Today it happened - $4.15 gasoline in Columbus, OH. Most things don't bother me much, but $4 gas hit me in the pit of my stomach.  Last night, I had contemplated filling up at $3.74.  Overnight, prices increased by 10%.  Said another way, the value of the money in your pocket or your bank account decreased by about the same amount relative to gasoline -- overnight.  Ouch. 

Without getting into the intricacies of economics, the dollar keeps losing value.  It's been on a long-term slide since 1913 - with a few ups and downs along the way.  Since the dollar will likely continue on its long-term downtrend for the rest of our lives, what can you do?  About the only thing that you can do is earn more or spend less.  Earning more sounds great, but that's harder to control.  But who really wants to spend less?  We need our expensive coffee, our gasoline and the right equipment.  Oops. 

Like you, I want to be properly equipped when it comes to audio, video, projection and lighting equipment.  It's important. 

I know, I know.  So how will $4-a-gallon gas save you money? 

Lots of people don't consider the costs of time and travel when they're buying gear.  Some will drive an hour each way to talk with someone or to pick up new gear when all they have to do is to pick up the phone or order online, and wait for UPS, FedEx or the USPS to bring it to them. 

When you call here, we pay for the phone call, we ship many orders at no additional cost, and you don't have to drive anywhere to talk to someone about getting the right solution.  That's how we'll save you both time, and money. 

If $4 gas has you down, stop driving and call us!  We think that you'll be glad you did. 

On Friday when I made a call to our favorite custom case builder, one of the guys said, "Has anyone called you about a case found floating in the Ohio River?"  I said, "Excuse me; can you say that again?"  Mike said, "Someone found a case floating in the Ohio River near Huntington, WV and we traced it to your company."  

I thought for a few seconds and asked. "Is it green?"  It was.  One of my good friends and longtime clients buys all of his cases in kelly green color so that there's no mistaking his cases for someone else's.  This case was purchased in 1995 (16 years ago!) and it was still in service.  And it wasn't designed as waterproof, but it was dry inside.  Read what the finder of the case sent to the case company. 

"We found one of your Cabbages Cases floating on the Ohio River near Huntington during the flood. It was empty and completely dry! Do you keep record of the owners?  The serial number is: 425XX it measures 4x4x10". Color: Green."

The case was not only dry inside, but it was still road worthy and we were able to locate the owner.  As it turns out, our client sold the case and the mixer a few years ago, but he knew the guy to whom it belonged.  My guess is that there will be a reunion of sorts over the next few days. 

When someone asks me why Cabbage Cases cost a little bit more, I tell them that they're made better, and now can say that they are water-resistant, even though not designed that way, and that Cabbage keeps records that will allow us to return your case, if lost or stolen. 

Cabbage Cases builds fantastic custom equipment cases, and they've been building them here in Columbus, OH since 1974.  If you have a need for a great custom case, call us, and we'll be happy to get the right case designed for you. 

This is a conversation between me and my lead installer, just this morning.

"Hey Dave, the projector at XYZ church wasn't working right.  I put another bulb in, and it's fine now." 

"Well, it's been about four years since they bought it.  That's about the right time for needing another lamp.  He'll be glad for the new one."  

"The pastor says that the new lamp is only about 8 months old.  Did he buy that from us?"

"I don't think so.  Let me check." 

As it turns out, the pastor thought that a new (Sanyo in this case) projector lamp was "too expensive" at $429, so he went out online and bought a lamp from someone he didn't know for a price that he liked.  Compatible projector lamps are typically $199-249.  Compared to brand name lamps, they're a great deal on the surface.  They often have longer initial warranties (6 months versus 90 days) and are promised to be just as good.  The problem is that they aren't. 

The Sanyo branded lamp lasted that church 40 months.  The unbrand compatible lasted 8 months.  Instead of spending $429 for another 40 months of service (and as a Sanyo dealer for almost 10 years, I can attest to average lamp life of being about that long), he spent $249 for 8 months.   I have lots of stories just like this one. 

This is crude math analysis and the test sample isn't nearly large enough, but the lamp-only cost of operation for the original lamp was a little less than $11 a month.  The compatible cost just over $31 per month, and the kicker is that they have to spend another $429 to get their projector up and running once again. 

I hate to say, "I told you so, but..."

I'm all for helping our clients save money where it's appropriate.  After almost 20 years of sitting in this chair, I've seen a lot.  Don't let me have to say it to you.  

Editor's note:  This is a repost from Seth Godin's blog of February 13, 2011 that was sent to me by a long-time client and friend, and signed "with respect."  I was flattered that he chose me to acknowledge this way, and I thought that I'd share Seth's thoughts with you about the importance of relationships. 

