From mixers to loudspeakers to studio monitors, Mackie has redefined markets by delivering feature-packed, high-performance products at unprecedented prices. And now they’re doing it again with the introduction of the PMK Series Mackie Reference Studio Monitors.
“Before, consumers looking for affordable studio monitors or hi-fi loudspeakers were given no option but to use bulky wood or composite-molded plastic enclosures that did not taste delicious,” says James Woodburn, Mackie recording product manager. “Now, backed with decades of experience in high end studio monitor carving, Mackie’s PMK Series Monitors bring vegephile quality audio within reach to a wider audience,” continued Woodburn.
The PMK Series features a broken stem, molded to minimize diffraction and delicately designed vents to keep it from getting all smoky inside. The amplifiers feature a proven Certified Organic™ architecture that delivers an ultra-flat frequency response plus the addition of acoustic controls allow you to adjust high frequency and low frequency settings to compensate for room placement (just carve additional holes to custom tailor your tone).
"It really redefines the term sweet spot," concluded Woodburn. "In fact, I am making a pie with them later. You should stop by and have a piece."
New York (October 20, 2009)--The editorial staff of Pro Audio Review is proud to announce 25 winners of the 2009 PAR Excellence Award. This award is presented to professional audio companies that introduced a particularly significant new product at the 127th AES Convention.
PAR Excellence Award-winning products are nominated and selected by a panel of audio engineers, professional end-users, and PAR Contributors with the oversight of PAR’s editorial staff. These products are chosen based on their potential to enhance the quality of an audio professional’s work. Criteria include innovation in design, performance/value ratio, enhanced features, and performance improvements over previous versions.
Well... we are going to have to make room on our award shelf here at headquarters for the new Onyx-i Series Recording Mixers (Onyx 820i, Onyx 1220i, Onyx 1620i and Onyx 1640i). Find out why this innovative new series is garnering all this praise. Click here to get the details on this great new series.
Mix magazine is a leading publication for everything pro audio and plays a big part in the annual AES show. This year, the 127th AES Convention hosted over 18,000 attendees who could visit with over 300 exhibitors. Plenty of products are introduced at AES and more than a few get the industry excited.
However, each year the editors at Mix select the Top-20 new products from AES. The chosen few are dubbed "Certified Hits".
Onyx-i series mixers each feature premium Onyx mic preamps, Perkins EQ and built-in FireWire for the ultimate combination of premium analog mixer and powerful computer interface. Plus, they are qualified for use with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8.
Read more about Onyx-i Series (Onyx 820i, Onyx 1220i, Onyx 1620i or Onyx 1640i) or find out what other innovative products have been certified by Mix by clicking here.
VAN CONDITION: Indescribable smells, unimaginable filth
CREW CONDITION: Wishes they were in Germany for Oktoberfest, but still thinking it's a really nice place
Day seven marks the second day visiting dealers in Germany. Today's stop is at Music Produktiv, arguably one of the largest and coolest retail locations in Europe. You simply cannot miss its massive orange-ness as you approach it when driving the autobahn.
And that is a good thing, because people come from far and wide to shop at Music Produktiv and participate in the many demos and training sessions held here. The crew setup the new gear in the massive live room and spent a few hours training the recording and live sound staff on both the HD Series loudspeakers and the Onyx-i mixers.
The recording guys really loved the Onyx-i series. In fact, Ben and Kent were not sure they would be able to take the mixers with them to the next stop, but they managed to pry them out of the staffs hands before packing up. The 820i, in particular, was a big hit. The staff was certain that it would be perfect for the thousands of DJs and producers that shop at Music Produktiv. They even gave a cool nickname, "Kleine geil", which roughly translates to "Little Bad Ass" or "Little Hottie." We like it.
All in all, Germany has been a great place to showcase the new Mackie gear and anyone in the area should definitely stop by Music Produktiv. Just make sure you plan to spend some time there. Like we said, it's massive!
There is but one more stop on this tour. Looks like product manager, Ben has had enough of the road and he went back to the states. Looks like Kent is one his own as he travels to Rotterdam, NL and visits the team at Feedback. We will have updates soon.
Van Condition: The air is infused with the smell of Chimay and Orval
Crew Condition: Beleaguered, but maintaining a professional aire about them
Ah, the road trip. Always sounds good at first, but boy are you ready to get home after a few days. However, that hasn't crept into the minds of the crew, obviously, as they are more energetic and friendly than ever. Perhaps they are growing accustomed to the European way of living. Sorry boys, but in America we have to work in August and you need to pay for your health care...so you better just forget about it.
Day six finds the crew in Germany. Specifically, they are visiting the town of Cologne. Beautiful architecture and rich culture is everywhere. But alas, the boys are here to work, so they headed straight to Music Store Professional, which is located right in the heart of downtown Cologne. As such, it sees a tremendous amount of foot traffic during the busy workday.
The crew setup in their expansive (and impressive) demo room, which boast a complete stage and more loudspeakers than you can shake a stick at. Go ahead, shake one. Right now. They talked to a ton of customers and trained the staff on the new products. They got tons of great feedback, especially for the new Onyx-i Series mixers.
A couple of German pro audio magazines and blogger-types stopped by to interview the crew. They were really psyched to find out that the Onyx-i mixers were qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. It is truly big news for home recordists and touring bands alike.
After rocking the place all day long, the boys actually got to see some sights. Ben's penchant for pointing has apparently caught on...
There are still two more stops on the tour, Music Produktiv and Feedback. So, please drop by if you are in the area. Otherwise, stay tuned for updates on the tour.
VAN CONDITION: Baguette sleeves and empty wine bottles everywhere
CREW CONDITION: Shattered emotions due to unrequited love in Paris
Day four finds the crew in Belgium, home of everything good. Good beer. Good food. Good people. Did I say good beer? Anyway, the boys pulled up to one of the largest and full-featured retail locations they have ever seen. And it is called Bekafun.
The owner of Bekafun is named Koen Bekaert, and he made sure that the Mackie boys received a hearty welcome. Bekafun created cool custom flyers for the event even decked out their own vehicle with massive Mackie signage. The location is huge, as in multiple warehouses (one of which was nearly completely filled with Mackie gear!). There is a separate demo room (complete with fully-stocked bar...wow) next to the store that is used for education of both staff and customers. So, when the customers find out there is a demo going on, it gets packed very quickly.
The crew gave demo after demo to people who came from far and wide to hear the new gear and just talk shop in general. The boys stayed late into the evening and only left because they needed to pack the van up for the next stop. (Although the crew did manage to work in a few choice Belgian beers at the hotel before hitting the sack).
They awoke the next morning to find out that the hotel had cut all water due to construction. So, they skipped the shower and hit the road. Gross, right?
Long story short, Bekafun (and Belgium, in general) is full of great people and great fun. It is a cool stop for any European road trip. Make sure to say hello to Koen. Heck, their might be another demo scheduled. If so, you will want to get your place in line.
VAN CONDITION: Excess trash has been removed as Ben is very tidy
CREW CONDITION: Frantic, with a chance of excessive pointing at things
Day four starts with product manager, Ben, driving precariously through the City of Love, Paris. His driving skills are improving day by day. It would turn out to be a very busy day, as the crew had two separate stores to visit.
The first was Home Studio, which was very full of customers. They stock a ton of Mackie gear and should visited by any Paris-bound Mackoid. The boys set up the Onyx-i gear right in the shop window and spent time with customers explaining the features and benefits of this great new series.
Next was a trip to Star's Music, which boasts a ton of live sound equipment. The new HD Series and TH-15A loudspeakers were right at home. The store was very busy, and there was a ton of interest in the new speakers. By the way, when you approach an HD loudspeaker in the wild, please adopt the position seen in the picture. Avoid eye contact and you should be good.
After a busy day, product manager Ben toured the city. He took all sorts of fine pictures of historic locations and monuments. However, his trip to the Louvre was particularly inspiring.
The next stop is September 22nd at Bekafun in Izegem, Belgium. Come by if you are in the area. Afterwards, offer to take Ben out for beer and frites. He loves them.
CREW CONDITION: Getting a little giddy, but still in good spirits
This stop landed the boys at Digital Village, which boasts several popular locations throughout the UK. Along with their online store, Digital Village is a powerhouse dealer for everything pro audio and beyond.
The Romford location is massive, filled with everything you need (musically speaking, of course). The Mackie Boys setup the HD Series loudspeakers and the new TH-15A in the Live Sound Room and laid out the new Onyx-i Series mixers in front of a massive wall of studio monitors.
They spent all day providing demos of the new gear for all the staff and a ton of customers who came out. The staff was great and were really interested in the technology behind the new Mackie gear.
The next stop is at Andertons in Guildford, UK. The boys will be there from 10am - 4pm. Will you be there? Plan on being at any of the stops? Email us at news@mackie.com and we can get a photo of you with the crew and van. Cheerio!
Confetti Studios is part of the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, a unique establishment which houses progressive learning alongside commercial recording studios and pre/post film and TV companies.
It's an awesome location with the primary purpose of audio/video production education for people of all ages. The crew spent the day giving demos to both the students and the teachers. They set up all the gear and students could listen and ask questions while they waited for their class to begin. The staff, in particular, had a ton of great feedback and genuinely loved the new gear.
So, be sure to check out Confetti's site and learn about their innovative program.
And be on the lookout for info from the next stop. Will you be there? Plan on being at any of the stops? Email us at news@mackie.com and we can get a photo of you with the crew and van. Till next time!
You've undoubtedly seen many a movie glorifying one the great American traditions: The Road Trip. Well, one of our executives was apparently watching one of these fine films and came up with a great idea. He said, "Let's go on a road trip, but in Europe!" He obviously hasn't seen the Euro-skewed version of these films but, whatever, we have gear to show the world.
So, we gathered up our finest Mackoids and our latest gear, put them on a plane and said our goodbyes. They will visit European dealers and draw a crowd in nine different European cities over the next couple of weeks, providing demos of all the newest Mackie gear. Here are the scheduled stops for the tour:
Here is what you can expect to see when you come meet the team:
Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers
Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers combine the benefits of a powerful computer interface with the tactile, hands-on control of a premium analog mixer. Qualified by Mackie for use with all major DAWs including Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8*, the Onyx-i Series opens upa new world of options for anyone interested in computer recording. In addition to an ultra-high quality 24-bit/96kHz FireWire recording interface, Onyx-i mixers offer professional analog features like boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps, classic “British-style” Perkins EQ and pre/post assignable aux sends, all of which can be flexibly routed via integrated FireWire.
A better way to record — Onyx-i.
To record professionally these days, you need the hands-on control and routing of a premium mixer, a stellar, high-resolution interface and the ability to work with any DAW. Problem Solved.
Premium Recording Mixers with 24-bit/96kHz FireWire
Qualified by Mackie for use will all major DAWs, including:
Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8
Logic®
SONAR™
Cubase®
Ableton® Live
Boutique-quality Onyx mic preamps
Perkins “British style” EQ on every channel
Flexible FireWire routing, including aux sends and pre/post EQ assignment for all channels
Stereo playback from DAW, returned to control room or into channel for integration into mix
Full 16x16 FireWire channel streaming for ultimate DAW integration (Onyx 1640i only)
HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers deliver up to 1800W of peak system power via ultra-efficient Class-D Fast Recovery™ amplification. Revolutionary high-definition audio processing elevates the audience’s experience by combining the power of precision crossovers, time correction and patented acoustic correction for unparalleled clarity and performance. System tuning and custom transducers by EAW create an optimized system that can be easily configured for your application using the integrated 3-band EQ with a sweepable mid. The sleek, all-wood cabinet design is pole-mountable and flyable, providing flexible mounting options for touring or installation. Elevate Your Experience with HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers.
So there you have it. A bunch of no-good-nicks touring around Europe in a van, visiting dealers and attracting crowds. Who among those in Europe will witness High-Definition Live Sound for the first time? Who will be the first to use Mackie hardware with the world's most popular DAW?
You will have to wait and see. We will post photos and cool info from every stop along the way.
INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW ONYX-i SERIES FIREWIRE RECORDING MIXERS
Mackie today announces the launch of its Onyx-i Series FireWire Recording Mixers, delivering premium analog features, tremendous flexibility and built-in 24-bit/96kHz FireWire I/O. Onyx-i FireWire mixers can be used with all major DAWs, and is qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8*, offering those users a host of new hardware options.
“There are real benefits when using an analog mixer as a front end to your favorite DAW,” said James Woodburn, Mackie product manager. “Those who have been intimidated by digital recording will love the familiar layout and feel of a mixer. Those who are already into it will enjoy increased flexibility and speed.” Woodburn concludes, “Onyx-i mixers are the ideal combination of interface and mixer for anybody who needs the best of both worlds…simply put, it’s a better way to record.”
The new Onyx-i Series mixers feature extremely deep FireWire integration and a host of proven, high-quality analog features like Onyx mic preamps and Perkins EQ. Users can choose to implement the Perkins EQ into the recording path at the push of a button, and can also choose to record auxes, groups (1640i) and the master L/R signal. The flagship Onyx 1640i incorporates a massively flexible 16x16 FireWire interface, allowing the user to return up to 16 DAW channels right back into the channel strips for a true tape-style mixdown.
“Since we built the FireWire interface right into the heart of each mixer, Onyx-i offers a significant increase in performance and value over the older Onyx Compact Series where the FireWire was an additional cost option,” remarked Woodburn.
The Mackie Onyx-i Series (820i, 1220i, 1620i and 1640i) will be available globally in September 2009.
* Onyx-i Series Mixers are qualified by Mackie for use with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8. Mackie will release a driver (via www.mackie.com) together with full details of how to use the Onyx-i Series with Pro Tools® M-Powered™ 8 in the coming weeks.
Introducing the Thump TH-15A 2-Way Powered Loudspeaker
High-Performance Audio Without the High Price Tag.
Designed by the same team that produced the best-selling Mackie SRM450v2, the Mackie Thump TH-15A delivers deep low-end and real power in a lightweight design that is extremely portable. Class-D Fast Recovery™ amplification pushes 400-watts of power to the high-frequency compression driver and bass-pounding 15″ woofer. Plus, Mackie Active processing, including a precision crossover and driver time-alignment provides total optimization for maximum system efficiency. Versatile by design, the TH-15A features a user-adjustable 3-band EQ for tone control and, since it can be pole-mounted or used as a wedge, the TH-15A represents the best value available for a complete stage solution.
The InfoComm 2009 Show just wrapped up in Orlando, FL. Buyers, sellers, system integrator, distributors, engineers and everyone in-between were there to share ideas, conduct business and learn about technology that will drive the AV industry this year.
Mackie was there to represent several products that are well-suited for this audience. This included the all-new Mackie HD Series High-Definition Loudspeakers, which got a ton of press and impressed many a listener. Patented audio processing, specific to this series, counters inherent acoustical anomalies that occur primarily in the horn. The resulting experience is amazing and the clarity is unbelievable. And since they are well-priced, we are sure there are many an install that would benefit from their flyable design.
The HD Series loudspeakers were put through their paces in two separate demo rooms. Visitors to the Martin Audio or EAW demo rooms sat in on a slick video demo that really showed what these HD loudspeakers can do. HD loudspeakers are hitting the stores now, so be sure to check in with your dealer to see if you can get a demo.
We also brought along an AV industry standard, our VLZ3 Compact Mixers. Known for their objective mic preamps and headroom, VLZ3 mixers are perfect for systems that need broadcast-quality signal in a compact package. Also shown were the SRMv2 Series powered loudspeakers and the SRM150 Compact PA System. It’s the perfect combination of mixer and speaker that is needed in small AV setups. Apparently the show attendees felt the same way, as it “walked away” from the booth.
The show was a great success. We were able to spread the gospel of HD live sound, meet a ton of great customers and generally have a good time. Thanks to everyone who attended.
WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR MACKIE 20 YEARS RUNNING CONTEST
Mackie recently held a photo/video contest to celebrate 20 years of creating category-defining pro audio gear. We asked people to tell us their story…and we certainly got a ton of responses. So, without further ado, we announce the winner of Mackie’s 20 Years Running Contest. Congrats to Badger Koon (yes, we verified his name). His house was subject to a devastating mudslide and his Mackie’s…well, see for yourself.
My name is Badger Koon and My Mackie SRM450 Active Speakers are amazing! They were totally covered in nasty horse poop and mud during a mudslide!!! I dug them out, washed them out with a hose, and let them dry. To this day they sound good as new. And they are loud! My Mackie speakers sound great for all the events I produce. Thank you Mackie for a great product.
As you can see, Badger is a true Mackoid and his SRM450s weren’t so bad either. But Badger now has a reason to be excited, as he is about to receive a pair of Mackie’s all-new HD1531 3-Way High Definition Powered Loudspeakers. Each one pushes 1800W of power. If he had these after the mudslide, clean-up would’ve been easy. Just crank them up and watch a cubic ton of dirt effortlessly evacuate your house. He also wins a 1604-VLZ3 Compact Mixer. The prize is valued at four grand, so it’s nothing to sneeze at.
There were also tons of other great entries, so be sure to check out the gallery. And if you have a story of your own, please share it with us. You don’t share with people just because you think you might get something, do you?
Mackie once again teamed up with the fine folks at Redhook Ale Brewery for a fine day of summer music. Mackie is a proud sponsor of the 2009 Haul Ash Biking and Brews event. Haul Ash commemorates the 1980 eruption of Mt. Saint Helens - but, most importantly, gives bikers a chance to go cruising with their friends and knock the rust off their bike that has been sitting all winter.
Participants ride from the Redhook brewery in Woodinville, WA to Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Then, it's back to Redhook for an afternoon of live music and, yes, brew.
When the tired bikers returned from their 41-mile trip, Mackie was there with the sound stage all set-up for some tunes. This year, we took this opportunity to test drive the all-new HD1531 High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers. A pair of each were used for either side of the PA, along with four SWA1801z subwoofers and a host of SRM450v2 loudspeakers for wedges.
The sound was simply amazing. The articulation and clarity of these new loudspeakers was evident from the start. Even when the last band was rockin' it and the volume had been increasingly advanced, the HD1531's were as clear as day. And it was a clear day, so that worked out.
Resident Coloradoan and tech support militant, Tom Meyers, ran the show from FOH using the TT System32 (TT24, DS3232 Digital Snake and LP48 processing). A great time was had by all. There was great food, great beer and kids in boxes...what else can you need?
Mackie is, once again, proud to sponsor the 2009 Capitol Hill Block Party, taking over Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood July 24-25. The Block Party is an annual music festival that draws upon and showcases the best indie and underground rock in the US, with a special focus on its Northwest artists. Launched 12 years ago, the Block Party has evolved into Seattle’s most anticipated outdoor party. With over 40 bands on 3 stages, great food, and plenty of cheap beer, this is by far the best block party ever. Anywhere.
“This ain’t no burnt-wiener-and-potato-salad kind of block party. No, this one is more like a sweaty, boozy, scaled-down version of Sasquatch, only during the dog days of summer and right in our own backyard.... The Block Party has grown from an endearing street fair to a monster takeover of the now hotter than ever corridor of Pike between 12th Ave all the way down to Broadway.”Seattle Weekly
Partial proceeds from The Block Party benefit two excellent non-profits: Home Alive, which encourages violence prevention, and The Vera Project, a youth run all-ages venue and recording studio in Seattle. In fact, one of the three major venues at CHBP is the Vera Stage.
This year, the Vera Stage will host Mackie’s all new HD Series High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers. Come and hear the world’s first high-def loudspeaker system, boasting more power and better clarity than any competing speaker out there. The Main Stage will also involve a ton of Mackie gear and the main PA system will be from our sister-company EAW. More details on the exact gear will be announced soon.
Besides providing sound for the event, Mackie and its companion brands (Ampeg, Blackheart and EAW) will also be featured in the backstage VIP area. There will be an Ampeg demo tent where artists can get their hands on the latest Ampeg gear. The crowd can also visit the Blackheart booth to demo the great all-tube guitar amps made by Blackheart.
Connect up with Capitol Hill Block Party to learn more about:
The Players' Choice Awards are the way you, the players, tell the world which guitars, accessories, instruction resources, and amplification and recording gear are making your musical lives richer and more enjoyable.
It’s been 20 years since Mackie first rocked the foundations of pro audio with the introduction of the CR-1604. Over the course of two decades, Mackie has released countless innovative products that have irrevocably shaped the music industry. Mackie wants to celebrate the past 20 years by asking Mackoids to submit their Mackie stories and photos or Mackie videos for the 20 Years Running Contest.
We want to hear about your beer-drenched VLZ Pro that still works; the time you dropped your SRM450 off a building by accident and it powered up for your gig the same night; your original CR-1604 you still use religiously; your world-record for the largest collection of Mackie vintage swag; your Running Man tattoo that you had to get to show your devotion for Mackie. Whatever your story, funny or heartfelt, long or short, old school or new school… we want to hear it.
The Mackoid with the best Mackie story (based on creativity, originality, composition and overall impression) will be featured in Mackie’s next e-newsletter, have their own feature story on www.mackie.com and be the lucky winner a pair of Mackie’s New HD1531 High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers and a 1604-VLZ3 Compact Mixer. A prize valued at $4,000USD.
So let’s go over this again. It’s pretty easy…
Remember a crazy, under-the-influence, not-under-the-influence, but should have been-under-the-influence, heartfelt, cannot believe that happened, disgusting, or funny story.
Write it down.
Find a photo that explains this story.
Or substitute number 2 & 3 and create a video and post it to You Tube.
Send us the story and photo or You Tube video link.
Sit back and wait to see if you are the winner.
Hopefully win a pair of Mackie’s New HD1531 High-Definition Powered Loudspeakers and a 1604-VLZ3 Compact Mixer.
Go to www.mackie.com/20yr to enter! Contest Starts 4.20.09 and ends 6.20.09.
Metric Halo announces native control surface support of the Mackie Control Protocol for their popular Mobile I/O line. Mackie's protocol is undeniably the most supported protocol out there, from the tiniest fader controller to the most massive desks around.
MACKIE VISTA SUPPORT UPDATE - ONYX FIREWIRE & VISTA 64!
The wait is over – Mackie announces Vista support for the Onyx FireWire Card and adds Vista 64 support for all FireWire devices! If you own one of the following devices, Mackie Audio Driver V1.1.0 has you covered:
Mackie Onyx FW Card
Mackie Onyx Satellite
Mackie U.Series
Mackie d.Pro
TAPCO Link.FireWire
If you are running one of the below PC operating systems, you’re covered there as well:
Windows XP 32 SP 2
Windows Vista 32 RTM or higher
Windows Vista 64 RTM or higher
Also, for users who have already installed Mackie Audio Driver V1.0.2, the new Vista 32/64 driver – V1.1.0 – not only adds compatibility, but includes feature updates, so you are welcome to update your device drivers as well.
To get your updated driver, please click on the link below, download the file and get to work!
CHURCH SOUND WORKSHOPS 2009 - BIG DISCOUNT FOR MACKIE CUSTOMERS!
MACKOIDS CAN SAVE 25% ON UPCOMING HOW-TO CHURCH SOUND WORKSHOP
The HOW-TO Church Sound Workshops™ focus on both basic and advanced gear and techniques that will help your volunteer staff do a more effective job of running and recording your worship services. Whether you have a single pulpit microphone with speaker, or dozens of mics with a live band and choir, these hands-on workshops will help your volunteers get the best sound for the entire congregation.
Special discount coupon for Mackie customers when you register for the HOW-TO Church Sound Workshops. Go to www.howtosound.com and enter "mackie-25%" (all lower case) into the redeem coupon box. Discount will automatically be entered
Here is a listing of the upcoming workshops for 2009. More may be announced, so keep an eye out here and on their website.
