Live Events

DPA & Wisycom | Live Event Recap

Thank you to all of you who joined us for the DPA & Wisycom live demo event! We were very pleased to see the excitement around the gear and grateful to provide the opportunity to get hands-on experience with each company’s respective product line, talk directly with manufacturer reps, and interface with other Chicagoland audio industry professionals.

DPA Microphones representatives J.C. Bittence and Paul Andrews brought the full gamut of their outstanding microphone line, including the 4099, the new 4055 kick drum microphone, the awesome looking location sound recording kit, and many, many of their high end subminiature lavalier and headset microphone options. We even had the opportunity to utilize the 4097 choir microphone as a group capture for multiple vocalists during the demo.

Also showcasing their industry leading products was Geoff Baynard, Product Marketing Manager at Wisycom, who provided all the wireless microphone and IEM systems used for the event. Attendees were able to tune in and listen into IEM mixes of the performers on the provided Wisycom hardware during the demo, and swap between 4 separate IEM mixes in real time. Engineers were able to hear and switch between the individual microphones, as well as the performer’s mixes and the main house feed, all triggered from the display on the Wisycom MPR50-IEM bodypacks. Alongside the IEM systems, Wisycom MTH410 wireless handheld units were used for speech reinforcement during the demonstrations, vocal reinforcement during the performances, and each of our acoustic instrument performers had MTP61 miniature wireless transmitters for their DPA 4099 instrument microphones.

See below for a gallery that highlights the live demo experience. We are looking forward to providing more events with our manufacturer partners like this in the near future!

Interested in renting DPA or Wisycom products? Send a message to rentals@tcfurlong.com or call our office at 847-367-9588 and our experienced team of audio technicians will help you choose the right components for your next event!

Interested in getting some DPA or Wisycom for yourself? We are authorized DPA & Wisycom dealers as well as dealers for over 100 other manufacturers. Our sales team is ready to help and can be reached at sales@tcfurlong.com or by phone 847-367-9588. Contact us today for a quote!

This unique live setting allowed the group to experiment with microphone placement on many types of acoustic instruments

DPA and Wisycom representatives were available to interface directly with end users to answer questions and develop relationships

Our new Yamaha DM7 console drove the show, and interfaced well with the Wisycom wireless rack via Dante

ProTools multitrack recording for playback comparison of microphones and techniques during the demo

Up-close view of the Wisycom rack

The Wisycom system on display provided all wireless microphone and IEM transmission

A display table chock full of all the excellent microphone choices that DPA has to offer

The PA being tuned in the days leading up to the event using Rational Acoustics SMAART

TC Furlong Inc. Presents Digital Console Expo 2023

Thank you to all who joined us for the return of our in-person Digital Console Expo, which was held on December 7th at Moody Church in Chicago. The event featured 5 manufacturers of digital consoles and console peripherals, including:

Allen & Heath
AVID
Yamaha
LAWO
Tascam

The event hosted around 100 attendees, including technicians from houses of worship, broadcasters, sound/AV companies, and performing arts facilities, as well as touring engineers, students, integrators, and consultants. People traveled from across Chicagoland and the Midwest to attend this year’s event, allowing for unique networking opportunities that are typically only available at larger tech expos.

In addition to the opportunity to learn about the latest product offerings directly from manufacturer representatives, this free event featured ample amounts of swag giveaways and food; attendees also had the opportunity to see many items from our extensive rental inventory on display, including our most popular microphones, compact loudspeakers, wireless systems and accessories.

TC Furlong Inc. is proud to be an authorized dealer for all of the manufacturers featured at this year’s expo. If you’d like more information on any of the featured products, or need to request a quote, please contact our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

We also carry many of the brands featured at DCE 2023 in our rental inventory. For more information about renting a digital console, or anything else from our vast rental inventory, get in touch with our Rental Team at rentals@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

TC Furlong Inc. Supports Hybrid Live Events

The live events landscape has shifted dramatically this year. Social distancing measures and travel restrictions have brought virtual events and livestreams to the forefront in ways they never have been before. The TC Furlong Inc. live events team has leveraged our collective decades of experience, vast inventory of professional equipment, and relationships with trusted partners throughout the AV production industry to support all manner of live events.