It's nice to sign a letter, "sincerely yours," but far more powerful, I think, to sign it, "with respect." It says something compelling about the recipient, something earned.

I realized the other day that I'd been working with the trio of Megan, Corey and Gil at Squidoo for five years, since we founded the company. And that I've been with Anne, my trusted bookkeeper, for more than ten years, David at GTN for almost as long, and Lisa, my agent, for more than seventeen. In an amazing bit of time travel, I've been doing projects with my friend Red for more than thirty.

Over time, you don't just come to trust valued colleagues like these, they also earn respect. Once you understand someone's sensibilities and goals, it's natural to see the world through their eyes and to embrace their motives and tactics. Once you've seen their work under pressure and in quieter moments, you get a sense for what they believe in. In a world of quick projects and short engagements, this sort of relationship is priceless.

It's easier than ever to start relationships that can turn into ones like these. Just as hard as it has ever been to make them last.

It's February 2011 and this was a typical headline that we were writing last year.  For those who don't know or don't recall, the FCC banned the use of wireless microphones in the 700 MHZ range (698-806MHZ) effective June 2010.  I won't rehash the issue, but you can find more information about those changes by clicking here.  In short, if you're still using 700MHZ wireless microphones, you're supposed to stop, by law. 

Last week, I met with a church about some improvements to the existing sound system.  To my surprise, they had several wireless systems, almost all of which were in the 700MHZ band.  I asked the primary sound person how they were working, and he said, "They're not working as well as they used to, but I hadn't thought much about it." 

The reality is that both Verizon and AT&T have turned on their 4G towers in the Columbus area, and both own large chunks of the 700MHZ radio spectrum.  Big wireless broadband transmitters versus little wireless microphone transmitters equals wireless microphones that don't work, or that don't work "...as well as they used to..."  If you're currently experiencing interference on your 700MHZ wireless microphones, there's a chance that you could be interfering with public safety and/or wireless broadband transmission. 

I realize that some of you don't know that you're supposed to stop using the microphone systems.  I also realize that you may not want to make the change since you have a significant amount of money tied up in what you have. 

One of these days, you'll have to stop, simply due to the fact that your systems won't work reliably due to outside interference.  And as a friend of mine says, "Cheer up; it's only going to get worse."  700MHZ wireless services are just beginning their full rollout. 

We have solutions.  If you'd like to discuss next steps for migrating away from 700MHZ to other frequency bands, please give us a call today. 

As we move ahead, the world of wireless communications will continue to become more difficult and dicey.  Take a look at these promising solutions from Line 6 (2.4GHz) and from Audio Technica in the new I-band (470-506MHz).  In most areas of the country, they should remain well away from the action, so to speak. 

The Best Products of 2010  
-Now you get to figure out how I explain "best." You might be surprised.    

As I've been thinking about winding down 2010, I decided to put together a list -- The Best Products of 2010.  I don't think that I've ever done that before.  

Maybe this is true of all lists of "best" products, but what you'll find is that these products are all exceptional in their own right, but few are actually the very best at what they do.  Truth be told, few of us can afford the very best.  

So how is this a showcase of the "best"?  Am I am idiot?  Do I just not know what's good and what's not?  Or is there another reasonable criteria by which "best" can be defined?  I like to think that #3 -- another reasonable criteria -- is what you'll find below.  

The Methodology:  I spent 30 seconds thinking about what we sell, those who buy it, what real world users have the most success with, and what stands out as an exceptional product at its price point.  I think that first impressions are important.  

Here's the list, in no particular order.  Actually, it's very close to the order that these items came to mind.  

1.  Audio Technica 2000A Series wireless microphones.  

Quite simply, I think that the Audio Technica 2000A series of wireless microphone is the best value in wireless microphone systems.  

It's not even close to the best we sell, but it's better than anything from any manufacturer that costs up to $100 more -- and in the $300 price range, that's a big deal.  

The 2000A series features 10-channel automatic frequency scanning, a metal receiver chassis for durability and better reception, and detachable antennas so that you can combine your antennas into a professional antenna system when using multiple systems.  

I have a friend who pastors a church of about 4500 weekly attendance.  The 2000 Series is good enough for him, and that church can afford to use anything it wants to.  

With the Audio Technica 2000 Series, you won't find a better wireless for up to $100 more.  That's why it's "best."  

2.  Allen & Heath ZED-24 Mixing Console.

16 microphone inputs, included USB recording with free software, made by Allen & Heath, $699.95.  

Doesn't that say enough?  This is my favorite small audio mixer, hands down.  It has all the features you'd expect plus some.  

If my own church needed something like this, the ZED-24 would be my first choice -- period.  

3.  Heil PR30 Microphone.  

OK, call me crazy.  I have to admit that this list wasn't the actual original "10 Best."  I had to remove two other Heil microphones to make this year's "10 Best" more representative of the breadth of what we offer.  The PR-28 and the PR-22 should be here, too.  