HOW-TO CHURCH SOUND WORKSHOP 2009 TOUR SCHEDULE (to date)
Saturday, January 31, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM Menchville Baptist Church 248 Menchville Road, Newport News, VA 23602 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Jan 17th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, February 21, 2009 -- 9 AM-6 PM Osceola Grace Brethren Church 58343 Apple Road, Osceola, IN 46561 (Elkhart, Goshen, Mishawaka & South Bend areas) DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Feb 7th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, February 28, 2009 -- 9 AM-6 PM Hampton Presbyterian Church 2942 E. Hardies Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044 (Pittsburgh, PA) DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Feb 14th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, March 7, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM St. John Baptist Church 400 N. 30th Street, Camden, NJ 08105 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $99/$119/$149 Register by February 21, 2009 for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, March 14, 2009 -- 9 AM-6 PM Pine Valley United Methodist Church 3778 Shipyard Blvd, Wilmington, NC 28412 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Feb 28th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, April 18, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church 3777 Ivanrest Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Apr 4th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, April 25, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM Broadway Sound 2830 N Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by April 11th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Sunday, April 26, 2009 -- 2 PM to 6 PM Fern Creek Christian Church 9419 Seatonville Road, Louisville, KY 40291 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Mixing & Balancing Sound for Worship - $119/$99 Register by April 12, 2009 for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, June 20, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM Mount Pisgah AME Church 5901 Cedar Fern Court, Columbia, MD 21044 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by June 6th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
Saturday, September 12, 2009 -- 9 AM to 6 PM Evangel Church 1251 Terrill Road, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 DIRECTIONS Workshop: Live Sound for Worship - $149/$119/$99 Register by Aug 29th for the best discount and enter the raffle for free gear and sound books
The Singapore Zoo opened its doors in June of 1973. Since then the animal population has surged to over 2500 different specimens. Set in a rainforest environment, Singapore Zoo’s world famous ‘open concept’ offers the opportunity to experience and be inspired by the wonders of nature. Animals here live in spacious and landscaped environments simulating that of their natural habitat. The Singapore Zoo takes this concept even further by evolving into a learning zoo. Instead of just observing the animals, interactive, educational content is a feature of all exhibits. These interpretive activities aim to effectively convey facts about the animals and messages about wildlife conservation.
Asia/Pacific Market Manager, Laz Harris, recently visited the zoo for the completion of the 2nd Mackie install at the zoo. The zoo has used Mackie gear for quite some time. In fact, they have had a CR1604-VLZ in service for the past seven years. Most amazing is the fact that this particular 1604 has been in a non-air conditioned environment the entire time! With Singapore’s average temperature of 89°F coupled with 80% humidity, there is no doubt that the 1604 is “Built-Like-A-Tank”. There are also a ton of SRM350s and SRM450s in service as portable and backup sound solutions, but the install of a complete Tetrad system is the first Mackie “main” PA for the zoo.
The gear list for the install included an Onyx 24.4 at FOH, with a pair of MR5 studio monitors being used to reference the mix. The system is feeding a full Mackie Tetrad system that includes two S408s for tops and a pair of S410s’ as subwoofers. Senior Sound Director, Mike Hassan,
had the following to say regarding the high-end new system.
“It’s amazing to me that this [Tetrad] system sounds clearer and more evenly dispersed than our Adamson line array!”
One thing that surprised all involved was that while speaker placement was far from optimal for presenters due to space limitations posed by the surrounding animal environments, the amount of feedback was amazingly low. What little feedback was encountered during tuning was easily tamed with the most minor EQ adjustments on the Onyx 24.4. The rest of the system EQ remained virtually flat. “The sound is full and pleasing,” remarked Hassan. The low end was particularly impressive and the punchy character of the S410s was perfect for the hyped-up New Age and Afro-pop “safari-textured” soundtracks used in the shows.
“Mackie is very pleased to play a part in the zoo’s ongoing commitment to visitor education. We are sure that the new PA system will serve the zoo well, helping to educate and entertain visitors for years to come,” comments Harris.
AES attendees this year, all 17,892 of them who made their way to San Francisco, CA, came away with something – especially those who swung by the Mackie booth.
AES has traditionally been a very recording-focused group, and the show certainly lends itself to that with tons of boutique brands and products.
Our own homerun in this department may very well have been the illustrious Hotwire VT-12. Users tired of “digital modeling” amps, or of having to drive the bejesus out of their power tubes to get their tone, were more than impressed with Hotwire’s veritable Swiss Army Knife performance. An all-tube front-end that physically rewires itself all the way to the output stage – without DSP even engaged – is a guitar amp technology that none but us have achieved to date (hence the “patent pending” note on the product page). Being able to drop your output wattage from 120 watts all the way down to 1 watt and not sacrifice an ounce of tone is nothing to shake a pick at either. A 30-watt amplifier for the on-board compression driver – for full range PA-like audio – and a built-in 60-watt amp for the external EX-12 speaker can get you into those upper echelons of performance audio when you need it. And when analog isn’t enough, you’ve got DSP for days with 96 fully-customizable onboard presets. There’s no end to what this amplifier can do, and just about everyone that visited the Mackie booth left carrying that sentiment with them.
The ProFX Series saw its first audience as well, showcasing a full feature set that the competition hasn’t touched. We uniquely offer the combination of our custom-designed “Gig-Ready” Running Man FX™, precision 7-band graphic EQ and onboard integrated USB on both models – the ProFX8 or the ProFX12. Premium Mackie mic pres and our legendarily transparent 3-band EQ make these mixers an unconquerable deal at an undefeatable price.
The ultra-light and powerful PPM Series Powered Mixers saw their second audience. People were amazed at the feather-like weight of these Class-D powerhouses, not to mention the updated features such as dedicated inline channel compression and the high-quality RM FX+™ effects with tap delay. “More Sound Per Pound” in a package like this will easily make weekend warriors and professionals alike rethink their active setups and switch toward powering a compliment of passive speakers from a powered mixer that can truly deliver the raw power needed..
For entry level show attendees, which there were aplenty, we also showcased the U.420 and U.420d “hybrid” mixers – Integrated 96kHz FireWire neatly tucked into the most compact, ergonomic and easy-to-use mixer we could possibly build. Whether you’re a DJ, podcaster, keyboardist, producer or plumber, a U.Series mixer could very well complete your next gigging or recording setup.
Other “culprits” of the show included the MCU Pro family of control surfaces – the most widely used, widely supported control surface on the planet. We had a full recording studio setup in our “stage” area featuring the complete MCU Pro line as well as a Big Knob, capable of switching listeners between the exceedingly popular MR5s and unbeatably clear-and-balanced HR824mk2s we also brought to the show.
The entire VLZ3 line, our most popular mixer series to date as proven over a near-20-year track record, dominated its corner of the booth as well. To this day it seems that everyone we talk to either has or has used one of the legendary VLZ mixers, and now we offer them all the way down to the ultra-compact 802 and 402-VLZ3 model sizes. These mixers are still the ultimate analog solution in their class. Heck, they even invented the class in which they compete.
That’s about a wrap. This 3-day show was a blast for all who attended, especially us Mackoids. We enjoy meeting our customers in person, and even more, we enjoy sharing all of our newest gear with customers face-to-face. Next up: NAMM. See you there!
U.Series mixers are truly innovative. Here are some reasons why:
Plug It In, Turn It Up—Simple layout allows for instant recording and mixing
Big Features, Little Mixer—No other mixer in their class features such a rich array of mixing tools
Ingenious Connectivity— 24-bit/96kHz FireWire I/O with “Loop Thru” allows for impressive (and simple) routing for recording and performing with your laptop
4 high-headroom stereo line inputs for keys, synths, drum machines...
Mackie designed RIAA phono preamp for a turntable
3-band “full-kill” active EQ on every channel
Stereo aux send for a monitor mix or effects
Built-in DI for acoustic guitar, bass, etc.
2 Mackie mic channels Premium with 3-band, mid-sweep active EQ
2 high-headroom stereo line inputs with 3-band “full-kill” active EQ
2 RIAA phono preamps for turntables, complete with 30mm crossfader
YOUNG SONGWRITERS REACH FOR STARS WITH ONYX SATELLITE
The Experience Music Project (which now also includes the Science Fiction Museum) has been in Seattle since 2000. Housed in a completely unique 140,000 square foot Frank O. Gehry-designed space, the EMP takes on the status of “sculpture" as often as it does “building".
EMP blends interpretative, interactive exhibits with cutting-edge technology to educate visitors about the history, development and execution of anything musical. There’s a ton of rare artifacts and memorabilia…check out their exhibitions. It is a truly unique place and an equally unique experience when you visit.
Part of the EMP’s education-driven mission involves educational camps for young teens. Specifically, they conduct Teen Artist Workshops, which take place in the summer and are for teens going into 8th through 11th grades. Whatever musical interests the teens have, there is a workshop that will help them to develop that skill. Teens receive one-on-one training from industry professionals and each session culminates in a final project or event that showcases creativity through music.
Photo by Rick Barry, courtesy of EMP|SFM.
Mackie was asked to get involved with a Songwriting Workshop this summer where students explore various songwriting styles and spend the week writing and recording their own songs. Mackie armed the teens with Onyx Satellites and Tracktion 3 for recording purposes. The Satellite is perfect for educational endeavors. The Onyx mic preamps sound great and the integrated monitor control section makes it an all-in-one solution for anyone who needs a small interface. Plus, the dual headphone outputs make it very easy for students to pair up and record.
Tracktion 3 is also great for students, as the single screen interface is very easy to learn and use.
I think the phrase “…at least it’s a dry heat” makes sense most of the time. However, it did not offer much comfort when attending the 2008 New Media Expo in Las Vegas, which took place August 14-16. Daytime temps of over 100 degrees everyday ensured that you stayed in the convention center (or casinos) for as long as possible and kept all outdoor activities to a minimum. That seemed to work out well for the 2500+ attendees, who were fine hanging out in the lobby, tapping away at their laptops after visiting booths and attending workshops.
The New Media Expo is in its fourth year, catering to content creators and promising to arm them with the knowledge and networking necessary to not only improve the quality of their content, but hopefully expand their audiences and get some money in their pockets.
A large portion of the attendees were podcasters and, as such, spend a large part of their time recording audio. Mackie was there to not only show off the U.Series Production Mixers and MR Mackie Reference Monitors, but also served to educate people who were just starting out, or have produced their show using only the most modest of tools.
There were a lot of people whose studio consisted of a USB mic and a pair of computer speakers or headphones, and when podcasting was in its infancy, this may have served them well. However, times have changed. People are making money podcasting, and it only stands to reason that quality audio production would not be far behind. Many people were interested in making the wise move to a hybrid mixer. The U.420d, with two mic pres, two stereo line channels and great price point was definitely a crowd pleaser. The hip crowd loved the unique form factor, and the FireWire “loop-thru” feature was a huge success. With this feature, a podcaster could hook up with an interviewee on Skype, bring that audio into the U.420d, combine it with their own mic and send the whole mix back to the computer for recording. This was a revelation to many and a perfect solution to their problems.
Mackie’s MR5 monitors were also a huge hit. Besides letting the attendees listen to their favorite music through the pair, Mackie Product Manager Matt Redmon and Communications Lead, Ryan Cassady, explained the other benefits of using a reference monitor with flat frequency response. A podcaster cannot assume their audience is only listening through headphones. As new media grows, the audience becomes more sophisticated and a content creator must be sure that their mix will translate well on any playback system. Once that light bulb went off, people could really see the value of the MR monitors, which you can get for around $300 a pair at any US authorized Mackie dealer.
We also had a decidedly more professional setup, consisting of an Onyx1220 (w/ FW card), a pair of HR624mk2 Studio Monitors and an MCU Pro. Since the crowd was a real mix, from noob to pro, there was also a lot of interest in this station. The ability to multi-track record out of the Onyx was a really strong selling point and the monitors sounded excellent, of course.
We even gave away a couple of U.420d mixers, which was a sure crowd pleaser!
