I just got back from Denver, and boy are my legs tired! Joshing aside, the show was good with many new products and a lot of networking. Though the NSCA reported a 12% drop in attendance from last year, they also indicated a higher quality of attendee: 54% were self-identified as having product-purchasing authority, and 46% listed themselves as owners or general managers of their companies. This jibed with what I heard on the show floor. Many people told me that they were having better, longer conversations. So, in all, the networking that goes on at NSCA was as vital as ever.
Here is just a fraction of the news from the Colorado Convention Center. For more, look at the last issue of S&VC Extra and watch for products spotlighted in the May issue of Sound & Video Contractor.
JBL made a big showing with its Application Engineered Series of loudspeakers. The line includes 33 models for a wide range of applications. Crossover, coverage, power and more options are customizable depending on the installation. Read more at jblpro.com .
Audient introduced the Aztec live-sound mixing console in conjunction with its new distribution agreement with ATI Group. This large console comes in an aluminum rack and is surprisingly lightweight for its size. See it at audient.com .
Renkus-Heinz had two announcements to make at its NSCA press conference. First, look for a new digital speaker line that’s CobraNet compatible and powered by Class D amplifiers. Second, Ease 4.0 is officially available (See the September 2001 and April 2002 issues of S&VC — now at www.svconline.com — for some advanced looks at the software. Talk about getting the scoop early!) More at rh.com .
