A CONSOLE STAND Richard Ferriday, Music Group brand development manager (again!) for Midas
Why?“The brand is responsible for so many innovative products but the ultimate, however, has to be the Midas Easy Tilt. A genuine contribution to the production industry as a whole, it is often imitated, and beloved by stagehands the world over. It works with other brands of consoles as well as Midas, and has even been seen used with lighting consoles! A true boon to man (and woman) kind.”
CLIPPING PREVENTION CIRCUITRY Andy Rust,Peavey European marketing manager
Why?“Amplifier clipping is one the biggest problems in sound reinforcement causing premature driver failure and so in 1979 Peavey devised one of the cleverest circuits in the audio industry to stop it.
“Unlike conventional preset level limiters which may not track the available voltage on the output rails we invented a circuit which compares the INPUT waveform to the OUTPUT waveform of the amplifier. When there is any difference in these two signals
Peavey CS series power amplifiers
(other than level), for instance through distortion, a soft compressor is energised, thus creating an almost ideal method of preventing square waves from being presented to the loudspeaker/driver. This method works very accurately irrespective of the output capability of the amplifier at any given time. This unique technology is patented and because it utilises a unique ‘comparator circuit’ for detection of clipping, we call it Distortion Detection Technique or DDT. “Originally issued as a CS 800 upgrade, this major breakthrough becomes standard issue on powered mixers, steel-guitar amps, bass amps and more. And it's still standard on Peavey equipment today.”
A STRATEGIC CHOICE TO BECOME A FULLY INTEGRATED SYSTEMS COMPANY David Fuller, director of technical marketing, QSC Audio Products, LLC
Why? “For decades QSC was known only as the amplifier company, but over the past decade QSC has transitioned from just an amplifier
company to becoming a premium brand in loudspeaker and network DSP products, while maintaining our status as a pioneer in the power amplifier category. QSC recognised years ago that by being a single vendor provider, and by offering products that are designed to work together, that we could offer users a level of performance, service and support that are unparalleled in the pro-audio industry. QSC’s current position in the industry is a direct reflection of that decision.”
THE FIRST DIGITAL CROSSOVER THAT SOUNDED GOOD Waring Hayes, brand manager, XTA
Why?“Digital EQ is everywhere today. It’s in your phone and your car, and your TV. Twenty
years ago, it wasn’t everywhere – it was in a few crunchy, clunky processors which sounded bad.
“The DP226 changed all that. Not only did it do digital EQ properly for the first time, sounding as transparent as analogue, it had forgiving digital limiters. When other devices were descending into a rough mess, you had to check the meters on the DP226 to be sure any limiting was actually happening. It really was that good.
“While great EQ is important, maintaining quality under pressure is as important and the DP226 showed the world what could be achieved. As digital technology sprints along, and equipment is superseded with alarming regularity, it’s a testament to the DP226 that thousands are still in use all over the world." PSNLIVE 2012