Besides manning the booth, Matt Redmon was also tasked with conducting two separate on-site workshops. In these discussions, he outlined what hardware would be needed for a serious audio production rig. From mic to ear, he explained
the benefits and drawbacks that a consumer faces when choosing the right hardware and software for their applications. He also walked them through Tracktion 3, showing them how easy it is to get a session going, lay down a music bed and export the whole mix for distribution.
We would have to say that this event was a huge success. Everyone who attended is sure to benefit from increased production capabilities and marketing. There are undoubtedly many blogs out there giving you a play by play, so be sure to search those out. Everyone was networking like crazy, proving once again that what happens in Vegas, does not necessarily STAY in Vegas!
Seattle has long been known as a hot-spot for music. However, grunge died long ago…where does that leave Seattle? The annual Capitol Hill Block Party is the answer. For the past five years, several blocks of one of Seattle hippest neighborhoods is transformed into a multi-stage festival that feels more like an outdoor club and less like the dusty, mosh-laden festivals that take place around the country every summer. Even with the 20,000+ crowds, one gets the sense that this is a party for Seattlites, which is a far cry from overcrowded Bumbershoot.
For this event, we gather all available Mackoids from the office and transform the group from cubicle nerds to professional production crew, working two 15+ hour days to pull off one of the largest shows in the region. You can find tech support members running the Vera Stage. You will see our Business Director running monitors. One of our Product Managers, the Copywriter and our Product Requirements Manager patched the main stage on both days. It is really quite amazing that we are able to pull off such a large show, when our normal routine is full of meetings and spreadsheets. Anyway, enough about us.
The Main Stage was the place to be this year. We used Onyx 4880s at the FOH and monitor positions, and there was no missing the SRM450v2s that were lined up as front fill speakers. Our sister brand, EAW was also well represented, as the main stacks were comprised of a large amount of KF750s and SB1000zs. This awesome system was well fed, dining on the gourmet sounds of several groundbreaking groups over the course of the two-day event.
Here a list of the bands that rocked the main stage:
Mackie also sponsored the Vera Stage, which highlights emerging artists, most of which have never played a venue of this caliber. The Vera Stage was fully decked-out with a TT System32. With the new software update, you can use the DS3232 Digital Snake as a splitter, sending the same signals to TT24s at both FOH and monitors. Check out the FOH/Monitor split situation at the TT System32 page. The main featured a healthy dose of the Mackie Tetrad line (S408/S410s) and was more than enough for the venue. SRM450v2s were used as stage monitors.
Mackie created and ran the VIP area, which featured some free beer and booze for whoever could get in. There were couches for relaxing and even a couple of Xbox360 stations featuring Guitar Hero III. Not bad.
So, get online and check out reviews from the show and give some support to the involved artists. It was a hell of a time and Mackie is super proud to have been involved (yet again) with what is arguably the best block party in the entire free world.
Indonesia has seen tremendous growth in the past decade and there are many people interested in recording and live sound. Kairos (PT Santika) is the Mackie distributor for this region, and our man in Indonesia, Laz Harris recently visited Kairos and they certainly showed him a good time.
One of the stops was at a large local beach-front resort and them park, which features a very popular attraction called “Police Academy”. Yes, like the movie. It’s a massive stunt show that is approved by Warner Bros. When Kairos was asked to spec the gear for the large outdoor event, they immediately thought of Mackie and, in particular, the SRM450.
As you can see, there are TONS of 450s flown, providing the audience with a rich sonic experience.
So, if you plan on being in Indonesia any time soon, please stop by the “Police Academy” stunt show and enjoy the articulation of the SRM450. BTW, you may not want to commit any vehicular crimes in the area, as the local law enforcement apparently has access to BMWs and monster trucks. Yikes!
DJ Sid Wilson of Slipknot (longstanding d.2 Pro endorsee and generally scary dude) contacted Mackie before the tour started, looking for some gear for what is definitely the most aggressive after-party DJ setup Mackie has ever heard of. So, we gathered up a robust set of Mackie loudspeakers and a couple of d.2 Pro mixers and drove them down to the amphitheater the day before the show.
For the tour, Sid will be traveling in a 37 foot Damon Outlaw motor coach, which opens up from the back to unveil a full-on DJ set-up which is perfect for the backstage after-party. When opened up and fully-decked out, this is a formidable setup that is tremendously powerful, offering tons of low end thanks to four S410s Precision Passive Subwoofers. Two S408’s were used for the top boxes, and the whole system was powered with two M3000 and two M2000 Stereo Power Amplifiers. DJ Sid uses the d.2 Pro Production Mixer for his sessions and and SRM450v2 for his booth monitor.
So, it would seem that the show is never quite over during the Mayhem festival. If you are lucky enough to get some backstage passes for the tour, make sure to stop by the RV, say hi to DJ Sid (although it is doubtful he will hear you over the massive Mackie system!)
We will assume that you have heard of the massive motorcycle rally known as Sturgis. The vast majority of you who regularly wear leather chaps probably have also heard of The Buffalo Chip. No? OK, then…The Chip is four miles from downtown Sturgis, SD. It is a massive campground and is commonly referred to as the “best party anywhere”. The Chip consistently has the best Sturgis concerts and enjoys the honor of being the only campground in the world where Dominos delivers.
Playing at The Chip is a great opportunity for a band and Mackie is very excited to be a part of the 2nd Annual Rock the Sound…Sturgis Bound competition. Over the course of a few weekends, six bands will compete for a place on stage at The Chip.
The first competition roared to live with the help of several hundred bikes, two great bands and a much appreciated sunny day. Fortune 500 was the first band to take the stage. This three piece power trio impressed the audience with solid chops, well-crafted vocal harmonies and a diverse collection of original songs.
Hungry Dogs were the second band promised to bring the blues, and boy howdy, did they bring it. The five piece band featured moving guitar solos that make you wish you had a one-legged dog right beside you. And the tasty vocal work of both the guitarist and ridiculously talented keyboard player pulled you right into the Delta frame of mind.
Both Fortune 500 and Hungry Dogs left the audience wanting more and that’s just what they’ll get. There are several more bands participating in the competition over the next few weeks, so we’ll just have to wait and see which bands find themselves entertaining hundreds of bikers who make it to The Chip this year.
Sound Harley-Davidson, located in Marysville, WA is proudly hosting this years Rock the Sound…Sturgis Bound competition, this year and last.
Last year’s competition, with an equally impressive Mackie sound system, provided four weekends of amazing band competition. When it was over, the winning prize was awarded to Midstokke. This powerhouse band went on to play several audience-inspiring shows at The Chip during the 2007 Sturgis rally. If you missed them last year, you’ll get another chance because they will be back to rock The Chip again this year.
As the Rock the Sound…Sturgis Bound competition continues to unfold, we will be sure to provide you updates on the happenings.
12 Students, 12,000 Miles and 1 Waste Veggie Oil Powered Bus on a Mission for a Greener Tomorrow.
Lofty goal? The 12 Dartmouth students who are living and touring on The Big Green Bus would probably agree. However, the intended message is rather simple—educate Americans about climate change and its relationship to energy issues.
This year marks the fourth summer road trip of The Big Green Bus, a green 27’ long 1996 International school bus which has been lovingly converted to run on WVO (waste veggie oil). As they traverse the country, the students stop at any place where they can educate people. From festivals and block parties to wind farms and city council meetings, The Big Green Bus is a focal point for promoting high-profile media attention in the communities visited in an effort to spark a national dialogue. So...start talking people!
Mackie believes in the cause and wanted to provide some gear to help spread the message. Two SRM350v2’s and a 1202-VLZ3 enable the students to be heard during presentations and interactions. Bus-rider Trey Roy had the following to say, “We will be heard loud and clear with the two portable Mackie loudspeakers and compact mixer to run our presentations through.�
Visit www.thebiggreenbus.org to learn more about this inspiring project. You can follow the bus as it travels the country and read the blog, highlighting the progress as the bus rolls on. There's also some great video content on YouTube. So check it all out and learn what you can do to be a part of the solution.
Everything's Bigger In Texas: July Sound Workshops
Fits and Starts Productions will be holding several HOW-TO Church Sound Workshops this July- five in Texas, one in D.C and one in Virginia. The HOW-TO Church Sound Workshopsâ„¢ focus on both basic and advanced gear and techniques that will help your volunteer staff do a more effective job of running and recording your worship services. Whether you have a single pulpit microphone with speaker, or dozens of mics with a live band and choir, these hands-on workshops will help your volunteers get the best sound for the entire congregation.
Any Mackoid who registers for any of the seven upcoming HOW-TO Church Sound Workshops can register for 50% off the regular price.
All you need to do is go online to www.howtosound.com/register and enter the coupon code mackie-50 in the coupon box area. The price will automatically be updated to show the Mackie discount once you hit "update".
Here are the dates for the eligible workshops:
• Saturday July 12, 2008 (9am-6pm)
Highlands Christian Church
9949 McCree Road, Dallas, TX 75238
• Sunday, July 13, 2008 (1pm-4pm)
Red Oak Baptist Church
320 E. Ovilla Road, Red Oak, TX 75154
• Thursday, July 17, 2008 (6:30pm-9:30pm)
First Baptist Church
1515 Live Oak Street, Rockport, TX 78382
• Saturday, July 19, 2008 (9am-6pm)
Friendswood UMC
110 N. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, TX 77546
• Sunday, July 20, 2008 (1pm-4pm)
First UMC Pasadena
1062 Fairmont PKWY, Pasadena, TX 77504
• Saturday, July 26, 2008
(9am-6pm)
Allen Chapel AME Church
2498 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20020
• Sunday, July 27, 2008
(1pm-4pm)
Capital Baptist Church
3504 Gallows Road, Annandale, VA 22003
You can register as many people as you want from your church, unlimited, and get 50% off the final price. If you need more information, please visit the registration area or you can contact Hector with Fits and Starts Productions (732-741-1275).
Mackie tries to get out, whenever possible, and support local events. Each year, we are proud to be a part of the Old Snohomish Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show. The show, now in it’s 12th year, takes place in beautiful downtown Snohomish, WA…just a short trip from Mackie headquarters in Woodinville, which is outside of Seattle…just Google Map it. Anyway…each year, locals get together to show off their antique and classic bikes, listen to bands and generally have a good time.
Mackie was there to provide the PA and run the sound for all the bands that were playing throughout the day. The bands were set up on a flatbed that was parked at the end of the street and it had to be loud enough to be heard over the rumbling of close to 15,000 bikes. Two SA1532z’s and four SWA1801z’s served as mains, with a whole host of SRM450v2’s acting as stage monitors. We even brought along an Onyx 1620, which came out of the direct outs on the Onyx 3280, which was used at front of house. This enabled a live recording of the show using Tracktion 3. Quad Comp/Gates and Quad EQs were used for processing at the main stage. There was also an awards stage, with two SA1521z’s being run through an 802-VLZ3.
200 motorcycles entered into a bike competition with categories like best vintage and best customized. This was a big increase in participation from last year and there seems to be no sign of slowing.
Needless to say, Mackie was happy to participate in this great event and we look forward to being a part of it in the future. If only we could mount the PA on a bike….hmm.
You may not know this, but Mackie is actually part of an extended family. We share a house with such notable brands as Ampeg, Crate, Blackheart and Alvarez. Good company, right? We think so.
In fact, we want to show you their latest project, Resonate Magazine, the world's first digital music magazine to delve into the minds, methods and motivations of leading musicians, and how they use their gear to create their signature sounds.
Check out the 1st issue and be sure to sign up to receive future issues. It's free, just do it.
The Rock Office of Berlin, seriously—is doing something incredible for local high school students. They are conducting week long seminars at local high schools, teaching them the what’s what when it comes to putting on a killer rock show. Think “The School of Rock�, but highly organized and fully sanctioned by the local authorities.
Monday through Thursday are training days. Students learn technical skills, like how to use a mixer and how to setup the backline, they also delve into the technology behind the gear. Mackie donated a full system to help the efforts of the Rock Office. An Onyx 24.4 routes through the Quad Series Processors and feeds SA1530z mains and SRM450 stage monitors.