Recently, we’ve provided production support for several “hybrid” events. These are events that have a limited, socially distanced in-person audience, as well as a remote audience watching via livestream. An upside of the hybrid event model is that the audience is not limited by geography or venue size; several of our customers have found that their hybrid event’s virtual audience dwarfed what they would normally expect for a strictly in-person event. Special considerations for hybrid events often include distributed loudspeakers and video displays throughout the venue, allowing for proper social distancing, and a consistent experience for all attendees. 

While virtual and hybrid event productions share many of the same principles of typical live events, additional care must be taken in order to create a safe environment for all crew members and presenters. Whether you’re hosting a traditional event with an in-person audience, a livestream, or a hybrid event combining both, we can take the stress off your shoulders and provide the high quality on-site AV production your event needs.

Here are some highlights of hybrid events we’ve supported in recent months:

University Commencement

Our production of the commencement ceremony for a major university involved a highly choreographed mix of live and pre-recorded segments. Originally designed as a hybrid event, the live audience had to be struck due to the increased risk of the pandemic. The event was still held in an auditorium to provide the feeling of a live event, and our team was able to create a matrix of audio and video confidence monitors to make interactions between presenters in different physical locations feel more natural and realistic. Through multi-camera video switching, we were able to create a comfortable and safe atmosphere for all presenters. The full scope of the production included a broadcast audio mix for the stream, a full TV control room with a video editor, closed captioning, a sophisticated intercom system, as well as a presidential-style teleprompter and operator.

 

Special Worship Services

Our team provided technical direction for High Holidays services with over 900 virtual attendees for several Chicago synagogues. The live broadcast included a mix of worship leaders (speaking and singing), a small orchestral group, and a choir. Multi-camera video switching and the usage of ambient room microphones in the livestream broadcast mix created an immersive environment for viewers. The broadcast team also integrated the audio stream with the in-house phone system to allow congregation members without internet access to call-in and listen.

Private Event

The production crew for this event consisted of over 16 technicians and engineers across multiple disciplines, including audio, video, and lighting, plus stage management and overall production management. The team integrated with the house sound and lighting systems, providing an audio split for separate in-house and broadcast mixes. We reinforced a 7-piece band with floor wedges. Again, another multi-camera shoot with video switching, the video was sent to the livestream, as well as audio/video displays set up at 3 different event spaces throughout the venue for the socially-distanced audience.

Each of the cases listed here was the first foray into hybrid live events for each of our customers. Whether you’re planning a hybrid event for the first time, and need guidance from start to finish, or you’re an experienced event producer just looking for a bit of extra help, our team has the know-how to make your event a success.

TC Furlong Inc.’s live event team can provide a full AV production solution for your next event. Contact one of our Project Managers next time you need flexible, expert planning, and flawless execution for your in-person, virtual, or hybrid event. Give us a call at 847-367-9588, or email Jeff Cech at jc@tcfurlong.com.

Electrical Safety Tools for Event Technicians

by Scott Helmke

Disclaimer: Extreme care should be taken with electricity. A/C voltages have the potential to cause serious harm, or even kill. The advice and guidance provided in this article cannot fully anticipate or predict the situations you may experience on a show site. 

Something that we all depend on in the sound industry, but don’t always think about, is the need for a reliable source of electricity at a show site.  On the one hand it’s almost always available, but on the other hand unreliable power can ruin a show with “mysterious” hums, buzzes, and equipment failures, or even injure and kill people.  This article is about basic tools and tests to protect yourself, other people, and your gear from miswired or otherwise dangerous electrical outlets.

