Product Reviews

A year ago, we were working on a lighting system for a church who wanted the benefits of color LED fixtures.  For those of you who aren't familiar with color LED's, each lighting fixture allows you to mix and change colors across the entire spectrum (in theory) and uses very little electrical power.  No more changing gels for different moods and effects, no more needing a major upgrade to your electrical service, lower ongoing utility costs, less heat buildup, and ability to change colors with almost limitless possibilities.  That's really attractive right?!  A year ago, prices ranged from about $800 to about $1100 for each fixture. 

I also mentioned the "in theory" part, right?  From junior high school science, we all know that the combination of Red, Blue and Green makes perfect White.  Well, in a typical LED fixture, the combination of those colors makes a perfectly cool bluish-white that makes flesh tones look fairly eerie.  It's not a flattering look.

What we were finding a year ago was that...

Read more: Blizzard Rocklite RGBAW - warm white light from an LED!

by Mike Sessler, ChurchTechArts.org

I can honestly say I’ve been waiting for this mic for almost two years. I first met Bruce Meyers, then President of DPA, US at WFX in 2009. I had been a huge fan of the 4088 and 4066, and desperately wanted to move our pastor off of the e6 to a DPA. However, he didn’t like dual-ear designs and wouldn’t wear one. When I talked with Bruce about that, he said they were working on a solution and it would be ready when it was right. Right as defined by those fanatical Danes who make the mics.

Well, it took them almost two years, but they did it. They came up with a single ear mic that is not only more secure than almost any single ear design out there, it’s also more comfortable and less obtrusive. And it has the same great DPA sound we know and love. At least that’s what we were told. I was anxious to try one.

Read more: DPA DFine Mic - First Thoughts

Shure SRH840 Headphone - in a word, "Wow!"

by Eric Chancey

OK, it's time for an admission.  The subject of headphones has never really made my heart skip a beat. I mean, you put them on, confirm that you have a signal at the mixer input and move on, right? 

I've always been of the camp that thought that headphones couldn't really be trusted for anything serious in terms of the mix.  Beyond that, the headphones I've had were uncomfortable and I just wouldn't use them unless it was an absolute necessity.

That was pretty much my attitude toward headphones until a friend recently introduced me to the Shure SRH840 headphone. Again, I have to admit something. I tried them reluctantly, just to appease him, not having any idea that I would be in for a treat.
 
The first thing I noticed was...

Read more: Shure SRH840 Headphone - reviewed

Line 6 Relay G50 instrument wireless review. (GearTechs.com)

by Kirk Eberhard

The Relay G50 Wireless Guitar System is a recent offering from digital instrument pioneers Line 6. Operating on the FCC/DTV compliant 2.4 GHz band and utilizing a 24-bit ADA conversion system, the G50 boasts 10-20KHz bandwidth and 120 db dynamic range. Since I don't own expensive scopes and test gear, I'll leave the validation of these specs to someone with a more scientific bent and instead give a hands-on, rubber-meets-road type of review. I tested the Relay G50 in a variety of venues and locales, and it delivered flawless performance with outstanding fidelity and remarkable battery life. At a street price of just under $400.00, it's an unqualified winner.

First Impressions...

When I first received the Relay G50 I plugged the transmitter into my Jazz bass, and gave it a shakedown run through a favorite hi-fi practice amp. The system passed the unadulterated sound of my beloved bass with no audible noise or phasing. In spite of the proximity of my Wi-Fi connected laptop, nothing I did generated anything like interference or static, so I headed out my back door for a stroll around the yard. Putting over 100' between me and the receiver did not cause any unwanted sounds or diminish the clarity and dynamics of the audio signal. Of course, there were only the usual household EMF fields and Wi-Fi networks that might present potential interference, but this superb performance would later be confirmed on many stages, from 500-seat nightclubs to 2,500-seat theaters and huge outdoor festival stages. Furthermore, the Relay G50 has seen duty in several different cities and states without a single rizz, pop, or dropout, so my concerns about the effects of high data traffic over the widely-used 2.4 GHz band were put to rest.

Features and Details...

The Relay G50 transmitter and receiver are both quite solid and substantial, and inspire immediate confidence...

Read more: Line 6 Relay G50 Instrument Wireless - Review