Our friends at Seattle radio station 107.7 The End have a really cool live kaoroke band, End-A-Roke. They play at local clubs, Seahawks football games, and more. Ever wanted to front Alice In Chains? System of a Down? Ramones? Radiohead? Get up and sing with End-A-Roke.

We caught a recent gig at a Seahawks home game in front of Qwest Field and saw some... uhhhhh.... amazing talent! One guy, who goes by the name of Alcohol Paul, got up and sang a couple of tunes (see him in the picture above) clad in his best football uniform garb, and your intrepid Mackie man (me, behind the speaker below) belted out "Low" by Cracker and "Bad Luck" by Social D. The winner gets a pair of tickets to the football game (not me--dang!), so it's not necessarily all about embarrassing yourself in front of a bunch of boozed-up football game-goers.

Oh yeah... the PA system is Mackie all the way. They've got a CFX-12.mkII mixer, a pair of S-408 active loudspeakers, and SWA-1801z and SWA-1501 active subwoofers. Plenty of power for the band, which consists of 107.7 DJs (from left in top photo) Jim "Killer" Keller (guitar), Dickie Dickie Pye (on drums), friend of The End John Fisher (bass) and DJ Neal "The Midnight Cowboy" (guitar, behind the singer).

Posted by Gaz at 02:41 PM | Permalink

Red House Studios is different things to different people, all of them good. The 5,000 square foot studio complex is home to a state-of-the-art recording facility, several well-equipped rehearsal suites, private lesson rooms, a 100-plus capacity performance hall, and at the center of each, state-of-the-art professional audio systems from Mackie.

Red House is the brainchild of Raja Singh, who opened the Walnut Creek facility in December of 2005 with a vision of creating more than just a run-of-the-mill rehearsal facility. “There have always been places where people can rent a warehouse space for a few hours,” he explains. “But I felt there was an opportunity to create more of a community – a place to not only improve your ‘chops’, but play live, record a demo, and all while meeting and interacting with others.”

Singh brought together a team of veteran engineers, producers and instructors, creating a supportive environment where, for a monthly membership fee, musicians - either accomplished or aspiring - can take private lessons, join group seminars, rehearse their band, jam with friends, record a demo or even play a live gig.

“We’ve found that a significant portion of our membership are people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s,” Singh observes. “They have families and busy careers, but still want to play their instruments and need to do it on their schedule, and in a classy environment. They may start by simply joining a jam session--many of which are designed for less experienced players--and often end up taking some lessons to tighten their chops.”

Singh continued, “We regularly make introductions of perspective band mates and set them up with a rehearsal space. Before you know it we’re helping them to book their first gig and even recording a live show. We’re a pretty complete service here.”

“The rooms at Red House are all well appointed, offering high-quality gear and a comfortable, creative environment. The Music Lounges are pre-equipped rehearsal and recording suites with easy-to-operate gear and a do-it-yourself vibe. Each Lounge is outfitted with a Mackie Onyx 1640 mixer and Onyx FireWire interface, connected to a PowerMac G5 with a Mackie Universal Control Surface and SRM350 monitors.

The Onyx was really the perfect choice for our Music Lounges,” explains Singh. “The mixer is simple and intuitive, so our customers and staff can get up and running quickly, but it’s also a professional piece of gear that people are excited to use. Plus, the breadth of recording options - including FireWire and 16-channel outputs - make it a perfect songwriting and pre-production board.”

Sound quality was also a critical part of the decision to go with the Mackie Onyx mixers. Singh explained, “People need to feel as though the equipment is helping them to realize their potential, rather than hindering it. I’ve been really amazed at the quality of the Onyx mic pre in particular. Combined with the EQ, which is very musical, we’re hearing a lot of amazing sounding demos coming out of these rooms.”

Those wanting more serious studio time can book the Recording Studio, equipped with a full Pro Tools|HD2 system, as well as a 24-fader Mackie Control Universal system, Big Knob and Onyx 800R pre-amp. A pair of Mackie HR-824 monitors completes the setup. “The 824s are awesome,” Singh remarks, “and the Onyx 800R not only sounds good, but its digital output helps us maximize our Pro Tools interface.”

The Performance Hall is where jam sessions, open mics and nightly performances are held. The venue accommodates an audience of 100 or more, and is equipped with a Mackie Onyx 3280 32-channel mixer, as well a complete selection of Mackie S400 Series passive loudspeakers. “The Onyx preamps (in the 3280) make recording high-quality live shows very easy,” Singh reports. “The recording of a recent ‘Private Concert’ presented by (local classic rock station) KSAN sounded so good, they played it on air in its entirety.”

