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As we continue to commemorate our 50th year in business, we are excited to share our journey– with a special focus on the advancements and improvements we’ve made in the last 5 years. We’ve come a long way since our last milestone on our 45th anniversary! From expanding our facilities and upping our inventory, to embracing hybrid event formats during the challenging COVID-19 era, we’ve come a long way in ensuring that our clients receive the best possible professional audio services. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane showcasing our commitment to excellence and innovation and highlighting our last 5 years here at TC Furlong Inc.

Expansion

One of the most significant transformations to our business in the last 5 years has been our expansion into the neighboring units in our building, suites 102 and 103. Previously, we were crammed into just suite 101, which made it necessary to utilize quite a bit of off-site storage space… but now with everything within reach here in our newly expanded facilities, we are able to move quickly to deliver the fast response service you’ve come to expect from TC Furlong Inc. This expansion has not only provided us with more room to keep everything physically here on-site, but also allowed us to enhance our overall services and offerings for AV equipment rentals. Our 103 warehouse is even sometimes used to host events!

As part of our facility expansion project, we recently introduced “The Bluehorn Room” in suite 103. This is a space like no other, where we can take our clients on an auditory journey like they’ve never experienced before. Equipped with the highly accurate Bluehorn speakers developed by Meyer Sound, this listening room is a haven for music enthusiasts and audio connoisseurs. Immerse yourself in a world of sound quality that transcends expectations, with the most accurate reproduction of audio that you’ll ever hear. Bluehorn listening sessions are by appointment only.

Evolution

To meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients, we’ve expanded our extensive audio-focused rental pool with state-of-the-art lighting, staging, and video conference tools and accessories. We understand that every event is unique, and these additions have allowed us to offer comprehensive solutions for a wide range of occasions, not just for professional audio but for the many other types of AV services our clients have come to expect. Whether it’s a corporate conference or an intimate wedding reception, our enhanced AV inventory ensures that your event is nothing short of spectacular.

Here’s some highlights of the new audio and visual rental gear we’ve added in the last 5 years:

• Chauvet Ovation Reve E-3 Lighting Fixtures + Chamsys QuickQ 10 Lighting Console
• Yamaha DM3S Digital Console
• Clear-Com Arcadia Central Station
• Meyer Sound MJF-210 Monitors
• Yamaha PM3 Digital Console
• Meyer Sound ULTRA-X20 Ultra Compact Point Source Loudspeakers
• Meyer Sound ULTRA-X40 Compact Point Source Loudspeakers
• Meyer Sound LINA & 750-LFC
• Meyer Sound Slim System
• Countryman A3 Podium Microphones
• Motorola CP200D Portable Radios
• Shure Axient Digital

Adaptation

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the event industry. We embraced these challenges and transformed them into opportunities. During this period, we pivoted to services that helped our customers host hybrid events seamlessly – combining in-person, video conference, and online streaming components and services. This adaptation allowed our clients to continue to engage with their audiences while adhering to safety protocols– It was a true testament to our resilience and commitment to delivering exceptional AV solutions, no matter the circumstances. The show must go on!

New Leadership

In 2022, we began transitioning our leadership role of General Manager from Jeff Cech to Steve Whittenhall. As of August 2023, Steve has fully assumed his new role here at TC Furlong Inc. Steve was the perfect fit considering his 17 year tenure here in the shop, starting out as a driver and quickly moving up the ranks to his most recent position Lead Project Manager. We are excited to have him at the helm for this next chapter in the story of TC Furlong Inc. as General Manager!

Conclusion

As we continue to celebrate our 50 years in business in 2023, we are reminded and immensely proud of the progress we’ve made, particularly in the last 5 years. Our commitment to growth, innovation, and adaptability has allowed us to remain at the forefront of the AV event industry in the greater Chicago area. We look forward to the future with excitement, knowing that we will continue to evolve and provide top-notch AV services to our valued clients. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and here’s to the next 50 years of excellence!

At TC Furlong Inc., we understand the importance of providing exceptional customer service during and after every purchase. That’s why we developed our own no-cost comprehensive post-purchase support program that sets us apart from the competition – called Warranty Support Advantage. 

If an item purchased from us fails while under manufacturer warranty, we offer customers a free loaner of an equivalent item from our rental inventory to keep their system up and running until their gear is repaired or replaced by the manufacturer. If an item fails after the manufacturer warranty expires, we offer customers substantial discounts on rentals and in-house repair services, for as long as they own the gear.

To help illustrate our dedication to customer care, we have a few recent compelling examples below that demonstrate how our team goes above and beyond to ensure your peace of mind with every purchase from TC Furlong Inc.:

There are many other benefits to our no cost Warranty Support Advantage, and each purchase made at TC Furlong Inc. is supported by this program. Interested in learning more? See the full details on our website. You can also contact us at 847.367.9588 if you have questions about our Warranty Support Advantage or if you need any support with your new gear!

