He runs Music Radio Creative, a leading audio provider and production company for radio, DJs and podcasters. Through his business and YouTube channel, Mike helps people create great sounding audio.

Mike recently took the JBL 104 Reference Desktop Speakers for a spin saying, “These monitors are fantastic… I can’t say enough good things. Really good quality for content creators!”

Watch the full review here:

Stage & Audio’s owner Tim Buchholz first owned a pair of JBL K140s back in the 1970s and he was blown away by the A8’s high-end performance, courtesy of the A-Series’ revolutionary new drivers and waveguide. These designs are responsible for the A-Series redefining the ‘JBL Sound’ and winning over long-term JBL fans and sceptics alike. “I have never heard clarity like that or top end that accurate in all my years working in pro audio. The level of performance is ridiculous,” enthuses Tim. “I’ve simply never heard anything like it. It’s still JBL, but noticeably more ‘European’. It’s a totally new sound.”

19 elements of JBL A8 have joined Stage & Audio’s inventory. Crown iTech HD3500 power amplifiers have also been brought in to supplement their existing racks, and the rig has just been augmented by the recent acquisition of 12 x JBL B18 Subwoofers.

The A8s have already been out working hard in their first two weeks, covering a Queen tribute band, the Rockhampton River Festival across two stages, and an awards night. “After these jobs, all our in-house engineers and guest techs that have mixed on them can talk about is the high-end performance. It’s such a step up,” adds Tim.

“Overall, the A8s have fantastic linearity,” concludes Tim. “There’s a newness to their sound, and you know every parameter and every frequency is being carefully watched over by advanced FIR filters, and compression and control algorithms. It creates and natural, sophisticated sound that is comparable to the best European touring systems on the market.”

Available in a stylish matte white or matte black finish, JBL 104-BT and 104-BTW are reference quality. Combining legendary sound quality, class-leading performance and flexibility with the convenience of Bluetooth for many desktop applications.

JBL 104 BT Reference Desktop Speaker Set is suitable for both consumer and critical audio listening. It makes the essentials list as the finest sounding speaker set to have on your desktop for WFH, remote learning, multimedia content creation and even audiophile listening.

With JBL One Series reference monitors, we started with the mission to give content creators the ability to hear all the details for better results while mixing and editing. Drawing on seven decades of JBL Professional engineering, the One Series represents an innovative new set of speakers, designed from the ground up to provide the most accurate sonic presentation of any monitors in their class.

With the amazing sound that’s made JBL the top choice for recording studios, cinemas and live concert stages in compact, affordable, and stylish desktop speakers, the JBL 104 Powered Reference Monitors and 104-BT Powered Reference Monitors with Bluetooth are ideal for recording musicians, podcasters, and music and video producers— as well as anyone seeking enjoyable listening experience.

Ducking temporarily lowers, or “ducks,” the volume level of a specified audio signal anytime a second specified audio signal is present. In live sound, ducking is commonly used to lower background music anytime a person speaks, then raise it when that person finishes speaking, as in the emcee example above. This technique can be employed in any scenario where you need to be heard over backing tracks, whether you’re hosting an event, giving a speech or teaching a fitness class.

Ducking isn’t limited to live sound; in the studio, ducking is used when recording narrations, voiceovers, translations, podcasts, YouTube videos, and other productions that benefit from lowering background music under speech. It’s even used (or more accurately, misused) creatively in EDM and pop music production to trigger volume “pumping” and other special effects. (Great examples of pumping include Eric Prydz’ “Call on Me” and Daft Punk’s “One More Time.”) A ducker can also be inserted in a reverb or delay line to manipulate those effects.

Whether you’re performing live or in the studio, ducking is a fast and easy way to manage audio levels, make room for all of the elements in your mix and ensure your voice is always heard, loud and clear.

Offer valid for new products purchased January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Not valid in Brazil, Russia, India or China.

JPRO has a long and successful history of association with HARMAN, representing professional audio brands JBL, BSS, Crown, Soundcraft among others for more than 30 years in New Zealand. The company’s rich history has resulted in a reputation for exceptional customer service, design support and technical expertise which is showcased in a myriad of projects throughout the country.

“JPRO’s 30-year history with Harman Professional has been cemented further with the announcement today,” says Bruce Gray, JPRO owner and director. “We are all honoured and thrilled to be adding AMX, a brand with its own rich history, superior quality and leading-edge products, to our current suite of Harman Professional Audio brands.”

JPRO operates a highly successful AVC training program, with a nationwide network of system integrators and resellers providing on-the-ground localised support. With the expansion of its portfolio to include the complete range of AMX video control solutions and SVSI Networked AV solutions, the company will appoint specialists that will provide the best technical expertise and solutions in the New Zealand market.

