Audio Architect （品牌）新闻

HARMAN 专业音视系统为米高梅国家港口赌场的音响系统设计提供了一种全新的方案

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Technology West Group 安装了一套功能全面的联网音响系统，由 JBL Control 300 系列扬声器、Crown DCI 功放和 BSS 联网音响系统组成

国家港口，马里兰州 —Technology West Group 最近为近期开幕的 MGM National Harbor 度假村和赌场设计并安装了一套功能全面的音响系统，所有组件均选用 HARMAN Professional Solutions 产品。MGM 要求为赌场采用一套联网音响系统，其中需要具备灵活和独立的音量控制功能，以便控制各个音频区域，又无需员工接受过多的培训和维护便可使用。凭借多年的赌场音响系统经验，Technology West Group 部署了全套 HARMAN 联网音响系统，其中采用了 JBL Control 300 系列扬声器、Crown DCI 系列功放和 BSS 联网音响系统。全套 HARMAN 解决方案提供了超卓的声音品质、灵活和易用的操作，让 MGM 赌场能够控制不同娱乐区域的音频，以及随着赌场发展而轻松地对系统进行扩展。

“走进 National Harbor 赌场，我们就知道一定要选用 HARMAN 产品，”Technology West Group 总经理 Richard Reisig说道。“在 MGM 项目中，每个环节都是在这样的一个中心思想指导下进行：只需最少的资本、培训和人员便能够管理和维护整个音响系统。人员培训需要耗费大量金钱，而且他们不希望功放、扬声器和 DSP 系统分别使用不同的平台。HARMAN 的集成平台是实施整套解决方案的的关键决定性因素。”

过去，每个 MGM 赌场都会自行负责设计其音响系统。大约在 4 年前，Technology West Group 约见了 MGM 多媒体部门并提出了在所有赌场间实施标准化音响系统的计划。他们开始寻找能够提供符合成本效益、只需少量人员便能够妥善管理的端对端联网音响系统的技术供应商。经过细致的考虑，他们决定使用 HARMAN 解决方案进行全面的标准化。

TWG 为 MGM National Harbor 赌场设计的系统，包含 JBL Control Contractor 系列扬声器，为赌场安装近 500 个 Control 328CT 天花板嵌入式扬声器和 70 个 Control 312CS 天花板嵌入式低音炮。系统采用 Crown DriveCore™ Install 系列功放，并由 BSS 联网音响系统负责处理和路由信号。整个 National Harbor 赌场安装了超过 1,500 个 JBL 扬声器。

赌场大厅分为多个独立区域，通过 BSS Soundweb London BLU-806 信号处理器进行控制。功放和处理器安装在赌场大厅的指定空间，并采用壁挂式控制面板。他们的构思是建立一个 DMARK 点或一个集中技术中心，让赌场在重新安排娱乐大厅时无需完全更新音响系统，并能够随着赌场发展轻松地升级系统。整个音响系统通过 Dante 音视联网技术进行连接，并使用核心联网服务与视频系统整合起来。

“我们使用很多功放声道以建立非常小的、可管理的区域，这改变了赌场以往使用的空间覆盖方法，”Reisig说道。“首先，它在老虎机和桌面游戏之间提供了许多电平选择。其次，赌场经常重新安排大厅、移动老虎机及赌桌、增加或减少扑克游戏。让赌场能够将大厅划分成许多小区域，配设独立电平控制，让他们可以灵活地重新安排赌场大厅布局，而无需对音视系统进行大规模的改造。”

一直以来，赌场都采用传统的音响系统设计，由一系列高功率功放驱动一连串 60-70 个扬声器。这种方法让音频能够覆盖整个游戏大厅，但也会引起严重问题。赌场员工无法调整不同游戏区域的音量，因此，音乐在一个区域可能太大声，在另一个区域又太小声。例如，扑克赌桌旁边的音乐需要比老虎机区域的音乐要小声，因为玩扑克牌的人需要集中注意力，赌博过程中也需要清晰的沟通。此外，赌场大厅布局每年都会重新安排，音响系统的任何调整都会导致重大翻新。