The Warranty Support Advantage program is just one of many reasons to buy gear from TC Furlong Inc. Interested in purchasing gear from any of the 100+ manufacturers on our line card? Reach out to our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com or call us at 847.367.9588.

Founded in 1973, TC Furlong Inc. has come a long way over the past five decades. What started as a small loudspeaker repair, design, manufacturing and rental business run from TC’s garage has grown into a leading provider of professional audio solutions for clients in Chicagoland, the Midwest, and across the country. We are proud to celebrate our 50th anniversary in business serving clients in the live event industry!

Since the start, we have always strived to be at the forefront of the professional audio industry, adopting new technologies and staying ahead of the curve. We’ve been leaders in state of the art gear like frequency agile wireless microphone systems, digital mixing consoles, and complex intercom systems, and have evolved to meet the needs of our customers. Today, we continue to provide a wide range of professional audio and event services, including gear rentals, equipment sales, live event system rentals, sound system design and alignment, repairs, project and production management, CAD drafting, and others.

TC Furlong has built an enduring reputation for delivering exceptional customer service and support. Our clients appreciate and have come to rely on vital programs like our Warranty Support Advantage and 24×7 Emergency Audio Response hotline.  We pride ourselves on being the ones who can take the call and save the show!

As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in business this year, we look back on a rich history of quality, innovation, reliability and growth. We also look forward to the future, with a strong foundation and a clear vision for the next 50 years. We’d like to thank each of our clients who helped us get this far. Here’s to another half-century of success!

Keep an eye on our blog and social media channels for more insights into the past, present, and future of the company during our anniversary year.

Field audio is a broad category which includes any variety of audio production that takes place outside of a formal studio or performance venue. Field audio covers a broad range of disciplines, from recordists capturing the ambient sound of an area, to technicians working on live news broadcasts, to production sound engineers working on large film or TV shoots. Engineers in field audio often work hand in hand with camera operators and video technicians, with the complexity of a production ranging from a single-camera shoot, to a multi-camera setup with a TV truck.

Those in the traditional live sound or studio worlds often regard field audio as something of a mystery, but of course the same basic principles of capturing good sound still apply. In this article, we’ll do a basic exploration of the equipment used to capture audio in the field.

Microphones

Just like in any other corner of the audio production industry, using the right microphones to capture sound at the source is essential in field audio. Depending on the type of production, a variety of different types of microphones can be used. Handheld mics are a favorite in the TV news industry for journalists filing reports “on the ground.” An omnidirectional handheld might be used when interviewing a subject, while a cardioid option can be a better option in noisy environments.

Lavalier mics are often used when the subjects being filmed need to be able to use their hands, or when a microphone needs to be less visually obtrusive than a handheld. Due to the unpredictable weather conditions often involved in field audio, a dust and water-resistant model might be the best option.

Finally, we come to the type of microphone most often associated with field audio: the shotgun mic. Shotgun mics usually have a supercardioid or hypercardioid polar pattern, making them ideal for capturing the desired sound while rejecting off-axis noise in a loud environment. Many shotgun mics are made to be mounted directly to a camera, while others can be mounted on a handheld boom to get the mic as close to the source as possible without entering the camera shot.

Wireless Systems

Regardless of the types of microphones being utilized, they will almost always be used with a portable wireless system. Cables can be unwieldy and visually distracting in the field, making wireless audio transmission an imperative on many shoots. A traditional rackmount wireless receiver is often impractical, so companies like Lectrosonics and Sennheiser offer portable battery-powered receivers, some of which are designed to be mounted directly to cameras. Plug-on transmitters are often used with handheld mics, and traditional beltpacks are used when the talent is using a lavalier mic.

Field Mixers and Recorders

A solid field mixer/recorder is the last link in the chain to capture audio in the field. Portable mixer-recorders are often powered by rechargeable batteries, and record to an internal SSD or SD cards. The most basic options available are handheld recorders, which often feature a built-in pair of condenser mics for stereo recording, and two or more XLR inputs to capture additional sources. Handheld recorders are a popular choice for ambient recording applications, or for basic interviews. 

A more robust option are multi-channel field mixers. Modern field mixers share many of the same features you’d expect to see on a modern digital console, including high quality microphone preamps, parametric EQ’s, compressors, multiple mix busses, etc. Higher end models can even come standard with Dante I/O and Dugan automixing. Products from Sound Devices, a manufacturer based in Wisconsin, have long been regarded as some of the industry standards for field mixers.

Conclusion

While some specialist equipment and know-how is required, the same principles used in audio production for the stage or studio also apply in the field. If you have questions about the equipment used in field audio applications, or would like to request a quote, reach out to our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588. We are longstanding dealers for all the manufacturers mentioned in this article, along with all major professional audio manufacturers.

We also carry equipment from many of these manufacturers in our extensive rental inventory. To request a rental quote, contact our Rental Team at rentals@tcfurlong.com or 847-367-9588.