There is always a student band involved and by Friday afternoon, everyone is ready for a show. The students will mix FOH, control the lighting and pretty much manage the 300+ person event. Underage bands cannot play nighttime shows in Germany, so the idea is to get students involved in positive community projects.
Students receive a certificate for the vocational training, and those who demonstrate exceptional aptitude are asked to be involved in future training. All in all, it’s a positive and truly valuable experience for those who, otherwise, have no place to rock.
Grand Re-opening By Guitar Center. Sound By Mackie.
Guitar Center recently held a massive grand-reopening of its Lynnwood, WA store and Mackie was there to shake things up. There were tons of people there enjoying music and generous giveaways in what can only be described as a carnival atmosphere. Community businesses got involved by setting up tents and letting participants enjoy a sample of their services.
Local bands played from 7pm until late into the night and Mackie was happy to be at FOH. An Onyx 3280 drove the show with some help from a couple of QuadEQ’s and a Quad Comp/Gate. SRM450v2’s were the perfect choice for stage monitors, while eight SWA1801z’s ensured a ridiculous amount of rump shaking bass. The Lynnwood police showed up, but it turns out they only wanted hot dogs—go figure.
The community of Lynnwood will certainly benefit from having this brand new Guitar Center in their neighborhood. They are also aware that this is Mackie’s hood and that we have their back.
Musik MESSE/Prolight + Sound, in Frankfurt, is the audio industry’s largest tradeshow with more than 2000 exhibitors displaying their latest and greatest products. Mackie was there and, boy howdy, we looked good. Mackie’s mammoth booth not only gave show-goers the chance to get their hands on the latest gear, but also served as an oasis of comfort for those who had been on their feet all day. Click here to check out some photos of the booth. The stage was set and Mackie was ready, launching a whole mess of spanking new products.
The all-new U.Series Production Mixers certainly turned more than a few heads. They are the perfect solution for musicians, producers and DJs, providing all the right connections for multi-source setups. Plus, intuitive ergonomics let the creativity freely flow. Oh yeah, they also look really cool.
There was a "rehearsal space", complete with a full band backline, to show off the new PPM Series Professional Powered Mixers. The PPM608 and PPM1008 are super powerful box mixers, benefiting from 1000W ultra-light class-D amp sections and the all-new RMFX+â„¢ effects processor. The PPM1012 is a 1600W powered desktop mixer featuring dual effects processors. The series has all the benefits of a Mackie mixer, plus a ton of raw power.
MESSE was also the Europe’s first look at the exciting products we launched at NAMM. The 402-VLZ3 and 802-VLZ3 were showcased alongside their larger siblings, and predecessors in the VLZ Evolution Museum. There was also an elevated plush lounge that displayed the SRMv2 Series Active Loudspeakers. People could interact in a working project studio featured the sweet new MR Series Mackie Reference Monitors or hang out in the “Amp Up!� bar and see what the all-new FRS Series Stereo Power Amplifiers can do. Guitarists were also happy to get their hands on the VT-12 Hotwire Guitar Amplifier. Offering an incredible array of vintage and modern tube tones, Hotwire is the world’s first mode-switching guitar amplifier. Class A/AB operation, selectable wattage (up to 120W) and a 12� neodymium speaker provide light but powerful performance. It is truly innovative and simply amazing.
All of our Mackoids have since returned from Germany, still reeling from the copious intake of beer and schnitzel, ready to get back to work designing exciting new products for you.
Since 1948, TAMIYA has been making top-quality model cars. Over the years, they evolved from sturdy wooden educational models to all-out radio controlled beasts that are world-renowned for their quality and accuracy. There are racing tournaments that span the globe and Mackie was honored to provide sound via SRM450s and a 1202-VLZ3 mixer for a TAMIYA racing event that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa.
RC enthusiasts of all-ages were scheduled to participate in 3-round qualifying races, culminating in a final race that would determine the grand champion. You can learn more about TAMIYA Cup rules and regulations here.
Besides running sound, Mackie also jumped the line with its Mackie-styled machine. South African Mackie distributor and loyal Mackoid, Rui Valentim, has been racing TAMIYA Cup for 4 years. “I wanted my car to be unique. At the time, I was racing a TB02 Evolution chassis and the idea hit me. Mackie’s 1604 Evolution concept would be perfect, hence the birth of a killer new car. Thanks to some fender bending and skilled nudging, Rui managed to rank fourth.
TAMIYA racing is huge in South Africa, but racing events can be found in almost every country on the planet. If one happens in your neighborhood, you will want to be there. Here are some more great photos
of the event. Also, check out the video to see what TAMIYA racing is all about.
As a major event sponsor at SXSW, Mackie is all over the place. One place you can see us is at the dual-venue PureVolume event. Last year, this was the most talked about event at SXSW. The indoor venue opens it’s doors from 2pm until 4am every day and packs in the people (the open bar helps). There is no avoiding the Mackie gear at this party, from the stage monitors all the way up to FOH. Are we allowed to hit the bar?
We are also hosting an official SXSW Party called “Next Big Nashville’s Booze, Bands, and Biscuits�, which will be held on Friday, March 14th. Not only will partygoers enjoy free drinks and a biscuit bar (yes, you read that right), they will be able to hear tons of live music from Nashville’s finest. The party will include Mackie door prizes and some lucky person will win an all-expense paid trip to Next Big Nashville 2008!
As if that isn’t enough, Mackie is sponsoring the notorious Levis/Fader Magazine House again this year. This all-night, celebrity shoulder-rubbing, party like a rock star house is THE place to be when the sun goes down. Mackie’s TT System32 will be driving the show from FOH and the all-new SRM450v2 will be pumping music on and off the stage. So, make sure to stop by the best house party at SXSW…like you could avoid it.
The name John Lennon brings several things to mind. Peace, Love, and hands-on training for tomorrow’s artists and leaders.
Okay, you might not immediately think of that last one, but it is certainly true. The brand-new John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a marvel of mobile recording, and Mackie is proud to be a lead sponsor.
This rolling studio has everything needed (including a load of Mackie gear) to produce world-class recordings and videos, as well as a performance stage with a killer Mackie PA system.
The Bus features SA1532z’s and SWA2801z’s for the main PA, with a whole bunch of SRM450’s for stage monitors. Also, an Onyx 3280 is being used as the main console up at FOH.
Inside, HR624mk2s and 824mk2s are being used in two separate 5.1 systems, allowing crystal clear, professional monitoring for any audio or video applications.
Visit www.lennonbus.org to learn more about the project and see where The Bus is headed next. Peace…
When Snoop Dogg calls, you answer the phone. Snoop called on West Coast Customs to pimp out his old Sprinter van and turn it into a mobile recording studio, for an episode of Street Customs, which airs on the TLC channel.
This was no short order, as the Doggfather only uses the highest quality professional audio equipment, even if it is meant for the road. Since Mackie meets his needs when working in his studio, he didn’t want to change a thing for his new mobile studio.
The mobile studio runs Mackie’s Tracktion 3 Ultimate Bundle music production software, featuring a full suite of mixing and mastering tools, as well as virtual instruments and loops galore.
An Onyx 1200F FireWire interface provides 30 inputs and 34 outputs of 192kHz audio using Mackie’s high-end Onyx preamps. A pair of SA1521z two-way 15-inch active loudspeakers serve as monitors for this tricked out studio on wheels.
Besides the studio, the Snoop Van also needed to be a place to relax. Mackie’s HR624mk2’s are used in a 5.1 setup formaximum pleasure while watching a movie,
or playing video games.
Snoop was so thrilled to have Mackie on board that he gave permission to have the van driven down to NAMM. A bunch of Mackoids were on scene to meet with Big Dane from West Coast Customs and to see the pimped out ride in action. There is no doubt that this mobile studio is the real deal.
Check out a clip from the Snoop Van episode of Street Customs.
We were extremely excited to attend this year’s NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, chomping at the bit to show off our exciting new products to the rest of the world. The show was a perfect storm for us, as we debuted everything from new mixers and amps to both studio and active PA speakers, and got them into the hands of users--in some cases, the very same day!
The recording lounge section of our booth showcased the hot new MR5 & MR8 Mackie Reference Studio Monitors. With similar design characteristics to our popular HRmk2 standards, these new ultra-affordable studio monitors attracted quite a bit of attention as booth visitors eagerly lined up to witness the miracle for themselves--true Mackie Reference quality and performance at a super-low price!
The 402VLZ3 & 802VLZ3 “mini mixers� were found everywhere as well. Not only scattered all over the VLZ3 station, of course, but running sound throughout our booth. We put our best minds to this project, trying to figure out how to cram that much quality into that compact of a footprint… and, boy, did we nail it. So now, when your standards are high and your input count is low, you have a high quality, compact offering from our world-famous VLZ3 mixer line.
We can’t forget the “Amp Up!� bar, either. We provided walk-weary visitors with Monster energy drinks from our classy bar built atop seven Mackie S215s, holding up a rack on each wing of both the Millennium and FRS amp lines. That’s right: the new FRS amp line by Mackie. We’re proud to announce that we now offer an amplifier line including all of our modern amp technology and topology, such as our legendary Fast Recover circuitry and well know Class A/B and Class H amp designs--but now with switching power supplies--so the FRS amps are all extra lightweight, uber-efficient, and they run cooler than a Tibetan ice cream parlor.
Speaking of amps, don’t think for a minute that we wouldn’t show Hotwire, Greg Mackie’s innovative and unique Mode-Switching guitar amp. There were more guitar players than anything else at NAMM, we would guess, and a great deal of them swung by to see the real deal: an amp that doesn’t use DSP for “amp modeling," but rather to alter the physical tube gain stage path that each preamp setting dictates. It’s truly a work of art and science combined, and many, many guitarists left our booth awestruck after only scratching the surface of what this amp is capable of.
Our final product debut was the most awaited and acclaimed of all, and deserved a stage all its own. The SRM450v2 and SRM350v2 introduction was indeed massive, as the complete re-design of these legendary speakers incorporates everything that made the originals great, and much, much more. The SRM450v2, for example, now boasts both a switching power supply and Class D amp technology, bringing the weight from 51 pounds all the way down to 40, as well as a neodymium woofer with a 3� voice coil and a high-output, weather-treated titanium dome tweeter. Active circuitry, servo-feedback control, ultra-wide dispersion, built-in protection circuitry and the ever-popular cabinet design still reign strong, and much about the new SRMv2s is strikingly similar to the product you already know and love… only we found a way to make them sound even better--tuned, of course, by the best ears in the business. And don’t forget how much easier they will be to carry to your next gig!
Finally, with an 802VLZ3 blasting the sounds of distorted rock guitars through a pair of SRM450v2s, was our mammoth 4-day Guitar Hero III contest, awarding hourly winners each day of the show. The event’s culmination was a 2-hour final round of all the hourly winners in which show attendee Joe Neven destroyed the competition playing Dragonforce’s “Through the Fire and Flames� on the expert setting, reeling in over 500,000 points. Joe went home with a pair of SRM450v2s and an Onyx 1220 mixer, and the second place winner Nick Guimarais grabbed a pair of MR5s off the show floor. Nice job, Joe and Nick!
And thanks to everyone else in attendance for making our booth a sweeping success this year, and for keeping us busier than any booth had a right to be.
Likely to be one of the biggest video games in history, Guitar Hero III is ready to roll and Mackie is ready to rock as the game's exclusive PA System. Rock-and-roll gamers will play on different sized stages, in a variety of venues. And in EVERY venue, the PA will be filled with Mackie Active Loudspeakers, including the SA Series, SR Series, and SRM 450s used as floor wedges.
Later in the year, Guitar Hero III will take the game and a Mackie PA system on the road, scheduled for 10 cities and 40 different tour stops where expert Guitar Hero gamers will compete to be their city's resident Guitar Hero. It's every would-be Guitar Hero's dream: playing for throngs of fans and groupies while Mackie SRM 450s fill the auditorium with thunderous rock melodies!