“在以前的赌场，您经常会发现传统的音响系统设计和赌场的典型运行方式之间总是不怎么搭配，”Reisig说道。“我们遇到很多赌场主人，都表示他们很讨厌音响系统发出的声音。追究起来，就可以知道问题出在老虎机和赌桌之间共用扬声器的区域，或者是高天花板和矮天花板之间的传输。赌桌和老虎机所需的音量是不同的，即使是在赌桌区域，二十一点和双骰子赌客所希望听到的音量也是有区别的。在 MGM 项目中，我们努力解决了这些问题。”

所使用产品：

JBL Control Contractor 系列扬声器

Crown DriveCore™ Install 网络系列功放

BSS联网音响系统

HARMAN Professional Solutions 为音频和视频产品系列推出 AES67 支持

Mon, 06 Feb 2017 09:00:00 +0000

多个 HARMAN 产品系列加入 AES67 支持以构建联网音视接触设施

阿姆斯特丹，ISE（展位 1-F6）—全球音频、视频、照明、控制和联网音视系统领袖 HARMAN Professional Solutions 今天公布旗下联网音频和视频产品系列将支持 AES67。AES67 是一个标准，用于实现多款基于 IP 的音频网络之间的高性能 IP 音频流互操作性。

新的Soundweb London BLU-806DA、BLU-326DA 和 BLU-DA 设备将原生支持 Dante 和 AES67，并将分别取代 BLU-806、BLU-326 和 BLU-DAN 设备。

Crown DCi-DA Dante 功放也将通过即将发布的固件更新实现对 AES67 的支持。

除了新的Soundweb London DA 处理器和 Crown DCi-DA 功放，新的 AMX Networked AV N2000 和 N1000 系列视频编码器和解码器将发布对 AES67 的支持，为 BSS 和 Crown 产品提供联网音频兼容性。这些编码器和解码器的型号将带有代表 AES67 的后缀 A。

“AMX Networked AV 编码器现在可以以数字方式将音频串流至Soundweb London 系统，以及从Soundweb London 串流至 AMX Networked AV 解码器，”HARMAN Professional Solutions 大型场馆电子解决方案经理 Tom Lureman说道。“由于Soundweb London DA 设备同时发送和接收 AES67 和 Dante，HARMAN 处理器和功放等兼容设备仍能够继续使用 Dante 提供的先进功能。”

HARMAN 视频和功放产品支持 AES67，带来了与其他 AES67 兼容系统的互操作性，以及更多设施升级选择。

即将发布的HiQnet Audio Architect 将包含新的Soundweb London 设备和适用于 Crown DCi-DA 功放的更新固件。还包含适用于现有Soundweb London BLU-806、BLU-326 和 BLU-DAN 设备的固件更新，让现场已部署的设备也能够使用 AES67 功能。

HARMAN Professional Solutions Helps University of Utah Turn Up the Volume and Turn Down the Noise

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 09:00:00 +0000

SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah recently updated its Rice-Eccles Stadium with a complete audio system from HARMAN Professional Solutions. Dallas-based sound and visual consultant WJHW was hired to design the new system, and local systems integrator Performance Audio provided installation services. The university wanted to replace its old point source sound system to reduce community noise impact in nearby residential areas and provide a better audio experience for audiences. To meet these goals, WJHW designed an innovative distributed audio solution made up of JBL speakers, Crown power amplifiers and BSS Audio networked audio systems.

“The university was really forward-thinking in terms of reducing the noise impact on the community while also delivering high-quality sound, and they were willing to do what it took to achieve both,” said Jack Wrightson, Principal at WJHW. “Column arrays, as we’ve used before, wouldn’t work in this stadium because the throw distances were too far. They wanted a bigger and more impactful system, so we really had to create a one-of-a-kind solution to make it all work.”