If I had to have only one microphone for everything -- and I mean everything -- it would be the Heil PR30.  Actually as of today, it might be the brand new PR31 since it's shorter in length, but I digress.  

One of our clients and I discovered that the PR30 was a great choir microphone.  It has tremendous rear rejection (the ability to not "hear" everything else around it), just enough sensitivity, and its large diaphragm is somehow makes things sound both warm and shimmery.  It's just a great sounding microphone.  

Use it on a guitar amp, as a drum overhead, on a piano, near a Leslie organ speaker, as an old-school vocal microphone, for voice-overs, on saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and more.  

Think I'm crazy?  Just this Fall, Charlie Daniels switched over to 100% Heil microphones on stage, and he's not the only one.  Users like Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Carrie Underwood, and others make their living with Heil microphones - and they buy them.  Most artists get theirs free.  

4.  Sanyo PLC-XP200L Large Format Video Projector.  

Big money, big color, bigger performance.  7000 ANSI lumens, QuaDrive 4LCD performance, horizontal and vertical lens shift.  Hang it.  You'll be wowed.  End of story.  $9995 MSRP.  

There's not another area of technology where more specifications are fudged than video, especially the cheap stuff.  Manufacturer's specs are "massaged" by marketing departments to make you think that you're getting something you're not. That "something for nothing" mentality is alive and well in America, and if you're not careful, you'll get burned.  

Both we and Sanyo couldn't sell any of these if it wasn't noticably better than the cheap stuff.  Call us to order one, or two. Restrictions prevent us from advertising the selling price on our website.  

Sanyo PLC-XP200L -- prepare to be wowed by the color accuracy, color depth, and stunning clarity and brightness.  

5.  Renewed Vision ProPresenter.  

I'm a hardware sales guy; I don't like software, but ProPresenter 4 made me change my tune.  

Maybe it's just me, but software is a pain in the tail.  Conflicts, crashes, dissatisfied users, Mac guys (like me) complaining that the really cool software is for PC only.  

And then along comes ProPresenter 4 - for both Mac and PC.  (insert angels singing here.)  Finally, a software product that I can sell and not have to worry about.  

Software is 100% not returnable due to piracy issues, but that flies in the face of everything we hope for at Truth Seeker/Geartechs because I want you to be satisfied with what you get.  

ProPresenter 4 is the result of several years of development by the crew at North Point Community Church in Atlanta, GA.  Renewed Vision's team has ProPresenter way ahead of the pack for worship presentation software.  

With its easy set-up of worship slides, cross-platform (Mac/PC) compatibility, elegant integration of live video and motion backgrounds, on-the-fly changes, wide, wider (and even wider) screen images, and more, you'll find that ProPresenter is exactly what you need to take your visuals to the next level.  

ProPresenter 4 is $399 single-user, and $799 for a Mac/PC site license.  Download a demo copy of ProPresenter 4 here.  


6.  Line 6 XD-V70 Digital Wireless Microphone Systems.  

We can barely keep these systems on the shelf.  With all of the fallout from the FCC-mandated changeover in wireless microphones this past year, Line 6 appears to have come to market at just the right time.  

Featuring systems that operate in the 2.4GHZ range, Line 6 has moved wireless microphone use into an area that is far, away from digital television.  Any system can be used in any area of the world with no restrictions.  

The XD-V70 handheld system features microphone modeling, so that you can choose which type of microphone sounds best -- at the flip of a switch.  

The systems also feature automatic frequency selection.  Just turn the system on, and it picks the best available frequency.  

The Line 6 XD-V70 systems are extraordinarily well-built, include rack kits, and have antenna pass-through connectors so that you can use multiple systems with just one set of antennas.  And they sound great, too.  

7.  Presonus Studio Live 24:4 and 16:4 Digital Mixers.  

Two products; one rave review.  

Since my first use of a mixer in 1983, I always wanted something that would store all of my settings, so that I wouldn't have to write them all down before the next band played.  I used sheets of paper with pictures of knobs, input lists, and any variety of other ways to "recall" the previous mixer settings.  Sound checks and switchovers took forever.  

Analog mixers can have hundreds of settings (buttons, knobs and faders) to restore when switching between bands, worship services with different styles, plays, chidren's musicals, cantatas, etc.  That's why church tech teams are pulling their hair out right about this time of year.  

All digital mixers have some level of settings recall.  No more fighting with input lists and paper drawings.  Just push "Recall 27" and mix #27 comes right back, automatically.  Imagine not having to do anything more than move the faders back to a lighted indicator in order to get your mix back.  Pretty spiffy, 'eh?!

