Auralex Acousticscontributed to this year's event by providing its HoverDeck for the show's clinic stage. The HoverDeck is a specifically engineered drum isolator that reduces coloration from floor resonance by decoupling the drum kit from the structure, resulting in a tighter, purer sound.
"My first use of Auralex's HoverDeck was at a backline gig at a major casino," says Rob Cook of Rebeats, a company specialising in vintage and custom drum-related resources and coordinator and producer of the Chicago Drum Show. "During set-up my drum tech noticed the difference immediately, as the sonic improvement was dramatic. I look forward to using the HoverDeck again on the Chicago Drum Show's clinic stage. The clinicians will be offering solo performances to small audiences of critical listeners; I am confident that the HoverDeck will be noticed."
The Chicago Drum Show couples exhibits with performance clinics. Several noted drum clinicians are on board this year, including MC Gregg Potter, the legendary Danny Seraphine, solo marimba artist Jane Boxall, artist/author Zoro, Donny Osborne (Mel Torme), Bermuda Schwartz ('Weird Al' Yankovic), Will Calhoun (Living Colour) and W.S. 'Fluke' Holland (Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash), each of whom will perform on the clinic stage using Auralex's HoverDeck for added isolation.
The HoverDeck is available in two models: the HD-64Gig, designed for typical four- and five-piece drum kits, and the HD-88Concert, configured for larger drum kits and touring applications. Both configurations utilise a set of low-profile isolating boards that assemble quickly via strategically placed hook and loop fasteners.
(Jim Evans)