Rice-Eccles is a large, single-bowl stadium with nowhere to hang speakers other than six light towers. WJHW developed a concept that involved adding 17 50-foot speaker poles around the upper rim of the stadium to mount the loudspeakers. Weight and wind were major concerns from a structural engineering standpoint, and they wanted to use the smallest speakers possible while still delivering the required output. WJHW system designer Michael Murph selected new JBL Precision Directivity Series PD743i-215 speakers for their compact size and full-bandwidth output. For the light towers, they selected JBL Variable Line Array (VLA) Series loudspeakers. The entire system is powered by Crown DriveCore Install Series amplifiers.

“When you’re putting something on top of a 50-foot pole, the weight and surface area to the wind are really important,” said Wrightson. “We needed compact speakers with high directivity, and they also needed to be full range, because we didn’t want to attach a separate woofer box to the pole. The PD700i Series speakers are a combination of reasonable weight and a small package, which was important for the pole mounting. They also enabled us to get the directivity we wanted out of the mids and highs without having to add a separate woofer box.”

Once the speakers were installed, Performance Audio and WJHW spent three days adjusting the DSP, and tuning and balancing the massive system. The audio teams were up against a tight deadline to complete the project—the university needed the entire system ready in time to host the 2016 Nitro World games, a major action sports competition. To complicate the process even further, they had to work in the middle of the night to avoid interfering with a municipal train line that runs behind the stadium. By working with HARMAN Professional Solutions, Performance Audio and WJHW were able to streamline the entire installation process, quickly deal with any unexpected challenges and complete the project on schedule.

“One of the great things about this project was the integration and communication between the HARMAN brands,” said Jake Peery, Install Manager and Systems Designer at Performance Audio. “For example, if a Crown amp and a JBL speaker needed to be optimized, the HARMAN team members were willing to reach out and work with each other to find a solution for us. It saved us a ton of time when it came down to putting in crossover settings and the technical side of the install. We were also able to work with JBL and Crown to get some really solid speaker presets. It was a really large project for us, and having that partnership gave us a ton of confidence—I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.”

HARMAN Professional Solutions Delivers Unparalleled Versatility for Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 09:00:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Nashville-based audiovisual production company CTS recently updated the War Memorial Auditorium with a complete sound and lighting solution by HARMAN Professional Solutions, including a JBL Professional by HARMAN VTX Series system and a full array of Martin by HARMAN RUSH fixtures. With construction dating back to the 1920s, the historic building in downtown Nashville hosts a diverse range of events, from major concert tours to weddings to corporate seminars. The new HARMAN solution enables the War Memorial to provide tour-grade sound and lighting for national music acts, and provides the flexibility they need to accommodate any type of performance or event.

Over the course of 90 years of operation, the building has never been equipped with a permanent PA or lighting system. The auditorium’s historic architecture makes it very difficult to load equipment in and out, since there is no loading dock and the only doors to the facility are followed by multiple sets of stairs. In order to save labor costs and reduce the strain on the staff, management made the decision to install permanent audio and lighting systems.

“There were some weight constraints due to the structure of the building, so we needed a lightweight system that could deliver powerful output and maintain even coverage throughout the venue,” said Mike Taylor, Vice President of CTS. “The VTX V20 system was the perfect solution for the building, and it took away a lot of the constraints we were facing. It’s lightweight and has more than enough power, plus it provides true 110-degree horizontal coverage. With other products, we might have had to add extra line arrays to get coverage.”

The VTX Series system CTS deployed featured two main arrays of 9 VTX V20 loudspeakers and two ground stacks of 3 S28 subwoofers. The system also included 4 SRX812 portable speakers for lower out fills, 4 VRX928 loudspeakers for front fills, 2 F12 loudspeakers that were flown for out fills, 10 VTX M20 stage monitors and a VRX918S subwoofer for a drum sub. The entire system is powered by 12 Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD power amplifiers. The CTS team relied on JBL HiQnet Performance Manager 2.1 softwareto tune and configure the system.