Check out Guitar Hero III, in stores now, and see how many Mackie speakers you can find (there are plenty)!
Below, Mackoid-on-the-scene Matt Redmon delivers a delightful account of Mackie’s AES experience.
This year’s AES show was a sweeping success, primarily because of the debut of our newest addition to the Mackie family: the HRmk2 Series studio monitors. The focus of our booth this year was a 14’ x 18’ isolation room provided by Vocal Booth , where we presented attendees with a history of the HR studio monitors, then jumped right into stereo A/B listening between the old HR824s and new HR824mk2s, so listeners could evaluate the improvements for themselves. We then compared the HR824mk2s to the HR624mk2s for the audience, so listeners could see which model of the monitor might best fit their needs, and finally closed with a homerun-of-a 5.1 surround demo involving five HR824mk2s and an HRS120 subwoofer.
Needless to say, the feedback we received was extremely positive and even the most skeptical critics going into the demo—for example, original HR824 owners who still use and love their old HR monitors—were wowed by the changes we made in the design of the mk2 line. The improved clarity, depth, stereo imaging and pure accuracy of sound reproduction the mk2 line of speakers brings to the table had everyone leaving the 30-minute demo –without exaggeration- thoroughly enraptured, holding back savage tears of joy, and completely overcome by a sense of enlightenment and higher being. Some of them even fell to their knees to worship the God of High Resolution at the Speaker Pedestal of Mackie-Made Paradise.
In addition to the showcase, Mackie also played host to the annual Garden Party, a shindig that provided an opportunity for us to thank our UK and European sales partners for their continued support. Our very own product manager Woody Woodburn supplied the tunes, which were pumped out via the new Mackie d.4 pro DJ Production Console and the TAPCO Thump 15A powered loudspeakers. Way to show off those raw skillz, Woody!
All in all, we had a brilliant time hosting our special events in London, and we’re well chuffed with the results.
Tell It, Track It, Trip It Contest heats up! Tell It winners receive Tracktion 3...
Tell it Winners:
Congratulations to the following wiinners of the Tell It portion of the Tell It, Track It, Trip It Contest!. These Bootsy-licious cats have sent the Bootsy Tracktion 3 Video to so many people all their emailing has paid off. Each person has won their very own copy of Trackion 3 Ultimate Bundle and are well on their way to Trackin' It and depending on their remixing skills, they just might be Trippin' It... all the way to Bootsy's Cincinnati Rehab Studio!
What are you waiting for? Get going and Tell It, Track It,Trip It! Contest ends October 25th. See official rules for details.
Tell It, Track It, Trip It...All the way to Cincinnati to Hang with Bootsy, Baby!
In case you haven’t heard, we have a sweet contest underway. From great Mackie gear to remixing with a legend, our Tracktion 3 Tell, It Track It, Trip It contest promises truly Bootsy-licious prizes. Here’s what you gotta do to get a chance to win it:
Tell It: Watch the Mackie Tracktion 3 (T3) music production software demo video and share it with everyone you know. Just for simply turning your friends on to this incredible software, you could win a copy of T3 Ultimate Bundle.
Track It: Download our demo copy of T3 (or purchase an upgrade) and the Bootsy Collins track, Shiggy Wiggy. Remix the tune, and if Bootsy digs it….
…or something like that – to be explained by the end of this post, surely.
Mackie loves summer events… especially summer events involving beer, bands and outdoor movies. Redhook Moonlight Cinema Series is just that, and is yet another of our longstanding Mackie traditions, dating back to the late ’90s. Since the Redhook Brewery is a favorite of many Mackoids, and since it’s right down the street from our home office, many of us would be attending the brewery’s outdoor movie night anyway…so why not show up with a mixer, a few speakers and a sound crew, too? Running sound is what keeps us all ticking, so getting out and doing it is a must for many of us.
Let’s allow Thursday, August 16th, 2007 to be a perfect example of what it is we do at these things:
The scheduled movie was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – to be shown after dark on a giant, inflatable screen put up by Easter Day Promotions – but said main event was foremost to be preceded by the local, lovable five-piece of musical chums known as Thee Emergency.
Thee Emergency is a seriously kick-ass group of female-fronted, riff-driven “rootiness� that’s both for the masses and from the heart. As the only band to play Redhook this year, Thee Emergency took control of the stage and taught the masses to rock using their unique brand of amplified osmosis. Attendees continued to pile into the grassy knoll of the Redhook “lawn� that hosts this 1000+ viewer event, and as they did they were greeted by not only a great band, but a great band rocking on a modestly massive speaker setup comprised of two Mackie SA1530z loudspeakers on top of two SWA2801z subwoofers per side.
Mackie Gets Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party Rockin'
Product evangelist Matt Redmon was live on the scene at Seattle’s preeminent indie fest, the Capitol Hill Block Party, just a few short weeks ago. Following is his account of this cool and unique event.
Blood Brothers rock the Main Stage on Friday, July 27th
Now hailed as the festival that sets the bar for all the other local music festivals, this was Mackie’s 7th consecutive Capitol Hill Block Party where we provided all of the sound equipment and crew for two stages, two days in a row. Of the CHBP, the Seattle P.I. says it’s “one of the most anticipated events among Seattle’s indie elite,� and they’re not wrong. All told, the total body count for attendees exceeded 40,000 fans of both local and internationally successful acts alike.
Hardworking Mackoids handled both the Main Stage and the Vera Stage once again, and hosted such acts as Silversun Pickups, The Cribs, Against Me!, Spoon, John Vanderslice, Blue Scholars, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head and many, many more.
Lights, Camera, Mackie! Mackie Helps Film Students Take Control at Whistling Woods International
Whistling Woods International in Mumbai, home to Bollywood, is India’s premier educational institution for film, television and the media arts. Whether their focus is in acting, directing, scoring or something else, people come from all over the country—and the world—to study at this acclaimed institute. And thanks to Mackie gear, including the Mackie Control Universal, these students are getting crucial hands-on experience.
MCU and MCU Pro Control Surfaces are used to facilitate editing, audio mixing and even color correction; Whistling Woods has close to 60 of them installed.
“The MCU is a fantastic tactile control surface which our students use to control [Digidesign] Pro Tools, Apple Logic and Apple Final Cut Studio,� says Chief Technology Officer, Neelesh J. Bhatia. And thanks to the control surfaces, he adds, “students are able to do their projects more precisely, easily and quickly.�
Our roving Mackie Product Evangelist Laz Harris was on the scene of TapeOpCon2007, and below he spotlights Mackie's role at the event.
This year's TapeOpCon was an impressive event. Many industry pros turned out —George Massenburg, Joe Boyd, Steve Albini, Don Zeintara, Mitch Easter, just to name a few—and those who came by the Mackie booth were wowed by our great gear on display.
Don Zeintara spent some time with the new HR824mk2 High-Resolution Active Studio Reference Monitors, and Mitch Easter was very interested in the new MCU Pro Control Surface. Lots of folks were digging the MCU Pro, in fact; the analog set appreciates how the controller, with its analog mixer-like layout and ultra-smooth faders, makes working in the digital realm feel like home.
Meet Mackie's Biggest Fan (...Or One of 'Em, Anyway)
Known as “Mr. Mackie,� by his friends and colleagues, Rui Valentim of Johannesburg, South Africa claims he has the “biggest and oldest collection of Mackie swag in the world.�
“It’s something I cannot explain, I just must have it,� Valentim says of his collection fetish. A product specialist for MIDI Music, Valentim has a huge glass case devoted to his hundreds of pieces of Mackie swag. And if that isn’t enough, he has just branded his second personal truck with the Mackie logo on all sides.
Valentim was first introduced to Mackie in 1999 and began collecting swag because of Mackie’s one-of-a-kind humor and wit. He owns everything from Mackie cleaning kits to our personal favorite…Mackie condoms.
Of his whole collection, Valentim says his favorite swag item is his Mackie leather jacket. “I have been offered ridiculous amounts of money for the jacket,� he says. “Not even a million U.S. dollars will buy you my leather jacket—it has sentimental value.�
Mackie’s products cannot be surpassed according to Valentim, whose first purchase was a 1642 VLZ six years ago, which he says still works without a hitch. He even flew to Seattle in 2004 just to meet the Mackie employees and Mr. Greg Mackie himself.
Valentim says friends and colleagues know not to mess with Mackie products or displays when he is around. And says that he will be “a Mackie freak till he dies.�
Thanks, Rui Valentim, for being as crazy and freaky as the rest of us here at Mackie!
There is something special that happens when you combine Harley-Davidson, Mackie and live bands. Sound Harley-Davidson, located in the Pacific Northwest, is holding a month-long battle of the bands competition which will give one lucky band the chance to play at the legendary Buffalo Chip during the 2007 Sturgis motorcycle rally.
As the sound system sponsors, Mackie came in with a system worthy of such a high-level event. The system consisted of a SWA2801z and SA1532z per side for FOH, a slew of SRM450 Active Loudspeakers for monitors and an Onyx 3280 Console handling both the main mix and monitors. There were also two Quad EQs and two Quad Comp/Gates in the drive rack to help manage the sonic details. ...
Following is an account of the Musikmesse experience, as told by Product Specialist Laz Harris. Be sure to read the whole post, and get a peek at our latest and greatest products.
Musikmesse 2007 was a great success. It was Mackie's world debut of our new HR824mk2 and HR624mk2 studio monitors, and the show attendees couldn't seem to get enough of them—many of them returned to the booth with friends to have a second and third listen. We're just thankful the new high-gloss Piano Black finish is fingerprint resistant...
HR624mk2 and HR824mk2 High Resolution Active Studio Reference Monitors
For the fourth year in a row, Mackie mixed it up at the Remix Hotel Miami from March 22-25, showcasing our latest DJ gear and a roster of cutting-edge artists. Mackie’s own d.2 Crew presented daily gear demos, featuring next-generation Mackie DJ Production Consoles, the d.4 pro and d.2 pro, the MCU Pro control surface, as well as Tracktion 3, Mackie’s premier recording and remixing software.
The Mackie booth was especially busy this year, and was graced by visits from DJ royalty, including Biz Markie, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ AV, DJ Kid Capri, Grandmaster Dee, Bennie Bennasi, Mad Linx from BET’s Rap City and Lil Jon.
Check out our collection of pix…
Is this a trade show booth or a party? We think this picture says it all.
Mackie CFX•12 Passes the Pee Test: A User's Tale
A most humorous story from a Mackie user landed in our inbox the other day. He was even kind enough to indulge us with a staged photo to illustrate his point:
I have been meaning to write to Mackie for years to commend you for your nearly indestructible construction quality and to offer you an amusing testimonial:
I have a CFX•12 mixer that I used as the soundboard for my last band. We were playing a show in the basement of a dive bar called Hal Daddy's in Baltimore, MD and had just started into our encore when water started dripping on my head. I looked up to see water pouring through the floorboards, right onto my Mackie... There were a couple sparks before I yanked the power from the amps, but unfortunately, the mixer was soaked. I later came to learn that it was in fact a toilet that had overflowed from the men's room above that had poured into my new gear. I was devastated, thinking that there was no way the mixer could have survived a dunk in a couple gallons of Bud Lite piss. Still, I decided not to give up on it or stick it on ebay and put the thing way out of the way to dry out. I tried it once or twice over the next couple days, but it continued to short out a little. Left it alone for about a week, then decided to try it again. To my amazement, the mixer worked! In fact, the sound quality seemed quite unaffected by the incident with the exception of one slider on the eq that still crackles if you adjust it with the volume up loud. Other than that, and a slightly funky odor, it has continued to work flawlessly for the last 4 yrs since then.
So thank you, Mackie, for constructing a mixer impervious to urine, beer, and god-knows-what-else you find in the men's toilet at Hal Daddy's!
I am getting into turntables now as well and have been eyeing the d.2... If you want someone to put one through its paces, I'm your man!
2007 Winter NAMM New Product Round-Up: TT System32 Digital Live Mixing System
Phew! We've finally recovered from the whirlwind that is NAMM. Now, in a series of new posts, we're filling you in on the products Mackie introduced at the show.
