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Robert Scovill, world class live sound engineer/producer once again took to the road with Tom Petty this summer 2010. The July issue of Live Sound features some of Robert's thoughts about the 2010 Heartbreakers tour.

Robert explains what live sound is all about: "What we want is a transparent presentation of the way things are. Using modern technology to reveal traditional and established sounds."

Robert has been at the forefront of technology and adoption of new live sound techniques and products for years.  He's arguably among the best live sound engineers of all time. 

When discussing the PR35 and its use on the 2010 Heartbreakers tour, Robert said, "For past tours, for sake of continuity, the (Neumann) KMS 150 was also the preferred microphone for the backing vocals. Based on the results of a shoot-out among other mics prior to this tour, however, the Heil Sound PR35 microphones landed the job for sonic reasons and also because they're tight in regard to surrounding noise."

It's almost tiring to repeat the refrain, but the Heil PR35 is an amazing microphone  - that you need to try - and that compares favorably to microphones that are triple the price.  At $249.95, the PR35 is a relative bargain and has found its way to stages with such names as Tom Petty, Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder, Charlie Daniels, and many more. 

If you've never tried the PR35, you owe it to yourself to check it out, as a part of your sound system.  We have the PR35 and the RC35 (the wireless capsule for use with any Shure brand wireless microphone). 

The PR35 features a large diaphragm dynamic microphone element, three-position bass roll-off, and -40 dB of rear rejection to provide unmatched isolation.  The PR35 is quickly becoming the go-to vocal microphone for leading music artists.

For more information, please check out our website.  The Heil PR35 comes with a money-back guarantee for 30 days.  Try it in your own system to make sure that it's right for you. 

Thursday, July 8, 2010 02:55 AM
By Elizabeth Gibson 
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Liz Wheeler, left, and Vicky Welsh-Bragg rehearse for the Actors' Theatre production of Dark of the Moon at Schiller Park. They'll have to use different wireless microphones.

When the stars of the Columbus Children's Theatre start to sing, a wireless microphone carries their lyrics over the chords of musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar or The Wizard of Oz.

So when the Federal Communications Commission banned a common variety of wireless microphone, it was a problem.

"Now we have very expensive equipment that's worthless," said William Goldsmith, the theater's artistic director. "There are thousands of these microphones around the country that are now worthless."

Goldsmith said the four microphones that the theater had used cost about $1,000 to $2,000 each.

Whether for a sermon, a corporate board meeting, a school assembly or even a children's karaoke machine, wireless microphones that operate on a 700-MHz frequency are out.

"If you're not off it, you need to get off it. This is a matter of public safety," said Matt Nodine, chief of staff of the FCC's wireless telecommunications bureau.

The vast majority of wireless microphones are fine, especially newer equipment. But the FCC identified 3,000 different types of organizations with the problematic microphones. The FCC has more information at www.fcc.gov/cgb/wirelessmicrophones.

These microphones use frequencies that existed in the space between the signals from television stations. When TV went digital a year ago, it freed up most of the 700-MHz frequencies.

But once the TV stations were out of the way, companies spent about $19 billion buying up the frequencies in an FCC auction. Large blocks of available frequencies don't pop up often, and they were in demand for new Internet-friendly cellular-phone systems.

The microphones could cause interference when a phone company or a police department tries to use its newly acquired frequency.

"You might be sitting in church listening to the preacher's sermon and a trooper drives by the church, and suddenly you're hearing the trooper's radio traffic instead," said Darryl Anderson, director of the MARCS radio service used by police and safety agencies across the state.

The worst-case scenario is that the police dispatcher would hear the preacher instead of an officer calling for help, although Anderson said that was less likely.

The state's radio system is expanding to the 700-MHz bandwidth so it can take advantage of modern technology. The first eight towers that use that frequency will be going up in Cuyahoga County within the next three months.

FCC officials tried to spread the word in advance, but it still cost microphone users money.