Paul Edlin, JPRO Sales Director adds “Our Team is looking forward to the opportunity of taking the full Harman AVC suite of products to market and showcase the exceptional experiences this can offer. New Zealand’s System Integrators and Consultants are at the forefront of innovation in the AVC market and therefore to fully support them we will be expanding our team to drive this new venture. The right staff are crucial to the continuity of service and support that our customers expect from JPRO.”

“We are excited to expand our partnership with JPRO and extend our distribution reach in New Zealand.This is aimed at enhancing access to HARMAN products and solutions across verticals, focusing on solutions-driven approach and elevating customer experience,” said Ramesh Jayaraman, VP and GM, HARMAN Professional Solutions, APAC. “JPRO brings 30 years of experience serving the New Zealand market and we look forward to our expanded collaboration with JPRO and are confident their experience and in-depth knowledge will help us deliver the latest and most relevant technology solutions to our customers.”

Support, warranty and repair of AMX and SVSI products in New Zealand will transition to JPRO with immediate effect. Warranty terms and inclusions will not be affected.

JBL Professional have announced new JBL DSi 2.0 Series cinema amplifiers, offering class-leading power output, state-of-the-art DSP and advanced networking capabilities for the entire range of JBL cinema loudspeakers

The DSi 2.0 amplifier family, JBL’s first line of dedicated cinema amplifiers, builds on Crown’s DSI Digital Screen Array amplifier technology and integrates best-in-class CDi DriveCore DSP to deliver potent, cost-effective amplification and audio networking capabilities for JBL’s entire range of cinema loudspeakers. Choose from three power configurations, available in analogue and analogue-plus-digital “D” versions featuring Dante/AES67 connectivity. The “D” models allow direct and simple interface with Dolby ATMOS Connect and AES67 / Dante compatible devices without the need for additional processors.

With class-leading 96 kHz/32-bit floating-point DSP, DSi 2.0 Series amplifiers offer an array of versatile signal processors, including parametric EQ, FIR processing, LevelMAX™ limiting and more. Crown’s proprietary DriveCore technology eliminates hundreds of components within each DSi Series amplifier, reducing the variability of component values to deliver greater efficiency, reliability and performance. Built-in presets for JBL cinema speaker tunings manage voltage levels, crossover settings and more, maximising system efficiency and optimising audio fidelity.

Analogue-plus-digital DSi 2.0 Series amplifiers offer AES67 connectivity, which enables networked audio distribution from any AES67 or DANTE-compatible device and direct interfacing with Dolby ATMOS Connect without the need for additional processing hardware, further simplifying system configuration while also presenting significant cost efficiencies.

Dual network audio ports allow for primary and secondary networks configured as switched (daisy chain) or redundant (star) topologies. Analogue-plus-digital DSi 2.0 Series amps also feature SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) connectivity for interfacing with third-party theatre-management systems and Cinema Control (NOC) systems for remote status and fault monitoring. A HiQnet port provides access to HARMAN Audio Architect software, for controlling, configuring and monitoring amplifier operation through a standard TCP/IQ network.

JBL DSi 2.0 Series Cinema Amplifiers complements the range of JBL Professional cinema solutions available including the new JBL CPi2000 Cinema Processor and JBL 200 Series Compact Cinema Loudspeakers.

Models

The DSi 2.0 Series consists of six amplifier models, ideal for cinemas, theatres and premium large-format rooms.

• DSI2-LA4: 1,200 Watts at 8 Ohms
• DSI2-LA4-D: 1,200 Watts at 8 Ohms, Dante/AES67, Dolby ATMOS Compatible
• DSI2-MA4: 700 Watts at 8 Ohms
• DSI2-MA4-D: 700 Watts at 8 Ohms, Dante/AES67, Dolby ATMOS Compatible
• DSI2-SA4: 350 Watts at 8 Ohms
• DSI2-SA4-D: 350 Watts at 8 Ohms, Dante/AES67, Dolby ATMOS Compatible

All models are optimised for 4 ohm and 2 ohm loads both in stereo and bridged modes.

Availability

JBL Professional Cinema products are supported and distributed in NZ by JPRO.

JBL DSi 2.0 Series cinema amplifiers are now available through special order. Should you require any assistance and design support regarding your cinema project, please make use of the contact button below.

The VTX A8 is a compact line array system available in installed and tour formats for small to medium sized venues. VTX A8 and its bigger brother VTX A12 have impressed this year during NZ’s Summer Festivals – being used extensively with touring artists and music festivals such as Toto, UB40, Slayer, KORA, Sound Splash and The Hollies.