The sound reinforcement system for the Performance Hall is a combination of two Mackie S408 passive loudspeakers atop a pair of Mackie Active SWA1801subwoofers. TAPCO Juice Series amplifiers power the Mackie S408 boxes. A selection of Mackie Active SRM450 and SRM350 speakers pull monitor duty and serve as portable systems for location work and special events.

“Red House contributes live music to a variety of outdoor festivals in our community,” reports Dustin Smith, Red House Principal Engineer. “We also move our gear around a lot - configuring it in our different studios to meet varying customer needs. We’ve found that the combination of power and portability in the Mackie SRM Series speakers is perfect for these applications.”

Smith continued, “The Performance Hall is relatively shallow and wide, so we required a system that could provide good coverage and high output, without breaking down at the outer edges. After considering several systems, we decided that the Mackie S408s provided the best sound, while delivering consistently strong coverage throughout the room.”

In addition to the various workspaces, Red House offers a Pro Shop, where guests can pick up strings and other supplies, or simply unwind with an after-session espresso and a bite at the Whammy Bar.

It hasn’t taken long for word about Red House to get around. In a world where musicians have become increasingly isolated in their home studios, Red House represents a much-needed opportunity for musical interaction. With an expansion plan already in the works, one hopes that the future holds a Red House in every town. Check out Red House online at http://www.redhouselive.com.

The Red House Performance Hall with Mackie S400 Series Tetrad System

Posted by Mackie at 02:18 PM | Permalink

We can tell you how good the Mackie Satellite is all day long, but that's our job. A truly credible evaluation has to come from an independent source. So when you’re in the market for a new bit of “kit”, it's always a good idea to check out user forums, such as Harmony Central, to find real-world shakedowns of the latest pro audio gizmos. Don’t forget to also check the pages of your favorite gear magazines.

While Satellite reviews are just now beginning to hit the news stands, early indications suggest that Mackie may just have another hit on it’s hands. But like I said, don’t just take our word for it....

"One of the coolest implementations of fairly commonly encountered functionality that Mackie has uniquely packaged together and presented." Resolution Magazine, United Kingdom, October 2006

"...this is the best built recording device in the history of....well...desktop recording devices." Professional Sound, Canada, October 2006

"It’s been a while since I returned the Onyx 400F, and had kind of forgotten just how good the Onyx mic pres sound – especially in light of the price. These are clean, wonderful sounding suckers, whether with mic signals, instruments, or line levels." Harmony Central Pro Review, Craig Anderton, Moderator

Posted by Mackie at 03:55 PM | Permalink

Mackie was recently on hand to help with the grand opening of Sound Harley-Davidson, the Pacific Northwest’s first new Harley-Davidson dealership in over 20 years. Along with the awe-inspiring thunder from hundreds of bikes, the Mackie system pumped out its own powerhouse of sound. The system included an Onyx 24•4, SA1232z’s and SWA1801’s for FOH and SRM450’s for monitors. The sunshine was out in full force as was some great musical talent. The two-day event featured performances from The Suspects, AC/Duecy and Nick Vigarino (the band pictured below). Mackie provided technical staff direct from corporate headquarters to keep the sound system rockin’.

The bands, grand opening attendees and Sound Harley-Davidson staff all gave two thumbs up to Mackie for providing a sound system that exceeded all expectations. Kari Korsgren, Marketing and Events Manager for Sound Harley Davidson, said “It’s a pleasure to work with a company that cares about our customers as much as we do and delivers even more than promised.”

The Mackie equipment was a great compliment to this state-of-the-art dealership. The 30,000 square foot building is a salute to the Harley-Davison headquarters located in Milwaukee and includes an indoor/outdoor fireplace, snack bar/café, bike wash and even a WiFi hot spot for mixing business with pleasure.

Dwane Cannady, General Manager, commented that “the music sounds great and I can tell that our customers appreciate it.” Great tunes, amazing bikes and sunshine – what a perfect combination for an October day in the Northwest.

Posted by Gaz at 02:12 PM | Permalink

The Audio Engineering Society's annual convention kicked off today at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. The latest Mackie gear is there, from recording to sound reinforcements. But the biggest news from the folks in Woodinville came with the announcement that the two eagerly anticipated new add-on options for the TT24 Digital Live Console will soon be available for .

Available through authorized Mackie dealers in December, the new DS3232 Digital Snake and U100 Networking Card, as well as the LP48 Lake Processor Card, combine to further establish the TT24 as the most progressive and complete professional digital mixing system in its class.

“We are committed to the ongoing development of the TT24 and to bringing even greater levels of professional performance to the small/mid-format digital mixer category,” commented Mackie Brand Group Director John Boudreau. “These additions enable functionality that is simply not available anywhere near the price of a well-equipped TT24.”