“The War Memorial auditorium is a very beautiful venue, but the acoustics were definitely difficult due to lots of hard parallel surfaces,” said Jon Schwarz, Audio Design and Production Manager at CTS. “The VTX system has extremely even coverage on the horizontal plane, so there were less elements for us to tune. The SMAART integration in Performance Manager 2.1 proved extremely useful, and the entire installation was really smooth. From the flying hardware to the amplifiers to the software within the system, it’s a very integrated and turnkey system to deploy. From a functionality, power and affordability standpoint, the JBL VTX line is a game-changer for the market.”

For lighting, War Memorial wanted to install a permanent system that could be used to supplement national touring acts, as well as meetings, theatre productions and other events. In order to meet this goal, CTS deployed a full range of Martin RUSH fixtures, including 8 RUSH MH7 Hybrid fixtures, 6 RUSH MH6 Wash fixtures, 10 RUSH PAR 2 RGBW Zoom LED fixtures, 4 RUSH MH4 Beam fixtures and a JEM Hazer Pro haze machine.

“They needed a lighting system that could be used for a wide range of events—from a national touring musical act to a safety meeting,” said Taylor. “The RUSH line is incredibly versatile, and all of the fixtures we chose are multi-functional, which gives them great value for their investment.”

JBL Professional by HARMAN Introduces HiQnet Performance Manager 2.1 with Smaart Software Integration

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—JBL Professional by HARMAN today announced the immediate availability of the new JBL HiQnet Performance Manager™ 2.1 software update, offering powerful new tools for measuring and tuning live sound reinforcement systems. Performance Manager version 2.1 integrates Rational Acoustics’ world-renowned Smaart® acoustic testing and measurement software directly into the Performance Manager workflow, providing audio technicians and engineers with unprecedented access to measurement information—all delivered over the network in real-time.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Rational Acoustics to integrate industry-leading Smaart technology directly within our software platform, which now includes extremely powerful measurement integration for seamless measuring and tuning operations,” said George Georgallis, Product Manager, Tour Sound Systems, HARMAN Professional Solutions. “With version 2.1, real-time frequency and phase response measurements are displayed and controlled within Performance Manager, allowing engineers to measure and adjust system parameters from one screen. This simplifies and accelerates the system optimization process while eliminating opportunities for errors”

Smaart acoustic testing and measurement software is the most straightforward and widely used software for real-time sound system measurement, optimization and control. The dual-channel, FFT-based software enables engineers to diagnose and solve problems quickly by viewing the frequency content of signals and measure the response of electrical and electro-acoustic systems in detail. Mix engineers can use Smaart to identify tones or frequencies of interest and help with tasks like feedback suppression and channel equalization. System engineers can use Smaart to accelerate and streamline the process of setting up and aligning JBL speaker systems in a performance environment.

“JBL Professional by HARMAN has taken great advantage of the Smaart API to provide an elegant, easy-to-use interface for controlling and viewing Smaart measurement data within the new Performance Manager 2.1,” said John Aldrich, Director of Technical Services, Rational Acoustics. “This integration underscores the shared commitment between both companies of providing comprehensive and powerful software toolkits for today’s audio technicians and engineers.”

In addition to Smaart software integration, Performance Manager 2.1 features an entirely new Go-Online mode that offers more intuitive options for system synchronization and management of online devices. A new Line Array Control Panel makes using the Line Array Calculator, a key tool for system configuration, more intuitive and easier to use. In addition, features have been added to Select Input Source mode to make managing and monitoring AES audio distribution a simpler operation. Finally, a number of bug fixes and key performance enhancements improve on the user experience, speed and ease of use.

Additional new features in Performance Manager 2.1 include:

Support for new JBL CSX F35 loudspeakers
New presets for JBL VTX M Series monitor speakers based on Device File R1.1
New Go Online mode offers intuitive options for system synchronization and device management
Improved support for JBL VTX F-Series speakers
New Line Array Control Panel for easy line array calibration
New amplification options
New options in Run Show mode
New options in Set Inputs mode
Performance and memory use optimizations
New error reporting tool
Several significant bug fixes