Here’s what the standard USA power receptacle looks like:

The “hot” connection should have an AC voltage in the range of roughly 115-125 volts.  The other two connections should both have zero AC volts present.  All the current that goes through the receptacle should only pass between the neutral and hot connections.  The ground, better known as “safety ground”, is there to safely drain away any stray current that might result from defective or damaged equipment. 

If any of these connections are wired incorrectly or not connected, bad things can happen. Even if the venue insists that “nobody else has had a problem with it”, it will still be a safety hazard.

Voltmeter

A voltmeter or digital multimeter (also known as DMM or VOM) is an essential tool for troubleshooting electrical systems. The first thing I do before plugging in any equipment at a venue is use a voltmeter to check that the wiring is correct.  I do this for every outlet I’m planning on using, if it’s my first show in a venue or if I haven’t been there recently.  It’s always possible that somebody came along and “fixed” an outlet the wrong way. Note that most voltmeters or digital multimeters are rated to handle 120 volts AC, but you should always verify that the model being used is properly rated (here’s an article that discusses voltmeter ratings).

I measure between hot and neutral for around 120 volts AC, and I measure between ground and neutral to make sure the voltage is less than 0.5 volts.  I also measure between hot and ground for around 120 volts, to make sure that the ground is actually connected.  The final test is to measure between hot and anything I can find nearby that will be grounded – maybe even just poking the test lead against a concrete floor.  I want to make sure that the hot connection is actually “hot”, because sometimes a miswired outlet can have that backwards – a very dangerous situation (here’s a great article that explains the deadly ReverseBootleg Ground miswiring).

Three-Light Outlet Tester

You can also use a three-light outlet tester to do this basic wiring check, although it’s not as thorough as using a voltmeter as described above.  These testers are good for quickly checking many outlets for basic wiring problems, but they will not catch certain types of wiring mistakes (again see Reverse Bootleg Ground article above).

Non-Contact Voltage Tester

One type of electrical tester that everybody should own is a Non-Contact Voltage Tester, aka NCVT.  This is a clever little device that can identify the presence of high voltage (typically anything over 40V) without having to be connected.  Some have the tip shaped to fit into outlet slots, but they can also be used to quickly check if any object or surface is carrying a voltage. Old “vintage” guitar amps are notorious for having dangerous voltages present, for instance. This is also the best way to test for the dangerous Reverse Bootleg miswiring, by inserting into the ground pin of an outlet.

Non-Contact Voltage Testers are now available for $10-25 at most hardware stores and big-box home improvement stores, and I consider them a necessary piece of safety gear to bring to every show I work.  At TC Furlong we include one in every adapter kit we send to shows, along with a voltmeter.

Kill A Watt Meter

A final piece of test equipment that I’ve found very useful is a “Kill a Watt” meter.  This is a little device that lets you easily measure the power used by a piece of electrical equipment.  Very handy for figuring out what your gear really draws, which is often much less than the sticker on the back would indicate.  Very handy for figuring out how many separate power outlets (on different circuits) you really need for a show.

Always exercise caution when you are operating any of these tools, and make sure that you are being as safe as possible while searching for miswirings or bad outlets. Not only can these preventative measures avoid possible injury, but you may also find problems that could cause equipment issues or just bad sound. You can never be entirely sure what you’ll find at any given venue, but proper use of the tools described in this article should uncover underlying issues before they have a chance to ruin your show.

The TC Furlong Inc. team has the equipment and expertise to safely support your next live event. Get in touch with one of our Project Managers by calling 847-367-9588.

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Hands-on with Meyer Sound’s New MAPP 3D Prediction Software

By Scott Helmke

I am very happy to be able to report on the latest version of Meyer’s MAPP (Multi Acoustic Prediction Program), MAPP 3D.  Meyer’s extremely accurate and reliable speaker system design and prediction software originally developed more than 20 years ago, now in a 3-dimensional version.  Currently in pre-release, general release of this software is scheduled for August 19, 2020.