Boudreau continued, “For example, by simply adding a LP48 Lake Processor card to the TT24, you can drive a system as complex as an EAW KF760 line array. The LP48 applies award-winning Lake processing using EAW-specific presets. This complete mix system would come in well under $9,000 (US). Similarly, a designer could install a U100 Networking Card in a TT24, run up to 300 feet of standard Ethernet to our rack mounted DS3232 snake, and have a completely recallable 32x32 mix system including the mic gain. The TT24 is the first digital mixing system to offer that type of functionality for well under $15k at full retail.”

Since the TT24 features two expansion slots, system designers can also combine multiple option cards for specific applications. “A snake and lake card could be combined into a system which would feature remote capability and loudspeaker processing,” explained Boudreau. “A higher channel count system can be achieved by using a snake and a UFXII card. In this scenario, the snake provides 32x32 remotely and the onboard 24 mic/line channels are available locally for a 56x32 system. Basically, the upgrades allow the TT24 system to service a much wider array of applications.”

The UFXII DSP card began shipping in late 2005. Mackie anticipates that the following new TT24 add-on options will begin shipping to dealers throughout the United States in late fourth quarter of 2006, with full retail availability by December. International shipping will begin shortly after.

DS3232 Digital Snake with U100 Networking CardThe DS3232 Digital Snake (MSRP: $4999.99) provides 32x32 channels of balanced XLR I/O and connects to the TT24 Console via standard CAT-5 cable (up to 300 feet in length). The Digital Snake features 32 state-of-the-art mic preamps and converters in a stage box, and provides remote control and recall of the input gain from the TT24 console. The U100 Networking Card (MSRP: $899.99) allows the TT24 to communicate with proprietary external devices including the DS3232.

LP48 Lake Processor CardThe LP48 Lake Processor Card (MSRP: $1299.99) brings award-winning Lake processing to the TT24 in three possible configurations. First, the card can be configured in Lake Loudspeaker Processor mode as a 4 input by 8-output loudspeaker processor to provide eight channels of balanced analog output with line drive capability. Second, it can provide the user with up to 10 channels of Lake-designed insert EQ processing including the true response Lake Ideal Graphic EQ™ and Lake Mesa EQ™ with asymmetrical filters. Finally, users can configure the card with 5 channels of insertable EQ processing, as well as a 2-input by 4-output Lake Loudspeaker Processor.

Posted by Mackie at 08:09 PM | Permalink

Mackie parent company, Loud Technologies, announced today the appointment of three notable industry veterans to key domestic sales positions.


New on the job at the AES Convention in San Francisco, Alex Nelson, VP of Key Accounts and Scott Schumer, Vice President of Independent Dealers stand shoulder to shoulder with the new boss, LOUD's Sr. VP of Domestic Sales, Michael MacDonald (middle)

Alex Nelson joins LOUD as Vice President, Key Accounts. In this position Alex will head up head up the Guitar Center and Musicians Friend accounts for all brands in the LOUD portfolio. Alex is a seasoned industry veteran with over a decade of experience in both professional audio and MI distribution and sales. Alex has held executive positions at both Line 6, Alesis and most recently as the founder of Left Coast Marketing, an independent rep firm serving the Northwest region with lines such as EVI, Midas, Telex and KRK.

Also new to the LOUD team, Scott Schumer will assume responsibility for all independent dealers throughout the United States as Vice President, Independent Dealer Sales. Scott is a proven executive with over 15 years of experience in multi-million dollar business development, P&L, new product launch, and general management within the Professional Audio and Consumer Electronics markets. His previous experience includes president and CEO of In2Out Audio, the exclusive US pro audio distribution company, VP Sales Harman Professional Systems and VP Sales Sennheiser US.

Dan Gallagher joins the company as Vice President, National Accounts. Dan will manage LOUD’s domestic sales initiatives with key online, as well as regional and multi-store chains. A seasoned industry professional, Dan has worked in the music industry for 25 years, holding key positions with companies such as Ensoniq, Alesis, Korg, Marshall, Behringer USA, Inc., and most recently as the EVP of Global Sales and Marketing for Symetrix.

Nelson, Gallagher and Shumer will all report directly to LOUD’s Sr. Vice President of Domesitc Sales Michael MacDonald. “We have a broad and dedicated dealer network that represent different distribution models, each with distinctly different needs, commented MacDonald. “Our goal is to help each dealer be successful by providing them with access to our brands through dedicated and experienced personnel who will champion their individual needs. Each of these men have proven experience in developing and leading successful sales strategies that benefit the dealer and manufacturer alike. I couldn’t be happier that they’ve agree to join our team.”

Posted by Mackie at 10:32 PM | Permalink