The demo took place at the newly rebuilt Christchurch Town Hall in the exquisite James Hay Theatre.

“It’s fantastic that we are able to use venues such as the James Hay Theatre to allow audiences to get a first-hand impression of the JBL VTX A8,” comments JPRO’s Tour Sound Manager Tim Robertson. “This is a new sound from JBL and it is important for people to experience the transparent, smooth sound for themselves. I enjoyed watching everyone’s response when the system is run in full range – we had jaws dropping when we told our guests that we were not running the subs.”

“The response at James Hay from the industry has truly been overwhelming and we would like to thank everyone for attending,” says Andrew Sorrill, Customer Support and Marketing at JPRO. “We would like to get as many industry professionals in New Zealand as possible to experience the system for themselves. If you have not recently heard the new JBL VTX A Series, I encourage you to get in front of a system – please contact us and we will arrange for you to hear one.”

Dante Domain Manager (DDM) from Audinate brings IT best practices to the AV industry, making audio networking more secure, more scalable and more controllable than ever before.

“Venues that are using portable mixing consoles and other devices between rooms and plugging in and out of their Dante AV network are at risk of crashing their entire Dante infrastructure,” states JPRO’s Technical Manager. “The same applies to Dante sites such as churches and corporate environments that have guests using media and AV connections. We are pleased that we can bring added value to our customers and peace of mind that their audio network is secure and run according to IT best practices.”

Dante Domain Manager provides system managers complete visibility and accountability through a suite of user-defined dashboards, audit trails, alerts, and messages. This allows protection of AV routing and prevents other settings from being changed by unauthorised users.

DDM Product Packages

Dante Domain Manager will be sold as a perpetual license and will be available in three editions: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. All editions enable the creation of Dante domains to isolate and organise audio devices, permission-driven user accounts, cross-subnet routing of audio, and powerful administrative features to monitor user actions and system status in key areas.

• SILVER: An ideal solution for smaller installations such as houses of worship, recording studios and broadcast facilities.
• GOLD: Perfect for medium-sized installations, including schools, small businesses, and larger houses of worship as part of a comprehensive AV management strategy.
• PLATINUM: Designed for organisations with many users, rooms and devices in multiple buildings spread over large areas. This is Dante management for the largest mission-critical systems found in government facilities, universities, stadiums, public spaces and corporate offices.

If you require guidance on how to best manage your Dante setup through a secure managed audio network, we are here to help. Please contact JPRO for assistance with your Dante solution.

Dante Domain Manager Overview

Dante Domain Manager – Benefits for Integrators

“One thing that’s constant in the vibrant audio visual industry is change,” says company Managing Director Bruce Gray. “We are proud of our heritage. For 30 years JANDS NZ has led the way in New Zealand, supporting musicians, businesses and institutions with their commercial and professional audio requirements. We have stayed on top of the changes as new products and platforms arrive in the market, grown and evolved with the times.”

“Now we’re embarking on another change, as we leave behind JANDS NZ – in name only – and introduce JPRO.”

The initiative has been prompted through the recent changes which sees JANDS Australia entering the New Zealand market.

The change took place on June 1st 2018 and included a brand refresh to reflect not only the industry but the attributes, history, values and essence of the company.

We look forward to contributing to your future success as we embark on this exciting journey.

Event Production has always been Forge’s passion – delivering clean sound, crisp images and purposeful lighting. Their aim is to provide exceptional technical service for customers looking at making their event memorable.

After conducting numerous tests with various brands, the Vi3000 was chosen because of its straightforward, analogue-like design that allows instant responses for operators, superb audio quality as well as its road-proven reliability. Featuring four Vistonics II touchscreens, built-in Dante capability and iconic Lexicon effects, the Soundcraft Vi3000 is a top choice for live sound engineers around the world.

JPRO is the official supplier of Soundcraft Vi Digital Consoles in NZ.

Dunedin, New Zealand: New Zealand’s annual music awards ceremony known as the APRA Silver Scrolls Awards was recently held in Dunedin. Silver Scrolls recognises and celebrates the success of NZ music creators across all genres of music and honours those that have had a significant impact on New Zealand’s life and culture with inductions into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

The event was presented at the Dunedin Town Hall with Lorde winning the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Award for her international hit song ‘Green Light’.

Specialist event production company RB Productions coordinated the event, while AV production company Strawberry Sound Hire supplied audio for the evening.

