AES Vienna 2007: Spotlight on Live Sound Details

Saturday, May 5, 14:00 — 18:30

LS1 - SENNHEISER

Chair:
Gregor Zielinsky
Presenters:
Svenja Dunkel
Wayne "Heights" Glittens
Oliver Voges

Abstract:
The Soundcheck Is the Show!

The Sennheiser Live Mixing Event presents a complete soundcheck with a live rock band on stage, with full sound and light equipment. Participants will learn about how professional soundchecks are done in real life. This will include the FOH / PA soundcheck as well as the monitor soundcheck. All participants will receive an In-Ear wireless receiver, to be able to follow the in-ear check. The presentation is held by Wayne "Heights" Gittens (Monitor engineer for Herbert Groenemyer, Xavier Naidoo, Söhne Mannheims, etc.), Oliver Voges (FOH engineer for Echo Awards, The Dome, Naturally 7, Scooter, Mousse T), and Svenja Dunkel (radio engineer and production manager for Echo Award, Comet, and productions from Sennheiser). The presenters will show their way of working with both the band and the soundcheck. The rhythm section of "Hot Pants Road Club" plus their lead singer is a top band from Austria, well known for their funky, groovy sound and the always slightly "Vieneese" style of their frontman Harry Ahamer.

Timing schedule:
14.00 -15.00 O. Voges, Lecture about FOH Sound
15.00 - 16.00 W.Gittens, Lecture about Monitor Sound and In Ear
16.15 - 18.30 Live and Practical work

The Live Sound Seminar, led by Gregor Zielinsky, is produced in cooperation with Neumann & Mueller, who support all Sound, Light, Stage and Rigging Equipment.

This presentation has been held in many places, e.g., Bejing, Moskau, Mumbay, Istanbul, Barcelona, and others.

Saturday, May 5, 16:00 — 17:30

AS3 - INSTALLING A SOUND SYSTEM IN A HISTORIC BUILDING

Abstract:
Sound Reinforcement

At the end of March, the International Association of Argentine Tango Dancing was organizing its great annual festival with workshops, balls, orchestra, and shows in the prestigious “Salon Honorat” of Paris International University Campus, which is part of French National Trust (no rigging allowed). This Application Seminar will show how the sound contractor company achieved a versatile and successful installation and setup for all these activities. The seminar will also cover the budgeting aspects, which are a major concern for nonprofit organisations.

Sunday, May 6, 10:30 — 12:30

LS2 - NEUMAN & MUELLER

Presenters:
Michael Kennedy
Rudolf Pirc

Abstract:
3 Orchestras & Stars – World Cup Opening in Munich

As part of the opening celebrations for the Soccer World Cup in Germany, a concert was given in Munich on June 6, 2006 in the Munich Olympic Stadium. Together on stage were the 3 principle Munich Orchestras; the Munich Philharmonic, the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, and the Bavarian Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. The concert program included Placido Domingo, soprano Diana Damrau, the pianist Lang Lang, and the German band “Die Söhne Mannheims” with Xavier Naidoo.

The presentation describes the realization of the sound reinforcement system, which featured J and Q series D&B loudspeakers, 3 Yamaha PM1 D systems at Front of House, a PM5D at the monitor position, and 2 separate DME systems. All interconnections between the mixing consoles and the DME systems were realized in the digital domain.

Sunday, May 6, 12:30 — 14:00

LS3 - d & b

Presenters:
Holger Blum
Ralf Zuleeg

Abstract:
This session is comprised of two parts. Part one covers the dimensioning of line arrays and answers the question “Is more really more?“

Part two covers the advantage of digital signal wiring and how to achieve optimal sonic quality and high reliability.

Sunday, May 6, 14:30 — 16:00

LS4 - YAMAHA

Presenter:
Ruben van der Goor

Abstract:
This presentation will give an overview, explanation, and the pros and cons of existing networks. Integration into Yamaha-based applications will also be demonstrated.

Monday, May 7, 14:00 — 15:30

AS7 - THE BEST OF MUSICALS

Abstract:
Sound Reinforcement

Over the past 20 years the biggest success story on the German performing arts scene has been the musical. Annual ticket sales have no problem in exceeding the 500 million Euro mark. The phenomenal success of these lavish productions is due in no small part to attention to detail. The technical demands are no less stringent than those placed on the performers. "The Making Of Aïda—The Musical" will be presented by the team who has been operating this major show.

Tuesday, May 8, 11:30 — 13:30

T10 - GROUNDING AND SHIELDING

Presenter:
Bill Whitlock, Jensen Transformers, Inc. - Chatsworth, CA, USA

Abstract:
Many designers and installers of audio/video systems think of grounding and interfacing as a “black art.” Do signal cables really “pick up” noise, presumably from the air like a radio receiver? Equipment manufacturers, installers, and users rarely understand the real sources of system noise and ground loop problems, routinely overlooking or ignoring basic laws of physics. Although myth and misinformation are epidemic, this tutorial brings insight and knowledge to the subject. Signals accumulate noise and interference as they flow through system equipment and cables. Both balanced and unbalanced interfaces transport signals but are also vulnerable to coupling of interference from the power line and other sources. The realities of ac power distribution and safety are such that some widely used noise reduction strategies are both illegal and dangerous. Properly wired, fully code-compliant systems always exhibit small but significant residual voltages between pieces of equipment as well as tiny leakage currents that flow in signal cables. The unbalanced interface has an intrinsic problem, common-impedance coupling, making it very vulnerable to noise problems. The balanced interface, because of a property called common-mode rejection, can theoretically nullify noise problems. Balanced interfaces are widely misunderstood and their common-mode rejections suffer severe degradation in most real-world systems. Many pieces of equipment, because of an innocent design error, have a built-in noise coupling mechanism dubbed the “pin 1 problem” by Neil Muncy. A simple troubleshooting method that uses no test equipment will be described. It can pinpoint the exact location and cause of system noise. Most often, devices known as ground isolators are the best way to eliminate noise coupling. Signal quality and other practical issues are discussed as well as how to properly connect unbalanced and balanced interfaces to each other. While immunity to RF interference is a part of good equipment design, it must often be provided externally. Finally, power line treatments such as technical power, balanced power, power isolation transformers, and surge suppression are discussed.

Tuesday, May 8, 14:00 — 17:00

T12 - LOUDSPEAKER NONLINEARITIES—CAUSES, PARAMETERS, SYMPTOMS

Presenter:
Wolfgang Klippel, Klippel GmbH

Abstract:
This tutorial addresses the relationship between nonlinear distortion measurements and nonlinearities that are the physical causes for signal distortion in loudspeakers, headphones, micro-speakers, and other transducers. Using simulation techniques characteristic symptoms are identified for each nonlinearity and presented systematically in a guide for loudspeaker diagnostics. This information is important for understanding the implications of nonlinear parameters and for performing measurements that describe the loudspeaker more comprehensively. The practical application of the new techniques are demonstrated on practical examples.