2007 Winter NAMM New Product Round-Up: Mackie Control Pro Series controllers
Phew! We've finally recovered from the whirlwind that is NAMM. Now, in a series of new posts, we're filling you in on the products Mackie introduced at the show.
Mackie Control Pro Series control surfaces – Our next-generation control surfaces impressed many a NAMM attendee with their comprehensive feature set and expandable design. The Mackie Control Universal Pro controller, Mackie Control Extender Pro extension and Mackie Control C4 Pro plug-in and virtual instrument controller work seamlessly together, completing your music production experience to deliver ultimate hands-on control of all your mix and plug-in parameters. Want to learn more about the controllers, and their unparalleled software integration? Read on....
If you’d like more info on products we introduced at NAMM, visit our Press Room.
2007 Winter NAMM New Product Round-Up: Tracktion 3
Phew! We've finally recovered from the whirlwind that is NAMM. Now, in a series of new posts, we're filling you in on the products Mackie introduced at the show.
Tracktion 3 – Meet our next-generation digital audio and MIDI production software. With the introduction of unlimited track count, REX/Apple Loop/ACID loop support and built-in Time Stretching, T3 offers everything you could possibly need in a pro recording app, all in a clutter-free environment…and it’s affordable, too. T3 comes in two bundles, each featuring professional plug-ins and loops from some of the most respected names in the industry. Get all the details here…
If you’d like more info on products we introduced at NAMM, visit our Press Room.
2007 Winter NAMM New Product Round-Up: VLZ3 Compact Mixers
Phew! We've finally recovered from the whirlwind that is NAMM. Now, in a series of new posts, we're filling you in on the products Mackie introduced at the show.
VLZ3 Series compact mixers – Thought the VLZ Pro series couldn’t be improved upon? Well, think again! We’ve made the perfect line of mixers even perfect-er. (And invented a new word to boot. Hey, “truthiness� got word of the year, so maybe we’re on to something. )
So how did we improve our perfect compact mixers? For starters, new studio-grade XDRâ„¢2 Extended Dynamic Range mic preamps, more musical EQ and a more ergonomic design. The VLZ 3 line includes the 16-channel 1604-VLZ3 mixer with 16 XDR2 mic preamps, the 16-channel 1642-VLZ3 with 10 XDR2 preamps, the 1402-VLZ3 14-channel mixer with 6 XDR2 mic preamps, and the 12-channel 1202-VLZ3, which has 4 XDR2 mic pres. Read more about the VLZ3 Series here.
If you’d like more info on products we introduced at NAMM, visit our Press Room.
2007 Winter NAMM New Product Round-Up: SRM150 Compact Active PA System
Phew! We've finally recovered from the whirlwind that is NAMM. Now, in a series of new posts, we're filling you in on the products Mackie introduced at the show.
SRM150 Compact Active PA System – This powerful little number generated a lot of buzz at the show, and with good reason. The SRM150 delivers incredible sound quality—plus a sweet onboard mixer—in an ultra-compact package, making it the ultimate solution for sound reinforcement in smaller spaces. As we like to say around here, it’s our snack-sized SRM. Get the full scoop on the SRM150…
If you’d like more info on products we introduced at NAMM, visit our Press Room.
TT24 Hits The Road: Thomas Dolby, BT and TT24 Consoles
Sonic innovators Thomas Dolby and BT are currently touring the U.S., delivering dynamic live performances in 5.1 surround sound. Facilitating the experience is a specialized sound system, featuring dual Mackie TT24 digital consoles as well as EAW NT Series full-range loudspeakers and subwoofers.
Engineer/Mixer Mark Linett recently added a Mackie Digital X Bus console to his Your Place Or Mine Location Recording Studio in Southern California. The 48-track remote system is geared toward location recording and post-production for live concerts and broadcast projects.
Although most often associated with Brian Wilson, due to his long-term working relationship with the Beach Boys’ founder including the legendary Smile LP (for which he received a Grammy nomination for Best Engineering), Linett’s decades’-long resume covers an eclectic range of music. Collaborations include Randy Newman, Jane’s Addiction, Paul Simon, Santana, Eric Clapton, the Blasters, Love, Dixie Dregs and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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.
Mackie Selected for Innovative Bay Area Studio Complex
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.
Orbiting the Globe, Mackie Satellite Earns Praise from International Press
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
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’.
Live from AES: New Mackie Sound Reinforcement Products Ready For Launch
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.
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)
MACKIE HELPS STURGIS THROW A PARTY FOR 650,000 OF ITS CLOSEST FRIENDS
The Dan Lawson Band & Mackie's S400 Series Loudspeakers On Stage at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, SD
"The musicians and the technical crews have all been so happy to find out they’re playing through Mackie gear, and even people in the audience, they see the Mackie banners and so many of them know the name is synonymous with great sound." Kevin Karns, the Buffalo Chip, Sturgis.
Mackie Offers a Preview of their New Flagship DJ Mixer
A peak into Mackie’s product development crystal ball was offered up at the Professional Lighting and Sound Association’s annual tradeshow in London last week.
At first glance the new d.4 is the logical follow up to the highly-successful d.2, which led Mackie’s official entry into the DJ mixer market early last year. But the d.4 is much more than simply a four channel version of it’s immensely popular sibling. In typical Mackie fashion, real-world consideration went into designing something unique here—a true centerpiece for modern electronic music production and live performance.
One of our fave rave jocks, DJ Muggs, is posting a daily blog from the first stop of his tour, which starts in San Francisco at the Hard Rock Cafe on 8/31. He'll be blogging about his thoughts and experiences for all the world to see, so if you've been wondering what makes a guy like this tick—a guy who's DJed for Cypress Hill, produced House Of Pain and KRS-One, and worked with Tricky—this is the place. Click here to check it out...
No Jive! Soulive’s Eric Krasno Gets Busy with Mackie
Eric Krasno is a music addict. Don’t trip on me; that’s what it says in his official bio. He makes music everyday—it doesn’t matter if he’s at home in New York City, or out on tour with his band Soulive. Between Soulive and his production crew, The Fyre Dept., Eric has worked with mega-stars like Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, The Fugees, Dave Mathews, The Rolling Stones, Talib Kweli, Wu-Tang Clan, The Beatnuts, The Roots, John Scofield, Joshua Redman, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph and many others.
“I'm lucky that I can do what I love as my job, and I plan to do it for the rest of my life if possible,� Krasno confirms. And of course, another key element in his plan is Mackie gear. As a long time fan of Mackie mixers and recording equipment, Eric and Soulive have most recently been recording up a storm with an Onyx 1640 small-format mixer, an Onyx 800R mic preamp, and the legendary HR 626 studio monitors.
Mackie’s humble interviewer had, shall we say, “a headache� on the day of the interview, and was in no mood to beat around the bush with this interview. First angry question:
Mackie Muscle Car: A High-Volume Ride With Some Serious Funk In The Trunk
Randy Bigness, singer/songwriter and certified auto technician, has combined his two passions to take the portable PA concept to an entirely new level. His creation combines high-horsepower, pavement-shredding Detroit muscle of the 1960s, with an equally powerful Active loudspeaker system from Mackie.
Mackie TT24: Making Friends and Influencing People on Pro Sound Web Forum
Pro Sound Web’s Road Test is an entirely new way to review audio gear. Instead of stuffing a reviewer into a rehearsal space with the latest audio thingamajig, a copy of Word, and a mandate for 1200 words, the gear goes out with real users who put them into real situations and then share their experiences in an all-access forum.
Currently in the Road Test “hot seat� is a Mackie TT24, and it looks as though its winning over a few fans.
"I was dead certain I was going to dislike the non Yamaha-ness of the desk. Once I figured out how easy it was to use, I didn't miss a thing.�
"I felt very comfortable with this board at the very beginning. I found it much easier to use than the O1V and O2R.�
Interested in learning more? Read or participate in the TT24 Road Test.
Carbon Leaf: Success Through Hard Work and Taking Mackie On The Road
Virginia-based Carbon Leaf is a five-man band defying the odds of music business success by creating and playing their music their way. Not content to sit slack-jawed on a couch, wondering “wouldn’t it be cool if,� this courageous band—comprised of Barry Privett: words and vocals, Carter Gravatt: acoustic and electric mandolins, acoustic and electric guitars, lap steel, bouzouki, loops and effects, vocals, Jordan Medas: electric bass, bowed and double bass, vocals, Scott Milstead: drums and percussion, vocals, and Terry Clark: electric and acoustic guitars, vocals—got up off their butts and worked!
To date, Carbon Leaf has played more shows and put out more albums than 99.9% of the patchoulied-up, dreadlocked masses could shake a hacky-sac at. And don’t get bent just because they signed to a major label. That’s the way it’s supposed to happen. First you work hard, and then you move up in the world. None of this “the-world-owes-me-a-buzz� attitude. Anyway, they don’t need my hype; they’ve been on The Dr. Phil Show.
Through editorial bob-and-weave, your humble Fresh Fish writer has managed to combine Terry, Jordan, and soundman Chris’s voices into a single literary virtual Voltron—with the sum more powerful than the parts. Read on.
Mackie Onyx Products Nominated for 2006 TEC Awards
Both the Onyx 80-Series Live Sound Consoles and the Onyx 400F Studio Recording Preamp have each been nominated for one of the Mix Foundation's prestigious TEC Awards, one of the professional audio industry's highest honors.
Satellite at Summer NAMM, Starring Monte Montgomery
The event was Summer NAMM, the place, Austin, TX, and the Mackie Satellite Lounge was hotter than both of them rubbing together. Not in temperature but in taste, as our sealed-off demo room for one of Mackie’s newest and most revolutionary products had better air conditioning and interior decorating than the rest of the booths combined. Well… in our opinion. But we’re not that biased. It really was cool.
The Satellite Lounge had a steady stream of traffic, media folks, dealers and end-users alike, and nobody left without either saying “Wow,� “That’s a cool little piece,� or “Dude, you have a couch…� Also, complimenting our typical tradeshow spiel of “Here’s what this piece does,� we were fortunate enough on two out of three days to not only showcase Satellite, but to do it with a well-known artist in the booth to help illustrate exactly how cool this piece can be.
Held at El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort in Tucson, AZ, the scene was set for an event that would be both restful and educational for all involved. After all, it’s easy to relax and share info with the top names in the business when the alternative to an air-conditioned conference room is a 106-degree desert… Yet nights were mild and the energy of the event was enough to keep everyone’s spirits high and inspired.
My trip through the south started on a Monday and ended on a Saturday. During that time Mackie DSM Jeff Lyon took me from New Orleans to Birmingham, where I gave Mackie product training to several stores. I met many great people and heard a lot of interesting stories in a region that is as diverse as the music and culture that makes it famous. The first two days put me at three different C & M Music stores in southern Louisiana. The employees in each location were anticipating the training and were full of questions that I was happy to answer. I even learned some new tricks myself. During the hottest days of the summer, the heat and humidity in the south can wreak havoc on all powered speakers. In fact, the guys at C&M clip a portable fan to the back of the speaker. After all, there is no substitution for quality sound and Lafayette’s Randy K and his band want to use their SRM 450 active speakers… in any condition.
While in the gulf region I witnessed the massive rebuilding process underway in the short time after the hurricane. I was happy to see the industry back on its feet and doing well.
Mackie does rallies now, and you might just want us at your next event…
As a first time sponsor of the Old Snohomish Bike Show* this year (Sunday, May 21st ’06), we provided the PA and monitor systems for two music stages as well as the PA for a trophy announcement stage, and the event went off without a hitch!
First off, considering the fact that it was a bike rally, it should be mentioned that this affair brought a record-breaking 22,000+ attendees into Snohomish throughout the day, and several streets were simply layered in Harleys, customs, and other bikes of all kinds. This made for plenty of eye candy for us 12+ Mackoids as well as a great environment to put our stuff to the test!