Xenos Christian Fellowship on the North Side spent $8,000 to $10,000 on new equipment, and Faith Life Church in Johnstown had to spend a few thousand dollars.

"I guess it's an excuse to get new stuff," said John Ondo, Faith Life Church's media director. "We weren't hit too bad because we just moved and got a new system, but I'm sure other people had it worse."

Actors' Theatre, which depends heavily on wireless technology for its outdoor performances in Schiller Park, relied entirely on 700-MHz microphones, Artistic Director John S. Kuhn said. The group is halfway to raising the $8,000 needed to replace 12 microphones.

"We're sort of all (affected)," Kuhn said. "Nothing is going to change. The deed has been done, and it's going to have a large impact on so many organizations and nonprofits with no recourse."

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In the process of reviewing recent amplifier failures, it was discovered that defective parts from one of its vendors had made it into production of several models of Crown amplifiers. As a result, corrective action is needed on the following amplifiers manufactured and shipped from September 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Amplifiers affected are Crown XTi1000, XTi2000, XTi4000, CDi1000, CDi2000, CDi4000, DSi1000, DSi2000, DSi4000.

Many of these models contain power supply resistors that demonstrate a very short lifetime. When these resistors fail, the amplifier will not turn on. No other safety and performance issues exist, but because the amplifier stops functioning, it is important to address this with corrective action.

All units that have been delivered to customers will be reworked or replaced to the customer’s satisfaction.

Any model that was shipped after April 30, 2010, regardless of manufacture date, has already been corrected.

You can simply contact anyone at Truth Seeker/Geartechs.com to help you arrange to have amplifiers replaced or updated. Or you can go the the Crown website to check to see if amplifiers you received are affected by the problem.

Simply go to: www.crownaudio.com/ca2010 and enter the serial numbers from these units.

The website will tell you which amplifiers need the corrective action, and which do not.

While it is regrettable that defective parts have caused these problems, Crown takes full responsibility and is active in dealing with the problem and making sure all customers are taken care of.  If you have questions, please call 800-747-7301. 

On Saturday, June 12, 2010 your ability to use 700MHZ wireless systems (those with frequencies from 698-806MHZ) – legally – will expire.

Earlier this year, the FCC handed down a ruling that stated that all users must abandon the use of wireless microphone devices operating in this range on or before this date.  In just a few days, that deadline will become a reality and you may be faced with a decision about what to do.

Many users of wireless microphones have already chosen to replace what they have.  That's smart.  Some people have no idea that they need to make a change.  Some are taking their chances on not getting caught while continuing to use their 700MHZ systems – not smart.  And some are already affected with interference issues and don't even know why.

Here are three very good reasons to figure out whether you need to make the change and then to make it, if necessary.

A few people that we've talked with think that wireless microphones that operate in this range will continue to work perfectly and that they'll just try not to get caught.  Aside from possible legal penalties, the reality is that is that 700MHZ wireless systems will stop operating reliably at some point in the near future.  That's reason #1.

Will it be June 12?  No.  For my own church in Columbus, OH it happened July 13, 2008.  The interference rendered one of our wireless microphones obsolete.  For another client, as they were trying to decide whether to spend money for all new wireless systems in late 2009 or in the new 2010 budget year, someone else made the decision for them.  One weekend service, the systems worked flawlessly.  The next weekend, they couldn't find a workable set of frequencies and the music pastor called to make an purchase the very next day.

These changes will happen at some point in the future - count on it.  Communications companies have paid the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) billions of dollars for the right to use this chunk of the radio spectrum; they're not going to not use it.  Yes, I know, I used a double-negative.  More simply, the wireless companies are going to use the radio spectrum that they've paid for - as soon as they can, and as heavily as they can.  Your 15 milliwatt wireless microphone transmitter doesn't stand a chance.

Are you affected? Click the Read More link below for the rest of the article.

Read more: June 12, 2010 - what will happen to my wireless microphone?