Presonus isn't the only one making digital mixers, but they're the ones doing it with the right feature mix and at a price that isn't supremely out of reach of most churches.  

Add to that included Studio One Artist Recording software and a Mac or PC , and the mixer becomes a multitrack recording station for your church service or event - right out of the box!

The Studio Live 24:4 is $3299.95 and the Studio Live 16:4 is $1999.95.  

Each has compression on each channel, and on the outputs. Presonus hardware compressors cost about $100 per channel.  If you'd need that many compressors, it's almost like getting the digital mixer free.  Think about it.  

8.  Audio Technica U851R Piano Microphone.  

An accidental discovery.  This conference table microphone sounds great on a baby grand piano and it costs $199.95 -- the least expensive good piano microphone that I know of.  

The U851R is the perfect choice when you don't have a lot of money for a more expensive solution.  

Try it; you might not think that you need a more expensive solution.  

9.  SurgeX Surge Suppression.  

2010 was the year of the lightning strike for our clients.  Some were protected, some weren't. For that reason alone, SurgeX as a company, gets a spot all to itself.

This year, we saw one church fix lightning damage only to have to fix it again.  That's almost unbelievable.  Apparently, lightning can strike the same place twice.  

We know another church that sits out on top of a hill, in a clearing. Lightning struck nearby and wiped out lots of of office equipment, but the audio and video gear survived.  Why?  Proper surge suppression.  

You're living in the world of false economics to cut corners when it comes to power conditioning and surge suppression.  If $4.99 (or even $49.95) power strips protected as well as a $279.95 FlatPak or a $499.95 power SurgeX power conditioner, SurgeX couldn't be in business, and we'd never sell any.  But we sell them, and their owners sleep well at night.  

Lightning strikes and critical data failures generally happen just once.  Then, you get smart and make sure that they don't happen again.  

SurgeX is simply the best that money can buy.  To read more than you ever wanted to know about surge suppression, click here.  

10. Heil RC35 Replacement Capsule.

I tried really hard to not repeat a product line, but when I decided to give SurgeX its own listing, I had to wrap this year's "10 Best" up with the one product that may be the game changer for Heil, and for you.  

I'll let you try and return any Heil microphone, if you're not 100% satisfied.  That's how confident that I am in the product line in general.  With the hundreds of Heil mics that we've sold, the funny thing is that I've only ever had two (just two) microphones returned from people who didn't like them.  Of course, those people were crazy or couldn't hear correctly, or something.  Kidding, of course.  

The RC35 is a screw-on replacement capsule for any Shure or Line 6 Wireless microphone.  The user list starts with Carrie Underwood.  She has a great voice, terrible microphone handling technique (keeps her hand too close to the head of the microphone), and is extraordinarily popular right now.  Every time you see her with a wireless microphone, the RC35 capsule is the star of her sound.  

She uses Shure's best wireless system with a Heil RC35 capsule. Why?  Because that combination works better than anything else.  

When money's not an object and people like Stevie Wonder, Joe Walsh, and Charlie Daniels choose all Heil microphones, and Carrie Underwood's tech team chooses hers, it can't be for any other reason.  

The Heil Sound RC35 is just $259.00 - 1/3rd the cost of other companies' best microphone.  

---

Product Line of the Year 2010 -- Heil Sound

9:16AM, Sunday, December 5, 2010. 

Church starts at 9:30.  Up walks the guy doing special music to close the service with his iPhone in hand and asking that question, and expecting a sound check, too.  He was supposed to play the piano and it had been ready to go since a little after 8:00, but that's another story that I won't share here. 

What's a sound technician to do?  His song was the final illustration of the pastor's message, so we had to find a way to get things plugged in.  Well, it should have been easy.  An "iPod cable" with 1/8" stereo mini plug on one end and pair of quarter-inch phone plugs on the other and we'd have been all set.  But we weren't able to find a cable like that since someone had "borrowed" it. 

"And you can't play the piano?!," I ask.  No. 

Hmm...  Okay, let's see what we can do. 

More and more, I'm seeing iPods and iPhones used as music sources for accompaniment.  There are a couple things that you can do.  One is to use the infamous iPod cable at the console.  That's the easy way, but don't forget that you can also use a laptop or computer audio interface to convert the 1/8" output to XLR. 

Rapco LTI-Blox

Rapco LTI-1

That's particularly handy, especially if the muscian wants to control the iPod or iPhone from the platform/stage. 

When using an iPhone for audio playback, make sure to set the phone to Airplane Mode in order that when the phone rings (even if in Silent Mode) that the song isn't interrupted.  But who would ever get a call during the worship service? 

Thankfully, I don't speak from experience on that one.  Just a word of caution. 

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." --Psalm 100:4-5

Wishing you all God's best this Thanksgiving season!