AES PNW Chapter and the Future of Archivals and Deliverables
I attended the AES PNW chapter meeting last night at Glenn Sound where I was both surprised and calmed to learn the likely future of our industry in regards to both digital archival as well as, primarily, acceptable means of delivery of finished audio to labels.
Independent and label-driven recordists worldwide are by and large done taking part in the proprietary battles, with the exception of a couple of late hangers-on. The battle has been that engineers everywhere are/were backing up and handing off music in so many different proprietary and/or short-lived (to now obsolete) forms that it’s become the challenge of the industry and its people to take upon itself finding a backup and deliverables means to use going forward that will have a longer shelf-life than, say, two years.
Where would the film biz be without Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute? Check out the great films it has helped nurture, and we think you’ll agree it would be a lot less interesting. Sundance puts on a seminar once a year for up and coming composers co-sponsored by Mackie. Why we do that? It’s siimple: 1) Mackie was built mostly by up and coming musicians who kept buying the brand after �making it.� 2) It’s a small way of saying “thank you!�
What will this year’s batch of composers be using? The tried and true 1604 VLZ Pro and the ever present HR824 .
Alright, I think it's official. Somos locos. This is the final podcast from Jeff and Tony together from the NAB Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, as it probably should be. We review the upcoming product from Mackie called the Satellite. It combines the best features of the Mackie Big Knob with all the functionality of a desktop/portable 2-channel firewire interface. Desktop for the port. Portable for the Satellite.
...stay tuned for Jeff and Tony's storytelling hour...
Jeff and Tony back again, check it direct it, let's begin... In this installment you'll find a shorter and more succint cast from your favorite internet DJs, except for the fact that as we go along episode per episode, we become more and more like lunatics. Please forgive us in advance. Nonetheless, we feature the HMX-56 matrix headphone mixer and all of Jeff's crazy applications for it. Beware and behold.
This one's for the DJs! Jeff is featured in this cast explaining the Mackie D.2 DJ mixer and its application not only to live DJs, but recording DJs as well. Similar to the Onyx compact mixers, the D.2 features a Firewire card option, enabling the user to play and record live. You will see blue.
So by this point, Jeff and I became increasingly annoyed with our own radio banter and called on our local audience of happy trade-show-goers to ask us their questions. The result may be good, it may be horrible, but we're going to leave that decision up to you, the listener. Our audience co-host ended up being interested in the Onyx compact mixer with Firewire, and thus, we bring to you, our latest and greatest NAB podcast. Enjoy.
Welcome back to the second installment of the podcast podcasts. This time we're going over the Mackie Tracktion software that comes with every interface purchase from any of the LOUD technologies brands. This includes the firewire option cards for the Onyx compact mixers and interfaces, the D.2 DJ mixer, and the Tapco Link.USB. Tracktion is actually easier to understand than our explanation, but come along and join us anyhow to follow the podcast signal flow into the computer world.
Greetings friends and Mackoids alike! This is the first of many NAB 2006 podcasts from the LOUD booth in Las Vegas. Hosts Jeff Fisher and TonyG welcome you to a wild ride through the digital world of podcasting. Come share with us in the knowledge of the newest movement in the broadcast revolution!
Digital X Bus owner Usher Raymond impresses us like few in the biz. Why? How he’s planning to spend this weekend is one of many, many examples. The socially conscious artist will help teach teenagers leadership skills at a seminar March 17-19 in Cleveland, Ohio. Where? At the three-day Midwest Black/Hispanic Achievers Teen Leadership Summit sponsored by the Cleveland YMCA.
When musicians turn actor the results can be wincingly bad. Not so for Antwon “Big Boi� Patton’s substantial role in “ATL.� Blackfilm.com’s review indicates Big’s talent now credibly encompasses both the recording and the movie studio. Deke is not surprised. After all, this is the super-creative artist who made pop radio listenable with his insanely great "I Love The Way You Move" (iTunes) and so many other dare-ya-not-ta-dance grooves.
What's that cool looking console in the "Big" background?
Even when the band you work your audio magic on is named INXS , Steve Jones’ proves it’s all about tasteful decisions. Pictured here mixing them for a television show, Steve has nice things to say about the TT24 and the SRM350 visible, but for the unseen Onyx 800R check out what the veteran audio ace has to say:
“I found the Onyx 800R mic pre's to be clean and fast, able to fit right in to a studio full of high end pre-amps, and to then bring the added clout of great sounding AD conversion to boot. It sounds expensive. Where it really shines for me is as a single unit that does so much - Mic and line preamps, digital conversion, DI, MS, dithering, BNC word clock, Variable impedance for ribbon mic's, and it doesn't fall down in any area. It covers so much ground in a single rack space unit, and it does it very well, with no fuss.�
Mackie Announces Universal Support for Intel-based Macs
Mackie today announced that Universal versions of its popular Tracktion music production software and associated Mackie plug-ins would be available by early Summer 2006. This major Tracktion release will take full advantage of the stunning performance increase associated with the new Intel-based Macs and also includes full compatibility with existing PowerPC-based machines.
Selfishly speaking, we gotta love Connecticut’s Tonesoup Studios and their equipment list. “ToneSoup is proud to use some of the best equipment in the world, including: Mackie d8b digital console, Mackie HR824 near field studio monitors, Neumann microphones . . .� Here’s their complete gear list.
But our favorite destination on this site is the DOWNLOAD PAGE where you can hear MP3’s of some of the artists owner Dave Henderson has recorded over the years. Check out some tasty music beginning with the exceptional voice of John Bergeron.
Mackie's Quad Series Digital Processors Make European Debut at MusikMesse
After a successful preview at Winter NAMM, Mackie is debuting for the first time in Europe, the new Quad Series of digital signal processors. The Quad Series processors combine high-quality 24-bit processing and stellar audio performance with intuitive and feature-packed user interfaces designed for serious live sound applications.
For the first time in Europe, Mackie is showing its new M-Series line of power amplifiers. Designed to deliver high-efficiency stereo power with stellar audio performance, the M-Series is available in three configurations: the M-2000, M-3000 and M-4000, delivering 2000W, 3000W and 4000W of Class-H power, respectively, and making them the highest powered offerings in their price range.
Mackie's Onyx 24.4 and 32.4 Make European Debut at MusikMesse
Mackie is unveiling for the first time in Europe the newest members of it's acclaimed Onyx family the Onyx 4-bus Series Mid-Format Live Sound Consoles. With the additions of the new Onyx Onyx 24.4 24-channel and Onyx Onyx 32.4 32-channel consoles, Mackie brings the innovative feature set and unequalled sound quality of their Onyx Series to the world of mid-format live mixers, effectively filling the gap between the Onyx Small-Format and 8-bus Onyx 80 Large-Format Live Sound Consoles.
After seeing the DXB at Sounds expo Colm O'Rourke one of the Head lecturers at the University of Westminster knew the Digital Xbus 200 was the desk for there Courses.
The DXB 200 is connected to a HD2 pro tools rig and still has the ability to interact with Core Audio and ASIO supported software. Students get such a wide range of use from this console without the need to add extra control surfaces or Audio interfaces. AES cards allow the connection to Pro tools and a Firewire card gives them 24 I/O over Core Audio and ASIO protocols.
It looks like the DXB200 will be the centrepiece for the new recording studio in the University of Westminster.
So I took out some time to get staff members from Digital village up to speed on the latest DXB200 features. With new staff members in there Acton store it was a sure thing they would want to get the low down on all the DXB has to offer. The DXB is set up to control a full pro tools rig in there store and is the centre piece of there pro audio department.
So we all rolled into London olympia for Sounds Expo 2006. With a great stand and cool products the customers were on the booth in large numbers.We would have included some pics from the day but we were all too busy to take any!! As per usual you get to eat your lunch at post 4pm time but hey were used to it. So here are a few pics of the booth in the morning before the show opened. A big thank you to all who attended the show and passed onto our booth. I still find it hard to talk about a "big knob" without choosing my words carefully.
Esselle beat looking forward to mixing on Digital X bus
Essellebeat Studios based in Brighton take delivery of their new DXB 200. With a new refit to incorporate the Digital X bus Kevin Stagg the studio director cant wait to start mixing on his new board. After a demonstration in late 2005 Kevin knew the DXB was the desk he had been waiting for, With the Firewire I/O option and ADAT optical support Essellebeat can offer clients a wide range of recording formats all based around one easy to use console.
So we hit the road with Digital X bus 200 giving more in-depth training to our dealers. First stop Sound Control, with a mixture of staff from all over the UK we get down and dirty on the latest DXB features. Covering all aspects of the console staff get one to one training allowing them to showcase this beast of a mixing console to there clients.
Did you see the BET gospel music special last night? Smokin! Longtime Mackie user (D8Bs and compact mixers) Ray Chew led a squeaky tight band in back of a bunch of gospel allstars plus some great acts, heathen that I am, I'd never heard of.
Fred Hammond and Sheila E were great. Stevie Wonder did a fantastic song with Kirk Franklin and set the place on fire. Never heard of Mary Mary but man can those ladies SING!
It was a reminder how much great soul music came from black gospel. There were literally no weak acts. Guess you gotta be big time talented to stand among the competiton. Let's hope they re-air it soon.
January NAMM was the place to see the new Mackie D2 in all it's glory and being used by the faithful from inside and out side of the Mackie Family.
Our Man Ronnel was on the scene (he is the star of the Tapco video in addition to being) a key member of the LOUD technologies tech support team and a international famous DJ in his own right. You can check him out at:
http://www.myspace.com/phatbackrecords
“Before, consumers looking for affordable studio monitors or hi-fi loudspeakers were given no option but to use bulky wood or composite-molded plastic enclosures that did not taste delicious,” says James Woodburn, Mackie recording product manager. “Now, backed with decades of experience in high end studio monitor carving, Mackie’s PMK Series Monitors bring vegephile quality audio within reach to a wider audience,” continued Woodburn.
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
Mackie is on the road in Europe
The 
We also had a decidedly more professional setup, consisting of an 
Seattle has long been known as a hot-spot for music. However, grunge died long ago…where does that leave Seattle? The annual 
Lofty goal? The 12 Dartmouth students who are living and touring on 
Mackie believes in the cause and wanted to provide some gear to help spread the message. Two 
The 
Local bands played from 7pm until late into the night and Mackie was happy to be at FOH. An 
Since 1948, 
RC enthusiasts of all-ages were scheduled to participate in 3-round qualifying races, culminating in a final race that would determine the grand champion. You can learn more about TAMIYA Cup rules and regulations 
As if that isn’t enough, Mackie is sponsoring the notorious Levis/Fader Magazine House again this year. This all-night, celebrity shoulder-rubbing, party like a rock star house is THE place to be when the sun goes down. Mackie’s 
Engineer/Mixer Mark Linett recently added a Mackie 
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 
A peak into Mackie’s product development crystal ball was offered up at the Professional Lighting and Sound Association’s annual tradeshow in London last week. 
Eric Krasno is a music addict. Don’t trip on me; that’s what it says in his official bio. He makes music everyday—it doesn’t matter if he’s at home in New York City, or out on tour with his band 
Randy Bigness, singer/songwriter and certified auto technician, has combined his two passions to take the portable PA concept to an entirely new level. His creation combines high-horsepower, pavement-shredding Detroit muscle of the 1960s, with an equally powerful Active loudspeaker system from Mackie. 
Pro Sound Web’s Road Test is an entirely new way to review audio gear. Instead of stuffing a reviewer into a rehearsal space with the latest audio thingamajig, a copy of Word, and a mandate for 1200 words, the gear goes out with real users who put them into real situations and then share their experiences in an all-access forum. 
Virginia-based 
It's hot in the desert. And how.
My trip through the south started on a Monday and ended on a Saturday. During that time Mackie DSM Jeff Lyon took me from New Orleans to Birmingham, where I gave Mackie product training to several stores. I met many great people and heard a lot of interesting stories in a region that is as diverse as the music and culture that makes it famous. The first two days put me at three different 
Mackie does rallies now, and you might just want us at your next event…
Where would the film biz be without Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute? 
