesmicrophones, which use the already popular cardioid pickup from theSR69 and SR71 models, but with a range of flexible neck lengths formaximum adjustment flexibility. For more information, check the Website at earthwks.com.
DMX Music
has a new innovative programthat allows NSCA contractors receive commissions and incrementalrevenue for selling DMX music products into the business music market.With few opportunities in this area, the program is a significantchange in the way content providers normally conduct their business.Surf to QQQ for more information.
Soundtube’s
new ceilingspeaker, the CM-EZ-8, is a two-way, eight-inch woofer system designedfor rapid installation in sheetrock and drop-tile applications. Thesystem uses an integrated backcan design with a patented blindmount,springloaded snapping cam device that enables rapid installation.Additionally, the system is UL listed for plenum spaces and has 70V,100V and 8 ? hardwire leads. Check out the system at soundtube.com.
Denon
showed a new state-of-the-art digital video device. TheDN-V1700 provides repeated DVD-quality digital pictures and images ordigital BGV with or without sound in a variety of formats from multiplesources such as PCMCIA cards, HDD PC cards, hard drives, MPEG-2 andI-picture file formats. Output is switchable between NTSC and PALstandards. The internal 20GB hard drive can yield approximately ninehours of VHS quality or 5 1/2 hours of DVD-quality programming. Formore information, check Denon’s Web site at denon.com.
Allenand Heath
announced the return of the Real Time Analyzer (RTA)software package for free trial on its Web site atallen-health.com/rta.asp which consists of a signal generator and aspectrum analyzer. The package returns to the site after a recentchange of Web hosting. Check out other products announced at the showat allen-heath.com.
dbx
showed off its new DriveRack P.A., whichis the latest product in the DriveRack line. Designed for P.A. specificinstallations, it is a 2-input, 6-output all-inclusive loudspeakercontroller with 28 band mono or dual graphic EQ, multiband parametric,multiple crossover options and limiters on all outputs, as well asadvanced feedback suppression, the famous 120A subharmonic synthesizerand built-in RTA. For more, see dbxpro.com.
Electro-Voice
hadsome interesting products at NSCA, including four EVID ceiling speakersbased on the company’s innovative industrial design of premiumsurface-mount loudspeakers. The line consists of one 4-inch and two8-inch woofer models, as well as a 10-inch quickmount, ceiling mountsubwoofer. The new X(lc) compact line-array system, based on thesuccessful X-Line line-array system, was also shown. Go toelectrovoice.com for more details.
Peavey
introduced someinteresting new products via its Architectural Acoustics division. Afirst in the new digitool line, the Digitool MX digital audio processoris a DSP audio processing system designed for standalone operation andfeatures eight mic or line-level inputs, 24-bit converters and dual DSPengines. The system includes full matrix mixing, dynamic processing,delay and full-blown EQ. Additionally, the new Freq-Out 116antifeedback processor eliminates feedback and improves system gainwithout compromising sonic performance. See aa.peavey.com foradditional information.
QSC
announced the introduction of itsnew DSP-4 digital signal processor, which is based on the success ofthe DSP-3. This second generation unit incorporates XLR-balancedconnectors, improved A/D and D/A converters and upgraded software.Also, the RAVE/S-24, an enhanced version of its digital audio transportsystem providing 24-bit/48kHz A/D and D/A converters, was unveiled. Goto qscaudio.com to explore these products.