David Craig, Sound Engineer for Strawberry handled all audio management for the event. “It is a corporate awards gig, yet still a rock ‘n roll show as you are handling a number of live bands and artists over the evening,” he says. “So the PA system that you need should handle speech as well as the music dynamics of a band. One also needed to take the tricky acoustics of the venue into consideration.”

Due to the acoustic requirement of ensuring accurate and even coverage and the nature of the gig, a JBL VTX line array system was supplied. The audio system featured a total of 12x JBL VTX V20 line array elements – 6 per side for the main PA. 3x JBL VTX G28 subwoofers were deployed per side in a cardioid configuration. 3x VT 4886 subcompact line array elements per side were ground stacked and used as stage fills, while another 2 single VT 4886’s were used as a mono infill.

As there was very little rehearsal time, no in-ear monitors were used. JBL SRX 712 loudspeakers were used for on-stage monitoring with a total of 7 monitor mixes. The audio quality produced onstage ensured that the levels in the venue were under control, which made it easier for leading sound engineers Kevin Bennett (monitors) and Chris Tate (FOH) to keep the artists happy and provide a clean mix for FOH.

Kevin Bennett was extremely happy with his choice of console for monitors. “I was given an option to use a number of digital consoles and opted for the new smaller format Soundcraft Vi2000,” says Bennett. “As a digital console it is much faster to navigate and operate, has superb audio quality, it is dependable, and I suppose my love of the BSS DPR901ii Dynamic EQ helped to sweeten the deal! This was the first opportunity I had mixing with the smaller format Vi and I have to say that the Vi2000 is now my go-to console.

All loudspeakers were powered by Crown V-Racks, which included Crown I-Tech 4x3500HD models with Crown’s DriveCore technology. System management and control were handled with JBL HiQnet Performance Manager software.

“Planning for this show from an audio perspective can be quite hectic as we received the riders a week before the event.” explains David Craig. “The new updates in Performance Manager are awesome as they allowed us to do so much planning before the venue. Performance Manager and Line Array Calculator saved heaps of time and energy and very little change was needed once we were in the venue.

A Soundcraft Vi3000 digital console was used at FOH and mixed by Chris Tate. The show was broadcast on radio and television, so Audio was split via MADI with a 300-metre fibre cable run to an iso-room where the feeds were mixed for broadcast.

“Mixing on the Vi3000 console really simplifies the production process,” adds Chris Tate. “Workflow is great, patching of channels and arranging tie lines is a breeze. I enjoy how the Vi3000 is easy to clock-sync with other products while MADI provides for an efficient audio distribution solution.”

Designed from the ground up, the JBL VTX A12 is a dual 12″ three-way line array element that has been purpose built for mid to large size touring applications and high-end fixed installations.

Guests were introduced to the theory behind the technologies of the A12 before being allowed hands-on demonstrations of the system.

“We wanted our guests to understand the philosophy behind the technology of the VTX A12 and then to experience first-hand the innovative new features such as the ease of set up due to the redesigned rigging system,” says JPRO Tour Sound Manager Tim Robertson. “We then gave each person the opportunity to conduct their own listening tests on the system.”

“There has been fantastic interest with the VTX A12 locally and our aim is to have it added to technical riders in the New Zealand market,” concludes JPRO’ Tim Robertson. “The VTX A12 has appeared at numerous festivals in the US, while JBL VTX line array systems have been used by a number of International artists such as Pitbull, Demi Lovato, Enrique Iglesius, Neil Diamond, Linkin Park, Kesha, DJ Zedd and Lenny Kravitz. VTX-A12 will be added to technical riders when the system becomes fully available after the promotional tours.”

Click on the logo’s below to purchase from these participating New Zealand resellers. Use our to demo button if you wish to request a demo of a JBL product before you buy. JBL Professional is distributed in NZ through JPRO. Providing on-the-ground, NZ based local support, with an unmatched 7 Year Warranty.

BUY JBL EON 700 SERIES!

Video Resources

Purchase from these NZ authorised online resellers:

Click on the logo’s to purchase online from these participating New Zealand resellers:

Click on the logo’s to purchase online from these participating New Zealand resellers:

Clear sound starts at the source. A standalone microphone, when used correctly, will almost always sound dramatically better than the one that’s built into your laptop or phone. Get the best sound for your recording or streaming session with AKG today!

AUTHORISED NEW ZEALAND DEALERS

Click on the logo’s below to purchase from these participating New Zealand resellers.

Click on the logo’s to purchase from these participating New Zealand resellers. JBL Professional is distributed in NZ through JPRO. Providing on-the-ground, NZ based support.

BUY JBL EON ONE COMPACT

BUY EON ONE MK2