I’ve been using the previous 2D versions of this software to simulate various concert setups and determine the best choice of loudspeakers and how to deploy them.  Many high-end loudspeaker companies have prediction software, but Meyer’s MAPP has stood out for years because of the extremely high accuracy and resolution of their speaker data and prediction software.  Needless to say, being able to produce a trustworthy loudspeaker deployment is extremely useful.  And now, the ability to predict loudspeaker coverage and SPL in a 3-dimensional space makes it even better.

Going 3D

The earlier versions of MAPP allowed you to place virtual Meyer loudspeakers, individuals or in arrays, into two-dimensional projects in either a side or overhead view of a venue.  For a theatre with angled seating areas you would use a side view, putting in lines to represent seating areas and using the software to predict relative volume and frequency response over those areas. Another design might use an overhead view to make sure the proposed loudspeaker system covered as well across the seating areas as well as up and down. MAPP 3D allows you to work in a CAD-like 3-dimensional space, placing objects within the 3D planes to represent seating/architecture, loudspeaker systems, and surfaces designed as prediction areas. The software will then show the spectrum of SPL levels as a color gradient across the prediction areas.

System Example

The simulated venue and loudspeaker system shown here is from an annual theatrical fundraising gala, usually produced in a hotel ballroom consisting of three spaces linked by airwalls.  Speaker hanging locations are limited to airwall tracks in the ceiling, including one extra track that runs down the center of the middle section.  The goal is even coverage over the seating area (many large round tables), with minimal spill onto the thrust stage.  I’ve actually set the prediction plane to be a surface four feet above the floor, to approximate how it will sound to the average person sitting down.  I was even able to move my virtual measurement microphone around to set delay times between speakers, saving time during setup.

Galileo and SIM3 Emulation

Since you wouldn’t deploy a large speaker system in the real world without a speaker processor, MAPP 3D allows you to do just that in the virtual system as well.  Speakers can be assigned to outputs of a virtual Galaxy processor, and all of the signal processing can be applied to the simulated response – ultimately you could send those settings to a real processor before even loading the truck, and have a great starting point for tuning the speaker system in the actual venue. It’s also possible to put one or more measurement “microphones” into the 3D area and see a simulated Meyer SIM3 frequency and phase response display. 

Additional Features

While the MAPP 3D software provides basic 3D CAD functionality for putting in simple shapes and prediction areas, it also allows 3D CAD files in DXF and Sketchup formats to be imported.  It is still necessary to define prediction surfaces, but having the actual architecture to use as a reference will save a lot of time and also allow a better-looking output.  There are also advanced tools such as a line array auto-splay tool to help quickly set angles between line array elements.

Like previous versions of MAPP, rigging weights and information is included to make sure that designs are safe to hang.  A new addition is predicted power consumption, which is a very handy feature.

Local Machine

Finally, one really big change in MAPP 3D is that an active network connection is no longer needed for predictions.  Modern computers are now fast enough to do this processing, and you can choose which loudspeaker models to download data for.  Each loudspeaker model file is about 127Mb (seriously high resolution!), so being able to choose which models to keep helps preserve disk space. 

Conclusion

MAPP 3D is a wonderful upgrade to Meyer’s MAPP software, adding even more functionality as well as being able to work in three dimensions.  As I write this article, the software is still in pre-release and they are still ironing out a few bugs, but otherwise it’s quite nice to use.  Having some basic background in 3D modeling software would be helpful to have, but aside from that it’s still familiar to anybody who has used MAPP software in the past.

MAPP 3D is scheduled for public release on August 19, 2020.  TC Furlong is a longstanding Meyer Sound dealer.  For any questions about Meyer’s MAPP 3D prediction software or any other Meyer products, reach out to our sales team at 847-367-9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com. 

If you are interested in adding Meyer Sound equipment to your next show or rental, get in touch with our Rental Team at 847-367-9588 or rentals@tcfurlong.com.

 

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